TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13900, 11 May 1909, Page 7

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The first meeting of the newiy-eon-v stituted Borough Council was held last night. Present: —The Mayor and Councillors Hawkey, Sealey, Oborn, Raymond, Porter, Leathwick, Watson, Sinclair, BeeK, Oilflinsct, Harney, ana Satterthwaite. MAYOR'S STATEMENT. The Mayor welcomed the new Councillors and expressed the hope that their deliberations would always be in good order and for the good of the ratepayers of Timarn. Perhaps they might \ not always see eye to eye in their dis-cussions-—it was hardly likely that they would—still they need not be any the worse fnends outside the Council Chambers for that. The overdraft stood at £.3500 Ss 'ld. There was to \ credit of the underground drainage v - loan account, £5051) (>s -3d. The paysheet was as follows:—General. £1425 2s 2d; Waterworks. £l7 19s 6d: Caroline Bay, £1 5s lid; Park, £ls 10s 6d; Abattoir, £SO 15s 9d; Drainage, £483 12s 9d. CONGRATULATIONS.

Senior Councillor Hawkey congratulated the Mayor on his return to office for the eighth time, and on the fact of ,so many of tho old Councillors baring been returned to office. Tin's could only be taken as an endorsement by the ratepayers, of the policy of the old Council and ho trusted that the work of the new Council " would result in benefit to the town. The Mayor - acknowledged with thanks, the remarks of Councillor Hawkey, and said it was a .source of satisfaction to him to find that of the nine old Councillors seven had been reelected. Timaru had Iwen prosperous in the past f-nd he saw no reason why it should not be in the ftiture. CORRESPONDENCE.

Mrs C. E. Sanderson wrote accepting the £ls offered her by the Council by way of compensation for an accident she had met with through a defect on one of the roads caused by the drainage works. , Mr E. Muchmore wrote further in support of his claim for stoppage in a drain, between his boundary and the sewer, and enclosed a report by Mr Nisbet, plumber, to show that the fault was in the Council's pipes. The Mayor said that the claim was only for £1 odd, bat it was not the amount so much as the principle that was involved. Mr Marchant and Mr Donn, both advised that the Council was not at fault in the matter, and Mr Muchmore was wrong in stating that-the Council only desired to hear one side. They might adjourn tbc matter until Mr Marchant could be conbulted again on the matter. Councillor Porter favoured this course, and on the motion of Councillor Sinclair tho matter was referred to the Works Committee to report at next meeting. The Rev. J. Olnhert wrote on behalf of the Primitive Methodist Ladies' Guild asking permission to hang a string of flags across George street from the Assembly Rooms to the Y.MIC.A. rooms, on the occasion of their " Forest Fair" on May 26th and 27th.—Request acceded to, applicants to take all responsibility. Mr S. F. Smithson wrote asking that drainage be provided for the section at the corner of Hewlings and Albert streets. —Referred to Works Committee.

Miss Preston wrote from Charteris Bay that she would forward as soon as possible some plants for Caroline Bay, which she had promised. —Miss Preston to be thanked. The president of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League wrote asking that steps be taken to form a branch of the League in Timaru. —Referred to the Mayor to enquire into. The Timaru Gas Company wrote that from May Ist tar would be supplied to the Council at 4?. d per gallon. Mr W. Pryor, secretary of the Jmuplovers' Federation, forwarded a receipt for £3 3s, being payment tor his services at Timaru in connection with the Canterbury general labourers' u:»pute, and a debit- note for £-3 ."is tor his services at Christchurch. —Amount to lie paid. Mr M. Kershaw, sanitary mspec-v r, recommended that a drain-connector s license be issued to A. C. Fry, who holds working licenses issued by the Auckland and Wellington City Councils He recommended the Council to adop-: the following resolution to provide tor applications from men of similar qualifications.—"Tl»at a drain connectors license Iw granted as provided in bylaw part I°, to any applicant holding a working drain connector's license issued bv a local authority in whoso district a" sewerage, system has been installed."— Approved and adopted. A license was granted to the N.M. and A. C'ov., Ltd.. to store kerosene, not exceeding '-W> gallons in quantity. .Similar licenses were granted to Mr F. Cullmann (in respect of sporting cartridges) and the C.F.C.A., Ltd. (in respect of various dangerous goods). COMMITTEES.

