TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1761, 26 June 1877, Page 3

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary | meeting of the Borough Council was held m their temporary offices last nigh.. Present — His Worship the Mayor (Mr a. Cliff), and Councillors Sutter, Fyfe, Bush, Rutherfurd, Gibson, Price, Jonas, and Stansell. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed ; also copy of correspondence forwurded since their last meeting. The following correspondence received was read : — From tlio Colonial Treasurer, advising the payment to the credit of the Council of the mm of £20, received for Refreshment Licence. From same, requesting to be furnished wilh a statement jf the Council's indebtedness up to 30th Juno. From Captain Wildie of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, asking the day -when the Council purposed formally opening their new Chambers, as the Brigade intend celebrating the occasion by a demonstration ; . and requesting the Council to vote a small sum to defray cost of same. Councillor Price proposed, and Councillor Bush soconded — " That the sum of £20 be voted to the Brigade for the purpose of thoir demonstration." Councillor Jackson said he should oppose such a vote. He thought, as tho Insurance Agents were the most directly interested m tho support of the Fire Brigade, they Bhould contribute towards it. Subsequently the resolution was withdrawn, and tho following substituted : — Propoied by Councillor Price) and seconded by Councillor Bush — " That the members of the Timaru Fire Brigade and the Insurance Agents be invited by the Borough Council to a luncheon at the opening of tho new Hall." From Mr J. S. Derby, asking that the fees paid by him m April lust, for lords m Arthur-street, but not performed, be refunded. Refund granted. • Councillors Price, Bush, Jonas, and his Worship the Mayor spoke strongly m favor of taking the present opportunity of showing their appreciation of the Brigado as a useful body of men, who devote their time, &0., for tho benefit of the town, and give them tome encouragement. The resolution was then put ond carried. From tho Lyttolton Customhouse, re payment of 10a to credit of Council Tor 'fees collected for Titrmru. From Mr Williamson, asking for *a settlement of his cliiin ; requesting tho amount voted by tho Provincial Governm-nt, vis., £460 be paid to him, without prejudice, and the balance be settled by arbitration. Councillor Sutter said if their solicitor advised their payment of the sum as not prejudicing their case, well and good ; but he should object to' the caaefcbeing put to arbitration. Councillor Bush said there were tome of ihe members present who knew so little about it that they would like it better ventilated before a resolution was passed on the subject. His Worship said they had gone, into the subject a good many times before, and, after haying been referred to a committee, it had been submitted to their solicitor, who hud adviied their not paying anything unless Mr Williamson gave a receipt m full for the amount voted by the Provincial Government for payment iv full of his claim. Proposed by Councillor Sutter, and seconded by Councillor Gibson—" That Mr Williamson's claim be brought up at next meeting, with reports of the committee on tho subject, and all papers m connection therewith." As an amendment, it was proposed by Councillor Bush, and seconded by Councillor Eutherf urd — " That a committee be appointed to wait on Mr Williamson to make arrangements with him, the committee to consist of his Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Jackson, Rutherfurd, Stansell, and Bush." Upon being put it was declared lost. As a further amendment, Councillor Rutherfurd proposed, and Councillor Bush seconded — " That a sum of £100 be added to the amount stated to be due to Mr Williamson m full of all claim, and that he give a receipt accordingly." This likewite was declared lost. The original motion was then pot to the meeting and carried. Mr Thomas Turnbull, the Secretary to the Fire Brigade, waited upon the Council, and drew attention to the fact that the rope affixed to the new bell had been removed ; also, requesting the Councilto have the old bell erected m some other part of the town, snggesting the advisability of having it near the vicinity of the police barracks. . Instructions were given to have the rope fixed to the fire-bell at once. Moved by Councillor Gibson, seconded by Councillor Stansell, and carried— "That the! small fire-bell be eieoted near the police |

