Timaru Borough Council.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2953, 27 November 1900, Page 4

Timaru Borough Council.

The Timaru Borough Council met last evening. Present—The Mayor, aud Councillors McNab, Sealey, Finch, Rothwell, Hawkey, Parkes, Mills, Thomson, Kelly, Young, Guinness, Kernohan, Gabites, Macintosh, Boothroyd, Shepherd, and Hogg. MAYOR'S STATEMENT. . The Mayor’s stated that the street work had gone on as usual since last meeting. The stand-pipe ordered had not been erected owing to various causes of delay, but had been put in hand that day. When erected.it would help the street watering a good deal. The use of hydrant and hose had been tried in the main street, but it was found that it affected the pressure oi the motors too much, and it had to be discontinued. The hyrdant could be used nj the back streets perhaps. The tender of Messrs Priest and Holdgate had been accepted for supply of galvanised iron water , pipes, and that of Mr J. Mee for oats, at Is Bd. A special meeting must be held at noon on Wednesday, to elect a member for the Hospital Board. He would probably be unable to be present, and he would ask them to appoint some one in his place, as he would frequently be in the country, and unable to attend the meetings. He suggested, that the new member should continue to urge that the hospital morgue should be available for public purposes. He had done his best in this direction, but without success, the country members objecting to it. He congratulated the Council and the borough upon the change that had been made in the system of hospital management, in the direction he had fought for a long time, and the Resident Surgeon seemed to be the right man in the right place. He was a thoroughly practical man, and the hospital was going on very well. He had reduced the hours of the nurses, a thing that was very much needed. He asked Councillors to roll up well next Monday afternoon to assist at the opening of the swimming bath. The work was now finished, and the water would be turned in next day. Thd Finance Committee had met and found that the Council had been treated by the bank in a man-

ner they dii not expect;. no interest being allowed on credit accounts. A letter had been written to the manager pointing out that, according to replies received from other Councils, this rule was not applied elsewhere. In the, meantime the manager had agreed to allow interest. The Council would probably want some further accommodation, to pay interest in London next month, and he had no doubt it would be granted. At last meeting the overdraft was £5157 11s 2d. The committee, on finding that interest was not allowed on balances, transferred to the general account all amounts that could be transferred, and in that way wiped off £SOO. There was £SOO of rates to be paid in, wiping o2 £IOOO in a fortnight, reducing the overdraft to £4437, the lowest that it had been for a long time past. He congratulated the Council and the ratepayers on the liberal way they were paying up. It was only necessary to let them know that the Council wanted money and they would pay up. There was no need for jiny scare; they were getting on very. well. Councillor McNab asked if the money ■ transferred to general account has reduced ; the general account properly, and the Mayor said yes.

SANITARY,

' The Council sat as a Board of Health,

A report by the Sanitary Inspector, R. Latter, was read. The principal points were that there were several cases of burying night soil in gardens in the old borough. (One of them said she would soon have to employ the scavenger for the garden was getting full, a statement that caused much

laughter) ; that one or two complaints formerly reported on had not been attended - to; that some of the channels were in a bad condition, and should receive greater attention, - and complaints were made about the filth from the gutters being thrown upon the road. York street channels were in a. bad- state, and should he kerbed and channelled. ■„ . . In reply to a question the Inspector said he could not tell how many, .people buried - night soil, as there was no defined system of employing the scavenger, some engaging him direct, and some through the office. Dr Reid, Health Officer, attended and stated that he had nothing to report. There were no cases of infectious or contagious diseases that he was aware of., Councillor McNab asked his opinion as to the cleanliness of the town, and the advisability of continuing the measures they 1 had taken to secure cleanliness. Dr Reid said the Council were to be congratulated on the efficiency of the officer appointed to supervise the cleansing of the town, and so far as he could see there was nothing to complain of, except that some of the gully sewers would need early attention. If the Council relaxed their vigilance the people—many of them—would go back to dirty habits. It would be necessary xo kesi a man going round to maintain the standard of cleanliness they had reached. He had no doubt that to the cleaner state of the town was due the absence of the typhoid that they had last year. Councillor Young hoped that full value would be attached to this statement, as they would remember that the prevalence of typhoid last summer prevented many people coming +o Timaru for the holidays who had intended to do so. It was resolved that the inspector be instructed to report cases of burying nightsoil, and that the office take immediate action against any person breaking the bylaw. CORRESPONDENCE. A circular from Christchurch re Jubilee medals and subscriptions for the Jubilee Memorial was “ received.” The secretary Lodge Caledonian wrote, urging that the lodge ought not to be charged rates any more than a church. They also objected to the claim for kerbing and channelling, as the work was done before they bought the section. —Lodge buildings are rated; the kerb must be paid for. —lt was stated that litigation was pending over a similar case. _ Mr Palmer, blacksmith, complained that thougli his contract time had expired, the Council still retained his deposit, and while giving him part of the work at the old rates, took some of the best of it elsewhere.— good deal of discussion took place on this

