BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 1, 10 July 1914, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Balelutha Borough Council was held on Wednesday night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. J. Bovd), Councillors J. Clark, J. Begg, J. Wilkins, G. W. Wood, C. E. Naish, D. Ritchie, J. Danskin and D. T. Fleming. OVERDRAFT LOAN. Councillor Wilkins moved that the special order passed re overdraft loan of £4OO be confirmed.—Seconded by Councillor Begg and carried. ESTIMATES. The clerk read a list of estimates of receipts and expenditure for the coming year. (This is published elsewhere in this issue). The Mayor said he had had the estimates prepared so that the council could get an idea of what could be done this coming year. The ex-Mayor had suggested that the water rate should be reduced but he (Mr Boyd) thought that it should not be lowered yet, so that a surplus could be obtained wherewith to carry on main extensions. An extension of the water service would eventually mean a cheaper working to the town. Perhaps the service could be extended to outside the borough, arrangements being made for payment by quantity used, meters being put in to places outside the borough using the water. If the outside people got water at, say Is per 1000 gallons they would be getting a good bargain, and on the other hand they would be assisting the ratepayers to pay for the service. Another item in the estimates which should be referred to was the revenue from the saleyards. This had been set down at £SOO. That amount was on the high side, he thought, as it.was only a gamble to estimate the saleyanls revenue. It did not follow that because saleyanls had been started at Clydevalc and Milton that the revenue from the Corporation yards would fall; in fact, he had noticed that 6mall yards, instead of lowering the yardings at the main sales, often served as feeders, and it was quite possible that the Balelutha saleyanls would profit by yards being started elsewhere. Councillor Fleming: Are these estimates formed on the basis of the rates being the same as last vear* The Mayor: Yes. Councillor Fleming: I suppose there is no chance of any reduction ? The Mayor: 1 don't think so. Councillor Fleming: Very well. I propose that the estimates as submitted be adopted, and that the council give notice to levy tha usual rates. This was seconded by Councillor Begg and carried. NO LIGHTS ON BRIDGE. Councillor Danskin said he had heard several complaints of people being held up on the traffic bridge at night through drivers of vehicles carrying no lights. When motoring over the bridge recently at night he had narrowly averted an accident, a vehicle being on the bridge without lights at the time. It should be made plain to the public that the by-law in connection with lights at night would be strictly enforced. Councillor Wood mentioned that he had heard of different collisions through cyclists riding over at night without lights. It was a very dangerous practice, and should not be allowed. He wanted the "paper people" to take notice of it. He proceeded to say that Parliament was passing legislation compelling lights to be carried on vehicles at night. Another matter which he drew attention to was that there had been no lamps lit on the bridge this week. He understood that the lights were to be lighted on the bridge every night. It was resolved that the by-law prohibiting riding or driving at night without lights be strictly enforced, and something was said about drawing Constable Harvey's attention to this. The clerk was authorised to see that the lights are lit on the bridge every night. OTHER BUSINESS. The Mayor, Councillors Begg and Naish wer.e authorised to execute documents re leases of borough reserves to Messrs Jas. Thompson and Jas. Paterson. The balance-sheet was returned from the Auditor-General. There were no tags appended. It was decided to approve of the balance-sheet and have it published in the usual way.