TROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5430, 17 April 1907, Page 3

TROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Lawrence Borough Council was held on Monday evening. Present : His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. B. M'Kinlay), Crs Anderson, Arbuckle, Bruce, Christie, Leary, Robertson, Smyth, and Winn.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From A. Crooke, giving notice under section 5 of " The Rating Act, 1895," that section 3a, block 2, Town of Lawrence, owned by Mrs Elizabeth Harrop, had been vacant and unoccupied for a period of more than six months during the rating year 1906-7. — Referred to the Finance Committee.

From S. and J. Porter, Tuapeka West, pointing out that their rent for endowment was paid up to Ist June, 1907, and that, therefore, they could not see how there could still be a quarter due. — Referred to the Finance Committee. From A. Moody, applying for permission to erect tombstone and iron railings on the grave of the late Mr M. Drew.— Granted on the usual conditions.

From the Fire Brigade, suggesting the painting of a white strip on kerbing opposite fire plugs. — Request granted ; work to be done by the Brigade and charged to the Council.

From Booth and Macdonald, bringing the merits of the Nott chemical fire engine under the notice of the Council. — Received. From F. A. Miller, asking for permission to use extra water supply for two hours in the evening, he not being in a position to avail himself «. of it during the hours it is on at present. — Referred-- to the Waterworks Committee, with power to act.

A DISPUTED ACCOUNT.

The Mayor said the first business was the consideration of an account from Mr R. Blackwood for 16s for work in connection with the cleaning of the Fire Brigade hose after the recent fires. He explained that Mr Blackwood had not been employed by the Coupcil to do the work, and that he had given the Brigade the assistance asked for by instructing the surfaceman to help in the work. Cr Winn said that, as captain of the Brigade, he had asked Mr Blackwood to give the surfaceman a hand to clean the hose, and put in his account to the Borough. As they knew, the fires had occurred in the night time, and it was imperative that the hose should be cleaned and dried at once, and it was scarcely fair to expect the firemen, who had been giving their services gratuitously, to turn out at 8 o'clock in the morning to carry out this work.

Cr Smyth : Is it the recognised duty of the surfacemen to do this work ?

The Mayor : No. But he had, at the request of the captain, always allowed them to render assistance. Cr Arbuckle thought that, after the explanation of Cr Winn, the account <hould be passed for payment. Cr Leary opposed the payment, on the ground that the work charged for came within the duties of the Brigade and not the Council.

Cr Wi.i'i said the circumstances were excepti hi d. Fires had taken place, and it was !i' -essary that the hose should be dried without delay. In other boroughs it was the absolute duty of the surfacemen to clean up after a fire. Cr Bruce moved that the account be passed for payment. Cr Arbuckle seconded the motion.

Cr Christie thought, if they decided to pay this account, there should be an understanding that it was not to be made a precedent.

On being put to the meeting the motion was lost by five votes to three. Ayes : Gift Bruce, Arbuckle, and Winn ; noes : <Jrs Anderson, Leary, Smyth, Christie, and Robertson.

Cr Winn : Then this means that I have to pay the account out of my own pocket. The Mayor : Not necessarily. I presume you engaged him in your official capacity as captain of the Fire Brigade.

HEAD SURFACEMAN'S REPORT.

The following report from the head surfaceman was read : —

During the past four weeks I completed the gravelling of Kilmarnock-street, flushed out the water channels in Irvine, coionsay,and wnitehaven. streets, repaired chree fire plugs, put two new planks on the bridge at Hastings-street, repaired two lamp-posts, and tightened up the frames of all the others. I also lifted the drain in Sandy-street and found that half the pipes were broken, and I replaced them with new ones, re-laying them in a straighter line. lam now forming-up the road. I would recommend that the bridge on the Beaumont Road be tarred and sanded to prevent the planks from wearing away, ana that Harrington Place be rubbled and blinded with gravel. Kilmarnock-street — Cartage of gravel, £41 16s ; cleaning water channels and spreading, £9 16s 6d ; pipes, 9s lid ;— £s2 2s sd.

The recommendation re Harrington Place was referred to the Public Works Committee to report, and as to tarring Beaumont Road bridge to the Works Committee with power to act. RACE CARETAKER'S REPORT.

The race caretaker reported that during the month of March he had been mainly engaged in stopping leaks, and that on several occasions water had reached the reservoir.

STRIKING OF RATE.

Cr Leary moved that a general rate of Is 6d in the £, and a water rate of 6d in the £ be struck on the rateable property within the Borough. Seconded by Cr Christie and carried. THE FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

The Mayor brought forward the matter of bringing the Fire Brigade within the scope of the Fire Brigades Bill, and pointed out that unless they took action that night they would not be able to come within its provisions for another year. The advantage of coming under the Act was that it gave the Brigade an assured finance contributed by the Borough, insurance companies, and the Government. The powers conferred under the Act were comprehensive, including certain power over the Borough's waterworks, but he did not think they had anything to fear in that respect. Cr Winn moved that the necessary steps be taken to take a poll of the ratepayers as to whether they should come under the Act. In support of the motion he said that by taking advantage of the Act there would be a considerable saving to the Borough, while at the same time the Brigade would benefit in so far as it would be efficiently equipped. Cr Leary seconded the motion, which, on being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously.

ACCOUNTS,

The following accounts were passed for payment : — Peter Johnson, £14 3s 4d ; James Forbes, £8 Is 4d; W. Lawrence, £10 8s ; G. Leitch, £8 17s 8d ; R. Robertson, £7 Is 8d ; Charitable Aid Board, £4 Issd.

GENERAL.

Or Anderson brought up the removal of the trees opposite the bowling green, and mentioned that Mr W. Arbuckle was prepared to remove them at 2s 6d per tree. — The offer was accepted, and Cr Anderson authorised to see the work carried out as soon as possible. The Mayor mentioned that Messrs Potts Bros, had offered to put on a team with the Borough for the gravelling of about two chains in Sandy-street which had never previously been gravelled, and it was resolved to accept the offer. Some necessary work -in Harringtonstreet, brought forward, by Cr Robertson, was allowed to stand over till after the election of the new Council.

VALEDICTORY

His Worship the Mayor said that, as this was the last 'meeting during his term of Mayor, he would like to express to the members of the Council his thanks for their assistance, courtesy, and consideration during his term of office. They had assisted him to a great extent in the carrying out of his duties, and he appreciated their help very much indeed. Though he was not a candidate for the position of Mayor, he had consented to allow himself to be nominated for a seat on the Council, and he hoped to meet the majority of them again around the Council table.

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