TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3302, 28 April 1885, Page 3

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary' meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last evening m the Council Chamberaj George street. ' , COT7NCILLOBB PRESENT. : His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Sherratt, Proctor, Bnsh, Delaney, W. H. Jones, Hill, W. Jones, Gabites and Sutter. The Town Clerk (Mr E.H. Lough), the Foreman of Works (Mr P. -Dale), and the Inspector of Waterworks (Mr Beswick) were also m attendance. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were road and confirmed. . COBBESFOHDENCE. After the Town Clerk had read copies of letters forwarded since last meeting, inward correspondence was dealt with as follows : — From Messrs Perry and Perry, asking the Council's consent to the use by Messrs Gabites and Plante and others of the right-of • way on Mr Clarkson's property. The application, on the motion of Councillor Sutter, was acceded to. From the Secretary to the Timaru Harbor Board, acknowledging the Council's letter re Moody wharf, and stating it would be sufficient if the Council laid the water to the wharf when it became available for shipping. . From Messrs Booth, McDonald and Co., quoting prices for lamp-posts, aud stating that as they had large orders' on hand from other Councils, they were prepared to execute an order Tory expeditiously. From Mr P. Stratford, stating ho was, owing to ill health, unable to go on with the scavenging contract. He asked the Council, therefore, to cancel his contract ; if not, to accept three months' notice of his intention to relinquish, the contract. During the three months he asked the Council to allow Mr Gliddon to carry out the work on his behalf. Councillor W. H. Jones moved, Councillor W. Jone3 seconded, and it was carried — "That m compliance with the request, and subject to his forfeiting his dopemit, the resolution appointing Mr P. Stratford as town scavenger be rescinded, and that the tender of Mr Jas. Gliddon be accepted, provided he deposits £5." From the Caretaker at the reservoir, stating a good head of water was coming down the race, and that the depth of water m tho reservoir was about 14 feet. From the Inspector of Waterworks reporting that the tarring and painting contract was proceeding satisfactorily, and that a good supply of water was being received at the reservoir. As instructed at last meeting, he had had the supply pipes extended on to the new wharf and fitted with taps, etc. From Mr A. Graham, with respect to one of the Council's water-race reserves, stating he was prepared to accept a lease of tho reserve for 14 or 21 years, from tho 23rd February, 1885, not from the 23rd July, 1883. He added he would. pay the cost of lease provided it did not exceed £3. Councillor Sutter moved, and Councillor Gabites seconded—" That the part of the resolution passed on 9th February last re Mr A. Graham paying rent from the 23rd, July, 1883, ; to the 2?rd FebVuary, 1884, be rescinded." ' " '.'•■-'". This on being put was lost. Councillor Sutter then moved, Councillor Gabites seconded, and it was carried unanimously—" That the solicitor be instructed to enforce the Council's claim for occupying the reserve now. under offer, of- lease to Mr A. Graham from the 23rd July, 1883, to the 23rd February, 1885 5 this claim to . bo settled before the Council sigh Mr Graham's lease.", From Mr T. R. Jones and five, others requesting the Council to continue the laying of water mains -along Otipua Road with a view to their obtaining a domestic supply, for their houses. They agreed to pay £23 per annum for the water, - The Inspector m ' answer to His Worship the Mayor stated to lay the mains as asked for would cost about £600. Messrs Hamilton and Jones waited on the Council; about this matter, but seated they had no more to .'add to what was contained m their letter. Mr. Hamilton, remarked they would be very glad indeed to get the water, bat he was afraid they were put out of court by the statement of the Inspector. - . Councillor Suiter moved and it was agreed to_ «'Thßt the petition of Mr T. R. Jones and others be received and considered at next ordinary meeting, and that the Waterworks Foreman give tho cost." . . ' .' FINANCIAL. The Mayor stated the Borough funds stood as follows : — Dr -General account, £845 4s 6d. CB-T-Watorworks maintenance account, £89 16s 2d; special rate account, £13 14s 6d; maintenance account, £35 17s 3d. ■< Accounts - were --passed as f ollows :— On maintenance account; £920 14s, and on general account: £525 17s Bd. .