Borough Council.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7287, 15 August 1893, Page 2

Borough Council.

An ordinary meeting of the Titnaru Borough Oounoil was bold last evening. Present—The Mayor and Councillors Mair, Bennett, Owers, Hole, Delaney, King, I Burford, Hill, Gabites. Apologies were made | for Councillors Scumbles and Houston. I TBANSPEE 07 XBASE I Consent was given to transfer of lease of a reserve section in High street from Messrs Palliser and Jones to Messrs Ballantyne, Dawson, and others. DOMAIN. A letter was read from the Agricultural Department referring to a small parcel of seeds of Lathyrus sylvesiris sent for trial in the domain. The caretaker, Mr Cross, re. minded the Council that he received 60 seeds last year, from which he had now twenty or thirty plants growing. The report of the domain committee spoke well of the planting effected on Arbor Day A resolution passed by the Arbor Day I Committee, was read, reoommendii g the Council to set aside a portion of the domain { as a nursery, and to prepare for planting ( shrubs and trees in the middle of the park, | with the idea of eventually throwing open the < whole of the park. ] In a discussion which took place it was i stated that there is plenty of room in the ( nursery now laid off, and that the Board cannot afford to give up the rent of the t central portion- On the other hand it was

proposed to clear the trees out of the centre the ‘‘email park” next the railway, so that it could be let aa a grazing ground. The prei sent condition of that portion was described as disgraceful, the fences being broken down, and the trees being blown down and chopped down. It could not be looked after by the ranger. One councillor said that he would like to see it cut out altogether, as it is only a rookery for the shelter of forty or fifty young fellows who congregate there on Sun day mornings for playing cards. , It was resolved on the motion of Councillors Hole and Hill—“ That tenders be called for letting that part of the park on the east side of cemetery road, for one year, the tenderer to out down trees to the satisfaction of the park ranger ’’-—the ranger to decide whether one or two rows of trees shall be retained, and see that the roots are taken out, —Councillors Gabites, Delaney, and Owers voted against the motion. The town clerk then pointed out that tenders could not be called for until specifications bo prepared, and another resolution was therefore carried that specifications be prepared by the caretaker for next meeting. The Mayor and Councillors Bennett, Owers and Delaney were appointed Domain Committee for the month. SXBBBTB AND WOEKS.

Mr Jackson wrote suggesting that the drainage levels be reduced from Stafford street to tho railway in North street, as the fall now appeared to bo the wrong way. If the level were altered the improvement would facilitate the drainage of Turnbull street.— The Mayor stated that the matter had been looked into, and it was found that the street had been oat down to the “ adopted levels.” It was resolved to grant the application subject lo the consent of adjoining owners being got to departure from the levels. The foreman of works reported on the work of his staff since the previous meeting ; also on the condition of the street lamps of which he found seven required renewal. The work in George street sewer was stopped last , Tuesday, owing to the pitchers being all used; there was about three days’ more work to be done. There was a considerable deposit of gas tar in some parts of the sewer, which was a great obstacle to the carrying out of the work, besides reducing the capacity of the sewer. It was ankle deep in places, and with the silt in it was up to the knees, and very tenacious. It was also knee deep at the sea end of the railway brickwork sewer. Tho Mayor suggested that tho sewer would be closed up by asphalt if the tar was poured into it. Ihe gas company to be requested not to put any more tar into the sewer. The matter of lamps was referred to the works committee. The overseer supplied plans and specifications for the levelling of Market Square. They must lie on the table six days before being ordered upon. BUILDINGS. Mies W. 8. Todd wrote that she had erected a coal shed on a property in Church street, in wood, and within eight feet of a building on an adjoining section, in ignorance of the by-law, and asked that it be allowed to remain. Miss Todd added that the by-law was unjust in providing that she must keep her building eight feet from the side of the section, because her neighbour bad bis built first, close up to the fence line. To be fair, the by-law should forbid either neighbour building within four feet of the boundary.— It was resolved that the shed be allowed to remain, subject to its removal on three months’ notice being given, and subject to the adjoining owner making no objection. Mr B. Tooth wrote protesting against the removal of an old building a few feet further back being treated by the surveyor as a new erection, and full fees charged accordingly, instead of half fees'as for an ’* alteration." The overseer said it bad been ruled ever and over again that the shifting of a building was considered a re-erection The town clerk said it had been so held in the Courts of law. A long discussion took place, some councillors thinking it absurd that a mere short shift of a building should be considered a reerection. The question being raised whether a certain other building in High street, recently shifted, had bean treated as an “ alteration ” or a “ removal,” the paper® ware turned up and it was found that the case had been treated as an *‘ alteration ” It was therefore resolved that Mr Tooth’s case be similarly treated. WATEBWOBKB.

