Levin Borough Council

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 November 1913, Page 2

Levin Borough Council

U liUlXAft Y EO.HTN IGHTLY MEETING. Levin Lorough Council held its ordinary fortnightly meeting last night, Mr 11. If. Gardener, Mayor of Levin, presiding. _ There also were present Councillors C. Blenkhorn, 1). W. Matheson, A. Dempsey, A. E. lfaswcll, 11. Prouse, Hy. 13. Erance, and E. S. Lancaster. Leave of absence was granted to Councillors Parker and Mackenzie. SEXTON WANTED. 'Ihe sextoa tendered his resignation, and it was resolved that applications be called for from persons willing to undertake the duties. • KAWH' KOAH DRAINAGE. A letter was received from Mr Eraiild in Webb, complaining of the council's dilatoriness in not going on with drainage work, as promised, near his property on the Kawiu road. The Mayor, explained that tile delay had been unavoidable and thai the work would be gone on with ns soon as possible. ST.l> IvETS COMMITTEE. The committee recommended: (l.; "That the necessary steps be taken to rescind that portion of by-law No. 2:5 of Part IV., Levin Borough liy-laws, relating to the speed of motors, and that a new by-law be created providing that the speetl of motor cars, cycles, etc., shall not exceed twelve miles per hour upon, straight roads, and not more than seven miles per hour rouml curves. (2) That uotive be given to terminate the agreement with the County Council in reference to the employment of the present rangr, with a view lo calling for fresh applications for the position of borough ranger. (■>) That the road overseer be instructed at the proper time to make the experiment in the business portion of the town, of tailing near the side channels, in (hose places where it is difficult to keep down the growth of grass and weeds."

lii moving' the adoption of the report, Cr. Lancaster stated that the committee was unanimous that so me thing was necessary in the matter. He moved that the speed of motors be reduced from 20 to 12 mites within the borough.

Couneillor seconded, and considered that 12 miles an hour was a fair thing, and in the past the borough by-law had been allowed to become a dead letter. Clause. 1 was agreed to. Clauses 2 and : S was carried on the voices. Bono I'(ill OVEIiSEE'It'S REPORT. The borough overseer reported that during the month he had had the kerbing and channelling in. Queen street completed, and that the concreting in Bath street would be completed this -week. The footpath in the public gardens had been tarred and sanded, and a good deal of digging and planting done. The lirebell "had had rather a rough time, what with false alarms and rough trials, and as far as the ringing by water was concerned it had been quite a success; but as for the sound of the bell, opinions are divided." As to the water-meter, the overseei reported that the broken part had been replaced, but owing to some of the rubber washers being out of place the leakage was not stopped. Mr Climie, consulting engineer, would be in Levin next week, and no doubt would be able to remedy the trouble. The overseed had had the water race in Tiro Tiro road (complained of by Mr .Johnson after the recent heavy rains) put light. The report was adopted without alteration. - KESEIIVES COMMITTEE. The reserves committee reported as follows:—"As instructed by the council, we have made the following arrangements (subject to the council's approval) regarding the sale by auction of the leases of certain lots of the municipal reserves, Sec 8, Block XI.' —

(1.) That the leases of thirteen lots be offered at public auction in the Century Hall, Levin, on Wednesday afternoon, 3rd December, 191 : J. Messrs Hitchings, Hankinsc, and Co., Ltd., to be auctioneers on terms as agreed, and that the sale be advertised in the Horowhenua Daily Chronicle and the Evening Post. (2) Tliq leases to be for a period of 21 years, from the 14th March, 1914, with a right of renewal, and upon the same terms and conditions as in the other leases of the block. "(Modification, if any, of the insurance clause in the lease to be left for the full council to determine.") The clauses set out above were agreed to on the voices; also the several upset prices agreed upon

by the reserves committee. On the point aa to modifying the insurance clause in the lease, the Mayor said he could uot soe how the council's clause could be thought detrimental to any mortgagee. He did not see how any mortgagee could make any objection to tho council insuring itself against fire; so far as the mortgagee's speculation went lie had no wish to see the building burnt down; therefore, as long as the building was re-erected, what difference could it mako to him. Further, the council as trustee for the ratepayers had to have its interests in the building properly protected. Where reinstatement of a building was made compulsory the council was absolutely safe: without it, tho council's interests might suffor, by loss oi lettablo valuo.

Councillor Matheson said ho was in favour of a proviso providing that if a building was insured and a lire occurred the insurance money should go into tho building that would be re-erectcd, and that it be made clear whether the lessee would have to pay tho rents for the buildings that thoy paid previous to the fire. The Mayor said that 110 doubt the council would treat all lessees so placed. Councillor Lancaster said it had been represented to him that the council's proviso as to joint tenancy had been found to bo detrimental to anyone desirous of raising money on mortgage. Councillor France was in favour of keeping the insurance a joint matter. Further, if it was found that the big section was not leased this month he would be in favour of having municipal shops put 011 it. Councillor Dempsey asked what would be the position if a lessee were burnt out and the money from insurance was not sufficient to rebuild as good a property. The insurance always would be insufficient to build as valuable a building as the one destroyed. Councillor Blenkhorn said Councillor Dempsey had struck the real weak point from a mortgagee's point of view. However, (lie council in this matter must consider its own interests —not those of the mortgagees. Tho clause as brought down was adopted.