LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 September 1910, Page 2

LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of this Council was held last evening at the ooUncil offices, Oxford, street, the Mayor (Mr 13. R. Gardener) presiding, and the following members present:—' C'rs. Cameron, Mackenzie, Arena, France, Lancaster, Palmer, Prouse, Han nan and Williams with Mr P. W Goldlsmith (town clerk). MISCELLANEOUS. A number of interesting matters arising out of reports and letters will be found in our local column. MANUAL FIR.E ENGINE. The Town Clerk to the Ohakune Town Board wrote asking the lowest price tho council would take for the manual fire engine ireferred to in previous correspondence, and the last time of payment the council was prepard to give the board. Tho Mayor pointed out that at a previous meeting tho council decided to offer the manual fire engine for £7"). The Ohakune Town Hoard was now asking if tho council could offer a lower price, and m this connection he (the .Mayor) intimated that, if it thoughlt fit, the council could alter the terms of that resolution.

Cr. Mackenzie said that until they had some other supplementary means of protecting the town from fire he was opposed to selling the engine.

Cr. Cameron said that ho was of tho same opinion. Cr. Prouse was in favour of selling, and said that while supplementary means were desirable, they wanted something up-to-diate. Cr. Palmer moved, and Or. Hannau seconded, that the Ohakune Town Hoard be iivfoiuned that this council is prepared, to accept £7/5 on the following terms: £30 deposit, the balance, CIS, to he paid during the next financial year, interest to be o per cent. The motion was carried. STONE CRUSHER. Mr E. Lloyd, of Karori, wrote stating that the name of the crusher in his possession was that of Rushton and Progter. Power required to work the crusher was 35 to -101 lis. Among other tilings Mr Lloyd pointed out that the engine was 10 It.p. Roth engine and crusher Jro portable. He himself had crushed 80yds of hartl metal in a day with them. It would be necessary to expend from £30 to £10 to put them in firstclass order. The price of the nlant complete was £250. He would be glad to give the douneil the opportunity to test the crusher and engine. Messrs Richardson, Blair and McCahe, of Wellington, wrote forwanding Messrs Had field's Stool Foundry Company's catalogue of portable stone breaking plant. Messrs Andersons, of Cbristchurch, wrote on the same suibjeet, saying that thov had a "Fowler" road' roller which they could deliver at Wellington for £621, and with the traction engine Wheels to cm vert into a traction engine C 750.

Xo action was taken on the letters. MB BABBON'S CASE. Mv L. A. Barnon attended with reference to the question of laying water on to his house as compensation for encroachment of a pipe on his land, lie stated that he was prepared to pay CI a year provided the water was laid" on to his house, he to use water for whatever purposes he required. Tlio May/)!': Do you know what your valuation is? , Mr Marion : Xo, T do not. Cr. Williams remarked that Mr I'anmn wanted water laid on to his house in the same way as other people similarly situated had had it laid on.

Cr. Mannan, to test the feeling of the council, moved: "That the oouii'Hl supply Mr Barron with water at £2 per annuan during his occupancy of his present holding lor domestic purposes only Mr Barron to lay a "in pipe from the nearest junction ol the borough pipes to his own dwelling, and; that the concession be granted on condition that Mr Barron signs the necessary "asement of the land in which the pipe passes through. Cr. Franco questioned if the council was at all on Mr Barron's laud. He would like to ask Mr Barron to prove that the. council had encroached on his property. Mr Barron :Your engineer» has surveyed it and proved it. Cr. V ranee: If we are on your land we are on an infinitesimal piece of it. It was a case of bluff. Mr Barron repudiated the statement that lie was bluffing the counrriJ. He was most moderate in lis request.

The Mayor pointed out that what the council had to consider was ivhat was going to happen during the time he was occupying the property or anyone else.' They had to consider what was going to take place after he had gone. I-Je was prepared to treat Mr Barron fairly, but they had to recollect thev were the representatives of the ratepayers, _ and they had to con-scn-e the interests of the public. C'r. Mackenzie suggested that if Mr Barron would not meet the council fairly, the portion of land in question should be taken under the Public Works Act. Cr. Prouse suggested a compromise in the matter, and the resolution would meet the case. Mr Barron told the council lie. did not think lie' was being treated fairly in the matter. An amendment that the matter be held over for further consideration was lost, and the motion was adopted.

TYXE STREET CULVERT. The District Engineer of the Xew Zealand Railways wrote stating that he had made an inspection oi the locality in connection with the culvert at Tvne street. . TJic culvert there at present was 3in by Tin, and this should be quite sufficient for natural drainage. The culvert was already fully low enough for the general fall of the country. If the council wished a culvert put in under the line at 'their cost and would submit particulars be would, recommend) the department to agree to the same. The Mayor: I am sure that the Government won't be satisfied till they get the line washed a.way. lie moved, and it was agreed:, that the letter be referred to tlie Streets Committee. GAS: THE PR OR A,RLE STRIKE. The manager of the gas works his reijiort which stated that all in connection with the works was satisfactory. X'umbei

o) consumers 100, meters in public, use 201, meters in stock 10, coal in stock 10 tons, num'ber of pas lamps 38, jminbor oif stoves in 7i.se '|2 ; j"(na nfity of gas manufactured •mo,<oo, total output 320,000.Ci\ Mackenzie asked whether, .as tlio.re was every probability of an extensive coal strike taking place very soon, the council had' ijio'ught of getting a more extensive stock in 'hand. Or. Prouse thought the question was a very appropriate one. The council ought to make .provision for was likely to take place. The lown Clerk Said that be would take note of the matter, and ibrmg the subject before the attenLighting Committee. Pile manager's report was then adopted.

OUTSTANDING RATES. . <3r. Lancaster said that a .resolution had been passed • some- time ago with regard to outstanding lvites and dog ( taxes. - He; asked •* if amv prospsirtjons h^.taken •plaeor' i i< >

The Town Clerk replied in the negative. It was a question as to Jiow it could be done. • Since that resolution had been passed ho had ■'been very busy. Ho had had extra work, the auditor had been in; and lie himself had fund to be away It was a question of whether ho was to (lit) the work or hand it out to the solicitor, THE LATE MRS HUDSON. The Mayor moved that the council desires to express its sincere sympathy with Mr T. A. B. Hudson and family in the irreparable loss they hiave just sustained. Mr Hudson had been a hard, working member of that council, and now that he had lost his wife he had lost what was his dearest friend. Cr. Cameron seconded the .motion, which was adopted unanimously, the council standing. FIR 10 BFLL. Cr. Cameron moved that a tender of Cl 5 be o(lVred' to the Wellington Council for the lire bell (o cwt). Cr. Mackenzie seconded the resolution, which was adopted.