Invercargill Borough Council

Southland Times, Issue 9464, 11 March 1887, Page 2

Invercargill Borough Council

Thubsday, 10th March. The ordinary fortnightly meeting was attended by the Mayor (Mr D. Roche) and Councillors Storie, McDonald, Blacke, Walker, Lennie, Little, BasstiaD, Tapper, and Stewart. The Macandrew Memorial Executive Committee requested the Council to take whatever stepH they thought beet to forward the object of raising a memorial fund to the memory of the late James Macandrew, M,fl R., and enclosed a form of subscription lift.— Referred to the Finance Committee to report. The Star Football Club applied for permission to play on the middle Eastern Reserve, their ground of last year being obstructed by the works going on in connection with the Corporation well.— Rofeired to the Reserves Committee to report. Dalgety and Company, Dunodin, wrote offering to supply Nobel's explosives for Corporation works at stated prices.—Received. R. Rowan requested the Council to have the ditch in front of the Victoria Hotel covered in without delay.— Applicant to be informed that the matter iB under the consideration of the Council. R. W. Jones wrote stating that he would continue to act as Fire Brigade Engineer until his successor was appointed. He wished to remain connected with the Brigade, and would consider it an honour to receive the appointment of honorary engineer. — It was resolved that Mr Jones' services be continaed until his successor is appointed at the same rate of wages aa paid to him previously, the same to be granted by way of gratuity. The secretary of the Fire Brigade requested that a rough platform be erected in the Park Reserve for use at the Brigade's annual sports on the 17th inst,-— Referred to Finance Committee, with power to act. Tho transfer of the lease of section 19, block 32, from Josiah Rogers to Louia Rodgers was sanctioned. Duncan McGregor wrote offering L 2 for the grass on the Western Reserve up to the date of the annual Corporation reserve sales.— Referred to the Reserves Committee to report. The Finance Committee reported as follows : — Your committee, having investigated the complaint of Fireman Woodnorth, and recommend that the captain of the brigade reinstate Mr Woodnorth, but caution him that it is his duty to agree with the decision of the majority at the meetings of membere, as provided by the rules. — Adopted. The Works Committee reported as folj owa: _(l) Recommend that the County Council be asked to allow the Corporation to deepen the drain opposite the cemetery, the work to be done as recommended by the gardener ; (2) referring to Mr J. B. Forded letter, recommend that Mr Forde be paid L 3 for loss of grass by the Council constructing the waterworks on block 7 of the Town Belt; (3) recommend that the gardener be instructed to place a small footbridge over the creek in the centre of block 183 ot the garden ; (4) recommend that tenJers be called for the formation of Ayr street ; (5) recommend that specifications be prepared for asphalting eleven chains in Tyne street, from Clyde street to Nilh street, on the southern footpath ; for asphalt crossings over Dee street at the north side of Leet street ; and in Spey street from Laven Btreet to Grasworks ; (G) recommend that separate alternative specifications be prepared for a brick or wood drain in Clyde street, on the east side, from Eye street to Puni creek ; in Nith street, from Teviot to Eye street, on the west side, and in Tweed street, on the south side, from Nith to Ythan Btreet, and on the south side of Bowmont street, from Clyde to Nith street ; (7) recommend that the Engineer report on the most suitable material for blinding those streets recently tnotulled. — The second and fifth clauses were referred back to the committee j the others were adopted. The Gas and Water Committee reported aa follows :— (1) Your committee recommend that the offer of John Coates and Co., in letter under date 14th Feb., for inspecting the pipes manufactured in Britain at a cost of % per cent, on the contract price be accepted, and that the necessary letters and cablegrams be despatched ; (2) recommend that Me srs Anderson and Morrison be requested to supply and lay 500 £in., 100 fin., and 50 lin. seta of water services in connection with their contract for laying and jointing the water mains ; (3) recommend that the contractor for gasworks tank be paid L2OO as certified by the manager ; (4) recommend that tenders be invited for cemettry repairs, and painting of the "Works' offieet; (b) report that (he workmen will be put to painting the gasholders ; (6) racomuiend that the Gas Manager be instructed to lay the mains in Bowmont street from Clyile to Conon street. -Adopted. Tenders for rubble were accepted as follows : — SOO yards from W. J. West, at 4 s G I ; 500 yards from A. West, at in 6 i ; uud 500 yards from J. West, at 4s 6:1. Seven applications were received for thd position of Fire Brigade engineer, and tha Council went into committee to consider them. — Oq resuming it was announced that Maurice H. McCraw had been appointed, and the Council confirmed the couimittee'ts decision. The Engineer reported on the complaint made by Gharleß Lindsay that the section leased by him, namely section 21, block 58, was encroached upon by the housj and fence upon the adjoining section. The house encroached to tne extent of 3ft. 7iu , and the side fence at two points to the extent of U and 9^- inches respectively. — Inferred to the Reserves Committee. The Inspector of Nuisances recommended that five chains of drain be made on the east side of Kelvin street from Esk street to Don street to enable the residents of the block to drain their yards. — Referred to Sanitary Committee. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that he had carefully inspected all the fruit shops in town, and did so regularly once every month, but had found no traces whatever of the codlin moth. — Copy of report to be sent to the Secretary of the Horticultural Society. Councillor McDonald, in accordance with notice givea, moved — " That for the better protection of life and property at fires, and for the greater facility of firemen on duty, it is expedient that a volunteer corps of Fin> Police be formed, consisting of twenty tivt> men to be approved by the Council, and that applications be invited for Buch by advertisement," He had communicated with the Fire Inspectors of Invercargill upon the matter, and in reply they had expressed the opinion that such a corps would be able to render good service on the occasion of fire. All would admit that on many occasions the members of fire brigades were prevented from properly discharging their duties by the crowds of people who con gregated. A corps of fire police could do good work in keeping the public back at such times, and also in taking charge of the goods which, without them, would bo thrown about indiscriminately. Recognising the advantages to be gained by the establishment of these corps tho legislation, had made provision for their organise tion. Councillor Baastian seconded tb» motion, but thought that any expanse which might be incurred should be borne by the lusurance Companies. Councillor Blacke said if the cat-pa was to be an entirely honorary one he »roulti vote for tho motion, but if the meuber were to be paid he wouid oppose it. Tao Mayor suggested th>t the mattebe referred to the Fire Brigade Com mittee,

