TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2888, 13 December 1898, Page 3

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Timaru Borough Council met last evening. Present -Mr Grandi (Mayor), Councillors Young, Keith, McQueen, Hawkey, Mills, McNab, Smithson, Whittaker, Crannitch, Hole, 'Sherratt, Wood, Targuae, Rothwell. . Apology was made for Councillor Wilds. THE HOSPITAL BOARD. Councillor Keith raised the question of the appointment of the Council's representative oh the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He moved the resolution that the Ma/or be appointed, and he intended it to refer to the present Mayor, but he did not put m the name. He suggested that the name be inserted to make Mr Grandi's position on the Board secure.— A discussion took place (with reference to the Waimate case) m which the Mayor contended that it was not at all necessary to insert the name ; he had signed the minutes as Mayor and there was no other Mayor at the time.— Councillor Keith said he was satisfied ; he only raised the question to have the matter put right if necessary. — The town clerk said the resolution could not be altered without notice of motion. CORRESPONDENCE. A few letters on formal and routiue matters were read. The Oamaru Borough Council forwarded copy of a report they had obtained on electric lighting. An application for change of name on the rolls was granted. DOMAIN. The ranger's report was read on the work done during the month. In replj to a question he stated that the seats had not yet been tied down, and some of them were often shifted about by visitors. The Mayor suggested that they would have to be fastened down by chains anchored into the ground. THB RAINOLIFF RESERVE. A letter was read from Messrs Perry, Perry and Kinnerney, dated 12th instant, as follows :—" Be Hoare and others : We have the honour to state that we have received advice from our London agents to the effect that the prospects of an appeal being successfully maintained are not sufficiently favourable to justify the expense df taking the case to the Privy Council. For the various reasons stated m otir letters of 11th and 27th of June last, we adhere to the opinion then expressed, that if the questions involved were argued before the Privy Council the judgment already given would be reversed, but under the circumstances we cannot ad. vise further proceedings. Your Coun^ cil having done everything that could reasonably be expected to enforce the important claims subject of the litigation, and which it certainly would not have been justified m voluntarily abandoning without a judicial decision. Steps should now be at once taken to terminate the existing lease by re-entry, and to call for. tenders for leasing the reserve. Our agents have not yet advised whether or not Mr Henry Hoare's position is such that the proposed further proceedings for arrears of rent against him as the original lessee would be worth pursuing, but this 'need not delay the necessary steps beingtaketi to re-let the reserve which should be at once proceeded with." The Mayor stated that the solicitors had not received a letter from London yet, but only a cable, as had been arranged with Mr Kinnerney, to save time. Claims were received from the Geraldine County (through their solicitor) for £14 16s Bd, two years' rates on the Raincliff reserve, and from the Mount Peel Road Board for £7 Os 6d, one year's rates on the same block.— Councillor Keith proposed to pay the account as there had been enough litigation about Raincliff, but after a discussion it was resolved to refer the claims to the Council's solicitor for advice as to liability. The Mayor said that this was going to be an important matter, as the Levels County Council proposed to press for payment of rates on the water-workß reserves, which had not been rated hitherto. Reverting to the solicitors' letter, the Mayor said it would be advisable for some of the Council to go and see what condition the reserve was m before preparing specifications for leasing. Councillor Keith said he would know nothing about it; they would do better to send an expert to inspect and report. Councillor McQueen said it would be necessary to take a surveyor to point out the boundaries, as the reserve was. not fenced on the boundaries, and there was 500 acres of freehold m the middle of the reserve. Councillors Mills and McNab moved, and it was carried without dissent— " That the solicitors' 1 advice re resuming possession of Raincliff reserve be adopted." » After a brief discussion it was resolved that the Mayor and Councillors McQueen and Smithson should visit Rainoliff and report on its condition. ABATTOIRS. The Mayor stated that he had not called the Abattoirs Committee together, because it was no use doing so until they had some information to go upon. Requests had been sent to the four centres which haye abattoirs, for information, and no answers had come to hand until Saturday.— As Mr Grandi would be dropping out of this committee, Councillor McQueen was added to it.

