BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14005, 14 September 1909, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the Timaruv Borough Council \>as lie id. last night. Present —"Hie -Mayor, and 1 Councillors Hawkey, Sealev, Oboru, Harney, Porter, LtatiiwicK, Watson, Sinclair, Raymond, UccK, and batterthwaite. An apology was received from ; Councillor Gdchriao owing'.to an important engagement. MAYOKJs STAfEMENT. The Mayor said the bank overdraft stood at £298 2s 7d; temporary loans, ' £4700-;-and contractors' ueposics £99* ' 15s. He had been in Weluugton last week, and had hurried up the authorities responsible lor sending down the subsidy on rates collected. The subsidy, amounting to £4-SU, had now come to band. He liad also seen tui tinder-Secretary for justice in rcgaro to the right-or—way Detween the Mechanics' Institute and tlie Cotfrtiiouse. Tlie Under-ibecrctary had assured Jam that the-Council, as Owners oft tne Institute, would liave the use of it tor all time. Mr Craigie said lie bad also. seen the Auditor-Uenerai and complained of the frivolous "tags'' wlncli lie had attached to tlie. balance snect. There-was nothing in them, and tiiey ■ :wcre attached to the balance - sheet"' .-every public body in tne Dominion. - ' AN INTERVIEW. Dr Finch, District Health Officer, discussed with Councillors .certain matters in connection with sanitary inspection. The discussion was tafc.»n in committee. CORRESPONDENCE. ' - The director of the Tiniarn Technical School wrote asking for a continuance . ot' the annual subsidy.—£'3o to be granted. Mr J:. J. Fhinn, jeweller, was granted permission to hang a sunshade ouisiue of his ,shpp. - The xteT. J. Olphert' wrote asking ~" for -the use of the Caroline Bay rotunda on Sunday, September 19tli, and Sunday, September i6th, for services in connectiou with the visit, of the. - Scotch boy preacher.—Granted. The Marine Bancbapplied for permission to take up a collection at,a concert which they proposed to give at Caroline Bay, to raise funds lor the; forthcoming - band contest. —Permission granted to take up a collection on any week night. . The. drainage engineer, Mr 'F. W. .Marchant, applied for three 50ft. lengths of hose for flushing purposes on the underground drainage works. Mr Marchant reported/that both Bets of ' contractors for underground drainage works ".were, making very satisfactory progress.—The request for hose was referred until the engineer can be con- '- suited by the CounciL The secretary to- the Canterbury , Fire Underwriter's Association wrote - stating that the explanation of the Council in Tegard to the recent fire in - Regent street was entirely satisfactory. The manager of the C.F.C.A., wrote - that-his Association was not disposed at present to put a price upon the land - owned by them at the end of Beswick street, where it was proposed by some, to -erect 'an over-bridge. The" South Canterbury Board of Education wrote that it would like to interview the Council in regard to charges for water for school purposes.— The interview is to take place at 10.30 'this morning.

Mr G. S. Cray applied for permission to remove clay -from Old J North. Road, ■ between Wai-iti road and the end of Vincent's quarry road. —Referred to Works Committee.' -" The South Canterbury Mounted Rifles, applied for permission to use Mr H. Elworthy's • section off _ Stafford "north, for' an. equestrian exhibition. Permission granted. ■ Captain Campbell, of the Fire Brigade wrote asking that the Brigade be supplied with two 3-gallo'n cuemical patent fire extinguishers as they would be handy for extinguishing ; small fires. They would cost £3 10s .each.—Referred to Fire Brigade' Committee. • Mr H.rKennedy applied for permission to erect .for advertising purposes, at the junction ofLeCren's terrace and Stafford street,-a hoarding.—Granted •subject to building regulations. Messrs Morton' arid! Pearson, auctioneer*, wrote for leave to sell beef at the auction" rooms (meat department).Ho'.meat'Would be killed at the Burnside. abattoirs, Dunedin, under Government inspection,: and would be .sent to Timanrby rail under the most "sanitary conditions, and they. would pay the .Council full abattoir fees on every: carcase received. —Councillor Leathwkk Said' ho thought this would be 'contrary !»• the' by-laws.— The matterwas referred to the abattoir, committee'for report. . .'Mr " Av Thompson's, offer to rent a cottage'-.in High" : streety 'belonging to the Council-at"Bs per week, was accepted- ■;.'.'■ v- • ■■- ; --": , • • A driver's' license "was applied for and granted to Mr W. J. Guildford. Messrs' Scott Bros., applied to have supplied to-them;" free of charge, water for boiler .fefl*! purposes, to their electric generating station'. If this were granted-they would'reduce the price of current for private -lighting, as well as for power, and they would provide 20 glow lamps of. 50 c.p., in lieu of 32 c.p. lamps, for public, lighting in the principal;streets, without any extra- charge.