LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2566, 14 September 1915, Page 7

LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Lower Hutfc Borough Council met Inst, evening, thero„teing present the Mayor (Mr. H. Baldwin), and Councillors Hodgins, Meldnim, Carver; Brassell, Clendon, M'Dougall, Ball, and Hobbs. , ' The Taumarunui Patriotic Carnival Committee asked for support to ai resolution requesting the Government not to enforce the provisions of the Gaming aiKl Lotteries Act during the present crisis, in order'that art unions may be held. Tiio council decided to support the resolution from Taumarumri. The sooretarv of the committee of the Hutt technical classes applied for a. sbare of the amount allocated by the council towards the encouragement of technical education. It was decided to allocate the sum of £15 to the Hutt and £5 to tlie Petono Technical Schools. Mr. H. A. W. Mackenzio wrote wishing to know if the council would consider the question of extending the water mains -as far as the Taita Hotel. The matter was referred to the engineer to report upon. The: Department of Agriculture advised that the plant known as "Goats live" hud been added to the third schedule cf the Noxious-Weeds Act, so that any local authority may now declare by special order this plant to bo a noxious weed. . It was agreed to hold a special meeting of the council on Friday evening next for the purpose of choosing a librarian.

Tho Mayor stated that no doubt councillors had been asked why the rates should be increased, and lie had replied that certain work had been carried out by the council that had been unforeseen. Tito expenses to be provided for this year, in excess of previous years, was as follows: —Main Hutt Road, £400; Hutt Park Road, £150; Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, £133; Fire Brigade Motor Vehicle, £230; Recreation Ground loan (interest), £167; Donnelly's Corner, £50; difference between the usual transfer from waterworks account of £600 and the actual amount provided for transfer for the current year, £500; total, £1,630.

The bank overdraft at September 13, 1014, was £3597 ss. l0d.; tho temporary loans-at tlio same date, £7625; total, £11,222 ss. lOd. The bank overdraft at September 13, 1915, was £586; the temporary loans a.t that date, £10,086; total, £10,672. The total amount of bank overdraft and temporary loans was £550, less than at the same time last year. Mr. Baldwin added tbpt so far ratepayers had been very businesslike, the'total amount ooliected to date in rates being £1421 4s. Id. (Hear, hear.) The report presented' by the engineer was adopted. It was Tesolved, on the motion of Councillor M'Dougall: "That Mr. Ingram, the engineer of tho waterworks station, be instructed to submit a. monthly report on tho working of t|ie station, such report to cover the amount of water pumped into the reservoir, the amount of water consumed, and the amount of coke, gas, etc., used, and any other matter in connection with tho working of the Station.-' The question of reorganising *tho engineer's staff is to be discussed at the special meeting on Friday.