Foxton Borough Council.

Manawatu Herald, 9 April 1903, Page 2

Foxton Borough Council.

A special meeting of the Council was held at the Library Buildings on Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Or P. J Hennessy), and Crs T. Westwood, A Speirs, B. Cl. Gower, S Baker, Geo. Simpson and G. Stiles.' The Mayor said the first business was the appointment of a surveyor of new buildings as was required under the new by-laws It was necessary that,such an appointment should be made so that those about

tq erect new buildings in the borough should be made to conform to the,by-laws. : Proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Or. Gower, That the town clerk be appointed Building Surveyor to the Borough. Carried., A letter was read from M- Perreau asking for permission to erect a temporary building adjoining his premises. Some discussion ensued on the subject, and it Was proposed by Or Stiles, seconded by Cr Simpson, That the application of M. Perreau re erecting temporary building -beleft in the hands of the surveyor. Carried. An application from Mr Alfred Cook was • received for an auctioneer’s license/ Proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Cr, Westwood, That this Council grant Mr Alfred Cook an auctioneer’s license. Carried. The town clerk (Mr Alf. Fraser), submitted a report of bis interview with M 1 ’ Hugo, as follows • , Gentleman, —In accordance with the wishes of the Council I extended my stay in Wellington for the purpose of gaining certain information for the guidance of Councillois, which I will place before you as briefly as possible. First, Fire appliances : —Captain Hugo, whose advica I was instructed to obtain, was still away on his holiday but I was able to see him by waiting a day longer, and though be was not supposed to be at his office till the following day he received me very kindly and went into the matter very fully. After I had drawn A rough plan of the Borough and shown positions of the business centre,, hotels &c., and marked tile course of the river, explaining the general position,Captain Hugo gave it as bm opinion that the most feasible scheme was pipes led from river to difference points on the Main Street and fitted With hydrants, which would be sunk in the ground and the water raised from river by means of a stationary engine insome central spot near river say west end of Gray street, by this means the water could be pumped in any direction in a mile circuit and a jet thrown two hundred feet, the only appliance needed in addition to pipes and engine mentioned would be a, hose-reel to be kept in some central place, from where it could be taken to the nearest hydrant with the least delay. 'Captain Hugo,however, strongly advocates the stationary engine should be used for the dual purpose of Electric lighting as tending to strongly erabance the efficacy of the service and also greatly lessing the expense in-go-much as the Borough would in all probability derive a profit from the lighting sufficient to defray the working cost of water supply. •The engine could be kept working during the day storing the accumulators and banked up during the night, and a full bead of steam should be obtained in seven minutes. The estimated cost of engine for fire purposes only say £9OO, for fire and lighting £I2OO. The town of Blenheim has at present a similar system in operation which has worked very satisfactorily and Captain Hugho advises the Council should see the installation there.

Re certain streets :—I waited upon the Municipal Association’s solicitor and stated the case, that there was some talk of land-owners claiming a half of certain streets in the Borough which had been open for the past twenty years and more to the public, and were shown as roads and streets on the public map of the Borough and asked could they legally do so ? After looking up several Acts Mr Martin gave it as his opinion that they could not, and certainly not if there was a registered plan in Registry Office of streets that were open and had been used, by the public for the term mentioned He advised me to search at the Registry Office, and I did so going twice to the Registry office and three times to the Land Survey office and found in the special case mentioned that- there was a plan registered, though the name of streets was not the same as shown on Borough plan, (which, however, does not affect the question) and a search of the owners title showed that the transfer gave tlicm linkage up to centre of street, but nevertheless T was assured that she street couid not be closed except by order, of the Council and that the owner before mentioned ~could- hot possibly get a title to any; portion of the street. I have thought it better in this report which may be published not to mention the names of either streets or owners referred to above, but I can supply the information if the Council desire it, also the number and date of Registered plan mentioned I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, Alp. Fraser, Town Clerk. Proposed by Or Westwood, seconded by Cr Bpeirs, That the report of the Town Oleak concerning

his interview with Captain Hugo, o£ the Wellington Fire Brigade with reference to a water supply for Fo *~ ton be received, and that the thanks of this Council be tendered to Mr Fraser for his special services. Carried. . - Proposed by Cr. Simpson, seconded by Cr ypeira, That tender* be called for carting gravel for repair* of roads, specifications to be drawn by clerk. Tenders to be in by 6 , p.ra. on the 14th inat. Carried, The Council decided to inspect other reserves on Tuesday afternoon next for the purpose of ascertaining a more suitable site for a night sou depot