—-Councillor Watson could not see why Scott Bros., should hnye ;any- preferential (treatment.—Councillor Rayniondlsuggested that the Council might assist, local industries by giv--ing water free, or at a merely nominal 'charged' There was" a lot of talk anent the desirableness, of assisting local industries, but it was -time that something "practical was done. —The request was Referred, to the, finance committee; ■ ~ ' . Mr Kingham applied for'permission to remove his house, situated at tRe corner of North and Latter streets,.to the back of his section. If this were granted he would apply for permission. to erect a brick workshop on the front part of the section.—Held over for report. CAB FARES. Four representatives of the local cab drivers, Messrs R. MeKnight, W. Ellis. W. Townsend. and C. Pearcy. waited on the Council to. say that they objected to tbo '. Council making any alteration to the scale of fares as alreadv drawn up and agreed to by both parties. They did not consider it a right thing on the part of the Council to go back on the agreement it had made. The cabmen had jjo intention of fixing the boundaries to cut out the Kia Toa bowling green area, any more than anv other area, but they simply fixed what frhev considered fair to all parties both as regards areas and fares. The cabmen had another little grievance, and that was that the cab-stand

was not swept, suffioiontlv of ton, :ui<l a lot. of litter about did not look well. The cabmen would also like the Council to erect a urinal close to the cabstand, as they could he lined if they left ilieir horses standing unattended in the street. Still another grievance which the cabmen had was that ordinary carriers could take the cab-stand on holidays and whenever they although the cabman paid for it all the year round. After the deputation had retired. Councillor Watson spoke at some length iu support, of rescinding the agreement previously arrived at (which lie said was only agreed to pro forma), and lie. detailed what lie considered would he an equitable arrangement. Councillor Oborn contended that the Council had no right, to bind the cabmen down as was proposed; they did not fix the. charges in other businesses. The Mayor said that the Council had already entered into a. fair agreement with the cabmen, and they should not go back on it. On a vote being taken. Councillor Watson's motion was lost. Councillor Watsou remarking that ho feared those who had voted against him had hoen "got at." TENDERS. Two tenders were received for lighting the town clock for five years — Timnru Gas Com pan v €2lO, Scott Bros. £I;U (accepted). The tenders received tor.a supply of oats were relegated to Councillors Sinclair and Reek to deal with to-day. Three tenders were received for cartin" 990 cubic vands of .shingle—fßhiek ami Sou £7B 7s Gd, J. : ,o'Hagan £74 os (accepted), J. Todd £BG 12s fid. For the supply of pipes two tenders were received—Priest and Holdgate at 60 per cent. oIF the list price (accepted); Craddook, Or'r and Co. tendered at the' same nrioe. ■■WORKS' COMMITTEE. The Works Committee made the following recommendations: — That Sefton Street from Stafford Street to LeCren Street (about 40 chains) be metalled at the rate of not exceeding 30 yards to the chain. That tenders be invited up tiil-th» 13th inst. for Shingling Qqeen, Charles, and Princess Streets, and for 600 bushels of oats, and for iiOOOft of pipes. That the George Street sewer from Loan Company's building to Bank Street, be repaired, and that the men employed on the work be paid as follows:—One man 15s, and two men nb 12s per diem. That an ooen drain be made leading from the South Belt to the lower pond in the Park, to take the drainajze from the South Belt. All but the last clause of this report was adonted. • <ttThe were made of a joint 'meetutg tenders be called an electric fire alarm Having the following-12 points:— : Melville Hotel (Stafford Street),, intersections of Church Street and Grey Road, Theodoeia and North Streets, Stafford and North Streets, Queen and High Streets. Catherine and Victoria Streets, North 'and LeCren Streets,. Cullmann Street and Avenue Road, Wai-iti Boad and Wilson Street, Elizabeth and LeCren Streets, Church and Stafford streets, and fire brigade station, George Street. The successful tenderer to find all appliances, instruments, poles, wires, ete., etc., necessary lor the complete equipment of the system and to maintain: it in good working order for six months after the installation has been completed. Each tenderer to submit with his tender a, full and complete specification, and requisite diagrams explaining the system in respect of which he is tendering. , A long discussion took place on the proposal to call.for tenders. Councillor Leathwick vigorously advocated it, and was supported by Councillors Raymond, Porter, Sinclair, and Watson. The proposal was that the £3OO on the estimates for the improvement of the gaol reserve, and which was not likely to be spent this year, should be devoted to meeting the-'emit of the.-system.; — Other Councillors .did not approve of the proposal,- and on a vote being. taken, it- wiu-i lost. It was agreed that provision should be made the estimates in March nest for a fire alarm system. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

