GERALDINE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16308, 9 August 1917, Page 4

GERALDINE BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of this Council was held on Tuesday night. Present — His Worship tho Mayor, Dr. Paterson, and Councillors Bagrie. Sutherland, T. Sherratt, Patrick. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter signed by fifteen ratepayers requested that a culvert be made and t!m ford lov.-ered at North Terrace Boad.—lt was resolved to have the work done. Councillor Patrick said tho creek in South Terrace should be similarly treated. Tho Mount Herbert County Council wrote asking i'or support to their resolution that Hospital Boards should he empowered to borrow for erection of buildings.—The Council could not sec its way to endorse tho resolution. Mr A. 15. Stringer wrote protesting against paying water rate and stating that he had not paid rates in the past. —lt was stated that there was no water main leading to Mr Stringer's house but it was iust within 100 yards of a main.—lt was agreed that the Council had' no knowledge of any agreement whereby Mr Stringer was exempt from water rate, and that the bye-law must be adhered to. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board reported one case of diphtheria in the borough. Complaint was made that a water race across the Valley road caused a nuisance and it was suggested that the water might be diverted.—deferred to the Mayor and overseer. MAINTENANCE OP RIGHT-OF-WAY. A letter signed by Messrs W. T. Turner, A. C. Macdonald, C. H. Tripp and Burke, as owners of laud adjoining a right-of-way from Wilson Street, asked the Council t& take over the maintenance of the right-of-way. They stated that there was no legal liability on their part to maintain it, and it had increased the valuo of their properties and consequently had increased their rates, such increased rates being more than sufficient to maintain the right-of-way, which had boan in use more than 20 years. As each of the tenants used it to a different extent thero was always a dispute as to what extent each of them should pay for its maintenance.

The Mayor quoted the Act, and said that a road had to be a chain wide, properly formed, kerbed and channelled before it could he taken over by the Council.

After some discussion it was agreed to hold the matter over.

OVERSEER'S REPORT

The overseer reported that the receipts for the month had been: — Gas £4S 4s fld, rates £195 18s 2d, and arrears £1 Bs, rent £l2, water rate £9B 12s lOd, and arrears £1 ss, sanitary dues £lB 17s, licenses and dog fees £4 19s 6d, penalty. 3s 9d ; total £3Bl 9s. Subject to the apm-oval of the Council a billiard room license had been granted to Arthur Barnett, and motor drivers' licenses to Brenton Brothers and T. Maitland. The various street and other work done ivas stfil-ed in detail.

The granting of the licenses was approved. Attention was called to gorse and unsightly fence on the borough section at comer, of Talbot Street and Cemeterv Road It was agreed with respect to drainage, in Bridge Street that an inspection he made. OOItfTEIt FENCES. Councillor Patrick said that tall fences at street corners were a sourco of danger, and he moved that owners be required to trim them to a height not exceeding 4ft. Gin., tor a chain on either side of the corner, and Councillor Sutherland seconded. Councillor Shcrratt moved, and Councillor Bagrie seconded an amendment that the height be sft. Gin., and ths amendment was carried. SHOET GAS SUPPLY. Councillor Bagrie, on behalf of the Gas Committer reported that they had purchased a ton of carbide, which was all they could procure. There was no certainty of supplies coming, and the Committer l urged consumers to save as much gas as possible. . They had stopped lighting the street lamps, ant! the lamp lighting contract had expired. It was stated thai, the present price of carbide was £72 por ton. The report was approved. GENERAL. Councillor Bagrie called attention to the state of the footpath, "\Yaihi Terrace, and this and several other matters were dealt with. The tender of Mr Counihan for si-veil years' lease, of Hardy Street Reserve at £-5 a year was accented. Accounts were passed amounting to £193 Is 4d.

DOMAIN BOARD

The. Council sat later as the Domain Board.

Inquiries were made on behalf of the Bowling Club as to granting a supply of water for watering the green,, and the opinion was expressed that there was no objection to granting a supplv. It was agreed to shift the gates of the small park to the corner of Cox and High Streets when convenient. CEMETERY BOARD. The Council also sat as the Cemetery Board, and transacted some routine business.