At the meeting of the Council <m Jndav night. Councillors Obnrn and Sealey proposed the election of certain committees. When this proposal came forward for adoption last night. Councillor Porter pro Dosed and Councillor Leathwiek seconded an amendment, varying the names .somewhat, the proposer explaining he did this because there was uut u.

full meeting of the Council on Friday night. Councillor Sinclair uttered a plea for sectional committees but the Mayor explained that these had been tried without success, as they found it almost impossible to get a quorum at them. "When the business was done by the Council in committee on Friday nights, all the Councillors had a say in it, and knew precisely what was to come before them on the" following Monday night. lie hoped t,hat the Friday night committee would not be departed from. Councillor Baymond supported this. A discussion took place as to whether the Mayor should be an ex-officio member of all the committees. —Councillor Harnev thought he should, but Councillor Leathwick thought it would tend to keep Councillors more up to their work if they did not have the Mayor to fall back upon.—lt was resolved that the Mayor be chairman of the four most important committees—Finance, "Works, Library, and Abattoir. The committees as finallv elected .were as follows: —Finance —The Mayor and Councillors Hawkey, Ravinond, Porter. Watson and Sinclair. "Works— The Mayor and Councillors Porter. Sinclair. Sealey, and Satterthwaitc. Caroline Bav and Park —Councillors Sealey, Harnev, Leathwick and Watson. Fire Brigade—Councillors Leathwick, Satterthwaitc "Watson and Oborn. Abattoir—The Mavor and Councillors Beck, Gilchrist and Oborn. Library-rThe -Mayor and Councillors Hawkey, Raymond. Sinclair and Harnev. -THE DRAINAGE "WORKS. Councillor Leathwick moved and Councillor Porter seconded "That, the clerk of works for the underground drainage works be requested to attend the meetings of the Council once a fortnight to renort and answer any questions that Councillors might desiro to put." The Mayor thought thah under his terms of engagement the clerk of works had only to report to the drainage engineer, and not to the Council. Councillor Raymond thought it would be wrong to go past the engineer for a report. ; Councillor Leathwick then- altered his motion to read that the drainage engineer should report in detail every fortnight. ' Councillor Beck seconded this, saying' that the engineer was the proper one to report, and in this form the motion was carried. . THE ESTIMATES.

Consideration of the estimates for the ensuing year was the next business. Councillor Raymond contended that there was no hurry to settle the esti mates, and in view of the poll on tJio loan proposals on May 19th, he did not think that they should decide upon their expenditure for the yea.- vniii they knew whether or not these loans were going to be carried. There could be no harm in holding the matter over for a fortnight, and he proposed that this be done. He thought the Council as a body should drive round the borough next Thursday afternoon to inspect the borough reserves and make themselves acquainted with the borough assets and the position generally. The new Councillors had scarcely had time to gain a proper knowledge of the position yet. Councillors Hawkey and Satterthwaite objected to the proposed postponement. Councilor Raymond's motion was seconded by Councillor Sinclair, who thought more time should be given to the new Councillors to look into the finances of the Council.

Councillor Porter spoke in favour cf the motion. The Town Clerk said the rate notices bad to bo sent out by June 30th, and if this matter were adjourned it-would cause a delay in getting out the rate demands. Councillor Lcathwick said that a special meeting could be held immediately after the noil on the loan proposals, and Councillor Raymond said that would suit him. " On a vote being taken it was decided to adjourn consideration of the estimates until the iirst Friday after the poll on the loan proposals, a special meeting to be held for their consideration. GENERAL. Permission was formally given to the Mayor to plant trees in the centre of the road in Craigie Avenue, from College Road to -the Main South Road, and to fence the ground on both sides. Councillor Watson drew attention to the necessity for putting in good repair tlic firebell "at the corner of Grey road and North street: in its present state the bell could not be tolled. Councillor Lcathwick mentioned the necessity for providing a lire station for the north end of the town, but it was agreed to discuss this matter with the estimates.

It was decided to terminate the present arrangement with the rubbish tip keeper. Accounts were passed lor payment, and the Council rose at ID.3D p.m.