PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1505, 30 July 1912, Page 8

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

4 TOWN CLERK DESIGNS. Petono Borough Council met last evening, l'reseut: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan), and Councillors Cox, Short, List, Truman, Lodder, Wakchnui, Burridgc, and Brocklobank. The Town Clerk (Mr. A. Webster) tendered his resignation. The Mayor remarked that tho resignation came somewhat as a blow to him. Mr. Webster had been a very faithful servant, and he ((he Mayor) wished to expi ess regret at the fact Unit he was leaving. Councillor Cox moved: "That the resignation be received with regret, and that the council's sense of Mr. Webster's conscientious work bo placed on record ill the minutes. Councillor AYakehnni seconded. Councillor List moved as nn amendment : "That Mr. Webster l>e asked to reconsider the matter, and that his honorarium l>o increased by d£so." Tho Mayor stated that Mr. Webster had rpally made up his mind to leave the council's employ. The original motion was therefore carried unanimously.' It was decided to call for applications to fill the vacancy at a salary of ,£275 per annum. Councillor Lodder moved: "That the amendments to tho drainage by-law, as agreed to by the council, at a meeting held on August 14, 1911, bo adopted (by way of special order,' or such way as the law directs), as by-laws of the council, and amendments of tho council's drainago and sanitary by-law, 1911." The Mayor ruled the motion out of order, on the ground that the by-law con r ferrort all the power required. Councillor Lodder then moved: "That ho amendments to the council's lighting by-law, 1911, as agreed to by the council at a meeting held on Juno 17, 1912, Iμ adopted (by way nf special ordsr, or such way as the' law directs) as by-laws, and amendments of the Petono Borough lighting by-law, 1911." A special meeting will be held on September 2to confirm-the by-laws. The borough solicitor (Mr. R. C. Kirk), to act with another solicitor, was appointed to represent (he borough on the commission of jnquiry in regard to tho •Hutt Road improvement. Messrs. Dix and Masters were appointed inspectors under the borough by-laws. On the motion of Councillor Lodder, it was resolved to instruct the engineer to report on the question of filtering the borough water supply. Messrs.'].). A. Fay and C 0 . ,, in tho course, of further reference to their application to establish a certain industry in Petone, remarked that they had been trifled with by the council, and that they had no intention, of complying with tho council's latest request, which they considered frivolous. They were only prepared to put tho place into reasonable repair. The letter concluded by stating that the applicants were desirous of carrying on a business which would be a distinct benefit to the town of Petone. Tho Mayor said that the position still ■was that the by-laws had not been complied with. Councillor List moved that the letter ba. received, but this motion was lost. Tim letter will be returned. Oh the motion of the Mayor, it was Tesolved: "That notice bo given to. the frontage owners of Te Puni Street, Armadnle Street, Nevis. Street, and Lochy Street to farm and repair such streets and private way to tho satisfaction of tho borongh engineer." A deputation was received from the Wellington Eugby Union in regard to a rumour that tho impending football matches, Athletic v. Petone and Oriental v. Petone,'would be played in town. Mr. K. 0. Tlnles (chairman of the Rugby Union) stated that it had appeared in the' press that it was rumoured that the matches mentioned would be played in Wellington. He wished to state that the llugby Union hod no such intention. Thcsa games would bo played at Petone. He went on to stab! that tho Petone Club had amongst it sonie of the finest sports in Now Zealand,' and the union wished to studyitlierii''by- , getting , grounds fromepe- , tone. ' ■ Mr. Hardhnm said that there had.-never been any desire on tho part of the union to break' the agreement. The deputation was merely present for' tho purpose of nipping current rumours in tho bud. The Mayor thanked the deputation for their assurance. There had been soma little doubt,, liul that doubt had now been dispelled. . It was decided, on the motion of tho Maj'or: "That the Minister for Labour bo asked to further the settlement of land acquired for workers' homes in Petone." The movor stated that, in the past, there had been a want of push on the part of the Government. Councillor Short supported the motionUnder present conditions the houses were not fit to live' in. Councillor Piper moved: "Consistent with the ruling of the Mayor,' that the engineer is bound to take action in all eases of breaches of any by-law, irrespective of the legality of same, and that the engineer bo now instructed to take action in all cases where compliance with the last portion of the Subjection A, Section 52, of the Drainage and Sanitary By-law, 1911, has list ben complied w.ith." The Mnyor'said that the first part oi the motion was an inexcusable misrepresentation of the facts. As to the latter the matter had been before the council, .and there was no need for the motion.