PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1338, 16 January 1912, Page 8

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the, Petone Borough Council was held last evening. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) presided, and there wore also present: Councillors Piper, 'J'nieman, I.odder, Cox, AYiikcham, List, lirocklcbauk, and Short. Loave of absence was granted to Councillor ISunidge. in connection with the water-works, the Engineer reported that the extremely wetweather that has beon experienced during tho summer has obviated Jiny danger of a shortage, but that water was being used to an enormous extent was evidenced by the fact that, on two occasions recently, the settling tank had been emptied in four hours. That Ihe proper flow of water was not passing through the tanks was also sure, tor, formerly, it was possible to fill the tank under 12 hours. Now it required nearer 21 hours to fill. Endeavours had been jiiude to discover the cause, but so far without success, l'urlhcr search would be made. Tho Engineer also reported that thoro was scarcely sufliciont culec on hand at the gasworks to supply regular customers, and that the supply to the liuihray Department could not be increased. As the number of street lamps was gradually increasing, the Engineer recommended that a more economical method of lighting the lamps, than that at present in practice, .should be tried.—The report was adopted. The Mayor reported that a further sum was to lie'expended in asphalting Jackson Street as fu,r as ISuick Street. An application by a fruit, hawker for a stand in Jackson Street was declined, councillors being of opinion that the applicant should be content with his right to hawk fruit under the Municipal Corporations Act. Permission was given to Ernest H. Garrett to erect a boat shed an Potone Bea(Ji about 200 yards cast of Mr. Silverwood's boat.shcil. In forwarding a cheque for rates due, Mrs, Cameron, wrote protesting against (he delay iir issuing a permit in connection with the re-erection of a workshop in Peel Street. The writer mentioned that, on account of the damage sustained through loss of a permanent tenant who could not afford to wait, legal proceedings might ba rendered necessary.—lt was resolved to inform Mrs. Cameron of the decision of the "Works Committee on tin! matter. A letter was received from the DepulyPiiblie. Trustee; in reference to rotes nn State-owned sections. A. discussion followed, iind, eventually, on the motion of Councillor Piper, it was decided to send a letter to the Minister for Lands, asking if it was proposed to do anything with tho Mmlgwiiy Estate, and. if not, if the Government would .bo prepared to sell sections to applicants desirous of erecting homes. Deference.' was made by the. Mayor to the delay in the construction of tho new bridges over the Hutt and Waiwetu l!iver*. He said that the City Council's share of the contract included Ihe eon-, struct ion of tlie bridges over the Hutt and Waiwetii ]!ivor.s the formation ot the approach to the eastern side of the Hutt Bridge and the road from there to the western end of the Waiwetu Bridge. Iho landowners were bound to provide (Inland for t h l> construction of the road to Lowry Bay, as well as form the voad, and the Petone borough had to provide tho land to extend Jackson Street to the western end of the Hutt Bridge and form the approach thereto. Under clause thirteen of tho agreement entered into between the parties, the City Council we.s to make application for a warrant authoriiiii" the work and setting forth the amount'of the cost h> be borne l>y tho local bodies concerned, bpou the issue of the warrant the local bodies and tho land owners were to pay over the amount of their contributions. His Worship said the only part of the agreement that luid so far been given eli'ect to was the construction of 'tho Hutt Bridge. The city would soon have, to construct the Waiwetu Bridge , in its own interest, as this was required for the carriage of the water 'pipes. His 'Worship said he n? tired of communicating by telephone and of inlerviewiin; the people concerned in the delay, and lie would move that the City Council as the constructive authority'be called upon to state the reaiou of the delay in completing tho isork. A good deal of discussion followed, and in tho course of this it was pointed out that there was nothing to hind the city to complete tho work within any given time. Tho Mayor's motion was then withdrawn in favour of a resolution to write to the Minister of Public Works asking him if application had been made for tho issue of a warrant, and if so whether Iho warrant had been issued.—This was carried.