The Mayor and Councillors King and Hole were appointed to sign the water race maintenance contract. The reservoir keeper reported a reserve of 17ft on Saturday. Messrs Lillico and Lane, representing the Woollen Factory Company, waited on the Council to ask for more satisfactory arrange* ments with regard to the water supply. They desired to use, for washing and dyeing purposes, part of the water which had been heated by passing through the condenser of the steam engine. The inspector explained that they got condenser water at a cheap rate, and ought to pay more for the water otherwise used ; the difficulty was that the mill could not use all the heated water, and if it were run through a meter, they would have to pay too much for that supply. The deputation suggested that the charge should be based on an average of the past meter consumption, and this was generally approved. After a long discussion it was decided that the mayor and inspector meet the owners at the mill, and see what could bo done, and report to the next meeting a former resolution having also to be rescinded after notice The inspector reported (bat the old contractors for maintenance bod recommenced work under the new contract. He had taken up about 6£ chains of pipes on Mount Horrible, and several chains more of the banks had been battered back and the pipes stripped ready for taking out. He was building a rough rubble wall wherever the ground seemed likely to slip. One portion be recommended should be concreted, as it is in stony ground and leaking. In taking up the pipes several of them were found to be cracked and broken, so much so that he wondered how so much water had got through, In reply to Councillor Hole Mr Beswick stated that the new open race was standing and carrying the water admirably, and more water, rxct pt for the leaks in the stony ground mentioned in the report. He asked if the Council would have any of the pipes returned to town, and it was agreed that two or three loads should be brought in. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment— General, £197 9» 2d ; waterworks maintenance, £lO7 3s lOd ; waterworks loan account (shipment of pipes), £172 18s 5d ; domain account, £lO 18i lOd.

i On the accounts being passed for payment, Councillor Gabites objected to an item of £1 13a for some advertising in connection with the Arbor Day business. H« considered that the least the Arbor Day committee could have done was to pay that particular account; seeing that the Council’s account was so much overdrawn, and that they were approaching something like financial difficulty, when they would have to suspend payment unless they were more economical than they had been ' latterly The Mayor said he was requested by a public meeting to proclaim a half-holiday, and that accounted for 18s of the claim, and for the r«et more than the value of that could bs credited to the Domain Board. Oi uncillor Hole wanted to know whether the s'atement of Councillor Gabites was correct, that the Council was travelling towards suspension ; whether the finances were in a worse condition than usual. He had been told many times that they were in a better position. Would the Mayor ask the town clerk bow they stood. The Mayor said he would not insult the town clerk by asking him such a question. The Item was passed. Councillors Gabites

and Mair voting against it. WATEETEOUGHS Councilor Burford s nonce of motion to rescind a resolution passed in 1882, fixing the charge for water for horse troughs at hotels at £2 JOs per annum, was strongly opposed by Councillors Gabites and Mair. ihe former considered tho (roughs a great benefit to hotels,a good advertisement, or aid to business, for which they should be quite willing to payj and the latter objected to anyone getting water for nothing. On the other hand, Councillors Hole and others pointed out that the cost of repairs came to a good deal every year j that it was not for their own profit but for tho public convenience that the troughs were maintained; and that if the hotelkeepers did not maintain them the Council must at once erect some, A motion that the water be supplied free, and another that the charge be £1 a year, were both withdrawn, in order that the question might be further considered. The Council then rose.