BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIII, Issue 2652, 26 April 1892, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

\ The fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton / Borough Council was held last evening. Present—Councillors Cuthbertson, Flower, Paul, Orr.Tweed, Bealy, Thomas, and Joues. In the absence of the Mayor, Cr Cuthbertson was elected Chairman. FINANCE. The Chairman reported the debit balance at B ink to be £916 la. The income received fnv- all sources since last meeting had been X. jQ Bs. £63 was from rates and £30 reserve rents, the remainder from clog licenses and earth sold. He tendered a,n apology for the absence of the Mayor. VALUATION. A statement of the valuation of the properties of the borough was received from the Commissioner of Taxes for examination and correction before the final issue of the valuation rolls by the Land and Income Tax Department The Commissioner's letter and enclosure were received. AUDIT BILL. The Secretary of the Municipal Association of New Zealand wrote requesting that any suggestions the Council might have to make in regard to the proposed new Audit Bill be forwarded to him to be placed before the Association. LIBBABY. The Library Committee reported, and made the following recommendations :—- ---" That Harper's Monthly and the English illustrated magazines be procured for the Reading Room and that Chambers' Journal be discontinued. That the hour on which the library should be open on Saturday evenings for the exchange of books be from 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. instead of from 7 to 8 p.m. as at present. . Your Committee finding that there is about £25 allowed in the estimates which is available for the purchase of books for the circulating library, recommend that £20 be expended in new works and £5 in replacing old books which have become unfit for use. A list of new books has been drawn up which it is proposed to order immediately. The report was adopted. engineers' report. The Engineers' report was read. The first clause was the usual formal one regarding the labor gang's work. The second was of more importance, and ran as follows :—Standard survey of the Borough. We have experienced considerable difficulties in the survey of properties in the borough, on account of the absence and displacement of section pegs, and of reliable survey marks, also in the inaccuracy of some of the boundaries as affected by fences and buildings, more especially in that part of the town laid out in 1863 and 1873, namely, the block south-east of and fronting the railway between Baring Square and South street. On a part of the north-weat quarter, and from Wills street to the Town Bslt on th» south-east some permanent survey marks were placed at the last survey in 1879, and are very useful for picking up the positions of sections in their neighborhood ; but there is nothing that can be used as a standard reference mark in the more valuable portious of the town, which at the same time are the most subdivided. We have spoken to the Chief Surveyor on the subject of having a standard survey made, as has been done in other towns, and find that he is anxious about the matter, on account of the accuracy required in the Land Transfer work, and wishes to have such a survey made, and permanent survey marks laid down in the principal streets before serious complications as to boundaries take place. The question of a staudard survey was referred to the Works Committee for consideration and report. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES* REPORT. The Inspector of Nuisancea reported as follows :—Messrs Friedlander Bros, hove caused the nuisance complained of in my last report to be done away with. Mr T. Bullock has promised to carry out any suggestions that Mr Fooks may think proper for the better drainage of Scott's stables. This evening about five I saw a traction being driven from Moore street up East street. This, I believe, is contrary to a by-law passed by the Couucil, and I will ask you to instruct ine as to whether I shall lay an information or not aguinst the driver of the engine. It was resolved that the Engineer inspect the work mentioned, and report to the next meeting. In regard to the traction engine, as the by-laws had not yet been passed, no action nould yet bo taken. Cr Tweed suggested that the police should be asked to regulate the traffic in West street. Large numbers of drays congregated at the. grain stores, and it was frequently impossible to find p passage through them. He also complained that horses were used for the hoisting of sacks of grain to the lofts of the granaries, and these horses shot out of the grain stores suddenly, coaling out upon the footpaths, and frequently wellinto the street. This was attended with danger, and ought to be stopped. The Inspector of Nuisances was ordered to take steps for the regulation of the traffic in West street. TOWN CLOCK. Cr Sealy pointed out that after dark the town clock was useless for telling the time, and thought that something should be done to illuminate the dial, at least during the time the reading room was open. ? The Works Committee was instructed to consider and report on the matter. BY-LAWS. A special meeting of the Council was fixed for Thursday evening to consider the new hy-'aws, and a special meeting on that night (Monday) fortnight to adopt the by-laws. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £170 odd were passed for payment, and the Council sat as a x^iviAXN BOARD. THE FRONT PADDOCKS. The Clerk reported that no satisfactory tender had been received, and the Mayor had given orders to adveitise for tenders for cropping with thft grazing thrown in. DOMAIN WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr Thomas'motion, to rescind a previous motion passed three years ago, appointing the Borough's Works Committee the Domain Committee, was passed, and"on the motion of the same gentleman, Crs Orr, Sealy, and Jones, with the Mayor ex officio, were appointed a Works Committee for the Domain. It was resolved that at next meeting the Domain Works Committee report on what works were necessary, and their probable coat. This waa all the business.