FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8303, 23 November 1915, Page 7

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

The fortnightly meeting of the Asliburton Borough Council was held last evening. Present: Mr It. Galbraith (Mayor), in the chair, Councillors ,G. 1), Hefford, H. It. C. McElrea,. A. 11. ■Llayd, G. H., Buchanan, G. 'Wi Andrews, R-. ■ Kerr, F. Z. 1). Eerriman, and J. B. Christian.

The Mayor reported a debit balance' on the Temporary Loaiis Account amounting to £8000, and. a x|ebit bal-' ance at "tho -bank 'amounting" to £41^ ■14s 2d 3 making an actual overdraft of £8041 14s 2d. The revenue received since the last meeting had, aggregate, £458 10s Bd, the chief items being:— Rents £200 13s 2d, high-pressure water account £158 6s 4d, rates £49 Os 6d, fees and fines under by-laws £33, Domain account £9. Correspondence. A letter was received from Mr J. Bertram, secretary to Mr Andrew Carnegie, stating that plans for- the Ashburton Library had been approved,! the building was erected for the sum of £1750. -Arrangements would bo made for progress" payments;: —Inuring t;he' discussion' on the letter,Cr. Ferri'man .pointed out -;that/;'ife might be, advisable not to proceed-'(vi'tfc tKe work'iat present. By erecting/-.the-building it. might be finding employment for'young men who should berecruiting.—Cr. Andrews said he believed that they should strike while the iron was hot. He moved that the: matter; of vjproceeding withy the erection b% the' buijding sffie referred ■ to-^ the Library Coinmittee 1 with power to' 1' act. —The motion was earned, and the Town Clork, was instructed to communicate with Mr Bertram in regar; to progress payments. Mr George H. Nieholls wrote asking for a channel to be put down between Kerode and Moore Streets, fronting his property.—Referred to the Works Committoje.

The Minister of Finance wrote, stating that the application for thej abattoir loan was now before the Executive, and would be considered this I week, or on Monday next.—Received, i Messrs W. Strange and Co., Ltd.J made application to erect a signboard! opposite their premises.—Referred toj the chairman ot the By-laws Committee, with power to act. ; , : U-'- '■"':■ ■'.■^■••"vßeports.v-"";'^;':^^-1^- ■ The Town Clerk re]x>rted iiiat he-had issued building permits as follow, since last meoting:—Motor shed, estimated j value £25;.. shed-estimated valjio £22; j .^d^'resiti^'p^estiinStcxlyva^Bi^SO^Tra' ;'£737. " v* The Abattoir Committee reported i that as the Watei-works Engineer had i *uo\yn that tho installation of a petrol engine for Ijoisting purposes would j effect a• saving- of: £17_-per annum as. compared ••with -electric; powers .thej committee' decided to install the. f orttier... —Ct. '■ ,G'rr' iaskeil.-twhother provision Maji made 'f^or i:ligb!iing at the ; .;abattoir.— ~ Cr. Hefford replied that there was no necessity for lighting, bcSfe^uso all the killing would be done during the day. —Cr. Andrews said he hoped that the, committee would look into the matter of pumping water.:—Cj. Hefford said they" could only get water in. that locality at a-great depth, and it would be very expensive. The committee had decided that it would be better to u tap the stfpply "a£ the" corner of the North and East Belts.-:—The report was then adopted. r The Watenyorks Engineer reported on the explosion to the engine at the power-house, and estimated that the damage was under £9. The engine would be running again about Wednes-: day next.

The Waterworks Inspector wrote ] forwarding the name of a resident whom he had detected watering his garden after dark.—lt was 'decided to instruct him to take action against the J offender. ! Miscellaneous. | 4 Cr. Andrews .moved,' 1 in accordance i with his ' notice" of motion, 'that the. j present committees be reduced by one member each, and that a Works and I Building Committee consisting pf louf, members be appointed.—Cr. McElrea, seconded the motion pro forma, but 1 stated that he did not agere with the; idea.—The motion was lost/ .

Cr. Ferriman moved that the Foreman be instructed to report to the next meeting regarding any men in the Council's employ who eonld bo spared to do harvesting work.—Tho motion was carried.

:"Accounts amounting to £195 Is 8d wore passed for payment.