PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1838, 26 August 1913, Page 6

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Potone Borough Council was held last evening. Present: Tho Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan), Councillors List, Brocklebank, Cox, Townsend, Jones, Trueman, Findlay, and Anderson.

.A letter from the Hutt Council re proposed extension of gas agreement was ■ discussed, and it was resolved to mako the charge 3s. 9d. per 1000 ft., for . amounts from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 cubic feet, then reduce it to 3s. Bd. Tho same body also stated that a committee of'four had been, appointed to deal with the western branch of the Hutt River, and they asked for the names of tho Petone appointees. Tho Mayor and Couucillors Trueman, Findlay, and the engineer were appointed. Tho secretary of tho Petone branch of tho W.C.T.U. wroto drawing attention to tho alleged amount of Sunday business transacted at a certain shop. —Letter roferred to the polico. A suggested price for coke, £1 per ton, and tar at 3Jd. a gallon, was agreed to, provided that it was used for borough purposes. The Lands Survoy Department asked if tho council was prepared to accept reappointment as a Domain Board.—Decided to accept. Messrs. Gaulter, Dykes, and Co. wrote re streets in tho Cooper Estate, stating that tho council's recent decision placed members of tho syndicates in an unfortunate position. Mr. Maxwell, however, had agreed to do tho work for £40, and they asked that tlio plan bo signed.—Resolved that tho plaji bo I sealed. '

The Prime Minister acknowledged receipt cjf a letter protesting against Clauso 5 of tho Municipal Corporations Amondment Bill. Received. A letter was received from the Department regarding the revaluation of Section 10. The Mayor and clerk were appointed to reply to tho communication, Councillor Findlay venturing the opinion that tho land should bo worth £3- per foot.

It was resolved to obtain a legal opinion regarding Mr. C. T. Price's property in Islington Strcot. A legal opinion from Mr. R. C. Kirk was forwarded to the effect that the council had now no power to levy rates on tho Britannia Street property, used by tho Sister® of Notre Dame. It was dccided.to refer this case to tho solicitor of tho Municipal Association. The Wharf Committee reported having considered a statement prepared by the engineer showing tho cost of lauding coal at Petono Wharf, and distributing it to householders. The capital charges amounted to £2420, tlie annual expenditure to £9457 145. ; and tho receipts to £9537 lOs., leaving a credit of £79 16s.

The Mayor remarked that the whole matter depended on the residents paying cash, on delivery for their coal at the prico stated.

Councillor Townsend doubted if the derrick mentioned (£150) would be ab!o to lift a truck of coal and distribute it. Tho coal would need to bo '"trimmed" back, involving expenditure not provided for, and the shed would not have sufficient spaco. Councillor Cox suggested that the council purchase a hulk, and then tho consumers could purchaso coal at tho vessel's side. By his schemo ho claimed that a credit balance of £307 would be shown. Ho was not in favour of approaching tho ratepayers for a loan. He moved that tlie report bo refen-ed back to the committeo albng with his suggestion.

Councillor Jones considered tho scheme not worth the paper it was written on. There was only one class of coal mentioned, and ho failed to seo how people were to be compelled to burn tho coal, which perhaps might not suit them. The Mayor stated that it was merely an experiment, and it was as well to move with caution. Ho would like to see a schemo brought down that did not involve so much expense. The motion was carried. It was agreed to add Councillor Cox's namo to tho Wharf Committee. Tlie Mayor's motion re rates (previously published) was carried, and it was decided that the Mayor and Councillor List authenticated tho rate book. Councillor Findlay moved:—(l) "That tho motion allowing £3 per week to the borough foreman be rescinded, and that the sum bo increased to £3 10s. per week; Ruled out of order. (2) That tho opinion of Mr. Martin, municipal solicitor, be asked, whether, after borough lands as a whole are pledged iFs security to debenture holders, or any system of money lending can any portion of the security bo cut out, or made not liable for a proportion of tho interest payable, and if so, what area would bo required to carry tho burden of liabilities. Carried. (3) That tlio custom of demanding a deposit before fixing a new meter or connection to gas supply be discarded, and tliat tho gas manager and the Mayor use tlicir discretion to new customers. Lost.

Councillor Jones moved, "That tho complaint brought before the Council b.v Mr. J. Piper against the Inspector of Nuisances bo re-ODened." —Lost.