BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15393, 9 July 1914, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

' TEMUKA. The Temuka Borough Council held their monthly meeting last evening, a week earlier than usual. Present:— His Worship the Mayor (Colonel Hayhurst), Councillors *'l\ Gunnion. AY. Spillane, A. Frew, A. H. Curtis, P. A. Acheson, AY. F. Evans and D. Mdlnncs. STANDING COMMITTEE'S REPORT The Standing Committee reported as follows:—The Temuka Road Board had written complaining about a depression along the line of watermains at Winchester 'and the foreman had been instructed to attend to tlio matter.

The Government Auditor had taken formal exception to the loan of £73 to the Domain Board and wished to l»e informed of the strips that were being taken to obtain a refund. He hail been informed that the Council would vuie .a "suifit-.-c-nt sum to enable the Board to repny the. loan. Ail application froyi the Fire Brigade for a further grant of £4O a yearhad been, referred to the Finance Committee.

The District Engineer for t'lie N Z. Railways had written stating that the shingling of tli'o approach to the station would be attended to. but the formation of a footpath appeared to he in;practicable.—The clerk was instructed to write urging the necessity for improving the footpath. «

The foreman had reported that during the month the staff had been employed improving Ewen Road, eriteting lamp posts, grubbing gorse, putting in crossings, laying water services and filling in depressions along pipe lines. They were now engaged in AUimtt Street."" Some improvements in Murray Street had been asked for and the committee had decided to inspect this street.

Tho r-ommittee had conferred with Messrs IF 11 and Orbell, Dim-tors for tho Gas Compnnv with regard to the lighting of the oil lamns recently erected. Tho Council would be advised of their decision later. —Report adopter!. . GENERAL. It: was reported that 250 copies of tht Canterbury Guide had arrived to tilt! Council's order, and <ll the motion of Councillor Evans, it was decided to p:aco 100 copies with the local booksellers for sale 011 commission, the remainder to ho distributed free in various parts of the- Dominion.

Mr G. Judson was appointed Inspector of Buildings.

Tho surfaceman's application for an increase in wages was not entertained.

The report of Inspector Hugo, published elsewhere in this issue, was received, bin was not discussed. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Tho Finance Committee recommend,ed that accounts amounting to £471 12s G.l bo passed for payment. The total outstanding were £415 13s 10d, and the outstanding rents £'36 8s 2d. Receipts fioni all sources during the month amounted to £377 lis 4d, inel'uding publicans' license fees £l6O. The baiiK balanco was in credit £377 14.-.- 4Ci. .With 1 egard to the fire Brigade's application for a. grant of £4O, the icommittee recommended that the ordinary grant of £2o only bo made?.— Tlie report was adopted, and the accounts passed for -payment.

LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Councillor Frew, for this committee, reported: (1) ''That the present library is inefficient for the town: (2) It is within t'he power cf tho Council to provide, one; (3) Having considered ways and means, both by Carnegie grant and o.'.hcr systems of raising money, we concJllt.lt> that the proposal sho.ukl be declined at present 011 account of ihe bcrough finances."

Councillor Evans said he would like to have seen some preposition before the Council which would 'have settled tlus matter. They needed a, library, and there bad been much dissatisfaction because the town had been so poorly served in this respect. It was to be regretted that the committee cuiild. sugg est uo means by whic-'.i they ecu'.d take advantage of the Mayor's generous offer to provide a section. Similar views were expressed by Councillor Mclnnes, who held that the. town lagged behind many other towns of lesser 'importance, in having failed to provide an up-to-date library. Councillor SpiLano suggested calling a. public meeting. The Aiay-or t'hougb': the report rather bald, but pointed out that the Council's limited rating powers ior the purposes i.d : providing such an institution were ;i serious barrier.

Tho report was relerred back 10 the committee for liirtlier consideration. Co::nci'ilor Curtis said there was very little use in the committee giving flirt iter consideration to the question, if t:ho Council was going to throw cold water 011 any proposal tiiey might make. DOMAIN HOARD. The same gentlemen sat. as a 'Domain lion I'd and also as the Arowhenua Cemetery Trustees. Accounts were passed for payment, and it was decided to erect a wash-house for the curator ol the Domain, at an estimated cost of