question. The foreman explained that he understood the contract was terminated, and he had taken a wheel to Mr Grandi, halving been told that the work should be divided. There had never been tenders called for this sort of worfy until last year.—ln reply to a question, the Mayor said contractors always applied for the return of their, deposits.— It was resolved to return Mr Palmer s deposit, and call for fresh tenders by next meeting. WATERWORKS. The waterworks inspector reported on the application of the Christchurch Meat Company for a supply of water at 4d per 1000. It would be necessary to increase the supply to the north end of the town to meet the increased consumption. The cost of the connection would be £223 18s, but to make the supply secure withput spoiling the supply to other consumers,-it would be necessary to expend £322 10s on strengthening the supply, not all at once but about half of it. The Council could spare the water provided the company provided sufficient storage, so as to take the water when convenient, and not in a continuous stream as was formerly proposed. T)he charge proposed some time ago was pd, the Council, reducer this to sd. Some Retails were given of ordinary work of his department. . - .! Councillor Young moved his motion under notice, that the resolution fixing the price of water to the freezing works at fid be rescinded (with a view of reducing it to 4d, as offered by the company). Councillor Young argued that the company Kfid offered very fair terms. He spoke of the importance of the freezing works to the borough, and the indirect financial benefit through its rate-paying employees, and the business it passes through the borough. As to the second item of expenditure, part of that must be incurred in a short time in any case, and it should not be charged against the Freezing Works. „ After a long and animated discussion Councillor Young’s motion was lost, only he and Councillor Hogg, Mills, Guinness, and voting for it. FOREMAN OF WORKS. The Foreman’s report was read on the work done by his staff, and on the progress of the Bank Gully contract by Thyne’s. The_j)’oreman’s attention was called do the complaints in the Inspector of Nuisances’ report re channels, and Councillors McNab and Macintosh suported these. Councillor Sealey urged that the weeds in the triangle near the Old Men’s Home should be cut down. {

Councillor Hogg suggested that the guard the corner of Woollcombe and Latter streets be removed as dangerous, and after some discussion it was agreed to remove it.

It was resolved that tenders be called for improvement of Wilson street by next meeting; also for blacksmithing, timber, and pipes

FINANCE. Mr E. H. Lough was re-appointed borough valuer for 1901. The Finance Committee submitted two reports. The first report stated that the Bank manager had accepted on deposit £9OO of the Domain fund, and £6OO of the waterworks loan account, as from Ist April last, at 3 per cent. The committee had given the manager a statement of the estimated liabilities and receipts to 31st Dec., and requested him to allow a temporary advance of about £ISOO, making the total amount £6OOO, to enable the Council to meet the payment of the interest on the waterworks loan in London on January Ist. The rates due on 20th December next would be £3600. The committee had requested the Mayor to write to the bank pointing out the actual position of the borough fund, and asking him to treat the matter on reasonable and equitable terms, and assist the Council to meet the demands made upon them until they were able to collect the amounts becoming due; also to point out that this Council seems to be treated differently to several other Councils.

