HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2316, 25 November 1914, Page 3

HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

A meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council was held on Monday, there being present the Mayor (Mr. H. Baldwin) and Councillors Hodgina, Meldrum; Kempthorne, Brassell, Clendon, Parsonage, Purdy, Ball, and Hobbß. Messrs. Inglis Bros, advised that the fire brigade motor chassis had been shipped by the s.s. Somerset, due to arrive in Wellington about December 15. The solicitor to the Municipal Association expressed the opinion that the Hutt River Board is entitled to exemption from rates in respect to. its stopbank. The managing director Wellington Meat Export Company stated that his directors cannot see their way clear to accept- the council's proposal for a conference in respect to water rights. The Western Hutt ratepayers suggested that Mr. W. Taylor, of Alicetown, was a suitable person to take charge of the proposed impounding paddock at Alic.etown, and the recommenadtion was agreed to. The Minister in charge of the National Provident Fund drew the attention of the council to the Amendment Act of 1914,. which provides a method of superannuation for tho employees of local • authorities. It was decided that the matter should be held over until January next, the: Mayor expressing the opinion that it was one of the best Acts passed. The health inspector, Wellington Hospital Board, reported six cases of scarlet fever. It .was resolved to procure two medals for presentation to two members of the Hutt Fire Brigade, and in reply to a Tcquest from the latter, it ( ,was agreed to take charge of the Licensed Victuallers' Shield, but the oouncil could acsept no responsibility in this respect. The matter of organising a brass band for the borough was touched upon, the Mayor reading-a letter from Messrs. Cudby, Hodgins, and Burt, trustees of the property of the Hutt Brass Band, in which all uniforms, instruments, music,, etc., originally owned by the band, were handed over to the cooncil. Councillor Purdy pointed out that a municipal band was what was re-, quired, and other councillors agreed that a band of some kind was needed. The Mayor stated that in all probability a public meeting would be called to consider the matter.

: At the conclusion of the business a special meeting was held- to consider Councillor. Ball s motion that steps be taken to have -the Noxious Weeds Act applied to the borough. The mover stated that he had noticed certain I weeds flourishing, in the borough and no _ steps were being .taken to check their growth. Councillor Hobbs pointed out, that the mover would need to specify the particular weeds. The engineer's report stated that the kerbing and channelling and construction of sumps and the grading and shingling of footpaths in Victoria and 'Wakefield streots wore completed at a total cost of £126 Os. 6d., -the amount on' the estimates being £127 ss. for. the kerbing and. channelling in Victoria and Wakefield Streets, and £35 for the footpaths in Victoria Street. The channelling of King's Road was boing proceeded with, one side having been completed at a cost of £21 10s. 7d., the estimate being £50. One connection had been made with tho gas mains, making the total number of connections to,date 609. One permit had been issued under the drainage and sanitary by-laws, making the total number to date 881. The 3-inch gas main had been laid for a lengtli of seven chains in White's' Lane, at a total cost of £17 Is. 7d. The report added that whilst making a'.house-to-house .. inspection near the Black Creek, to ascertain the points to which the various fittings dram, it was discovered that a, certtin property owner had fenced a small portion . of. the street, and was, utilising it as a garden, probably until that side is kerbed and ohannellod. This matter was mentioned on account of the resident failing to obtain the consent of' the council to erect the fence. The piece of .; land taken was about one chain frontage, and one-third of a . chain wide. • The opinion was expressed in the report that tar spraying would have the effect of keeping down weeds on footpaths, ,if the tar were applied hot; but being a valuable material it should be used for permanent work only.. Tests made with weed-killing fluids showed that ' the growth of weeds, had been retarded for a considerable time, at a-cost of Jd. per square yard.