TIMARU BOROGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2410, 13 June 1882, Page 3

TIMARU BOROGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held, last evening. Present — Councillors' Jackson (m Ihe ohair). Gibson, CuJlmanD, Gabites, Filmer, Sherrait, Busb, and Boss. Councillor Shepherd tent an apology for non-attendance at this meeting. , ' '. '■,'"•. ; THS SHIPI-INO DI3ABTBBB. , Letters were read from, the Municipal Councils of Auckland, Wellington, Cbri»tcburcri, Waimate, and Oamaru relative to tha loss of life on the 14th May. (These letters' have, been ' already, published.) , From' Mr B. Wulpole, Secretary to; 'the promoters of tbe International J Exhibition, enclosing a cheque for £18 17s 6d, the pro-ceeds'-of ft concert' given in' the Exhibition buildiDgin aid of the' Timaru Sufferers' Fund. The promoters Expressed regret' that the amount was 'not larger,' but tha night was bad Snd other ooun,tot attractions affected the result.'' ■'■"■' : :" ■ ;''; •.."■'' '.'.; • '••" ■.''!,; ' The Town Clerk lUted that ha had handid over to tho Trustee* of the Sufferers' Fund {bs'^ariom sqbm he bad reoeired, •moanting ♦eteSOOodd. ...i., ( i.n ,• ..■■! ,•.-■. : . :,:... i

