BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1030, 15 August 1911, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was held in the Council Chamber last night. Present; His Worship the Mayor (G. H. Stiles, Esq.), and Councillors Adams, Carter, Chrystall, Coley, Gibbs, Speirs and Stewart. Leave of absence was granted to Cr Greig. THIS SHANNON WATER SCHEME. A letter was read from the secretary of the Shannon Waterworks Scheme Committee, advising that at a meeting of residents a committee had been set up to confer with delegates trom Foxton, and asking that a date be fixed for a conference at Foxton. The Mayor said that before the conference took place the Councillors should know exactly what the Council was willing to do and how far they were prepared to go towards the cost of an estimate. Cr Carter said that Mr Climie had, iu company with the Shannon Committee, visited the site, and had given the Shannon people a good deal of information. The Shannon people were very keen on the scheme. The Mayor said the information he required was what amount the Council was prepared to pay in connection with the furnishing of an estimate. He suggested that Shannon and F'oxton should equally bear the cost. Cr Speirs agreed. He thought that it was only fair that the cost of the estimate should be borne equally. Cr Gibbs said that personally he was not in favour of going on with a scheme at once, even if it were approved. He wanted to see the gas works and Town Hall pay their way first. He was convinced that both these projects would be paying concerns in the very near future, and then he would be prepared to fight for water and drainage tooth and nail, but not until then. Iu the meantime he thought it a good idea to 4 get an estimate. Cr Chrystall opposed getting an estimate. He said if the CoUucil was not prep.. I.co go on with the scheme it was useless wasting money on an estimate. The money spent on the estimate for the artesian scheme was money wasted.

Cr Gibbs: “ yuestion.” The Mayor objected to the last speaker’s remarks in relereuce to the artesian scheme. While the Council was thinking of going in for a water scheme, money spent on obtaining estimates lor different schemes was not money wasted, They should get all the information possible to lay before the ratepayers. He contended that the Shannon estimate should be obtained, and they would then know what the scheme would cost, and as they already had the estimate for an artesian supply, it would mean that they would have all the information relative to water supply suitable to the Borough before them, and if it was not acceptable to the borough at the present time, it would be valuable at some later time. If the essimate were obtained now, Shannon would share the age of the present opportunity it might mean that later Foxlou would have to bear the whole cost. Cr Gibbs agreed that it was desirable to get the estimate and then, when the lime comes to put a scheme before the ratepayers they would have all the data required. Cr Adams said that Mr Climie had given them a rough idea of the cost, which would be anything from ,£25,000 to ,£40,000. At the lowest estimate it was a very big thing for Foxtou. It was decided on the motion of Cr Carter, seconded by Cr Chrystall, that Friday, 25th August, in Council Chamber, at 7.30 p.m., be the date fixed for meeting the Shannon delegates re water scheme, Mr W. A. Hutton, civil engineer, wrote at length in connection with the preparing of an estimate for the proposed Shannon water scheme. —Consideration of the latter was left for the conference to be held on August 25th. THE TAYLOR .MEMORIAL. A copy of the circular letter, which has been sent to all local bodies, in connection with the Taylor Memorial Fund, was received from the secretary of the committee.

It was decided, on the motion of Cr Stewart, seconded by the Mayor, that the Council sympathises with the efforts to raise funds for the family of the late T. K. Taylor, and Councillors be required to take lists round. THE NEW VALUATION'S. The Valuer-General advised that few objections had been lodged to the new valuations and he anticipated that a sitting of the Assessment Court would not be necessary. WATER TROUBLE IN NORBITON ROAD. A letter was receivd from a number of ratepayers iu the .Norbiton Road calling altentiou to the inadequate outlet for surface water and asking that some steps be taken to abate the trouble. Cr Coley said that in the ordinary course of events the outlet was sufficient, and trouble from surface water would only occur .once in about five years. It was decided on the motion of Cr Adams, seconded by Cr Speirs that the petition of the ratepayers .of Norbiton road be referred to the Public Works and Reserves Committees; same to meet on .Friday, 25th instant, at 3.30 p.m. THE KOAD GRADER. .Cr Gibbs asked for figures m

connection with the working of the road grader. The Town Clerk said that 827 chains of streets had been gone over at a cost of ,£2O ss, being at the rate of 5/sd per chain. The cost included the wages of the driver, two roadmen and the hire of four horses. Cr Gibbs said that was most satisfactory and the thanks of the Council and the ratepayers were due to Cr Coley for bringing the question of purchasing the machine before the Council. GENERAL. The Railway Department, in reply to a request by the Council to cross the railway line in Ladies’ Mile with gas mains, granted the permission asked for at a peppercorn rental, providing the Council paid the cost (,£1) of the preparation of the deed of agreement in connection with same. —Decided on the motion of Cr Coley, seconded by Cr Chrystall, that the Council accepts the terms laid dowm by the Railway Engineer for gas pipe crossing at Ladies’ Mile. Mr F. E. Chalmers wrote offering two pence per lb for chain lately used in triangle at southend of Main Street. —The offer was accepted. The poundkeeper reported that during the month of July 36 horses, 1 donkey and 64 head of cattle had been impounded by the ranger and driving fees amounting to £2 15s had been collected. An application from Mr R. N. Speirs to have gas laid on to his office iu Main Street was referred to the gas committee. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that the borough was in a fairly clean state. Accounts amounting to ,£589 os 3d were passed for payment.

There was some discussion on the question of whether the tarring of certain streets which had been authorised some time ago should be proceeded with and it was eventually decided to hold same in abeyance for the time being. The Council rose at 10.30 p.m.