HUTT & PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1748, 13 May 1913, Page 7

HUTT & PETONE NEWS.

COUNCILLOR FINDLAY'S SHEA!:' OF MOTIONS. The I'ctone Borough Council met last nfcrht, and was attended by tho -Mayor (.Mr .1 \V. M'tiwan), and Councillors Jjbtj Cox, iirockelbank, Wright, Anderson, I'indlav, Townsend, and Iruenian. It was resolved that an opinion regarding the acUoti oi' the Railway Department in blocking the rood at the crossing at To I'imi Street, be obtained. _ The Lower ilutt Borough Council wrote stating that, in view of the large increase of hospital and charitable aid levies, the local authorities should approach t'iie Minister tor Public Health. The Hutt Council asked that a Petono representative should be appointed to confer with other bodies. The proposal was agreed to, and Councillor Findlay was appointed representative. Mr. Wilford advised that he had strongly recommended to tho Postmaster-Gen-

eral tho installation of a slot telephone in Petone aud Lower Hutt, in view of the fact that the post office was now closed on Sundays.—Received. Tho Wellington Rugby League milliiatcd that th-?y would not require tho use of the ground allocated them Uv the council this season.—Received. - Tiie -council approved tho idea of running a spsoial train for the Pctone-Ori-ental fixture, aud the member for the district is to be asked to suggest to the Minister that the fare on this tram be reduced to tid. The Mayor of Christchurch asked the council to join in collecting subscriptions for providing shooting prizes for 11.M.0. New Zealand.—Received. The Miramar Borough Council wrote agreeing to co-operate with Petone. in a protest against hospital aud charitable aid levies. They stated that they wduld advise later what they intended to do.— Kcccived. ' Councillor Findla;; then moved the following resolutions: —"That we, as-a council, repudiate any liability towards cost of llutt lioad construction, on the grounds that we as a community were never consulted, and that we do not believe that any Government has power to tax communities without authority from the parlies concerned." The mover said that his desire was to strengthen tho hands of others who opposed the action of the Government. "We don't want to pay anything." he added, "because we are a poor borough." —Carried. Councillor Fiudlny then moved: "That the whole amount of proceeds derived from the Koro-Koro taxation be spent upon that district, subject to (he following procedure:—(a) That the Engineer be instructed to keep a correct account of moneys expended in irecessary works; ■(b) tliat the lighting bo a separate account; (c) that Councillor Jones act in conjunction with Mr. Cowie re the necessary works; (d) that a percentage bo deducted for office work and superintendence; (e) that the total amount to Ua received be laid upon the (able befws next year's Public Works' Estimate be mado up."—Motion lost. Tho third motion was: "That a deputation wait upon the authorities at once, objecting to the leau-to being added to Petone Post Office, fronting Jackson

Street." In this case the mover ,«aid that tho post, office was a "disgrace to I'ctonc."—Motion carried. Tho clerk was instructed to telegraph the Minister asking him to suspend operations. As a fourth motion Councillor Findlay moved: "That the Railway Department be asked to open up from Hie Unit Road at the entrance to Ivoro Koro a footway enabling passengers to reach the station without: crossing unnecessary bridges."— Carried. Fifth motion.:—"That a deputation wait upon tho Prime Minister as Minister for Lands re the possibilities .of n Bill being passed through' Parliament, next session enabling boroughs to collect rates, past iinrl future, upon estates acquired- for workmen's liomjs, and not built upon."— Carried. A further motion bv Councillor Brocklebank to the effect, that all unoccupied Government lands in the borough be offered for sale at reasonable terms was carried.' The sixth-motion, by Councillor Findlay, read as follows:—"That a report b: ■obtained from the Harbour Board Engineer in conjunction with Mr. Cowit re the cost of a double row of pilcs : boarded as a breakwater for a distance oi 100 ft. in a westerly direction from present wharf, to give at least Gft. of deptl ' at low* water, for a distance of 3uoft ' landwards, for tho purpose of a boat hav I hour at Petone," Councillor List moved as an amendmeni

* that a committee consisting of Council- >' lors Anderson, Brocklebank, Findlay, the • mover, and the Mayor confer with the r Heretaunga Boating Club and bring down s a report in regard to the whole position of a boat harbour and boat sheds. The amendment was carried. 1 Seventh motion'.—"That an opinion ba procured from the solicitor to the Jluni- - cipal Association as to what extent a s Borough Council can supply public funds s in assisting a limited liability company a in any sclicme of general welfare." This ~ motion was ruled out of order. > Eighth motion"That we, as a body, o instruct the Town Clerk to proceed with f corrospoml«nco to our member with a J view to strengthening tho hands of other n local bodies in enabling a Bill' to be 0 passed in Parliament during next session, ,f giving power to local bodies to trade m .. commodities such a« ccal."—Carried. 1 Ninth motion:—"That a return bo laid i-' .upon the tablo for tlin u-e <'1 the new .[ oouncil: (n) The amount of charitable aid , given during the last twelve months to " Petone residents, (b) The . number of patients sent to the Wellington llosnital

from Petone. (c) ,The number oi ibu.-i> . who have paid foi\their treatment. (d) That we. as n council, consider that the incidence of taxation now used in levying rates for hospital and charitable aid purposes, as at present in vogue, is unfair to ratepavers, tending to high rents, and enabling single men to go untaxed, and that we, as a council, consider this duty should be a national affair."—Carried. Councillor List moved:— That tno wages paid to tho permanent employees of "the council bo increased to Is. 3d. per hour."—Carried. Councillor Brocklebank moved:- ihat a sum be placed on tho estimate for the purpose of constructing a footpath on the Hutt Road from the subway south to Gear Crossing. That the road be crowned up, and if any tarring be dono next summer this portion to bo included. The engineer reported that the flood had dono very little damage, but tho question of dealing with the surface water from Percy's Creek need the immediate attention of 'tho council. Tho remedy would entail considerable expenditure, , necessitating the intercepting of the , creek at a higher level and diverting tho 1 water alongside tho railway line to the ' Koro Koro Stream, of diverting it to the 1 Hutt jßoad, and down Victoria Street to ' tho sea. The low-lying portions of the '' borough were under water.—Received.