HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2333, 15 December 1914, Page 7

HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

' 'A meeting of the Hutt Borough Council was held last evening, there being present the Mayor (Mr. • H. Baldwin) and Councillors Hodgins, Meldrum, Kerapthorne, Brassel, Clendon, Parsonage,, Ball, Hobbs, and Purdy. .'The Health Inspector of the Hospital Board reported two cases of scarlet fever and one of diphtheria in the borough. _ . f . A resident applied for a refund of water rates, paid in excess for the past three years. Councillor Ball. moved that the amount should be refunded out of unauthorised expenditure, but an amendment moved by Councillor Clendon to tho effect that the clerk report at the next meeting as' to the council's position, in the matter, was decided upon. The secretary of the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade complained of the unsatisfactory conditions of the water pressure at a recent fire ; ahid after some discus- : sion it was decided that a sub-commit-tee, consisting of Councillors Meldrum, Parsonage, Clendon, and tho Mayor, inquire into the matter. A second-hand dealer's license waß granted to E. Skinner, and Mr. H. Savage's offer for the supply of dog collars was accepted. Tho secretary of the Te Momi Land Company advised : that the company was prepared to proceed with the Moa Street drainage at a cost of £85. The council agreed .that the work should be proceeded,with. Tlie _ secretary of the Hutt Park Committee forwarded a copy of the correspondence between tie town clerk of £otohe and tho Municipal Associations' solicitor (Mr. T. F. Martin) ra the matter of rates,- and on tho motion of Councillor Purdy it was decided that an opinion be obtained from the Borough Solicitors (Messrs. Bunny and Ayson).

Messrs. Bently and Oswald waited upon the counoil regarding rates on land in the Hall-Jones Settlement. It was explained that the land had been taken up en the understanding that it was exempt from rates, and tide occupiers had since been called upon to pay rates. Finally it was agreed thai a letter be forwarded to the Minister of Lands explaining the hardship placed upon Messrs. Bently and Oswald, and asking for exemption. Tho Petone Borough Council asked for a delegate to be appointed to confer in respect to a weekly half-holiday. Councillor Ball was of the opinion that the council should instruct its delegate to support the Saturday half-holiday, and after some discussion Councillor Ball was appointed,- and the council' passed a resolution in support of the Saturday half-holiday. It was agreed that the council offices should close from Thursday, December 24, to January 6, for Christmas holidays. Councillor Ball pointed out that tho outside employees did not receive this annual holiday, and was of the opinion that the council should be a model omployor of. labour, and grant tho same holidays to these men as the office staff. Councillor Clendon moved that the outside staff bo granted Friday, Saturday, and Monday at Christmas, and Friday and Saturday at Now ear on full pay.—This was carried. It was agreed that the annual licenses for cattle and rabbit dogs bo 2s. 6d. and 5s for other dogs. Tho Hutt Fire Brigade asked tho oouncil to take possession of tho Hutt Valley Licensed Victuallers' Shield on behalf of the brigade, and tho Mayor undoing so congratulated tho members on having won it. Service-bars were then presented to the following:— Captain Slinn, two gears' bar, nine years' service; Foreman' Dorran. two' years' bar, seven years' service: Assist-ant-Foreman. Collott, five years' service medal; Fireman Baldwin, two years' bar, nine years' service; Fireman Fleet, two. years' bar, nine yoars' service; Fireman Brooker, two-years' bar, seven years' service; Fireman Devcreau, two years' bar,, seven years' service. Tho engineer's report stated in regard to tho King's Road channelling, which had been completed a considerable amount of filling had been required owing to the old kcrbing being relatively high. Alterations had also to be mado to two sumps, and a new ono constructed at. Cornwall Street. The expenditure had been somewhat in excess of tho £50 allocated on tho estimates, viz.:—Labour (including cartage, etc.), £42 15s. Bd.; cement, £17 6s. od.; and gravel, 19s. 4d.: total, £61 Is. 6d. Bridge Street had been given a finishing coat of tar, and had booh sanded and rolled, at a cost of £7 7s. 7d. Tho area covered was 699 Square yards, equal to 2s. sd. per yard. Ono connection had been made with tho water-mains and three with tho gas, making tho total number to date 981 and 512 respectively. Three permits havo boon issued under the drainage and sanitary by-laws, making tho total number oi permits to date 884. Tho oxnendituro for tho three weeks ending Decembor 5 had been: District fund account, £214 18s. lid.; gas account, £14 18s. lid;; gas loan, £23 Jjß, }1d,.; tpfeU £282 18s., fld,.