TEMUKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11985, 6 February 1903, Page 3

TEMUKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Temuka Borough Council was held at the Council Chambers, Temuka, on Wednesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr T. Buxton) in the chair, and Councillors Henry, Preddy, Frew, Storey, Carr, Bainbow, Lee, and Hancox. The last-named took his seat on the Council for the first time, and was briefly welcomed by the Mayor after he had signed the customary declaration.

The Mayor stated that owing to the plans and specifications of the house connections with the main sewer not having been returned from Christchurch (where they were sent for the approval of the District Health Officer) it would be practically impossible for the Council that evening to come to .'any definite decision with regard to the matter, and he would suggest that the Council hold a special meeting in a fortnight's time, when, the scheme could be considered in its entirety. It was necessary that a special meeting should be held in. order to pass a resolution striking a special rate for a new loan with which to carry out the work. Several other matters of minor imporance were referred to.

The application of the Temuka Fire Brigade for an advance >of £lO on the yearly grant of £25 was acceded to, on the understanding that the brigade's plant be vested in the Council. The Overseer's (report was read and considered. Complaints had been made that since the formation of the water race in Cass street, the roadway is often flooded, and the water lodges in sundry holes and hollows, causing considerable inconvenience to traffic. A partial formation, of the I roadway and raising the present footpath i and binding with, clay was suggested. ! (Referred to the works committee for con- j sideration). As to the dangerous hole at the corner of Alexander and' Ormsby streets and thie suggestion that it shouldbe fenced, in, it was decided to leave the matter "im the hands of the works committee. v . Dealing with the question of bouse, connections the report " House Connections: During the past week I received, from the engineers copies of the plans of proposed house connections. These have been forwarded to the District Health Officer, who wishes to confer with the engineers before giving his consent to the work as shown. As will be seen by the correspondence on the subject of the proposed loan of £4OO for house connections, the Treasury declined to lend this amount for a period less than 26 years, and states that it must be taken as a new loan. To provide the interest and sinking 1 fund on this it will be necessary to strike a special rate on all properties included in the drainageMistrict, and this will require to be done by Special Order. This special rate will amount to about 1 - 12d in the £ on the present valuation of properties included in the Drainage District. Section 70 of Local Bodies Act, 1901, provides for the repayment of part or the whole of the loan at any time during its currency. The Council can therefore carry out the original scheme of charging householders a proportion of the cost of making the connections, and pay off this loan in say two years." The rates were coming ini very slowly, and-in order to obtain the full amount of subsidy the opinion was expressed that; legal steps should be taken to enforce payment of all rates outstanding . after the ~:3ist :'March. The amounts due are.: —West districts, £SB 18a sd; east do., £B6 14s; total, with 10 per .cent, penalty, £94 3s Bd.,' Bents outstanding totalled £39 "19s 6d. Grand total, £134 -3s 2d. ' The banlf boots showed the , foUowing. > balance*:—jGjeaeral „ accoont,

£207 13s 84; water and drainage, £784 17s 9d; bridges account, £287 7s 3d; The pay sheets were as folloys :—General account, £l2O 18s lid; water and drainage, £IOB 18s lOd; bridges account, £ll3 12s. The Surfaceman's report was read. It was resolved to close Maude street to all traffice until further notice.

A resolution was passed calling a special meeting for Wednesday, the 18th inst Councillor Lee gave notice that he would move at the r.ext general meeting of the Council that all works on the borough roads, etc., be let by. tender in future, in lieu of the present system of employing day labour.

Councillor Haneox was appointed to sign cheques as a member of the Cemetery Board, vice Councillor Buxton, . elected Mayor.

The Mayor and Councillor Lee were appointed a. deputation to wait on the Road Board with regard to the position of the public pound. The Council .then rose.