Invercargill Borough Council.

Southland Times, Issue 15062, 4 October 1901, Page 4

Invercargill Borough Council.

Thcesday, 3rd Oct. The fortnightly meeting was attended by the mayor (Mr C. S. Longuet) and Councillors D. Roche, Geo. FroggEft, A. MeKellar, John Stead, W. A. Ott, W. Stead, J. F. Lillierap, W. B. Scandrett, W. Manalister, W. Manson, and W. N. Stirling. Leave of absence was granted to Councillor Cleave on the score of ill-health. At a special meeting held prior to the ordinary business the special order, fixing a charge for the removal of nightsoil, was confirmed. The secretary of the High School Board wrote claiming exemption from rating for the buildings and master's residence under the Rating Act, 1894.— Referred to the Finance Committee. Leslie Cheyne was granted permission to erect a verandah to his shop in Nith street, subject to the usual conditions. Lady McKenzie thanked the Council for its expression of sympath}' towards her and her family on the death of her husband. Tho Premier wired as follows to the Mayor : — Kindly convey to the Council my appreciation of their sense of fair play in passing resolution condemnatory of the action taken with respect to the charge mtftle against me to the effect that the Fourth and Fifth Contingents were sent to the Bluff for political purposes.— Received. The Southland Implement and Engiueering Company wrote regarding their lease of section 3, block 72, asking if the Council would make it a condition, when putting it up to public competition, that possession should not be given till three months after expiry. In the event of their being out- bid this would save them great inconvenience, as they were busy with some contracts which would not be completed for four or five months yet; — Granted, provided the solicitor's opinion is favourable. Thirteen late owners of sections in blocks 5 and 6 wrote that having received a demand to pay rates on their sections up to 31st March, they wished to point out that the property was taken by the Government for railway purposes on 11th May, and their agreement with the Department was from week to week, to be terminated by two weeks' notice on either side, " free and clear of all rates and taxes." They therefore submitted that they were only entitled to pay rates up to the 11th May, 1901. — Referred to the Financo Committee. H. S. S. Kyle reported that during the fortnight ended 28th Sept., the following stock were slaughtered at the abattoir :— 133 cattle, 649 sheep, 5 pigs aad 1 calf ; 5 cattle and 2 sheep being condemned. Correspondence was received from various local bodies in the colony with regard to the resolution passed by the Council in reference to obtaining from the Government loans to local bodies at a rate of 3* per cent. The resolution/was favourably considered by all. Mr McNab, M.H.R., thought the present time inopportune as the Government was unable to get money on better terms than 4 per cent. V\ hen the present tension wore off he would be glad to assist the scheme. — Referred to the Finance Committee. The Works Committee recommended (1) that the rental values as submitted by the valuer of the 22 Corporation leaseholds expiring on Ist November be adopted and that McKay Bros, be instructed to offer the same at public auction on 18th October; (2) that sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, block 46, be inclnded with the foregoing endowments and at the same timeofferedat auction; upset rental £2 10s — the upset sec 12 to be £3 ; (3) that the boroughs of East and Sonth Invercargill be notified that this Cooncil cannot allow the sewage from their respective boroughs to run into Puni Creek any longer and that they be requested to make other arrangements to dispose of same or combine with this borough in devising and adopting an improved system of sewage by main outlet ; (4) recommend that the Ythan street bridge be constructed by prison labour with a roadway of 25 feet wide and footpaths of six feet each ; (7) that the mayor be authorised to get the eastern end of No. 2 block (Gala street) ploughed and levelled, about one acre ; (9) that Messrs McKay Bros be informed in reply to their letter that the Council are thorough^ satisfied with the manner in which they conducted auctioneering on behalf of the Corporation ; (10) that the engineer be instructed to report upon the deepening of Puni creek from Conon street to the eastern boundary of the town ; (U) having considered the correspondence from the Minister of Railways and Mr Hanan, M H.R., recommend that Mr Hanan be again written to with the view of reconsideration of the question of a railway siding at Elles road ; (12) the committee reported that the matter of parapets to the street frontage of the building at the corner of Dee and Don streets has been left in the hands of the mayor and engineer to arrange ; (13) naving authorised the mayor to employ two extra men for one week in order to get the necessary particulars required for the register and accounts for the cost of the Banitary charges issued in due course ; (14) tJhat the application from J. P. Joyce to lease small block of land on the west end of Findhorn street iB held over for further consideration. In regard to clause 4 Councillor Ott thought it was a pity that the bridge could not be made the full width and make it a permanent work. — The Mayor said that the bridge recommended was ail that could be made for the money available. —Councillor Stead also thought it was a mistake to build as suggested. — Councillor Scandrett moved that the clause be held over pending a reply regarding free prison labour. — The motion was put before Councillor Ott had an opportunity of seconding the amendment, and Councillor Roche objected to the amendment being seconded then, and the clause was thrown out. — The report as amended was adopted. The Finance Committee recommended that the application from tho Elles road P.M. Church to get gas laid on be agreed to on condition that the cost of laying the service (estimated at £45) is paid by them; (4) that complete plans for a town hall and fire brigade station be invited on the basis that the building be in brick, cost not to exceed £10,000. The committee reported — (5) that R. A. Anderson's application for a water supply to his property in East Invercargill had been granted on condition that he pays the full charge of laying the service, estimated cost £7 15s 2d, an annual charge of £1 10s, the supply to be continued at the pleasure of the Council ; (6) that the Waterworks Engineer's report re the construction of an additional reservoir is under consideration ; (7) having examined accounts amounting to £516 17s 9d and passed same for payment as follows : Public works, £146 3s 8d", .Reserves £29 7a, Cemetery £9 4s, Sanitary £41 16s, Abattoir £18 18s 6d, Fire Brigade £59, Gasworks £91 8s sd, Waterworks £36 14s Bd, Harbour £20 Is, Municipal £64 4s 6d. On clause 1 Councillor Roche moved that it be referred back to the committee for further consideration. He said there might be others wishing to take gas, and to ask a, small church to pay the whole of tho £45 was simply to block the extension of the gas. — Councillor Froggatt seconded the amendment, which was lost. — Clause 4 met with a rather chilling reception. Councillor Scandrett moved the adoption of the clause, and After an ominous silence Councillor Maoalister seconded it without comment. — Councillor Lillierap said he was opposed to the scheme. Tho proposed accommodation for the fire brigade would not be nearly sufficient in a few years, and the town hall would also be quite inadequate and paltry in a very short timeHe thought they should wait until they could bring down a 'scheme that would be sufficient for many years.— Councillors W. Stead, Stirling, J. Stead, W. Manson and Ott also spoke against it, and Councillor Macalister said he was not altogether opposed to delay. H© also twitted several councillors with turning their colour and said Councillor Roche had been the most consistent opponent of the scheme. He thought the matter should go to the ratepayers. All thought that something should be done at once for the fire brigade. The disuse was lost, all voting against it except Councillors Scandrett and Macalister. — The report as amended was adopted. The urgency of having telephonic communication between the two fire brigades was bronght up by Councillor YY\ Stead. Councillor Ott asked if something could not be done to crush down the metal in Pee street as it were very objectionable lying loose as at present. The Council then adjourned.

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