Councillor Walker moved, seconded by Councillor Lennie, " That the matter of forming a fire police corps be referred to the Fire Brigade Committee to report." Councillor Stewart heartily supported Councillor McDonald's proposal, thinking it was a step in the right direction. In many cases in Invercargill a great deal of property had been destroyed which might have been saved had a fire police corps been in attendance. Councillor Storie also supported the motioD, and saw no necessity for referring the matter to the committee. Councillor Tappor said he would vote for the motion, but he thonght it would be useless to expect the Ineuiance Companies to [contribute towards the support of the corps, aa they had quite enough to do at present to pay tbeir losses. The only expense in connection with the corps would be for badges, which might cost about Is 6 1 each. Councillor McDonald said it was intended that the corps should be an honorary one. If a requisite number of men did not volunteer it could not be helped, but the attempt to form the corps could at hast be made. He did not see that anything cou'.d be gained by referring 'he matter to the committee. The amendment was negatived and the motion carried. A- 13. Campbell wrote drawing attention to the oppressive berthage dues charged on steamers at the wharf. At the Bluff, steamers were charged Id per ton per wet fc, while at Invercargill the rate was 2d per ton per day, although they only charged sailing veßsele 2d per ton per"\veek. As agent for the s.s. Invercargill he aeked for a reduction on steamers told per day, or that the rate be made uniform with that charged for Bailers. — Referred to ihe Harbour Committee for report. The Harbour Committee reported as follows: — (1) Referring to Mr Lawlor's application, recommend that MrLawlor be informed if lie will make the road he refers to, the Council will cause the trees to be planted ; (2) report that the present lease of the jetty and one powder magazine will expire on the 14th of April, and iecotnmend that the lease be submitted to public competition by auction for a term of time yeare, ending 31st March, 1890, a deposit of LSO to be the security for the doe fulfilment of the lease, the rent to be paid monthly in advance ; (3) recommend that the solicitor be informed that the Council would like the draft of the proposed Harbour Loan Bill aa soon as it may be convenient to him. — Adopted. The Council then adjourned.