TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3448, 16 October 1885, Page 3

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Aa adjourned meeting of this Council was held last evening m the Council Chunibera. COPNCILLOHS PRESENT. His Worship the Major, and Councillors Hill, W. Jones, Delaney, Bush, W. H. Jonos, Bower, Sutler, Gabites and Bennett. HOSPITALS AND CHABITABLB AID. Councillor Slitter moved, and Councillor W. Jones seconded — " That His Worship the Mayor (Mr John. Jackson) bo elected the member of the Hospitals aud Charitable Aid Hoard, to represe. t tho Borough of Timaru." Councillor Suiter said His Worship was the most qualified member of the Council they could put on tho. Board. As he had for some years been on the Commission, he was thoroughly acquainted with the working of the Hospital, and he also had been interested m charitable aid to a certain extent. He (Councillor Sutter) might tell His Worship that he would not find his duties pleasant ones ; fur a time, at all events. The whole tiling would no doubt hare to be reorganised, aud as there was a considerable expenditure m connection with these institutions, much care would have to bo exercised. Tn drawing Councillors' attention to what took place m the House, Councillor Sutter said the. whole country, with the exception of South Canterbury, had been broken up into small districts. This exception had been duo to his exertions, which were ably seconded by Mr R. Tumbull. Mr Steward, tho Member for Waimate, was very anxious to have Waimate declared a separate district, but they pleaded with him, and the result was the district was left as it is. The great thing m dispute was the boundary line. Mr Steward was not very scrupulous »s to boundary ; ho wanted tho Pareora to bo the boundary, but he (Councillor Butter) replied he Bhould have only as far as the Makikihi. Beeing this the district was then left alone, no hopod the new Board would work well, and that there would he no jarring either on the part of Timaru or Waimate. Speaking of the amount spent on Hospitals and charitable aid m this district lie said it amounted to £4i165 per annum, viz., Tiinaru- Charitable aid, £378 ; Hospital, £2500 ; Geraldine (including Winchester and Temuka) — t huritable aid, £297 ; Waimate— Charitable aid, £295 j Hospital £1500. Under the Bill the Board were entitled to £ for £ ; therefore it would be necessary for £2487 to be collected or subscribed by the local bodies, or a rate to be struck to support these institutions. He was quite certain that the day wns , not far distant when tho local bodies would hare to support these institutions, and he trusted tho ratepayers would look forward to meeting that emergency. Tho state of the finances of I he General Government could not stand the drain on them for this purpose much longer. After stating how the public could be represented on the Board, ho added that it was of course easy to criticise a Bill of the sort before them, and perhaps it would be found that the machinery m it would not be easily wrought with, as the Bill had been hacked and cut almost to pieces m its passage through tho House ; but despite this, it was, m his opinion, a step m tho right direction, and a vnst improvement on the present mode of dealing with these matters. Ktforring to tho rating proposals, Councillor Sutter said it was j only alter hard work on his part and that of others, that tho Government agreed that property should bo tho basis to rate upon. In concluding, he said he hid much pleasure m moving tbo motion standing m his name. Councillor W. Jones then ondorsod most of what tho mover had said, and the motion being put by the Town Clerk, was carried His Worship thanked them for the honor they lind conferred on him, and the confldonco reposed m him. It was a vorv easy matter for any individual or body to tale up the work of a" institution that was badly managed nn( J m which there was plenty of room "for improvement, but to follow m tho footsteps of an individual or body that miinaged an institution until it becamo almost perfection itsflf was a von- hard task indeed. He knew personally that tuo Timaru Hospital had bcon managed as well, if not bettor, than any hospital m New Zoaland, and be could not let those wbo bad thus managed it go out of office without saying a word or two about some of thorn m particular. Tho Chairman (Mr T. W. Halij had worked hard and zonlously on the Commission for at least 21 years, and Captain Butter olso had dono good service, both gentlemen had hardly over missed attending a meeting, and much praise was duo them and the other members of- the Commission for tho useful work thoy had performed. la hit opinion,

