BOROUGH COUNCIL

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 8227, 14 September 1901, Page 1

BOROUGH COUNCIL

At the fortnightly meeting of the Oamaru Borough Council, held last evening, there attended—His, Worship the Mayor and Councillors' Brown, Lang, Hilliker, Frith, France, Vernor, Cagney, Mahan,' Clarlve. and Milligan. The minutes of the meeting held on 30th August were read and confirmed, as was also the outward correspondence. His Worship the /Mayor read apologies for absence from Councillors Haynes and Ogilvie. • r I A letter was read from- the Hon. T. Y. | Duncan stating, that he would see Sir J. G. Ward as soon as possible, respecting the unfair treatment the Council is receiving at the 'hands of the Railway Department, respecting land taken for railway purposes. —Received. The Secretary -bo the Treasury wrote asking what amount the Council would require to borrow under the Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Act of 1899 for constructing the local abattoirs, and stating that when a direct application is made the necessary tonms will be forwarded indicaJting the steips itio be. taken t.o obtain the loan, subject to the Oolonial Treasurer's approval. Referred, on. whe motion of Councillor Frith., to the' Works Committee. l An application was received fronj Mr Hadden Dennison, as agent, for gas to be laid on, to sections 31, 32, and 33, block 42, Hull street. Referred to the Gas Committee to inquire into and report at the next meeting of the Council. Mr Robert Blair wrote stating that -when he paid 'his. .portion of the cost of the dividing fence, between section. 13, block 60, and reserve E, it was on the understanding that a new fence would be erected, but this not having been done, and the estimate of the Engineer being out of all proportion, unless he .got'the rebate, he asked for, he would! .proceed further in the matter. . Referred to the Engineer for further report. The agents for 'the Westport Coal Ocrnipany intimated that the price of that Comipany'e coal was raised 6d per ton. . The rise was attributed to harbor dues at Westport and the operation of the Workmen's Compensation Act.—Received.. . .Sergeant King wrote acknowledging tihe Clerk's letter respecting the destruction at the Cape plantation, and stated that he had sent a constable to investigate. . The constable had reported that no damage appeared to have been done recently with the exception of two cabbage trees having been cut down. The Sergeant promised to> keep the matter in view.—Received. The Invercargill Municipal Council forwarded the following resolution and requested the Council's co-operation: —"That with the object of reducing the payments of interest by local bodies, the Government be requested to introduce legislation to allow of money being borrowed by the country at as low a rate zs possible, and loaned to local authorities at a. rate not exceeding 3A per cent per annum. Such advances to local authorities to be made from- tune to time as present loans mature. Futher, that this resolution be forwarded to all the Southland members of Parliament and evenCounty and Borough Council in: New Zealand, asking their co-operation in bringing about the desired result." Councillor Bro-wiithousrM.t'ha.t thoivgh this Council would not be albilf to avail of such legislation for some time, still il was :i su-p in the right -direction, and U<> moved thai the co-operation asked for lie granted. Councillor Lang seconded the, -nunion. which was agreed to. The Hon. Major Steward, M.H.R.. forwarded the Hon. W. .Hnll-.T-e.no*' h'tlor stilting that the petition respecting i\w Oainami-Naisijby iwalway will rccvive- th«

careful consideration of the Government.— Received. The. District Engineer of Railways wro'le stating that Messrs Jas. Craig and- Co.'s siding in Hnniber street is ■within railway land, except where it crosses Humber street in the firm's yard. " The width of Humber street is 83.6."1ink5. as gazetted on the 25th February. 1886.—Received.

Mr J. A. Peebles wrote asking that the new term of lease of section 35, block 13, be~made 21 years. Referred to the Reserves Committee Co report. Mrs Scott, agent for Mrs. Jessie Glass, wrote applying for renewal of the lease of section 16, block 41, for 21 years. Referred to the Reserves Committee to Report. Similar applications were received from' Mr J. Fox in respect of section 7, block 73, and Mr J. A. Rollings in respect, of .section 7, block 22. Referred to the Reserves Committefc to report. Mr J. White wrote offering 30s psr annum for a .portion' of the reserve at the comer of Aln and Ouse streets, containing' half an acre.