-■ KERBING AND CHANNELLING. Councillor Proctor moved, m accordance with notice given, and Councillor:- Sherratt seconded, pro.-.'fonma — "That. 1 this Council place upon its estimates: ior the tiext year a sum of £600, .to be spent , m jkerbing and channelling the streets of r Timaru; -before tho 31st' day of March, 1886." The mover, m speaking to his.- resolution, said if the Council adopted it, it would be, a step m the right direction, and one the ratepayers generally. would approve of. He pointed out that Timaru was. far behind other towns m this matter of kerbing aud channelling, arid that a great deal of money ,was spent upon tke aide channels m cleaning them, which work would not be needed if they . were properly kerbed. To make up. the £600 he proposed should be spent, he would strike a rate of 3id i»i the £, .which on their valuation (£41,000) would bring m as near as possible the £600., He fixed this sum,, holding. that it was better to do the, work by degrees, and it was for them tosay which street or streets' should be done first. He added that many of our streets-r-Barnard street especiallyTT-wero a disgrace to the to wn, Some were a great nuisance, .as , water laid stagnant in' them fromV year's : end to year's end... „'".-. . .',. \!'- Councillor Bush objected to the resolution m tpto, and said: the .Council should, dp. nothing m this matter' of drainage until the Committee appointed lately had had time to^ report on the matter. r •: .-•-.• -:- Councillors Sherratt ' and Gabites thought the i;e«olution might be given| effect to if it were shown that the money for the purpose could be procured without muoh trouble. . • CojinpiObr Sutter. Jwas , against the motion, holding that the, idea of. spending the money on certain streets was wrpng altogether, as there would be no end of , trouble" m agreeing which streets should be done first. There were sixteen miles 'of ohanelling m the Borough, and he asked how. far they could expect £600 to go. iln his opinion it would not do. more than a mile of street., If the streets were to be kerbed and channelled they should do tho thing properly, raise , the £15,000 or £16,000 necessary for it, and also strike a special rate for the purpose. In conclusion he held that , the] present was not the time to go into this .matter ; they should wait a year or two, and then, if times were better, enter upon this work. , '. ■ Councillor, Hill was of opinion the Council wore not „m a position just now to spend £600 on the. Side chanels. .'.... After Councillor Proctor had shortly re-. plied, Councillor Hall Jones, moved as an amendment that the debate be, adjourned to the 4th May. „' ! '. • ; This was lost, as . was also Councillor, Proctor's motion, only the mover voting for it. '. " ■ ' - . •'••■•.' ' FINANCIAJi STATEMENT. ......,- The Town Clerk Ma on the table an_ estimate' of the proposed expenditure and probable receipts m. tbe : IJorough . Fund. Account for the year ending ; the. 31st De-1 cember, 1885, as drawn, up by the Finance Committee. The General Account showed the receipts as £3477 2s 4d, and the expenditure as £3808 Us Bd, there being thus a deficit balance of £331 9s 43*. Among the expenditure were two items— one o£ £100 for extra work, on footways, and another of £240 for metalling the Slain Koad. " Thes6 were

really all the new works the Finance Committee recommonded. Councillor Sutter moved—" That the estimate of receipts and. expenditure be adopted." As an amendment Councillor W. H. Jones moved— " That consideration of the statement be postponed to 4th May," as Councillors generally bad not had time to fully understand the statement. The amendment was lost, and the motion carried. It was then resolved—-" That tho Town Clerk prepare tho rate book for 1885, and advertise that the annual estimate of receipts and expenditure is open for inspection." NOTIOEB OP MOTION. Councillor' Sntter gave notice of tbe following : — (1) " That % special meeting of the Council be held on the 27th May, to strike the following rates —A general rate of 4d m the £ on the- annual value of the rateable property m Timaru, and a water rate, as provided for by Waterworks by-law No. 17, and (2) " That at next ordinary meeting it be resolved that m future 5 per cent be charged by the General Account for expenses m collecting tho special and water rates." The Council then' adjourned.