1 the Government had treated theso gentlemen with scant c< urte*y m summarily dismissing them from office as they had dove. He once more, thanked them for hia eleo'ion ; trusted the Board would work well, and, if possible, improve on the way matters connected with hospitals and charitable aid had been administered here for many years. (Applause.) TVATEE BATES TO FABMBBS. The Committee elected to deal with the charges to be nude by the Council to farmers along the course of the water race handed m the following : — " Your Committee visited the reservoir and examined the race along the whole length of that portion under the care of Mr Hpooucr, and find the same m good order. They havo also to report that they cannot adviso the 'Council as to the charge to be made. They would recommend that each ca6e should be considered on its merit, as the charge should bo m proportion to the quantity taken, showing whether the supply is for cuttle or domestic purposes. They would adviso that padlocks be got and fixed on all gates and the sluice valves, to prevent cattle being put on the reserve and also prevent the sluice valves being taken out for the purpose of taking water out of the race." Councillor Bower moved that the Council go into Committee to consider tho report. Tho Mayor was against this, and B»id Councillor Bower's reason for moving no doubt aroso through somo remarks made at last meeting, to the effect that the race m some places was like a stock-yard. He (the Mayor) thought if tho roinarkß made went forth to the public it would, perhaps, prevent anything of tho kind mentioned occurring m future. Councillor Sutter was also decidedly ngainst going into Committee. There was no secret about the matters m tho report, as anyona could visit the race and see it as well as the Committee had. Councillor Bower said the other night Councillors were informed that His Worship saw a person m charge of a trap take water from the race. No steps were taken m this case, but recently an individual was charged with filling his tank and the solicitor wns instructed to proceed agninst him. Ho thought such subjects as these would bo better dealt with m Committee. He moved to this effect, not because he was frightened or that anything he might say would bo misconstrued, but to havo the matter discussed fully and carefully. The report was not full enough ; there were some omissions, and he thought it would be better to ask information on theßd m Committee, a course which he thought m the circumstances Tory justifiable. Councillor Hall Joues moved as an amendment that tho report be adopted. Councillor Bower strongly objected to the amendment, and said no provision was made m the report for charges, etc. Councillor Suiter said he had omitted to state that so far as the Committee went, they found the raco m perfect order. Tho water and tho' raco were very clean, and people need not be at all alnrmed about the ere that had been raised about "filth " on tho race. Councillor Hill was of opinion tho report, if acted on, would remedy tho evil complained of, and then the " stock -yard " part of tho business would be done with. Councillor Bush agreed with Councillor Hill, and suggested that warning not'ees should bo attached to the gates on the race. Councillor Bower said he simply wished to evoke uh expression of opinion on this matter because last timo it was before the Council no opinion whatever was expressed, while it appeared m a public print that tho motion received no support. He reminded them he withdrew the motion on Monday by desire of His Worship, who suggested that it was notdesirable to prolong the meeting that evening as they wero to havo another on Thursday. All he (Councillor Bower) isked was that matters should be fairly dealt with. He hud no deßiro to find fault with the report of tho Committee. He had no fault to find — no malignant feeling m the matter ; all he wished was a fair representation, not to be made a subject for buffoonery for a penny-a--liner to muke an article of. He had seen a ma:niGcent picture lately. A photographer had set his camera on some bullocks, but was quito unconscious that the horns of a wild one was at his own " stern." Some people's idias wanted enlargement, and the food they received from others only sharpened their teeth. He con eluded by stating that if the amendment woro carried it would dispose of tho report, und so discussion on it would be at an end. The amendment was then put and carried. | In answer to Councillor Bower, the Town Clerk said only two farmers got a supply from the race. Councillor Sutter then moved that tho Works Committee procure the material for carrying out tho improvements on the race. In answer to Councillor Bower, the Town Clerk said Mr Spo-ner, the caretaker, kept a cow and horco on the reservoir reserve. Councillor Bower then stated that he would act on tho suggestion of the Moyor, and give notice for next meeting lhat portions of tho reserve bo let. THE SOUTH END OP ME DOHOron. Councillor Sutter said there had been a continual cry about tho south end of the town being robbed and plundered, and to show how matters stood he had drawn up a statement. This showed that the wholo expenditure m the two southern wards since the Borough had been formed was £7436 17s [ 6d. One Councillor had often expressod the thought that not a single penny hud been spent m thn south at all, but theso figures showed he was wrong. Tho Borough was divided about equally, and regarding the tatement of robbery m connection with tho waterworks he found the returns woro as follow :— N.E. Ward pays for water £2973 ; N.W. Ward, £1004; S.E. Ward, £3*B, and 9.W. Ward £720. This showed that tho N.E. and N.W. Wards paid for water £3967 por annum, while tho S.E. and S.W. only paid £1084. He hoped after Councillors had read this statement that no more nonsense would bo heard about the robbery and injustice done to tho southern part of tho town. Councillor Do!aney said the statement should also havo shown tho income from t'io properties m tho Borough, and Councillor Hill said he wished to point out that no one had been heard to state tlio southern part of tho town was being " robbed." All that had been said was they paid rates for lighting and they expected their streets to be lighted. Tho statement made by Councillor Sutter was misleading m tho extreme. If ho would go back to tho timo tho Borough was first formed and tako account of all the moneys that had boon spent m Rhodes' private township, ho would find that a groat injustice had been done. Ec would find that tho 25 per cent of tho money derived from lands m the Government township, which was returned to make the streets m tho town, was spent on Rhodes' town. (Councillor Suttor: Nothing of the kind.) Then again £2000 was set asido by the Council to do kcrhing and channelling. This was not done ; tho money was spent m improving the Main Road m Rhodes' town. (Councillor Sutter; You are wrong.) When tho Gladstone Board of Works dissolved £1500 was handed over to tho Borough. This money was also nil spent m Rhodes' town. Ho knew these matters well, and, if necessary, he could bring evidence m support of them. (Councillor Suttcr : Why don't you bring it ; it does not suit you to do so.) Ho (Councillor Hill) objected altogether to Councillor Suttor bringing up this statement withou'- notice. His object was to bias the minds of Councillors, so that they would not vote for lighting tlio southern part of tho town. Councillor Sutter denied this, and on Councillor Hall Jones asking tho Mayor if tho discussion was m order, ho roplied there was no business before them j he was only lotting Councillors have a freo and easy talk. Councillor Sutter said it did not su ; t Councillors Hill and Jones to have theso matters raked up. Ho had a right to do it, and wns not going to bo put down by theso Councillors. Tho statement mnde by Councillor Hill contained not a word of foundation m trnth. Tho Council only got £200 from the Gladstone Board of Works, and it had beon spont on tlio rond near Mr Elworthy's, a portion of which was taken away by the Railway Department. The only sections they got 25 per cent from were situate near tho gaol, and the amount had been bo small that the Council only received £60. The £2000 was not voted for kcibing and channelling ; it was for metalling tho main road ; kerbing and channelling was provided for by ownors of property paying so muoh of tho cost themselves. He thought

Oouneillors would see from this that Councillor Hill was entirely wrong. His Worship the Mayor and Councillor | Bush bore out what Councillor Sutter had said. The matter then dropped. NOTICE OP MOTION. Councillor Sutter said he intended to move at next meeting that no more lighting be paid out of the general rates, and that a special rate be struck m each ward for lighting purposes. The meeting then terminated.