BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14143, 1 March 1910, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. ' The fortnightly meeting of the Tiniaru Borough Council \va» held in the Council Chambers last night. Present —Xlio Mayor and Councillors HawKey, Soaley, Ooorn, Angiand, Raymond, Porter, "unison, Sinclair, lltx-it ana Biitiei'thwaitfl. AlA'xOK'S. STATEMENT. The Mayor said it would be pleasing to all Councillors to learn that a gentleman belonging to Timaru. had made ix very handsome gift to the public library—27s volumes of good literature, a pictorial atlas of Australasia, and a map of Timaru with lithograph views of -I'imaru iri '69 and 70. Tlie 'donor wished his name to be kept out of the papers, but lie certainly desierved the heartiest thanks of the Council and the citizens. The gift was worth about £IOO. Another very handsome donation had been made to the library by Mr H. B. Kirk, who • had given 25 volumes which were a decided acquisition to the library. Mr Kirk also deserved their best thanks. The Mayor said that he and Councillor 'Hawkey had been deputed to draw Up an address for Lord Kitchener and thay had arranged to present him with an album of views of Timaru and district—a gift which ho believed was unique among the gifts made to the Field Marshal in New Zealand. CORRESPONDENCE. The District Land Registrar wrote 3,' in regard to William street, between " Le Cren and Wilson streets, stating that it was not intended to make this etreot a chain, wide and the street line need not tli ere fore be set back 16Jft. ■ The Mayor explained that Mr Math- : esdn who owned the land' fronting tho greater part of William street had cut it up and sold it. Mr Kempthorne, aa agent for Mr Matheson, wrote asking the Council to take over the 16Jft. which had been set back to widen til* road, no payment being asked for.— Tim Council decided to take it over. The Superintendent of the State 'Guaranteed Advances advised that the Council's application for a loan would bo considered on March 15. The Minister for Railways wrote aAvisinK that a. portion of Station street would probably be required for railway purposes in re-arranging the station. The Director of tho Technical School (Mr Rjtehimts Grant) advised that the Council would require to appoint three managers to represent the" Board of Managers.—Councillors Hawkey, Sealey and Oborn, the retiring managers were thanked for their services, and Councillor Oborn declining to stand nEarn,- Councillors Hawkey, Sealey and Sinclair were appointed for the ensu—inn: year. Mr T). Mahoney wrote offering the Council a half-acre section at the junction of Rose, Heaton and Browne Erects (for the nurpose of enlarging the Council's yard). The Jnsperior-Gencral of Hospitals -rrote forwarding copy of the regulations povprninir tbA election of mom-J-ers of -Hfisni+nl Boards. The Town Clerk at Nanier wrote stating that the hot sea-water baths lit Napier were enamel plunge baths fitted with hot and cold showers, the water being heated by steam engine. Fuel cost £1 ner week, and an attendant £2 10s. The admission fee was 9d for a single bath and 6d for a dozen. Each bather was . allowed 20 minutes, and the average number of daily bathers was 27. There were tliroo private rooms, but owing to the increasing demand plans were being prenared for an additional five rooms. _ The park curator wrote asking what yfc was proposed to use the West Belt reserve for. When he knew this he would be in a position to draw up a plan for its beautification.—Councillor Raymond thought it should be made suitable for cricket n r football.—Councillor Watson said that so long as he was_ on the Council he would vote against making any more cricket or. football grounds, for that would be Pimply a waste of miblic money Councillor Satterthwaite endorsed tins.—The Mayor . said it was all a

question of expense, and until they obtained another paddock for their horses they could not part with it. The reserve should be decently fenced and a belt of trees planted round it. — Councillor Sinclair spoke in support of treating the reserve the same as the squares ; were dealt with in Christcrurch. It should be fenced and sown down in grass, but no trees should be planted.—Councillor Sealey said he too was . opposed to making any pleasure grounds on this reserve.—Councillor Beck thought it should be fenced and then let for a crop of potatoes; that would be the cheapest way of levelling it .—Councillor Sealey said they should fence and beautify the reserve.—The Mayor said the cost of fencing had been estimated at about £l5O. —Councillor Watson proposed and Councillor Sinclair seconded—"That the curator be instructed to prepare plans, to have tho reserve ploughed up, the soil prepared and planted, flowering shrubs and trees planted, lawns, paths, etc., made, no provision to be made for football or cricket games." The motion was lost, those voting for it being—Councillors Sealey, Angland, Watson, Sinclair, and Beck. The other Councillors voted against. The overseer supplied a plan of a fence for the reserve.