Referred to the Reserves Comandttee to report, on the motion of 'Councillor Brown. Mr Terence Rodgers asked permission to transfer his lease of sections in Itcken street to Mr William Bee. Referred to the Reserves Committee to report. Mr R. L. Rule wrote accepting the position of valuator in terms fixed by the Council.—Received.

The District Engineer for Railways wrote authorising the Council to lay a _rin. waterpipe across the railway at Nen and Humber streets crossing under .the supervision of the Department. He .also later sent an agreement respecting the same with a request that a cheque for £1 be forwarded as a fee for the preparation of the agreement.

Councillor Frith thought that the tenant should pay the- £l, as, though the Council had made the application, it had been, made in the tenant's interests. He thought Mr Lane (the tenant) should pay the amount ■and moved 'in that direction.

Sis Worship said that if the Council could collect from the tenant, all well and good, but Mr Lane .had made no application to the Railway Department. Councillors generally were of opinion that red tape was the basis of the application, and it was ultimately resolved to represent to the District Engineer that no deed had ever before been found neo*ssary in ten similar cases. A number of residents at Waiareka Junction sent in a request that tins -water .service be extended from the Junction Hotel to the Waiareka Junction, and pledged themselves to take the water if the request is complied with. Referred to the Waterworks Committee and the Engineer to inquire into and report. The- Secretary of the Oapulet Cricket Club wrote asking 'permission to. asphalt the Club's cricket pitch on Toku-ro Park. Councillor Milligan thought the requestshould be granted, as the pitch would be the property fo the Council and unlikely to interfere "in any way with other sport. Councillor Brown and Frith were in favor of granting the request provided only one pitch- was laid down. Councillor Lang was afraid an asphalt pitch would make football on the ground dangerous in winter. Councillor Vernor thought the matter required careful consideration and moved that the matter be referred to the Works Committee.

Councillor Cagney thought all the clubs concerned would share the cost and use the pitcii. As far as football was concerned, footballers were well able to take care of themselves.

Ultimately the matter was referred to the Works Committee for report. The W T 6rks "Committee's report was read recommending that Major Steward be informed that the Maerewhenua Reserve was worth £4OO per annum, and the Council would consider an offer of land of that value in exchange. (2) That the Engineer confer with Mr Gunnell, of Eveline Works, with a view to ascertaining if the Refrigerating Company wiil kill for the Council, and upon what terms. (3) The Committee visited the Gardens and inspected the walk complained of, and found it soft in a few places, and recommended that fine -ashes be put on. (4) The Committee recommend that the blue gums alongside Chelmer street be cut down, and any other trees the gardener approves of. (5) Also that the bridge across the creek be painted, likewise the gates, and a few small crossings be made good at a cost of only a few shillings, the gardener to do the work. The Committee thought that a pony grass mower should be obtained, as it would save a great deal of labor. The report was considered seriatim. It was agreed to act on the Committee's suggestion as regards the Maerewhenua Reserve.

The recommendation re Eveline Works was adopted, as were the two following clauses in the report. In tihe matter of the Council's recommendation that a pony and lawn mower be obtained, Councillor Frith said the proposal was rather a big ordjer. It meant £3O at least.

His Worship thought he knew where a lawn mower, pony, and harness could be had for £2O. .

Councillors were generally of opinion that a mower was required, and on the motion of Councillor Brown the matter was referred to the Mayor with power to •purchase the mower, pony, and harness for £2O.