The second report strted that, having carefully considered the state of the borougli finances, the committee recommended “that receipts in the special rate and waterworks maintenance accounts be transferred to the general account, in liquidation of the indebtedness of those accounts to that fund. They further recommend that in view of the financial position of the borough fund the services of the Inspector of Nuisances be dispensed with as from the 31st December next; also that the Council’s staff under the Foreman of Works be reorganised, and that the foreman and all his staff be given notice that their services will be dispensed with as from the 31st January, 1901, and that application for the position of Foreman of Works be sent in by the 14th January, 1901.” Councillor Macintosh moved that the first report be adopted. He was glad to .see the money coming in so well, but that did not alter his opinion that the position was very serious. What amount would the waterworks require to borrow from the general account to meet the interest due on the 23rd December?—(The Town Clerk said about £1500.) That would leave them with a very heavy overdraft, and the new Act which comes into force on January Ist makes every Councillor personally responsible for excessive expenditure; the auditor has no option but to take every Councillor to task.

The Mayor in reply to Councillor Guinness, said the extra overdraft had not been arranged yet. Councillor Macintosh said they would be in a serious position if the bank declined it. The Mayor protested against Councillor Macintosh crying “ stinking fish ” in that way.

Councillor Macintosh said they were asking for an overdraft £2OOO in excess of the legal limit, and if the bank declined to make the advance they were bound to make default in the payment of interest. Councillor Thomson said they were acting injudiciously in suggesting thoughts to the banker that he had not entertained. He asked the manager if he bad been instructed to call in the overdraft, and though he did not say no, he did not say yes. The borough was perfectly solvent, their funds were ample to meet all' liabilities if judiciously expended, and their banker practically acceded to all the committee asked. In reply to Councillor Macintosh, the

Mayor stated that the overdraft last year at this Aime was £4349, with credits of £500; this year £4IOO tfith no credits. The report was adopted unanimously. On the second report, Councillors Young and Hogg promptly opposed dispensing with the Inspector of Nuisances, after the reports they had had that evening from him- and the Health Officer. Councillor Macintosh explained that the committee’s idea was to get a working foreman. They were all agreed that reorganisation of that department was necessarv in the interests of the town.

Councillor Hawkey thought the time in opportune. They should postpone it till the scavenging contract ran out at the end of the year. Councillor Young moved that the report be adopted, excepting the portion referring to the Inspector of Nuisances. Councillors Thomson and Finch moved an amendment to omit reference to the foreman and staff.—Lost, only Councillor Mills voting with them. (Councillors Gabites and Shepherd had left by this Councillors Boothroyd and Kernohan moved to except both Inspector and foreman and staff. Councillor Sealey said it waS extraordinary that these two Councillors at the committee meeting voted for the report, and they explained that they did so, and said they did so, only to have the matter discussed by the Council. Councillor Maointosn said taat was so. He took the responsibility of moving it, knowing that the Council was not satisfied with the foreman’s department, and as tnistees for the ratepayers they should face the matter. But he was not now prepared to retrench the Inspector after the report they had had. The Mayor said it was not retrenchment; whit was in view was re-arrangement. Councillor Boothroy<fs amendment to leave the staff as they are was lost, only mover and seconder, and Councillors Ihomson, Hawkey and Finch voting for it. Councillors Hawkey and Thomson moved that the reorganisation of the staff and dispensing with the Inspector of Nuisances be held over till the end of the financial year.--Lost, Councillors Finch, Kernohan, Boothroyd and the Mayor also voting for it. Councillor McNab moved that the report be adopted as presented, and this was carried by the casting'vote of the Mayor. For Councillors McNab, Thomson, Sealey, Mills, Bothwell, Kelly, Boothroyd, and the Mayor. Against— Councillors Young, Hogg, Parkes, Hawkey, Guinness, Finch, Kernohan, and Macintosh. Accounts were passed for payment General, £59 Is 8d; waterworks maintenance, £8 9s sd; do. loan account, £lB 17s 7d; Domain (swimming bath), £l5O. TENDERS.

Three tenders were received for 5 chains of invert in Brown street Gully, and the lowest was aceptecd, that of J. Burford, at £l6 2s for labour, the Council supplying cement. The Council rose at 11.10 p.m.