Councillors Hawkey and Satterthwaite proposed—" That the plan of fence be adopted, and that the curator be instructed to prepare a plan for grading the reserve." Councillors Angland and Sinclair proposed an amendment—"That the fence specified be erected, and that the curator be requested to prepare plans for beautifying the inner part of the reserve." The amendment was lost by 6 to 5, and the motion was carried. On the motion of Councillors Raymond and Porter it was decided that the Council should meet on Thursday afternoon next with a view to securing a horse paddock. Councillor Raymond mentioned that the Works Committee had no authority to offer Mr Mahoney £6OO for a section, but the Works Committee said it was only a recommendation. Messrs. Perry, Perry and Kninerney advised that the Council could not legally grant assistance to the Ambulance Brigade, • unless it was done out of unauthorised expenditure. The Town Clerk said that the Council had spent'to the full limit of its unauthorised expenditure this year, and this being so, the Council decided that no grant could be made this year. Mr Jas. S. Turnbull wrote asking that the building regulation requiring solid walls be not enforced in regard to two buildings which he has in course of construction in the borough. The walls were hollow brick walls, made so in order to secure a dry building, and neither building would be required to carry any great weight, though they were of ample strength to do so. It was decided that these two applications; and another one from Mr Murdoch (Latter street) be reported on . at next meeting in terms of the modification clause, of the building by-laws. GREATER TIMARTJ7

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. Mr Buddo) advised that numerous objections had been received by him to the . proposed Greater Timaru scheme, and suggested that further action be. deferred until the local Council had considered all the objections and made some attempt to arrive at a compromise. The.Town Clerk read the names of the objectors and pointed out that quite a number of them were not within the area proposed to be annexed. It was resolved that the matter be left to the Commissioner who will be appointed to settle the matter. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr Beswick, Borough Overseer, applied for and was granted a fortnight's leave of absence to enable him to visit Nelson. The Mayor said that Mr Beswick had been ft very valuable officer of the Council; lie had never spared himself day or night, and he hoped that when Mr Beswick left them finally the Council would treat him liberallv. He would Buggest that Mr Bewick be given three months' leave of absence on full pay. • Councillor Hawkey supported the | suggestion, remarking that Mr Bes-

wick was : well deserving 'of liberal treatment at the hands of the Council. It w,a's'resolved .that the matter be dealt with at a future meeting. GENERAL. It was resolved that a special meeting 'be held on next Monday night to consider "the question of a borough overseer. Councillor Watson tendered his resignation from all committees of the Council, as he has not the time to attend them. Oh'the suggestion of Councillor Angland, the 'Council decided to pay full wages to one of its employees during the time he was .laid up through having been run over by one of the Council's'drays.- The amount involved was £ls. • Councillor Watson drew attention to the' fact that the taxi-cab does not stand in the centre of the road on the I stand, as it should do in terms of the by-law.—lt was decided that.notice be I sent to the proprietor to tliis effect. [ Councillor Hawkey asked that the footpath in King street be top-dressed, and that the footpaths in Russell Square be asphalted.—Councillor Watson asked that the Rhodes street " canal " be channelled, and the Mayor asked that the footpath on Wai-iti road be put in order. Requests to be referred to Works Committee. COMMITTEE REPORTS. The Park and. Gardens' Committee made the following recommendations: —That the proposed alteration in the ladies' bathing ground be held over till next year." That bathing machines be numbered.' That the Borough overseer prepare plans and specifications for wash-nouse and fence at tea rooms, Caroline Bay, and that tenders be in-vited-for-work iup till the 14th March. The' Library Committee reported the following recommendations:—That Mr Craigie be aaked to attend the Library Conference to be held in Dunedin at Eastertide. That a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Shrimpton, Werry's Hotel, for donation of books. That the offer of a donation of 25 volumes of Punch's Book of Sports" from Mr W. H. Kirk, and two volumes of the "Gazetteer' of Scotland" from Mr J. E. Hurdley be accepted with thanks. That a book case with glass doors for books of views and magazines of art be purchased for the Reference Library. That accounts, P. W. Hutton and Co £209 2s, and Scott Bros., Christchurch £3, be passed for payment Mr S. Mellows, libarian, reported that the number of, persons through the newsroom in , January totalled (at thirteen counts per day), 6299. Eightly-nine persons had signed the reference library book during the month. The receipts for the month were:—By subscriptions 6s 2d, sale of papers 10s, fines, etc., 6s lOd; total £1 3s. Borrower's tickets had. been issued as under:—Ratepayers 569, residential 92 by subscription 16, total 677. Books had been issued as under:—Fiction 1746, other works 154; 842 volumes had bsen received from the contractors, 718 for the lending library and 124 for the reference library. The Works' Committee made the following recommendations:—That an extension of time be asked for testing street lighting: That a sump be placed near Custom's House to take storm water from Cain's Terrace. That Mr Austen's application for refund of fees be declined. That Borough Overseer be instructed to form footpath on west side of Cain Street as ,soon as possible and that the question of . providing additional street lights be held over until the borough extension is completed. That shingle be placed on streets disturbed by drainage works, where necessary. That Mr Mahoney be oiferod £SOO for two sections fronting Brown, Rose, and Heaton Streets, with a view of extending and improving Council's yard. '