The Borough Overseeri' reported in detail on work done during the past three "weeks. A large amount o{ clay had l>eeii carted from the underground drainage- works, and used for building up the crowns of roads and'filling lip streets to their full width. The repairs t ordered at the abattoir had been carried ' out. In accordance with instructions 22i cubic yards of No, I screenings had been obtained from the quarry at a cost of 2s 6d. per cubic yard.. Prices were obtained for carting, to Dee street and a price of 3s per yard was accepted. This had covered J L. chains of path, 5J chains on.each ; side. The cost per chain was lls ; including cartage, spreading, and rolling. The first year of electric lighting expired on the 31st July last. During the year the lamps were lit 931 hours 45 minutes. The shortest months' lighting was December with 43} hours, and tjie longest was June with 120 hours. The average-, lighting per mouth was 77 tours 39 minutes, . During the year .four extra lamps were added to the contract, this making the lighting for this year £'Blo. He recommended that two additional lamps be fitted in Preston street. During the month of AuI giist 7G2 cubic jvirds of metal and j screenings had been received, making a total of 3046 cubic yards up to date, and being 281 cubic yards in excess of contract rate of delivery. The contractor for the formation of Preston street and-Creek street had not made much progress during the month of August owing to the'wet weather. As building surveyor lie had certified to 14 new buildings, and seven additions during tlie month of August, at an estimated cost of £7102, This was a substantial increase on the past few- months for new buildings, The work of trimming trees oi> th° water race had been completed and a start had heel) made with the annual race cleaning; J)juriiig the. month of August 11 applications for water- >ven> dealt with. SANITARY; The sanitary inspector reported on (lonse-to-house inspections w.hici') he had made in ten streets, and gave details of notices served t-o abate nuisances. During thf* past three weeks there had been no cases of infectious disease notified as existing within the borough. Since fast reporting, ho had inspected, ! tested,' and passed 32 sewer connections. Councillor Watson risked how often the sanitary conveniences at places of amusement in Timarn were inspected. Ho' understood that some of them were in a filthy state. —The inspector said that ho inspected them on his usual rounds. ABATTOIR MANAGER'S REPORT. The abattoir manager reported 'that during the month of August there were slaughtered at the- borough abattoirs, 101 head of cattle, 1541 sheep, II lambs, and 13 pigs. Of these, four sheep, vera wholly, and six cattle partially condemned. All the repairs sanctioned by the abattoir committee were now completed, and everything was in a satisfactory condition. _ ' Tt was decided to draw the attention of the manager, to the fact that some of the meat is not properly covered when being carted' into town. DOMAINS. The park curator reported that since Lis previous report the principal work

done had.beeii the laying out and levelling of the new ground. The work of cutting grass with the lawn mower was going to take practically all of one man's time, this year. The fences along Craigie Avenue had been repaired, and new posts put in where required. Ho was having all the street sweepings he could get. put on the Avenue to help the trees. He suggested that the Council should approach the Government to get a set of meteorological instruments and place them in position in the Domain. When application was previously made the reply was that there was already a weather station in Timaru ; but he understood that the. person who had charge had left the district, and the time was opportune for a fresh application. The instruments would he very instructive and interesting to the public. He was quite willing to do the work required iu taking readings, making out reports, etc. It was decided to make application to the Government for the instruments referred, to. