PETONE AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2158, 26 May 1914, Page 7

PETONE AFFAIRS

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

Tho fortnightly meeting of tho Petono Borough Council was hold last nighb. There wore present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Eivan), and Councillors Trueman, Brockelbank, Jones, Townsend, Findlay, Cox, Lust, Forsyth, and Anderson.

A communication was received from tho Superintendent of Workers' Dwell-ings-acknowledging receipt of the council's letter asking for plans of workers' dwellings and stating that thero appeared to bo some misapprehension in regard to the matter. The area of Crown laud which .was apparently being offered for selection w;as evidently ordinary Crown land, sections of which wcro now being sold by the Lands Department. This should not bo confused with tho block of workers' dwellings which was under the control of tlio Department. No workers dwellings wero being erected by tho Labour Department at l'etone at present. The Mayor romarked that he was disappointed at tho reply. It was about time that the Prime Minister was reminded of his promise to the council. "I feel very sore about! this," said tho Mayor, "and.l think that wo should approach tho Minister of Labour and the Minister of Crown. Lands. We havo had at least 30 people applying for land lately."

It was decided to carry out tho Mayor's suggestion.

Boat Harbour. Tho proposed boat harbour was once more brought beforo tho council by a letter from the Commodore of the.Ucretaunga Boating Club (Mr. J. A. Macdonald) who wrote stating that his club would not hold itself responsible for a contribution of £75 per annum for two years. A sum of £4(J had been promised by boating men arid others, for two years, and the council would receive at least £16 10s. annually in mooring fees.

The Mayor explained that tho position now was that, instead of tho council having to find the sum of £38 10s. per annum for tho first two .years, £73 10s. would have to bo found and later probably tho full amount, less moorirjg foes, -would have to be met. This meant that tho rates would have to' be increased. It was eventually decided to accept a' guarantee from tho Heretaunga Boating Club and to proceed with tho construction of the harbour. Ambulance Van. Tho Mayor reported that ho had conferred with tho local ambulnnco committee.. Providing that, the difficulty of getting a horso lor the van wero overcome tho commit'teo would be willing to retain its control of the vehicle. It was decided that tho council provido horse, harness, aud driver at a charge of Bs. por trip. Tho committee is stdl to bo responsible for tho control of tho van. The_ Pctono Football Club wrote thanking the council for iis share of tho gate for Mr. D. Boyd's benefit match mid advised that the sum of £nfj had been raised, the gato takings and ticj.kots realising £40. Weighbridge. Advice was received from the ■Wellington Harbour Board to tho effect that, tho'Wharves and Accounts Committee could not at present soo sufficient reason to recommend the board to erect a, weighbridgo at I'eto'ne. Tho board had, however, a spare .secondhand weighbridge in store;: and wouldho willing to consider an offer for its purchase.—Referred to tho' engineer. Liability Repudiated. i , ,It was decided to repudiate liability regarding a claim by the Government Irintor for tho insertion of a loan poll announcement in tho Gazette. In this respect an opinion was received from tho municipal solicitor (Mr. T. F. Mar* tin), stating that tho act of inserting a notice in tho Gazette in regard to a loan poll rested with the Minister, and, according to the statute,' tho charge for insertion could not bo imposed on a local body, that was provided such body did not givo instructions to tho Government Printer to publish fhe notice Other Business. In reforenco to -filio proposed road through Hutt Park, tho Park Committee wrote stating that it had no' objection to traffic proceeding through the park, but it watt unablo to incur, any expense in tho matter. It was decided that tho council carry out tho work of forming tho road. * From tho samo. quarter a request was received that tho council, when framing jt-i estimates, -should mako. provision for the payment of the samo subsidy as last year.—^Received. The Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce advised that tho proposed • conference of local bodies and chambers of commerce of Wellington province, regarding railway deviation, east coast lands, provincial transit, etc., would bo held on Wednesday, July 8. Tho Mayor and Councillor Findjay wore appointed to attend tho conference. Tho question as to whether the council accept tho offer of Mr. W. Jenkins to act as nightwatchman, paying special attention to all municipal property, for a subsidy of 30s. per week was left ovor till tho estimates como' up for consideration. Councillor 'J'ownsend moved as follow: •—"That tho following remit be sent to tho Municipal' Association for consideration at its next meeting in July: 'That tho present method of- levying local bodies for tho upkeep of hospitals and charitable aid be discontinued, and that tho hospitals, etc., bo nationalised and tho wholo upkeep bo met out of general revenue, tho whole treatment, etc., to bo free of cost to patients, and tho Government to bo urged to bring down tho necessary legislation to, give olfect to same.' "

■ The motion was seconded by Councillor Forsyth, and carried. Councillor l'Mndlay moved: '-Tliat a suitable shed bo erected at tho entrance to the Potone AVh.arf for the storage of coal and other goods."—Referred to tlio Wharves CQnunitt.ee.