The Fire Brigade Committee made recommendations as follows:—That the hose carriage be varnished at a cost not exceeding £3, and an express to be placed in the, George Street station at night whilst this is being'done. That a plan of the Borough water supply showing mains and sizes, be prepared and that the Overseer be allowed necessary" assistance to prepare the plan. That the Fire Brigade bo asked to furnish returns and half yearly statements of receipts and expenditure in accordance with resolution of 24th June. 1907. ■> . • . The Finance Committee recommended;: —That Messrs Stewart and Lloyd's tender of 500 feet of steel sewage pipes 12 inches by 5-16 inch at 9s per foot be accepted. That the Borough solicitors' opinion be obtained as to whether the Council, can financially assist the St. John 'Ambulance Brigade. ; OFFICER'S REPORTS. The ( Borough Overseer reported on the routine work of cleaning gullies and .channels:'; He recommended that another day per week be given to the work of sweeping Stafford and adjoining Streets, or as an alternative prooure a combined carter and sweeper. This is a new machine, and one that would suit the requirements of Timaru. It is self-acting and would collect the material, mud or dust, and load it into the, dray or waggon as it moves along without the aid of men to fill and broom. "It would require two men and two-horses to work it in Timaru. The repairs to Stafford Street drainage trench had -been put in hand at the contractor's cost. A'good amount of grass chipping had been done on streets where channels were oyer grown. The contractor for the supply of broken metal had commenced to supply and the work of metalling the Main North Road,is m hand. Notes were made on the progress of contracts in hand. Plans, had been prepared for fence for the Gaol Reserve. Water mains in Woodlands road had been towered to new levels, and repairs: to the"' race cotta&L a l Adail * had been attended to. a house-to-house inspection which he had made in ten streets since last meeting of the Council,- and gave details of notices served to abate nuisances.. He had inspected and tested seven sewer connections also seven drains for sewer connections. Durin°the past fortnight two cases of infect" lous disease had been notified within the Borough (one typhoid fever, one diptheria), and a dwelling in Rose Street had been disinfected. Live hedges -which were encroaching on the street line had been cut back in LeUren's Terrace and Commercial Street.

JJNDER&ROTJND DRAINAGE. Mr F. W. Marchant, drainage engineer, reported as follows:—Contract No. 4, Street- reticulation, North Street to south end of town.—(Messrs Fibbes and Clyina; contractor)'was very nearly finished, and in a good deal less , than the contract time allowed. Great energy had been displayed by the contractors ahd the work done was of- an excellent character. Contract No. 6, southern septic tank and outfall, sewer along the beach, etc. This work" was nearly completed between Queen Street and the outfall,-and- ; a very good job indeed m . a «e of it. Much delay had occurred with the execution of the outfall piling as they had .to bore to great depths in the solid rock and blast a hole for each pile before stable w.ork could be executed. They. had. not .anticipated so great difficulties as occurred in the actual course'.of construction. The contract time and extension of time allowed for the construction of the. work from Queen Street to the outfall expired on February 14th. Of the extension of time allowed more than a week was lost through wet and rough weather. Under these circumstances the Council might extend the time for completion until 2fLst February iand after that time impose the damages for delay* The house owners were awaiting per- I mission to make connections xa the

southern end of tho tov.'ii, but he could not receive their sewage until the septic tank outfall etc., were fully completed with all their accessories. Conr tract No 6. Sarah Street, LeCren'a Temice, etc., (Messrs Hunt and . Werry contractors), Satisfactory progress was being made with this and an excellent class of work executed. He had examined the tenders for steel pipes and advised the Council to accept Stewart and Lloyd's tender for 12-inch pipes 5-16 inch thick at £225 or 9s per foot for 500 feet. Messrs Hunt and Werry as contractors for the' southern outfall contract applied for an extension of tim» in which to finish the contract until March 19. Councillors Beck and Angland spoke in favour of granting the request.— Councillor Satterthwaite .thought the contractors had been leniently dealt with and that the penalty should be enforced as suggested by the engineer. —The Mayor suggested that the letter be referred to the engineer for report. —Councillor Raymond was strongly of opinion that the extension of time should be granted. The contractors had had a lot of unforeseen work in having to drive the piles through rock. The Council had lost nothing by the delay so far, and considering all the obstacles they had to contend with, it was but fair to grant them an extension of time.—Councillor Sinclair said he had watched the contract with interest, and was in favour of granting the request to the contractors. He was not sure that the contractors would not be justified in making a claim on the Council for the extra rock they had met with over and above what the specifications led them to believe they would meet" with.—Councillor Porter spoke in favour of referring the matter to the engineer. On a vote being taken it was decided to grant the extension of time asked for, those voting for it being— Councillors Angland, Raymond, Porter, Sinclair, Beck, and Watson. The others voted against, on the ground that they thought the matter should first go to the engineer for his recommendation. Councillor Satterthwaite remarked that the Council had done a very unfair thing, and the Mayor said yes; these contractors should be treated the same as Mr Palliser in the No. 1 contract. All the renorts were adopted. "ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment as follows:—General £307 3s 6d, waterworks £ll2 6s, Caroline Bay £lO 8s 4d, Park and reserves £3l 12s Id, Abattoir £l7 6s, Street loan 13s 6d, library £233 10s 4d, drainage loan £902 14s 3d, total £1614 14s.