WAIMATE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13287, 16 May 1907, Page 6

WAIMATE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held on Tuesday evening. Present: -The Mayor, and Messrs Coltman, Inkster, Nieolj Miller, Twenlow, Hutt, O'Callagban, - Sanders, and Dash. Ihe South Canterbury Hospital Board notified that the levy was £55 18s 5d and £l3 for infectives diseases hospital. Mr Coltman remarked that the latter item was. fairly large. The District Health Officer wrote thai ordinary storages for waste water were not septic tanks and had no purifying action. In fact the storage, had a. reverse elfect. It was risky to drain bath water into permeable cesspits. Messrs Guinne?s and LeCren asked that the dossing as Gregson and Queen Streets be made less sharp., as it was awkward to drive ovtr. —Mr Inkster said nothing could be done, and it was not the worst — the one- at Manse Street was worse, and there was only an inch or so of fall in Queen Street. The least thing affected it. Mr George Pitcaithly wrote forwarding the resolution of the householders' meeting that the money raised, by sale of borough sections in John .Street and Victoria Terrace 02 applied to the erection of public swimming baths. This was referred to the Works Committee on the suggestion of Mr Coltman, who said that the Works Committee might look into the question of a comprehensive scheme for the town. He was in favour of responsible committees having power to engage expert assistance when necessary. The Mayor concurred, this was understood. Mr J. Crawford wrote under date May Tth, forwarding C. Hodges' taking-over certificate. He had not yet made a thorough inspection but would do so when he came down. The certificate! was that the contractor had complied with the specifications, and uis certificate was dated from April 22nd,. thi t not to include the supplementary part, relating to house service connections or earthenware pip2 laying at the headwork-s, and Keunard's cutting. The question of the works generally was gone into with Mr Crawford in a converxa- | cional discussion which terminated in Mr i Crawford promising to " wash the whole matter up" as soon as possible, and see the Council's interests properly conserved. Councillor Coltman brought up the question of motiv; ■ power. Several people, who had applied for it were anxious to know tha cost and other datails. ; Councillor Dash said the general opinion was that they should wait until the- whole job was finished before dealing with it. The Mayor said that the committee should meet while Mr Crawford was in Waimate and confer with him. In reply to a question, Mr Crawford said he would K-commend the Council to have nothing to do with giving motive power, as it would reduce the pressure. Councillor Sanders said they thought of having swimming baths. Would this make motive power inadvisable Mr Crawford said this did not- affect the matter —the water ran into the baths at night. His strong opinion was that tliey >bould not grant any motive power if they wished to keep the pressure for iires. Councillor Inkster: Fires don't- take place in the day, they take place at night (laughter). The matter was then referred to the Water Committee. Mr I'. J); Whiiiit-y wrote, asking the Council to erect a, with tap at a point marked on attached plan. He would civet the trough himself if the Connrii grained the slighr favour a>ked. The main ran alongside Ids fenc«- f?o that only 10 or 12i't of small pipe- with tap would hj? required. In a very dry summer there wmtld bf no water left in thr- cr?f»k. it bring k.ji, for the town. It would thus be seen that tli? one trough which the

Council agreed to erect -would hi inadequate for 50 or 60 head of horses and cuttle, to say noihing of sheep, btsides being small compensation for the lot:* of a running it-ream and consequent, depreciation 01 *and value.

Ihe Water Committee reported that they had considered a later from -Mr Whitney further concessions as his present supply, was inadequate, but they could nut lecommend-the Council' to agree to the request. Mr D. A. .Buckingham'applied for the use of water in his paddock, lover High Strea, near railway crossing.—Granted on same conditions as two others.

The Lighting Committee's report, which was adopted, stated that,- the agreement with the gas company had. been reconsidered. 'lhe comiuittitj were of opinion that the company had to clean, maintain, and keep in good rejmir all street lamps, but that new material required for both repairs and maintenance should be a chargs against the Council. The company had test meters under order. They recommended that the company (be offered £3 per annum for keeping the Post Office lamp lit eleven montlis in the year, and that a double globe lamp be: obtained for us-e,. atthe Post. Office. Tenders should b9 called for painting the whole of the lamp posts and the lanterns throughout the borough and old lamps rendered xiseiess by tne introduction ox g;is should be sold at the best price obtainable. Gas heaters shoiila ha obtained for use in the Council Chambers and Town oterk's olfice.

Accounts amounting to £219 8s 7d general and £66 lbj lud .water were passed and me progress payment ot xilQO was passed to C. Hodges for his pipe-laying contract and £6O to the' engineer, Mr Crawtord. Councillors Celtnuui and Inkster weie appointed to sign general cheques, Councillors Dash anti 0 iagna-u- for water accounts. . Mr Sandeis •'said there was a good demand lor firewood and he would suggest that a man. be put on to fell trees. It was decided that D. Hoare and his son hi employed at 7s per day each and that firewood'be sold at- 10s per cord for under 20 'and 9s over that amount. Mr Sanders said the committee suggested that, some definite plan of paris improvement* bd. laid down, so that the .work could be done from year to year despite any election of new members.— <'ifc was decided "that the committee"- be empowered to engage an expert to prepare a design for laying off and planting the park. The chairman stated that there' was some slight vagueness as to whether the Board could lease any of the Park reserves at all, but this would probably be got over. If not it would seriously cripple them, as,they depended on this revenue to cany on, ' ' It. was decided to call tenders for groins to protect ihe riverbed according to plans drawn by Mr Bremner and to ask him to supervise the _ work. Accounts amounting £7 I'm lOd were passed for payment.