PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2464, 18 May 1915, Page 3

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The first meeting of the new Petone Borough Council was held last evening,' « er e being present the Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) and Councillors Forsyth, Cox, Brocklebank, Anderson, M Dougall, M'Kenzie, Jones, and Trueman.

A deputation representing the Petone Municipal Band, waited on the council, asking that a new band room and site be granted them. The council decided that the Reserves Committee should meet a committee representing the band and (ro into the subject fully. The' Commissioner of Crown Lands stated that the balance of £124 in connection with the William Street Extension would be paid over as soon as> it was voted by Parliament!

An application from St. Augustine's Ladies' Hookey Club for the use of a ground for the coming season was' referred to the lleserves Committee, with power to act.

■ Mr. J. H. M'Millan pointed out that his own and his wife's name were on the roll as M'Millar, and they had been disfranchised owing to the error. In the discussion that ensued tho question as to whether a ratepayer could vote if his name was not on the rail was touched upon, some of the councillors being of the opinion that such a proceeding was legal. The Town Clerk, as Municipal Returning Officer, pointed out, however, that a ratepayer whose name was not on the rail was not legally entitled to vote.

The Town Clerk', Lower Hutt, advised in regard to the non-payment of rates on Crown lands, that his council had agreed to support the proposal sugeested by the Mayor of Petone, which was that the suburban councils should form a deputation to the Government on the matter. The Hutt Council had appointed the Mnvor (Mr. H. Baldwin) and Councillor Hodgins as their representatives.

The Auditor-General stated that the establishing of fish- markets by a borough is, as the law now stands, a contravention of tho Municipal Corporations Act, and expenditure thereon cannot be passed by the Audit Office. It was agreed to refer the matter to the Works Committee, with a view to framing a remit for the Municipal Conference. ■

'Councillor M'Kenzie moved, pursuant to notice "that the Town Clerk take the necessary steps to place before the ratepayers a proposal to borrow the of £8000 for the purpose of acquiring Percy's Gardens, to be used as a pleasure garden and park, and also as a site for a memorial college or high school, to commemorate the landing of the first settlers on Petone beach. After considerable discussion the motion was lost on the casting vote of the Mayor. The Works Committee recommended (1) That for the purpose of completing the present drainage scheme, and connecting up the eastern drainage system with the main system, a proposal to raise £2500 be submitted_ to the ratepayers. (2) That the Railway Department be written to pointing out that it will cost the sum of £500 to connect the railway cottages with the drainage scheme, and asking the Department if it is agreeable to bear the cost of same.

. 'l'he Mayor, in moving the adoption of the report, stated that the extra amount was required mainly on account of the increased cost of material and wages, concreting pipes, etc. The amount of loans raised to date was £37,400, the eastern drainage loan was £60-50, and the proposed loan of £25,000, totalled £68,950.