SUBURBAN BOROUGHS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 8

SUBURBAN BOROUGHS

LOWER HUTT

The' Mayor (Mr. 13'. Baldwin) presided over the- ordinary mooting of the Lower Hutfc Borough Council heid last evening. There ivero present:—Councillors J. M'Dougall, A. Hobbs, W. Ci. Alcldruni, W. Walton, S. U. (Jlendon, W. Cotton. J. Bmssoll, W. Kerr.

A letter was received from the- Hon. T. M. Wilfcrd, Minister of Justice, acknowledging receipt of the council's resolution with respect to Mr. S. E. M'Carthy,' S.M., and advising that the protest against Mr. M'Carthy's removal had been recorded for consideration.

There wns sotns discussion with respect to the maintenance of the Hutt I'ipe Bridge. It was stated that the bridge cost £13,450, the. proportion paid by the Lower Hutt Borough being £325, Eastbourne _ £112 lUs., Hutt County £160, certain property holders £1600, Petone £2588, and Wellington £7662. It was pointed.out that on the basis, of contributions to construction the Hutt Borough should only pay 3 1-00 por cent, towards ths maintenance. The question of the .position of the landholders who coiurib'iited to the construction was discussed at length. It was resolved on the motion' of .the Major that the council aduere to the resolution of 1907 agreeing to pay cost of maintenance m me same proportion as they paid towards "the cost of the bridge.

Several Melting residents/headed by Mr. (J. E. Lovien, waited upon the council, and asked for its support to have certain urgent works at Celling carried out. Alt. Lovien stated that the road from the bridge to the station was in a very bad condition. AY hen it rained the road was just a sheet of water, and it was impossible to get to the station without getting the feet wet. Over 160 passengers boarded the train at the Jlelling Station, and it 'Was necessary to have this work dene before winter. Further, a shelter shed-was an urgent necessity at' the station. He urged the council to support the residents of Melling. The Mayor told the deputation that the matter was brought under the notice of the Minister of .Railways about two years ago and nothing had been done. A letter was received from the secretary of the Employers' Association in respect to the enginedrivers' dispute, enclosing a scale of membership subscriptions to the association, and suggesting thai the council should bocomo a subscriber. The council decided not to become a subscriber to the association.

Tho council decided to support the Auckland City Council's resolution advocating the retention of Samoa by Britain*.

The Hntt .River Board wrote enclosing an opinion from its solicitor as to liability of an occupier under the .Land for Settlement Act, 1908, and Amendment Act, 1914, lo pay rates, and asking if the council would bear a proportion of the cost of testing the matter in a Court of law. The council 'decided to boar its proportion of the cost of testing the matter. *>

Tbo Hutfc Golf Club wrote asking the council not'to enforce tho 10 per cent, penalty for a period of two months in order that the annual subscriptions might be got in when the club *vould be in a position to pay the rates. It tt'as decided not to grnnt the request. . ■ The Minister of Justice ('•lie Hon. T. M. Wilford) wrote with respect to the establishment of a Horticultural School in the Hutt Valley for returned soldiers, and suggesting four suitable sites, and asking for the council's opinion. The council decided to give its hearty support to the scheme.