SUBURBAN BOROUGHS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2928, 14 November 1916, Page 3

SUBURBAN BOROUGHS

MEETING OF PETONE COUNCIL A meeting of the Petone _ Borough Council was held last evening, the Mayor (Mr. J: W. M'Ewan) presiding. There were also present: Councillors Trueman, Jones, M'Kenzie, Anderson, Cox, Forsyth. Gaynor, Brocklebank, and M'Dougall. In tho cori'espondence dealt with was a letter from the Wellington City Council, stating that the city authorities, could not see their way to take any further action with respect to the slippery nature of the approaches of the Hutt Pipe Bridge, holding that the maintenance of the approaches was. a matter for the Petone Council to deal with. It was decided to ask the City Council for the reasons for suggesting that the work was the responsibility of the Petone Council. ■ A deputation waited on the council with respect to the drainage of Islington Street and adjoining locality. The

sneakers emphasised tho matter as a serious one. It was explained that two creeks had boon diverted into a culvert; with tho. result that the sumps wero flooded, leaving a filthy sediment, which in the' present warm weather was a menace to health. The council agreed that it was necessary to do' Something in the,matter, hut it meant obtaining authority, from the ratepayers to float a loan for the work. It'was also decided to call the attention of the Hutt Borough Council to the matter of stirfaco drainage, and the larger question of cost of works was referred to tho AVorks Committee for consideration. "■

The sewage and drainage engineer's report stated that to date '\i'2 permits to ■ connect with tho sewage scheme had. been granted, the cost to date of the works being £00,987 Is. lOd.

There was a long discussion respecting the sewerago of. the Pctonc Avorkshdps, and the reply of the- Railway Department to tho council's request to connect with the borough sewage scheme. Eventually it was decided that no reduction in tho charge be made to tho Department.

LOWER HUTT COUNCIL, The monthly meeting of the. Lower Hutt Borough Council was hold last evening, the Mayor (Mr. M. Baldwin) presiding. The following were also present:—-Councillors J. Ball, J. Brassel, A. J. Hobbs, M. 3. Hodgins, A. G. Heron, W. G. .Moidruin, and A. Carver. Tlio .Secretary of Education wrote ad- ■ vising that borough councils had been excluded from participation in tho Government subsidy to public libraries. Councillor Ball entered an emphatic protest against the Hutt Borough being excluded. After discussion, it was decided that no action be taken in tho matter for tho present.A report from tho Board of Trado was received concerning tho price of milk in the borough. In tho absence of Councillor M'Dougall it was resolved to defer the mattor till next meeting. Miss E. Carney wrolo pointing out that as Mr. M'Lcod, who owns a property, on Queen's Road, is on active service he is unable to pay rates. The writer requested that the rates be remitted. It was decided that the request bo refused. Messrs. llarcourt and Co. offered the lato Hon. J. Duthio's property at Nai Nai to the council for salo at £7000. On tho motion of tho Mayor the offer was declined. The engineer reported that no serious damage had been reported by tho visitation of the storm. Ho also reported that fivo 'coimeetions had been made with tho gas-mains and throo ■ with tho water-mains during tho

month. This makes a total of 596 and 1036 respectively to date. The amount of gas purchased from Peton© during the month was 1,127,000 cubic feet, the amount purchased for the corresponding month, last year being 963,000 cubic feet—an increase of 164,000 cubic feet.