D KBRBING AND CHANNEL. k The works committee recomraendec i- that the following streets m the ol r 0 borough be kerbed and channelled : - '- Elizabeth street 5 chains, Grey Road 4 c Violet street 10, LeCren's Terrace 14, g Arthur 18, Cross 10, William 12, Banl 27, Butler 20, Sophia 10, Perth 6, Rose 20, Victoria 20 ; total 176 chains (approximate). And that the following kerbing and channelling be done m the extension :— ln Elizabeth street 9 chains, Church Btreetlß, Arthur street 2 chains ; total, about 29. It was stated that the list had been prepared by the foreman as the most urgent cases. Councillor Crannitch said the portion of Heaton Street by the Council's cottage was worse than any of the pieces named by the committee, and oh his motion that section (about ten chains) was added to the first list. Councillor Hole objected to the work proposed m the suburban wards being gone on with until it had been authorised m the usual way m the " estimates." They were running the suburban wards now on the Levels County rate, and had paid away considerably more than they had received. The accuracy of the statement was disputed, and the facts were inquired into. It, was explained that there was £375 receivable from the rate ; that £165 had so far been collected ; that £78 had been spent on works or other expenses m the two wards,, and that £155 03 8d was to be passed for payment at this sitting to refund to the County Council payments .made to the Harbour and Hospital Boards, leaving about £140 to ac expended. The work proposed, allowing for the contributions from owners, Councillor Young said, was estimated to cost £50 or £60. Councillor Mills said the new wards did not ask for a penny but what they provided themselves. Councillor Hole argued that the new wards had no right to get works done by the old borough funds until their finance is amalgamated by the valuation and rate. Councillor Young protested against the frequent references to the "hew" and " old " borough. Councillor Hole moved that the report of the works committee be adopted, except m reference to the works outside the old borough, these to be held over. After some discussion he agreed to withdraw the motion, on the understanding that the work was to done out of rates to be collected, but the withdrawal was objected to, and the motion was put and lost, only Councillors Hole, Hawkey, and Crannitch voting for it. In reply to Councillor Keith, who asked whether the pieces selected m the new wards were the worst, the Mayor said that there were other bad pieces, but the street levels would need some alteration, whereas the sections selected had workable levels already. Councillor Smithson urged the importance of stretching a point if necessary to avoid a repetition of last year's visitation of typhoid. He asked why it was proposed to channel only portions of the streets, and the Mayor replied that the works recommended would finish streets ahready partly done. On the motion of Councillors Whittaker and McNab, the committee's report was adopted ; and on the motion of Councillors Young and Wood the foreman was instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the works scheduled to be ready by the 31st instant, the "section" to be adopted being that, recommended by Mr Marchant, and 1 used m Dunedin. In reply to Councillor Hawkey, who inquired if the plans and specifications were ready for the Pound gully invert, the Mayor stated that if the kerbing and channelling were to be gone on with Mr Dale said the gully must wait, as he could not possibly attend to both. DOG TAX. It was resolved to obtain prices locally for supply of 200 dog collars, the Mayor to accept the most reasonable. foreman's report. The foreman reported m detail on the work done by the surfacemen. Up .to that night there would be about 26* chains of the Hospital gully finished, leaving about 2£ chains to do, and a bottom to put m culvert under King street. The contractor for Bank gully invert had made a start and got about 80ft of concrete work m but not plastered. He had prepared a plan for the pound gully, but no specifications. The length to do, allowing for several lengths of pipe already m the gully, was about 13 chains. The report was adopted. In reply to Councillor Hawkey, the foreman said he intended to look to the channel m Edward street. WATERWORKS. The inspector reported that the race was m good working order, and the reservoir had been kept near full, although the water waa shut" off for cleaning race four days last week. The offer of the Council to the freezing Works had not been accepted, a decisive reply being deferred. He suggested that if the reply is not received by the end of this month, the 300 3-inch pipes reserved for their use be laid m the suburban wards, I where they will be of most service He suggested also that additional fire plugs be placed on the main where they are now deficient, such as North street, where there are none higher than Gibson street.