barrack*, Councillors Sutter and Gibson to choose the site." The followiuj report of the Ball and Banquet Committee was tben read : — " The arrangements for ca'ering at the banquet, deoratinz lnll, attendants, quadrille banH, and ali other preliminaries, hare been citisfactorily made. '' A list of over 60 name? of gentlemen willing to t»ke tickets ha* been obtained. " The [Committee ■would recommend that invitations be given to the M»yors of Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Oamaru, the Hon. E. W. Stafford, his Wonhip the Major, Town Clerk, Engineer, Architect, Captaiu of the Fire Brigade. "We also recommend the Council to fix Tuesday, the 10th July, as the date for holding the banquet." Councillor Jonat explained the success which had attended his efforts to dispose of the tickets, and paid he believed it would be a very successful affair. The tender of Mr C. Green for catering, Ac. for the ball and banquet was accepted. £? Councillor Rutherford drew attention to the dangerous state of Sophia-street near the Oddfellows* Hall. Propojotl by Councillor Rutherfurd, and seconded by Councillor Stansell— " That a fence be put on the north side of the new Oddfellows' Hall m Sophia-street, and that all crossings over the footpaths leading into different business premises be stone pitched according to tho Borough Bye-laws." Referred to the Works Committee. "A petition was read from the residents m the vicinity of the West Town Belt, colling attention to the condition of the west side of the Belt, requesting the CouncilJto form tho footpath and m*ko the road. Councillor Sutter said a* it wa» m the Levels Road Board district, he did not think they could entertain it, as the. Council never received any rates from tliat quarter. Tho memorial was referred to the Workß Committee. The following reportlof.thoJWorkß^Committ«e was then re»d : — " Tho tender of S. Kerby, at 9s 7d per cubic yard, for 300 cubic yards'Jof broken metal has been accepted. " The Committee recommend the Council to fit up Woollcombe and Church-streot pumps with wooden stands, connect with pinions, new valves, air vessels, suction pipes, stays, and fix a wheel at Woollcoinbe-itreet pun* p. "Also, to have tli9 foundations of Council Chambers plastered ; and that the Foreman of Works and Councillor Qibion preparo a plan to provide for tho entrance of fire engineover door-step of shed j also, that a lamp bo placed over the entrance to the chambers. " They have also requested Councillors Jackson and Gibson to meet the Manager of tho Bank of New Zealand m referonce to a right-of-way to the back of the section, and to report at the mcotiug of the Couucil of fhis date." Some conversation then Tcnsucd : re' exchanging a portion of the Borough Council section for a l , piece of the Bank of New Zealand soction, and the report of the Committee appointed for the purpose wag then Trad : — " We have seen Mr Chisholmnnd measured the land, and would recommend tho Council to mako an offer to exchange land with tho Bank ; tho Council to give 7 feet frontage on George-street, adjoining the Bank fence, and accept 14 feet at the back m exchange, which will give an opening opposite the corner of Council Chambers 3 feet wide. A concrete wall to be erected between the Council and Bank properties ; each party to bear half of the cost. The lund would havo to conveyed by deed, at tho cost of the Council." Moved by Councillor Sutter, and seconded by Councillor Rutherford — "That the Town Cltrk nmke tho offer to the Bank of New Z -aland m accordance with Councillor Gibson and Jackson's report." — Carried. The tender of Mr S. Kirby, for supplying hand-broken metal, referred to tho Works Committee at a former meeting, was accepted. On the recommendation of the Engineer, tho Works Committee were instructed to procure a pillar lamp for the exterior of the Council Chambers. Councillor Stansell suggested that a watering trough should be placed by the pump at George street neai the edge of the footpath, so as to drain the guttering of George-sireet. A report of the Committee appointed to procure furniture for new chambers was read and adopted. The Town Clerk reported on the state of their finance, together with a statement of receipts and expenditure since their last meeting. Acconnts were passed for payment amounting to £197. The following tenders for improving Charles-street were then opened and considered :— J. Greon, £48 12s 2d ;T. Hanson, £45 10s 9d (accepted) ; J. Shirrs, £55 3s 9d 5 P. 81-.ke, £52 10s ; and J. Bullock, £64 18s. Councillor Bush Buid something was urgently required to be done to Edwardstreet, as come sections could not bo approached at all by the street. His Worship the Mayor explained that an offer had been made to the residents to form the street on conditions that the residents contributed a rate of Is m the £, but they had refused. Owing to the late hour, the consideration of tenders for printing was deferred to an adjourned meeting, the Timaru Herald to be the official journal m the meantime. On the motion of Councillors Price and Bush, the meeting was adjourned to aeren o'clock on Thursday, the 28th inst. The reading of the rough minutes terminated the meeting.