Levin Borough Council

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 May 1917, Page 2

Levin Borough Council

ORDINARY FORTNIGHTLY SOME IMPORTANT DECISIONS. MIEMNG. Levin Borough Council met last night the mayor (Mr C. Blenkhorn) presiding. Tll ore were also present • Councillors D. S. Mackenzie, W. Ryder, W. Bull, F. E. Parker, K. Aitken, R. Bryson, T. Broome, E. S. Lancaster, D. W. Matheson. The United Fire Brigade forwarded draft of a resolution which they suggested should bo passed by the council and forwarded to the Government. The dralft asked that the Government should exempt from active service certain members of fire bngade3 (especially those in the second division), there having been heavy enlistments in the past and the brigades being hampered in their work as a consequence.

The mayor said that the Government could be trusted to do the fair thing in this matter; it had the sissistance of the military boards and the

efficiency board. Mr Blenkhorn moved that the letter be received. This was agreed to 011 the voices.

A request by (the acting-manager of the Boys' Training Farm for a readjustment of water supply charges was referred to the waterworks committee tor investigation and a report.

A suggestion was received from, the Levin Beautifying Society that a crop of potatoes be taken off the new ground near the garden reserve. Th® council agreed with the society's suggestion; also with its other suggestions (1) that trees be thinned out from the reserve near the railway station and (2) that a little streetplanting (trees) be done in some suitable streets every year. The council agreed with the suggestions, and asked the council's streets committee to > act in conjunction with the society and carry out the proposals. A request by Mr J. Smith that a reduction be made in the annual license fee of £2 2s, charged him for his coach, was not entertained. A request for a payment of a levy on Levin Borough Council (towards the costs of the Royal Commission on railway deviation that sat last year) was received from the Sandon executive. A grant of £40 towards these expenses was authorized by a resolution "passed some months ago by 'Levin borough council.

Alexandra Borough ICountoijl's motion concerning allowances to soldiers and their dependents, and the need for a national scheme for increasing primary products, was received. •

•3>annevirke Borough Council asked the council to support a proposition that boroughs of over 3000 inhabitants, be appointed registering authorities for motor oars. The ac't at present Axes the. population minimum at 5000. The council resolved to support the Dannevirke / ibody's attitude. An application to have Queenswood road widened and'graded, and to have a footpath provided, was received from seven signa'tories. STREETS AND WAGES. The Streets Committee, and ' the Lighting Committee submitted reports which were adopted. Some important matters were contained in the reports. Following are the recommendations of the streets and reserves committee: I.—That Queenwood road be' graded and metalled if necessary, and the work be • done when the weather is favorable; and that metalled tracks be made if needed to the gateways of the. residents.

2.—That the. open water-races running across the streets mentioned below be piped and culveted; viz:: Tiro Tiro road (two); York-street (one).

3.—That the footpath on the west side of Bristol-street from the Bank of Australasia to the Courthouse, a distance bf. about Jive chains, be tarred and sanded.

4.—That when possible and where necessary the traction engine in conjunction with the road grader be used to comb the side of the streets.

s.—That so far as the output of tar from the gasworks will permit, that the main street be completed with tar and sand' to Bath-street, and) Jtihafc when possible Queen-street from Bris-tol-street to the railway crossing .be treated, in a similar manner. ' 6, —That the trees around the cemetery area be cut and trimmed. 7.—That the following increase of wages be made:—Overseer, le per day, borough carter Is per day; surfacemen .6d per day; caretaker of gardens £1 per calendar month dating from June Ist, 1917. All the foregoing recommendations werA agreed to on the voices. LIGHTING COMMITTEE. The .Lighting Committee recommended, and the council resolved:— (I)— The where it is, found neceseaary the present arc street lamps bf, replaced with "lantern-shaped" lamps. The number requiring replacement is estimated at 27, and the cost is estimated at £4 each.

2.—That the 1 sum of £55 be placed' on ■ the estimates for street lamps to take the place of those on the centre pedestals, which need urgently renewing. •

(3)— That the pedestals in the centre of the street be removed and lamps be erected in their place oil the side of the street.

(4).—That the price of coke (dating from. 26th May) be at the following rates Dealers 25s per ton; nondealers 27s 6d per ton; half ton lots los per half ton; sacks Is 6d in less quantities than half a ton. (6). That the gas manager's salary be increased by £25 per annum, dating from Ist April, 1917. All these recommendations wer« adopted without alteration