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. The Librarian .reported as follows: The attendance at the Public Library for. the period ending 31st August, iyut>, was o'2ir4, or an average 'or 'lo'l . per day. Tju; reference library was now ready lor use, ..ana the circulating library was reauy for tne issue ot nooks to the public. Mr .VicAab, Staltoro. Street, 'ximaru, .had presented to tne t/ilirary," a valuable English clocK.' When the liiorary was rirst opened Mr Jic.Nab kindly lent an American clock until he imported this/one trom England. Mr .lames Craigie, M.l'., had presented to the Library a full Iri volume- set of the works or" Ueorge. Meredith. Mr Bascand, manager of Jialiantyne's, a catalogue of the General Assembly Library or New Zealand. Mr G. T. Palmer, boys' High School Magazine. He suggested tnat tne Library be closed at U. 30 p.m. He had' taken a count at 9.45 p.m. each night, from the 12th of July to 30th August of the number of persons in the Liorary, and the average 'was 3. On several occasions at 9.40 there had been no one in the Library. On Monday the 30th August with an attendance of 328 persons, the Library, was empty at 9.35. If the Library were cleared at ,9.30' p.m. it would effect 'a saving of looi hours of electric light during the year or about £o 10s in cost. AVith a view of adding a little to the income of the Library, ho suggested that tenders be called for the right to advertise in the periodical cases, in the reading room. : The Library -Committee recommended .as follows-.—That letters of. thanks be sent to Mr McNab for presentation of of clock, and to Mr Jas.-Craigie, 31.P., for presentation of tin 18 volume set of the works of George Meredith.. That the-proposed repairs and alterations to the swing, doors and office window be referred to Mr Panton, architect. : That the Library he closed at 9.30 p.m., and 10 p.m.-oil-Saturdays. That the tender of Messrs. P. W. Hu'tton and Co. for the supply of books to the. Library' for. one year be accepted. That "one ■West Coast paper be purchased at: half rates. That two key safety switches, and a safety switch: for the meter, be placed by Scott Bros, at a cost of 17s lid. The Committee had -nVsuggestion" to offer' in re' disinfecting books: Councillor Watson said. they should allow the--library to go: on. as- at pre>isent for 12 months; . .it would <be ; a.' false step to close the library- at-9.30.;' Councillor Beck'said he thought there was room for economy in running the library. Ho did not think that the' librarian .-required an assistant.

< Councillor Raymond . assured .Council-lor-.Beck' that there was no walste at the library;, it. was-'being run as economically as possible. Councillor Wat.sori objected to the reports of committes on library matters being, published before they had been before the Council. —Councillor Harney, said ho had been nt the nieetings_ referred to, and;could- assure Councillor; Watson that the intellect of Tiinaru was there and that everything was all right. (Laughter.)—lt was explained that both papers..had. been -©presented' at the meetings and that there wr.s no. ; reason why the 'doings of .the committees should not be published. ■ On the rt'comnii'iiuatioii of the Fi-: naneo Comnnttec it was 1 decided to call' for tenders, in tlie",; Unnstchurch. and Duneclm papers,, for. a-lease of .-the Mechanics' institute. ■U'KiVERAL. . In reply to a question by Councillor Sinclair, the Mayor said that the Council officials did not prohibit people, from, using Mr H. B. Kirk's drain pipes I in making private connections. He used Mr Kirk's pipes himself. Councillor, Raymond said that when the connection to his house was being made, he had been informed that Mr Kirk's pipes wore not allowed to be used. Councillor Hawkey, asked if the general conditions governing the iontracts let by Council (in which it was stipulated ftiat McSkimming pipes must he used) did not apply to private connections also. Tho Mayor said he thought not; but the town clerk could look into the matter and report at next meeting. It was decided to call tenders for repairs to tho house of the park eura:tor, ....... .■■•■.-•'■ Councillor Raymond presented a petition from owners of property in what is known as Cain's Block, off- North street, asking that sewage water which flowed on to their sections from Harper street,he diverted.— Referred to the borough overseer for report. In reply to a question by Councillor Ravmond, tho borough overseer said that it cost 9s a chain more to put tho metal screenings on: tho footpath in Deo street, than shingle would have cost. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment ns follows-.—General £556 - 14s Id, waterworks £47 15s 9d, Caroline Bay, Gs lid, park and reserves £23 13s Id, abattoir £49 Os 9d, library £sl 17s Id, street loan (Preston street) £6O. Drainage:, No. .4 contract £6OO, No. .5 contract £2OO, cement £lO3 Bs, 34 connections £265 7s 6d, clerk of works £33, miscellaneous- £3, u total of £1986 3s 2d. The Council rose at midnight.