RANGIORA BOROUGH.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 698, 6 May 1916, Page 3

RANGIORA BOROUGH.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Rangiora Borough Council was held last evening, when there were present— The Mayor (Mr C. I. Jennings), and Councillors H. Boyd, C. C. Paterson, W. J. Jamieson, W. Rouse, C. S. Aycrs, W. A. Rowsc, W- Blackett, F. B. Lane, and W. McGruer. The foreman reported that during the month High Street, from Good Street to the railway crossing, had been tarred. A 16-inch pipe culvert had been put in at the junction of High and Church Streets. The grader had been working on High, Percival, and Blackett Streets. The Works Committee recommended that a substantial wire fence be placed round a small piece of ground near the railway station, I and that the plot be put down in grass, and a few shrubs planted. The matter was held over till next meeting, in order to obtain an estimate as to cost and other information. The gas manager reported that since last meeting 45 tons of coal had been carbonised, averaging 12,800 cubic feet per ton. The increase in the sales of gas for the year ended was 12a per cent, over the previous year. The works are now carting their own coal, and in this way it was estimated that from 8/- to 107- per truck would be saved. Two additional services Had been put in. The engine and plant were in good working order. The North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote, stating that the proposed levy for the Rangiora Borough for the year 1910-17, was £251 10/5Councillor MrGruer said he would like to know how the increases had been made. The Mayor said they were ever increasing, and they could do nothing but'pay. Councillor Boyd moved that the council make payments every two months. ' "It's one of those chickens come home to roost," stated the councillor. "We thanked the representatives of the board for entertaining us up here some time ago, and it was simply thanking them for entertaining us with our own money. That's why I say it's one of those chickens come home to roost." Councillor Boyd's motion was carried. The Taieri County Council forwarded a resolution passed by it petitioning the Government to limit the power of municipal councils to erect toll-gates and take tolls on bridges, etc., and asked the Rangiora Council for its support. Councillor McGruer said he did not think the matter affected Rangiora in any way. The Mayor said if the present conditions in the Taieri district were improper, it was the duty of the Rangiora Council to lend its support. Councillor Boyd said he thought the toll-gates should be abolished altogether. They were relics of the dark ages. The letter was received. The Controller and Auditor-Gene-ral wrote thanking the council for its notification to the effect that the amount of rate refund had been made good. The letter was received. On the motion of Councillor McGruer the Building Committee was requested to go into the matter of the distance between buildings, as provided by the By-laws, and report at next meeting of the council. It was decided to emplov the Borough solicitor to appear at the Court on behalf of the council when conducting cases. The Finance Committee reported that the estimated receipts and expenditure for the year ending March 31, 1917, were:—Receipts, £5434 12/--expenditure, £6661 12/11, leaving a deficiency of £1227 0/11. \ On the motion of Councillor Dane the estimates were approved. \ The financial -statement showed that the receipts on the general account amounted to £ls 6/11, and the expenditure to £205 6/8. The gas account receipts amounted to £lB2 12/2, and the expenditure to £149 Accounts amounting to £625 17/2 were passed for payment.