Timaru Borough Council.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4990, 25 April 1889, Page 2

Timaru Borough Council.

An ordinary meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Sherratt, Bennett, Owers, Hill, HallJones, Jackson, and Penrose. Councillor Bruce apologised for absence, and requested that the notice of motion he had given be hold over. COBKE3PONDBNCB. Among copies of correspondence forwarded, now read, was a letter to Mr Sydney Wolf, iu reply to a request, stating that the mayor and councillors would have much pleasure in attending the operatic entertainment to be given in aid of the Gfarrison Band fund. Among correspondence received were the following:— From J. Scanlon, expressman, complaining of what he believed to bo an overcharge by the poundkeeper. He had been charged 7s, and from the published scale he did not think he should have had to pay more than 2s. It was remarked that complaints against the poundkeeper were becoming too frequent. The mayor was requested to look into the matter before next meeting and obtain details of the charge made on the complainant. WATERWORKS. The waterworks inspector reported that he had made, and the contractors had fixed, a new sluice-door for the dam, M. Sugrue, the new reservoir keeper, had been placed in charge. The flumes now needed painting, and he recommended that they be done before the frosty weather sets in. It would take three drums of oil and five cwt of hemitato. (The contractors for keeping the race in repair to do the work under their contract). —The inspector was authorised to obtain the material required, first obtaining prices, and submitting them to the mayor for approval and acceptance. AN ODD JOB. The mayor reported that D. Evans, a good tradesman, had come to him for employment, and he asked Evans what he would repair and paint the seats in the domain for. He offered to do certain specified repairs for £4, a reasonable sum, and so he had told him to go on with it. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £2l 6s on general and £sl 2s 2d on waterworks account were passed for payment. LAPSED NOTICE OF MOTION. A motion of which Councillor Delaney had given notice —“ That the forman of works be given charge of the water-race, and the present inspector bo given two weeks’ notice of discharge”—was called on. As Councillor Delaney was absent, and had not given any other councillor written authority to proceed with it, according to the by-law tho motion was declared lapsed. SUPPLY OF SPALLS, A motion given notice of by Councillor Hall-Jones, that tenders bo called for supply of spalls for road metal required, for twelve months from date of contract, was seconded by Councillor Jackson and carried. A discussion took place on the question whether it would bo better to have the spalls broken in the quarry as suggested by one quarryman, or in town, which was decided in favour of breaking in town, as giving tho best chance to the unemployed in town. Councillor Jacksou gave as another reason for this course that tho sight of heaps of stones ready for them might deter men from crying put about want of employment before it was absolutely necessary. It was also agreed to specify that the spalls be not stacked but simply tipped, and progress payments paid at per load, final payments to bo made when the metal was measured after breaking. NEW DYE-LAWS. At 8 p.m, a special meeting was held to confirm new bye-laws, Tho first dealt with was the bye-law proposed to regulate the use of velocipedes in the borough. Op this being called on, the mayor said some objection had been raised in the Press to tho wording of a portion of it—that relating to tho carrying of lights. After a good deal of mingled serious and humourous talk about it, it was'agreed to adjourn the special meeting altogether, and bring tho supposed doubtful passage under the notice of tho solicitor. The other bye-law has reference to the namipg of streets and numbering of houses. THE OFFICE STAFF. Councillor Bennett moved, pursuant to notice, to rescind the resolution passed at last ordinary meeting, to raise the town clerk’s salary by £SO, ho to confine himself to the borough business; and that Mr Wood bo discharged and a cadet taken on. Councillor Bennett did not consider tho saving of £2B thus to be effected was sufficient to balance the loss of Mr Wood’s services, and ho believed it was better that the Charitable Aid Board’s business should be kept in the office. Councillor Hall-Jones seconded the motion. Councillor Owers said it was ridiculous to bo doing work ono night and undoing it the next. Councillor Ponroso strongly opposed, and Councillor Jackson supported the motion. On tho question being put, Councillors Jackeou, Jones, Hill, and Bennett, voted for, aud Councillors Shoratt, Owers, and Penrose against it. The mayor voted against, and then gave his casting vote in the same direction, after stating at some length his reasons for doing so. Briefly, these were that the work of the Oharjt&ble

Aid Board was quite enough to occupy one person’s time, and the town clerk ought to be relieved of such a tax upon bis time and energies, which ought to be given to the council's business. Councillor Owors moved—“ That the council’s sub-collector bo given one month’s notice to terminate bis engagement, and that, the thanks of the council be convoyed to Mr Wood in acknowledging his past services as a courteous, trustworthy, and zealous officer.” The mover said he regretted much having to move such a resolution, but the necessity for retrenchment compelled it. On being put Councillors Sherralt, Owers, Penrose, and the mayor voted for, and Councillors Jones, Hill, Bennett, and Jackson against. The mayor gave bis casting vote for. Ho would admit everything that could be said in favour of Mr Wood, and it was not Mr Wood’s fault that retrenchment was necessary. STREET IMPROVEMENTS. After a considerable discus-ion on what works were most pressingly required, and the claims of different portions of the town. Councillor Hill moved, and Councillor Jones seconded, and it was carried, that the foreman of works be instructed to lay an asphalte channel with wood kerb in Arthur street, south side, from Latter street to Butler street. STREET LIGHTING-. Councillor Jones moved, and it was carried, *• That the mayor, and Councillors Jackson, Hill, Sherralt, and Bruce,lbe a committee to report at next meeting generally on the question of street lighting, and the necessity for alterations and additions to the number of lamps.” The mover mentioned that in some parts of the town the lamps were too close together; in other pans very far apart. To have this inequality corrected was the purpose of his motion. The council then rcsc.