PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1790, 1 July 1913, Page 6

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

9 — MEETING GROWS HEATED. , The Petone Borough Council met last evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. MTSwan), Councillors List. Cox, Brocklebank, Anderson, Findlay, Townsend, Jones and Trueman. Writing on behalf of Mr. R. Walker, Belmont, Messrs. Wood and Orchard offered' to sell the council a stone quarry for ,£500.-—Declined. The engineer of the Harbour Board (Mr. Marckbanks) advised that the erection of the structure (as outlined by the borough engineer, Mr. Oowie), in connection with) the building of a boat harbour, would cost dEISOO, if built in ironbarK.— Referred to the Boat Harbour Committee. Intimation was received through Mr. TOlford, M.P., stating that the Post-master-General had dccide<l to complete the Petone Post Office in accordance with tho plan already approved. The question of alteration had been gono into, and it was found that the walls were not strong enough to carry another storey, the estimated cost of which would be .£BSO. The work now in progress meant an expenditure of ,£IOO, and this outlay would bo Tcnd<rred useless if the plans wore altered as suggested. Taking the requirements of the district into consideration, ■the Minister stated that_ there was no warrant . for tho expenditure of —Received. Councillor Townsend moved: (1) "That the engineer be instructed to (a) on the advisability of lighting ICoro-Koro with electricity in conjunction with sewerage scheme; (b) the estimated cost of same; (c) cost of lighting and maintenance; (d) what profit, if any, on present method." (2) "That the delegates of the Petone Borough Council to the Hutt Park Committee be instructed to oppose any motion to allow the sale of alcoholic liquors on tho Ilutt Park." With regard to lighting, tho mover quoted figures with a view to showing that whereas at present the cost is ,£2 18s. 93d. per lamp per annum, under this scheme it would cost only lis. per lamp per annum. Councillor Findlay claimed that as ho had a similar motion under considers tion it should be dealt with first. The Mayor said that it must bp remembered that they had no right to exploit tho sewage.loan. If money was required for an outside loan it must be provided independently. After Councillor Townsend had replied, the first motion was put and carried. In speaking to his second motion re salo of alcoholic liquor on Hutt Park, the mover claimed that it would be in the best interests of tho public not to grant a license. A brisk discussion followed, Councillor List moving as an amendment: "That tho council givo the delegates to tho Park Committee full power to act." Regarding the legality of instructing delegates how to vote, the Mayor quoted from l.lie Hutt Park Act, 1907. This Act indicated that the council l ad this power. Councillor Anderson considered that the motion was an insult to the Licensing Committee. Councillor Brocklebank remarked that the past Park Committee luul to insert n. clause in all leases prohibiting tho sale of liquor. Two bodies had leases now and no objection was taken by anyone to these clauses. Ho would ask councillors to support the motion, and back up their delegates. In tho course of Councillor's Townsond's reply Councillor Findlay interjected, and the mover retorted: "Councillor Findlay talks of voting freely, but he accepted nomination on the Fire Board with his hands tied." v Councillor Findlay: Tour Worship, I rise to correct this ignorant schoolboy for preaching prohibition. Councillor Townsend: I ask that that remark be withdrawn. 'The Mayor: I must ask Councillor Findlay to withdraw. Councillor Findlay (heatedly): I will not. He murders tho Queen's English and it gets on my nerves. (Laughter.) Councillor Townsend: I must ask your Worship to appeal to Councillor Findlay. He called mo an ignorant 'schoolboy. Councillor Findlay: So you are. Tho motion was then put and carried by G votes to 3. . ;