PETONE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1856, 16 September 1913, Page 5

PETONE COUNCIL.

THE BOAT HARBOUR QUESTION

The Potone Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Swan) presiding. Councillors Forsyth, List, Cox, Brocklebank, Anderson, Findlay, Townsend, and Jones were also present.

With regard to the question of having' a boat harbour erected on tho I'etonc foreshore, a letter submitting plans and figures was received from the secrotary of the 'Wellington Harbour Board. The receipt of the plans was tho outcome of a letter from the Pctoue Council, asking for information as to tho cost, etc., for a boat harbour of 200 feet in length. The Harbour Board's engineer, in submitting plans and other details, stated that a • boat harbour with a length of 200 feet from the wharf approaches, would bo too short and would not provide shelter for more than a few large boats. He suggested that the length should be 300 feet. as to the actual construction, tho proposal was to drive polos ill bays of two, 15 feet apart, and attach tho millings on the seaward side. This would provide shelter from the southerly wind, but there would be 110 shelter from tho north-west wind, except that afforded by the wharf approach. Tho estimated cost of tho 200 feet schemo with contingencies is £1606 and the 300 feet scheme, about £2450. The annual upkeep in tho first case would bo £185, and in tho other £260. Tho Mayor stated that it must be understood that at present tho council had-not the power to subsidiso a boat harbour scheme. Tho Harbour Board had hung tho matter up until the Bill —now before tho Statute Revision Committee of the House —was passed, giving tho counc.il the necessary power. Oil tho motion of Councillor Findlay it was decided to write to Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., inquiring what progress had beon made with the Bill. A letter was- received from Mr.' AVilford bringing under tho council's notice possible injury to the Hutt Valley by the operations of a certain timber company if they were permitted to denude tho watershed of tho Hutt River. Some councillors raised tho point as to whether there was any reason why the 'council should take the matter up. A chorus of "Noes" was tho reply, and after somo discussion, a motion that tho letter be received was carried. A copy of tho agreement regarding tho

supply of gas to Lower Hutt was received from Messrs. Kirk and Wilson. Letters on the same subject were received from the Lower Hutt Council, one notifying that -the council, was awaiting an expert's report on tho question of pressure, before adopting tho agreement.

Tho Mayor said that at would be.advisable in the meantime, to hold over further discussion until the expert's report had been received. Ho appreciated tho difficulties which'the. Hutt Council had met with in regard to pressure. On the motion of tho Mayor it was decided to hold the matter over.

It was resolved to grant the Labour Carnival Committee tho use of tho Recreation. Park for the purpose of holding a gathering on Labour Day. In tho event of the function being a success the. council decided 'to donate £5 towards tho Carnival Committee's expenses, and if wet weather prevailed on 'Labour Day tho contribution would be increased to £10.

In regard to a complaint received from the Petone.branch of tho Women's Christian Temperance Union, with respect to a refreshment room being open in the borough on Sundays, letters to the ell'oct that "tho nlacc is well conducted and there is nothing which warrants police interference" were received from Inspector Ellison (Wellington) and Sergeant Foster (Petone). It was decided to forward a reply covering 'the polico reports to tho W.C.T.TJ.

Councillor Cox's motion to the effect that tho usual Friday night committee meeting be* discontinued, and tho various reports usually considered at that meeting he dealt with-at the ordinary meeting of the council' was carried.