SUBURBAN COUNCILS. LAST NIGHT'S MEETINGS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 96, 25 April 1911, Page 4

SUBURBAN COUNCILS. LAST NIGHT'S MEETINGS.

PETONE. The last meeting of the Petone Boough Council before the next election, was held last evening. Members " present were : — The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan), and Councillors It. AY. Short, H. Harding, R. J: Southgate, C. P. Brocklebank, J. Piper, R. H. Jcnes, and W. Trueman. ' Mr. T. M. Wilford intimated that he would use his best endeavours to assist in bringing about the stoppage at Petone of the 4.35 p.m. mail train from Wellington to Wairarapa. The Agricultural Department wrote stating that Petone butchers could still get their stock killed at th& Gear Company's works, providing abattoir fees were paid, even although Pebone became an abattoir distTict. Regarding a case in pomt — that of a Fetone firm, which killed its own stock — the Department stated that its meat was not inspected by a Government inspector, as had been stated. According to the Mayor, the council had already delegated the whole matter to the incoming council for decision. Application was made 'by the headmaster of the Petone West School that the borough carts might deposit soil from the road on the playground of the school for filling in purposes. The request was agreed to. Mr. Thomas Cook forwarded 'a claim for £7 4s ,10d, being amount he contended he had been overcharged in respect to rates due on his proporty. The matter was referred to the officers for report. In regard to the reported insanitary condition of a holding at the Sandhills, the occupant wrote stating thai) he would remedy the trouble at an early date. The matter was reported to be in the hands of the Health Department. EASTERN DRAINAGE SCHEME. A report as to the cost of the eastern drainage scheme — now completed — was submitted by tho borough engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook). The loan money originally available was £6550. in addition there was -a Government grant of £1000; grant from land syndicates, £1282; total, £8332— less monies not yefc received, £119 19s. The expenditure totalled £9368 5s lid. "The principal items were : — Wages, £4775 ; material, £2455; cartage, £151; pipes, £537; land, £307; machinery, £1813; insurance, £57. The- total expenditure had exceeded the original estimate by £513 4s 3d. The debit balance, which was at present £838 4s 3d, was reducible by £260, being value of tools on hand. The engineer said the worit could easily have been completed within the estimate had the- council adhered st'fietly lo tho original plans and specifications. For one thing the treacherous no tare of the ground had necessitated many of tht. pipes being laid on a bed of concrete. He was, however, well satisfied that no monoy had been misspent. According to the Mayor, under Hie circumstances the engineer had every reason to be gratified with the cost of th& work. Other councillors- followed in a like strain. Tho amount of the debit balance on the work has been drawn from tho general account, to which it must later on be refunded.