LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 129, 25 February 1919, Page 8

LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

The fortnightly mecliug of the Lower Hutt Borough Council was held last evening, There were present 31r. E. I', llishwortli (Jlavor), and Councillors J. V. M'Dougall, W. Meldrum, W. Walton, J. Brasell, S. Clendon, A. J. West, A. J. Hobbs, and AV. Cotton. Several residents of the north end of Victoria Street petitioned .that the east footpath be tarred and sanded. It was decided to give the matter first place on the 'new estimates. .... On the'strength of an opinion given by Jlr. Martin, municipal solicitor, the owner of the Town Hall block claimed that (ho block was subject to only half 1 water rates. Mr. E.-'P. Bunny, borough solicitor, to whom the matter had been refer- ! red, held that full rates should be paid. The town clerk was instructed to inform (he owner accordingly, and, that'if. not paid action would lie taken. . The council authorised the preparationand erection of suitable notice-boards to be placed in prominent places along the river warning bathers of dangerous j' places,' half the cost, as agreed, to bo borne by tho lliver Board. . A claim for compensation by a resident in regard to damage sustained by fulling over debris left on tho street by council employees was granted,•'the'sum of Xll being passed for payment. The Hutt Amateur-Athletic Club was granted the use 'of the Kecreation : Ground /for an evening sports meeting, The Mayor remarked that moro care should be taken of the council's property,, as acts ( of vandalism had taken place on the ground, and ho hoped the young men and boys would assist the council in the matter. Councillor Cotton .ind'thc borough engineer. were<iippoihtei the council's representative!* to meet the Minister of 'Public Works on the site of tho Maugahao hydro-electrie. power station. A request from Sir. 1 H. Baldwin, asking to be furnished with certain jnfor* niation concerning bad'sewage drain facilities recently reported on«i>y the borough engineer, was granted. On the motion of tho Mayor, the late engineer is to bo requested to furnish 'any information, possible in regard to some old documents which' now carinot be found. Mr. Baldwin, the donor of the Board of Honour, requested the completion of .the names, which shoWd be placed on the board. It was decided to advertise requesting relatives to furnish the desired information. . The Mavor and Councillors M'Dougail, "West, Walton, and Clendon were deputed to attend a deputation along with members of the I'etone Borough Council to urge the Minister of Kailways to gi'pnt the concession of allowing passengers by the 8 a.m. train-the privilege of using the 2S. weekly ticket. Tho borough, engineer, Mr. E. A. Gumbley, reported that the contractor for the artesian wells had completed his contract. The total discharge from the four wells was approximately 432 gallons per minute. ' The total quantity of gas purchased for tho month of December was 1,427,000 feet, an increase over tho corresponding month of the previous year of 201,000 feet. This represented an increase, of 145,200 cubic feet for domestic purposes, a decrease of 59,000 cubic feet for power, and an increase of 1000 cubic feet for street lighting. Unaccounted for gas amounted to 256,100 cubic feet, or 17.9 per cent. This proportion was very high, and an endeavour was being made to ascertain the cause. Since February 13. the pressure had .been'increased, -with, up to a few days ago, a result more satisfactory to consumers. In the last few days, the quality had fallen short of that which was provided for in the,agreement. Mr. Appleyard, tho Petone gas manager, hod been 'interviewed regarding tno matter, and he attributed the poor quality of gas to the fact that he was at present compelled to manufacture gas from poorquality steam coai,