It was resolved that the Engineer be instructed to have the gates in the Gardens ■repaired. The report of the Waterworks Committee was read as under and ordered to stand over pending further action by the Committee:—

The Waterworks 'Committee reported that the Engineer had submitted to the Committee a differentiated scale of charges, with varying discount allowances, for water for motive power, but the Council could not adopt it. The Mayor submitted the following scale:— H.P. 12 hours. 24 hours. £. £- A 4 6 0 * .7 10 10 1 12 18 0 2 10 15 10 Any consumer of 6 h.p. or over, -wishing .in intermittent Sifcvice can be supplied by indicator -at the rate tf Id per theoretical h.p. Any consumer of over 4 h.p., having a 12-hours supply, but requiring a temporary 24-hours supply, .can have it granted at an extra rate of '£lo per h.p. per annum, for the period for which it is required, fixing the minimum for such increa-sed time at three months. The Committee recommended the Council to adopt the scale. The Finance Committee's report- wis read and accounts amounting to £l6O 17s 6d were passed for payment. Councillor Biwn referred to the petition presented at t.he last meeting of the Council, re the .trees in Tvnc Street Gardens The commit tee who had the matter in hand before kud again visited the Gardens, and, speaking personstUy. .he (thought there wis no remedy to hand for the serious .condensation" of those trees by the deputation hut to cut- down all the .trees on the. border of Tv.ne street. A resident had iuia.de such statemenis to the committee as could nut lie passed over. As a residen, of Oa.muru he- iv;is jealous of its name, and therefore he strongly advised vhe Council ■l.O nil- down the trees which were 1 it 11 f bm :\. shelter to loose characters at the (own. lie fe'l-i very i-irondy on -jhe uuaiter. He know- it lobe a fact that females going through the Gardens, to and from business, had on occasions been compelled U> S° round altogeither to avoid meeting certain, bad cluirotors. Councillor Hilliker said dutit Uw Council

had nothing to do with 'hysterical tale* of what. took 'place in the Hardens. Hunt was a nuestion for tihe police. There Mere .'; lothe.r respectable citizens wiluiha.il known ] and used the Gardens for rears without. ;j witnessing anyltluinir objectionable there. )/ He certainly should not advocate culling ti down all /the 'trees on- tha-l. side of the. 'i'j street, and he 'thuu.ulht that a plebiscite- of ji'. Tyne street residents «n the matter would ;>J (befar him out. y\\ Councillor Milligfm said ilie thought iha.t ''| CmiiiciHur Diwn .was guided more liy [ ; J iwJiwb a certain resident had told the oo.m-i,a miltltee thtin by what, the deputation K.i.id. ?j|S He (Councillor MillifiVin) had lalceji the (ijjj trouble to inquire, .inito the charges nnwlo ;jif and found they were .sutosluiit kited, lie'* tihonugh't, with' Councillor Brown, .that, in the interests of public decency, .(he trees ji* should'all be cut down. ' |§ Councillor Brown isaid he had seen the "g Inspector, who told him that 1 there were certwin people who possessed sanitary con- 'ft ve.wiences, but Avould not pay for night-soil Jul ranlo<val. " ' IhJ Oounoillor France thought it win a. M 'great ,pity if the 'Gardens were no be spoilt fJjJ ■on account of a nuisance which the ipoHee {l-tjj slxoulld attend i\i. Jim ■Councillor Vernor was astonished to W\ hear 'tlhe statements of Councillor Brown, fjfj iwlho, only a few years ajyo. \\\ts a tjriMt'>»?! (idvooate of /the planting of the streets villi '';■•{ trees. He had lived im view of the, corner ' ■:', icamiplained 'of for .nearly twenty years,. ■]•'. and had never seen anythinj; worse tha.n ':;■]£■ an occasional man having a slee.p. 'lit i:i| iwouild : he a '"Teat'pity to undo the work of fj| a. previous Council—work 'dome to beautify ,ll«| ItJie town. ' ijjl Coiuimcillor Brown said lie was never in frffij favor of planting 'trees, except in Thanu'M jffij street. His opinion wa.s tlmlt forest- tireex ty" ishould not be allow-ed in 'the limits of the 'MS town outside Thames street. Ho moved H| '.that all tihe trees in (he Gardens on the |ti etIXK side of TY.iip .sJtrepA !hp. i»irh down, and M