j A letter was read from the Secretary to c the Victorian Hnmann Society, dated Ma) f 25th, commencing as follow* : — " To-d^y'i v Argus gives aa account of the disasters ata lendant upon the wrecks of the Benvenua s and City of Perth, and it appears from 'he a report lint there was a generous risk of life, r such as this Society is anxious to recogoise." c Tho letter then referred to accompanying f forms (20) of applications for award, with a 1 request that they be filled up with the par- , ticulars of caees, and returned as soon as , possible.. s It was resolved, on the motion of Councillor , Gibson— "That the letter of the Victoriin 3 Humane Society be referred to the Committee ) of the Relief Fund to take action." ' BUILDIHQ HRQOLiTIONS. • An application was received from Messrs ' King and Co,, contractors for alterations to > the Bank of .New Zealand premises, for leave to proceed. ' The application wns endorsed by the ' building surveyor " This application is not m ■ accordance with the Building Regulations, us the walls are only proposed to be 21 inches instead of 35 inches, as required by tho Eegulatjjns." The surveyor slated that the Begulation*, notwithstanding, the walls proposed would bo strong enough. As a matter of fact, the application was for leave to take , down and rebuild a wall that had stood for many years. Several Councillors expressed the opinion that tho Regulations word tniiohiovouily { stringe.nl m respect of stone walls, and the application was granted by resolution. An application from Mr D. MuGuinneis for leave to errot a drinking fountain and horsetrough at the Ship Hotel was granted, subject to the supervision of the Foreman of Works. TUB BTBBKI3. J. Pearson applied for a progress payment on his mot al-onr ting contract, as he had made good progress with it, although the specifications stated that the work was to be completed before any payment was made. It wai agreed to pay him £20, about 50 per cent on value of work done. Memorials wero read from ratepayers on Cain's terrace and Brown etroet, drawing attention to the dirty and almost impassable state of those streets, and asking for soire- . thing to be done ti improve them. The Works Committee were requerttd to enmino the localities and report at the next meeting. Councillor Filmer drew attention to the way m which certain work was being carried on by the hard labor gang on the Belt. He thought the roadway was being left m too dangerous a state. The Works Committee to examine this work also, and, if necessary to take steps to ■eoure the safety of the road. The Foreman of Works reported that of the 1900 yards of shingle which had been authorised for the streets 1200 had been spread, but on account of the state of tho streets, he thought 2000 yards more than that authorised would be wanted. He had spread about 900 yards of broken metal, betweon Whales Creek and Church street, and estimated that 1300 yards would reach to Stone's Hotel, leaving 300 yards available for King street. He suggested that auother 500 yards should bs Rot for this street. The Inspeotor of Waterworks recommended that "pitchers" should be got to place round the valves and fire plugs, half-a--dozen for each, suggetting that 300 should be got to be put m where most required. It was resolved to call for tenders for a further supply of 2000 yards of approved shingle, the Works Committee to accept a tender ; the Committee also to procure the pitchers referred to by the Waterworks Inspector. Tho tender of W. McGill, for putting down sinks and traps, at £41 155, was accepte J. FINANCIAL. . The report of the Borough Auditors on the rejent audit ,of accounts was read. The auditors made aa exhaustive examination of the relations of the two accounts— general and waterworks— and stated their conclusion that the waterworks account was indebted to l lie general account, for extra olerical assistance required through the extra work involved m the carrying oa of the waterworks — about £406. The Finance Committee having discussed the Auditors' report, recommended its adoption, and that the amount named be refunded to the general account, Tha Council now pasaed a resolution, on the motion of Councillor ( Gibson, adopting the Finance Committee's recommendation, and authorising the Borough Treasurer to transfer tbe sum of £406 from the waterworks to the general acoount. . Accounts amounting to £53 18a 8d on general, and to £254 14s 7d on waterworks account, were passed for payment. FIEK BBIQADBS BILL. A copy of the Fire Brigades Bill, introduced into the House of Representatives by Mr Leveit'am, was received from His Worship tho Mayor. On clause 4, by which it is' proposed to give power to Municipal authorities to levy a rate not exceeding Id m the £ for the maintenance of a Firs Brigade, Councillor Gibson moved, and Counoiltor Cullmann 'seconded, " That m the opinion of this Oounoil Clause 4 of the proposed Fire Brigades Bill is objectionable, and that the power given to the Borough Councils to levy rates under Clauso 108 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, should not be increaied, and they are thoroughly of opinion that no special or separate rate should, be levied except by the consent of the ratepayers." The motion was carried unanimoudy. TVATBHWOBKB. A report of Mr Spooner, caretaker of the Reservoir, dated slh June (prepared for previous meeting), was read, m which ho reported that during the previous fourteen days there had been a full head of water tunning through, the race ; that the reservoir was full and very clear. The caretaker now attended the Council, and stated that his repoit for the present needed reversing altogether. During the past eight days tka water cocniog down the race had been very tb/ck and muddy, and he had to turn it aside, and draw upon the stock m tbe letervoir. This had lowered the level by sft; leaviog at present 15ft m depth. On Sunday morning ht found do water coming down, and by going along his section he found that the reason existed at some point further up the race. He had not seen the man m charge of the upper portion, and he supposed that the rain had caused a slip somewhere. It waa agreed tbat iome. of the Councillors should go and ascertain the oause of tbe stoppage of the flow as soon as possible. "Councillor Filmer moved— "That the Works Committee be requested to report by next meeting of the Council on tbe best arid most economical method of onnecting < the reservoir with the present pipshead, with the estimated cost of same, and- that . they be empowered to obtain all necessary information (professional or other) they may think necessary." Councillor Filmer said he. had' long been of opinion that the pipehead should be connected with the reservoir. At present three-fourths of the water had to be run to waste, m order to ensure the pipehead being kept suppliod for 'emergencies. If the connection lie proposed were made, not a gallon need be wasted, and tbe pressure m the town would be increased' by the additional depth m the reservoir. He understood the reason tho connection was act recommended by the Engineers was that , tbe, present arrangement afforded a means for soouring the reservoir, but that could, co doubt, be managed m some other way. . ■ ■ . • Councillor Ross ssconded the motion. He would tike to see the connection made m order that the spare water, instead of running into tho Saltwater Creek, could be vied for flushing the gullies and sewers m town, Every opportunity should b? embraced for scouring the drains. , .-.: Councillor Gibion. said the most pressing reason, m his opinion, for making the oonnaotion was trie difficulty of keeping a sufficient watch upm the pipeluad, and causing the water to 'flow from the reservoir m proper quantity to keep the pipehead full without' waste. He was sure two-third* of the water ran to waste at preaent. When water was scarce the caretaker could nat leave the place fora.naomeofc for fear of accident. Ho had to watch the pipe-head like a cat watching a moase. To seoure the pipes continuing lull m caieof a sudden demand at bight; aa m case: of a, Ore occurring, ho had to allow as touch, water to run to waste as the main could' take; for if tlie.,.iupply r should; «t »ll f»4 of, .the demand, and air got into tho. pipe, the pressure m town would be (destroyed, and jroiild' not bsr«»tored. for. some time. The motion yai m the j'rtuhf/direotion, but he would &

> commend the Committee not to spend too r mu.h money on professional advice. They 1 should hunt up Mr Dobson's repartf, and see ■ why he made the works as they are. > Councillor Filmer understood that the ! space (abcufc ten chains) was left between the , reservoir and the pip-head m order tbat filter beds could be put down if required. ; Councillor Gibson said that to make the i connection, if an iron pipe were needed, would - be expensive, and it waa open to question 1 whether tho concrete-linod tunnel through which the water now runs would stand the 1 pressure. _ If it would stand it, it would be an easy and inexpensive matter to make the connection. Councillor Bush thought that Mr Dobson had economised rather too much ; that saving had been carried to an extent that would be coitly m the end. The motion was then put and carried. The meeting then terminated.