— The report was adopted. In reply to a question the inspector said more 3-inch pipes had been ordered, so that if the Freezing Company made up their mind they could be supplied. THE VALUATION. The Mayor suggested that as more time would be needed to make the valuation this year, and it had to be made by the 15th of February, the valuator should be appointed at once. Hitherto the town clerk had been appointed valuator. The town clerk said he must ask for some clerical assistance— a youth— if he were appointed. He and his assistant had their hands full now, working till twelve and one o'clock at night. Councillor Smifchson said he had already written a motion— " That Mr Lough be appointed borough valuer and that extra assistance be given him." Councillor Keith opposed any increase of the office expenses. He compared the work and the expenses of Sydenham with its large ratepayers' roll and smaller office salaries, with those of Timaru, and suggested that if Mr Lough needed assistance he should pay for it himself. Sydenham paid an outside valuer, but his payment did not bring the office expenses for clerical work up to the total of Timaru, Sydenham paid £200 to the town clerk, £140 to an assistant, and £20 to a youth, and either £42 or £52 to a valuer ; and there they had 1700 ratepayers to Timaru's 1000. The Mayor said Councillor Keith had not reckoned the extra water accounts to be handled, and forgot that the waterworks pay the whole of the offi.ee salaries. Councillor Keith said they had as many accounts at Sydenham. He did not wish to interfere with the town clerk's salary until the estimates came up, but he would move— "That what assistance is required by the town clerk the same be paid by Mr Lough."— This was not seconded. Councillor Smithson's motion was then carried unanimously, appointing Mr Lough, and authorising him to employ extra assistance. Councillor Keith voted for it, saying that it was a forlorn hope resisting it. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment : — General, £341 18s 2d (including £155 0s Bd, refund to Levels Council ; £25, Mayor's salary ; £28 15s, Fire Brigade ; £13 8b 6d, Mayoral election expenses) ; waterworks maintenance, £41 11s 8d; do. loan account, £17 Is 9d ; drainage loan account, £40 4s Id ; domains, £8 6s Bd. The general account was that day overdrawn £3768 3d, other accounts m tt» bank/of £1095 108 4a, 1

THB MAYOR'S FAREWELL. Mr Grandi said this was the last meeting at which he would occupy" the chair, and he could Dot leave it without thanking the councillors for the way they had assisted him during the last two years. He thanked them sincerely for the assistance, courtesy and goodwill shown towards him, and he hoped that the borough and the councillors, and the new mayor, would have a good time during the next year. Mr Grandi then made some references to the late election. Mr Keith, he believed, had said or done nothing but what was right and proper for a gentlemen to say about him personally, but he was sorry that he could not say the same of some of his supporters. However that was over and he would take no further notice of it. It was something to his credit, he thought, that he could not be turned out of office without people each inventing a separate lie for himself. He did not believe Mr Keith did anything of that sort. i „ Councillor McQueen aeked for names, but the Mayor declined to give any. Councillor Keith said he had heard nothing derogatory said of Mr Grandi, except from one or two who told him that they had heard things m the street. Nothing of that sort originated with those who spoke to him. He thanked the Mayor for his kind remarks about himself. THE INSTALLATION. Councillor Keith, (the Mayor-elect) expressed a hope that the councillors would endeavour to attend the installation on the 21st. It had been the custom to have a sort of semi-banquet m the evening to celebrate the installation, but when he came to make out a' list of people who ought to be invited he got up to ninety-five before he got half through, and he determined to give up the semi-banquet and use the money m another way. He determined to {hand over to the Education Board sufficient money to provide an extra scholarship for One year, to be competed for by children of parents residing m Timaru and attending one of the four public schools m Timaru— Timaru Main, South, Waimataitai, and Catholic. He hoped, therefore, that as the banquet would not be held m the evening, councillors would, if possible, be present at the installation. The Council rose at 10 p.m.