dint it'lie hedge be out down lower than a.t $§ present. M Councillor Cagiiey seconded the •nuiUtin.Rfi ifor the reason Hint the trees ought never levM] -have been planted. 'MI ■Councillor Frith said (-.hat 'all ifhnse. 'who tM had spoken in favor of the million 3i.-i.cl Mb advocated ithe planting of ishruibs, -which jjaj would igiwv 'thick below and accentuate #j| the very .offence it was wished to ymi ,-t. yj| stqp .to. It was his opinion that ipoopilo M really only*-wanted the itrees cut down, he- ,?|| •cause they interfered with 'tihe view. Tn fi!| .Ohelm'er street they could see 'the voiy ','|y, .same offences. He moved as an. .amendment) !hi itlhait the lower ibnanuhes of the trees, which -M anight shelter undesirable characters, h'e ;'| . cut. down ,a't iflie .gardener's discretion, <i.ml jjt itlhait .the hedge be icttt down to about tlw-ee j;S , .feelt or three tfeelt six inches, gift

o.n a ishow of hands being taken, (he 'amendment was carried by six to four. Council 'MiiUigan drew the Council's n.|tention to the accumuilatdon of rubbiish <m .tiie 'roadway in Humbeir street, from, tho site of the new bridge right up to Messrs Clark Bros.' store. IHe said rubbish was still being .dumped there, and he moved that the (Engineer repent on the matter. This was agreed to. Councillor Brown, speaking in t'onnectrlon Avnth the direot iprosecution of n, man jfbr abstracting Hewers front the Public 'Gairdens, mioved 'thaifc boards containing warning notices be erected iu /the Gardens. He had had a professional opinion, since the case in Court, that had the defendant ■raised .tihe ipoint of there being' no- such notices in the Gardens, he could not have been rxunished.

Councillor Frith asked that "dogs." lie warned off as well. Their "footwork" was .even worse than that of the depredations of human handiwork and the culling of herbs for medicinal purposes. This was agreed to, and it was further resolved, on Councillor Hilliker's motion, to hav.s Hie board at the main entrance repaired and made legible. Coundilloi! Frith gave it as his opinion that none but a blind man could make it out as it is at present.

The following report was read from the Inspector of Nuisances :

"Gentlemen.—l have the honor to report as follows :

"I carefully inspected the plantation nvt C.-ipe Wanbrow on the 6th instant. The fencing requires repairs, the west side (next the town) being the worst. A number of trees and branches have been broken down, but it must have been years since, except in thi'ee cases, where three cabbage trees have been cut on a recent date, as if with a knife, partly through and then broken off. I cannot say what object! there was in cutting down such trees, unless for decoration purposes or to get nest?, as this kind of tree is no good for firewood, and one of the trunks has been left where it fell. Attempts have been made to set art to several of the largest trees, some of which are badiy scorched. It would miich improve the place if the old and scraggy trees were ta'keD out and the African fjhorn fence trimmed up. I beg to remind you of the dangerous condition of the nightcart. I am afraid of a disagreeable accident taking place any night. A new lamp is much required for use by tire niphfcimen. I have Wanned several persons thaib the streets are not to be used as a- place for breaking ill 'horses. Reserve F. is badly in want of a waiter trough at the north end."

The report was referred to Hie Works Committee for report. Councillor Lang said that the Council had lately had a man working on the South Town Boundary road for about 10 days. He thought the County Council should contribute to the cost, and moved that an account be .prepared of all the money which, had been spent by the Borough Council on the Boundary, aid that the County Council be asked "to pay their share of the bill. —Agreed. On the suggestion of Councillor France, ■it was decided to instruct the Inspector of Nuisances to inspect and report on th? state of the channel in front of the railway station. He said the drainage from the station conveniences constituted a serious nuisance. He also drew attention to the state of two blind drains in Usk street, which are also to receive a visit from the Inspector of Nuisances.

This completed the business before the Council.