BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2328, 13 September 1921, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last night. CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: — From J. H. Reid, stating that he will be unable much longer to run the Town Hall engine with the present water circulating tank. —The Town Clerk to have a circulating tank erected forthwith. From Evans Bros., contractors for Whyte Street extension, asking the Council if they could supply them with 115 yards of metal for same. —Decided that application be granted subject to permission of Railway Department being obtained. From Mr J. Coley, applying for gas installation in his residence in Johnstone Street. Application granted. From Messrs Ross, Rough and Co., offering the Council 10s per month for the use of the water from the southern well sunk for the town water service until same is required by the Council, a month’s notice to be given on,either side to terminate the arrangement. —Decided to accept the offer, provided no suction was applied to the well.

ROAD FOREMAN’S REPORT

The borough foreman reported as follows: — “During the past month the road staff have been engaged on the following works: Grading the remainder of borough roads (Easton, Hulke, and Howan Streets, Avenue Road, etc.), kerbing Avenue Road footpath from Johnston Street halfway to Fatter Street, discharging limestone and screening same for footpath, grading footpath Coley Street, putting on limestone topdressing same with tar and eokt ash, mixing asphalt in Council \ard, and general maintenance work. Coley Street footpath has been completed to Gladstone Street. 1 propose going on witli this path whenever the conditions are unsuitable for mixing asphalt for Avenue Road. This, with general maintenance work, will be carried on during the present month. —Report adopted. The foreman also drew the Council’s attention to the fact that some person was in the habit of. leading horses over the Coley Street footpath, and that as t ho footpath was not vet set, it consequently was being churned up. Cr. Martin staled that it was time (his business of wandering stock was put an end to, and if this was not done very soon lie would submit a motion to the Council which would alter the situation.

RANGER’S REPORT

The Borough Ranger reported as

follows: —

“During the month, 14 horses and 17 cows wore impounded. I have also ‘arrested’ 21 cows and two horses, which were released to their owners. Driving Joes to the amount of 13s have been collected and paid to the Town Clerk.”

Decided that the Ranger’s report be adopted, and that inquiries be made its to the person or persons damaging Coley Street footpath, and that steps be taken to have the nuisance abated.

WATER AND DRAINAGE loan. A Idler was received from I lie State Advances Office, informin',' the Council that they had decided not to loan more than £5,000 per annum in the future.

Mr Climie, Borough Engineer, pointed out that the best plan for the Borough !o adopt under the circumstances would lie that of a selfcontained scheme. It would he possible to do this with the money on hand, if further laying of the sewers was stopped and the work of constructing the pump, etc., proceeded with. Cr. Whibley said that he thought it would be better if a deputation was to wait on the State Advances Board at Wellington, and endeavour to arrange an increase of the advance before anything else was done.

It was decided that a deputation consisting of the Mjiyor and Cr. Whibley wait on the State Advances Board with a view to increasing the amount of loan to he granted from £5,000 to £IO,OOO for the ensuing year.

SEWERAGE

It was decided that the standing order relating to rescinding of a previous motion be waived for this meeting, and that the portion of resolution No. 4, dated 22/8/21, relating to laying of sewers in Lady’s Mile, he held over in the meantime. —Carried.

TESTING OF PIPES,

In answer to a question as to whether the pipes could be tested here, Mr Climie pointed out that it. would mean going to a, great deal of expense in fixing up apparatus for testing pipes locally, whereas the Council had only to pay for the testing in Hastings, and this was carried on under his personal supervision.

Cr. Martin asked if the pipes should not he examined on arrival before being handled. Mr Climie said that the Company was not liable for damage in transit. OBJECTIONS TO COURSE OF SEWER.

Four objections were read to the course of the sewer through private property. They were Messrs H. Coley, G. Coley (2), and R, Moore. Mr H. Coley said that he had no objection whatever to the sewer going through his property in accord-

anee with the plan, but did object to the course shown by the pegs. They

did not coincide. Mr Murray pointed out that lie had made a mistake with the pegs, and that the course to be taken was that shown on the plan.

Decided that Mr H. Coley’s objection be sustained.

Mr G. Coley objected to his objections being taken together with others.

In connection with Mr Moore’s objection, Mr Climie said that the town is very flat, and hence the sewerage area restricted. If they did not utilise every foot of ground*, they could not do without.another pump. It meant a saving of £3OO by not taking the sewer on the road in the Lady’s Mile. A great saving of money and trouble was effected by the route laid down. If the sewer was on the road it would have, for one thing, to be several feet deeper. The Mayor pointed out that the Council could reserve their decision in the matter. Cr. Martin said it would be more satisfactory to settle the matter at cnee.

Decided that Mr Moore’s objection be not sustained, Councillors Coley and Thompson voting against the motion. Mr Coley said that he had two objections lodged. He was prepared to forego one if he could get what lie required with the other. The sewer went right through his back yard, and he had objected to its course from the very first day. He could easily connect from Russell or Hetta. Streets, as.there were no buildings to interfere with the course if taken in either of those directions.

Mr Climie said that they hail taken alternative levels. If the course was down the centre of Norbiton Road, it was impossible to get one side to drain into it. It was possible to take the sewer up Hetta Street, but it meant an increase of about 21 chains of sewer, and two manholes, costing approximately £81).

Cr. Whiblev said that the Council had been bluffed. Mr Coley had said that he was calling expert evidence on the case, and yet the experts had not arrived. The whole thing was a matter of bluff. The sewer was now through some 100 back yards, and it was possible to count the objections on one’s fingers. Cr. Coley said that if his objection was not sustained he would go to the Supreme Court. Cr. Martin said that he objected to any deviation in the plans to suit one or two people. He considered it was opposition to the progress of the borough. He considered the matter should be fought out, even if it did cost a little extra, and the public should know. Decided that Mr Coley’s objection be not sustained, Councillors Thompson and Walker voting against. The Mayor moved an amendment that Mr Coley’s objection be held over, which was not seconded.

METAL,

Cr. Coley said there was constant disputes over the quantity of metal delivered, and lie was positive that the Council was not getting the right weight. A standard weight should be set.

Mr Climie said that the weight depended a great deal on the moisture, Twenty-eight ewt. was the average weight, and that the capacitv of a truyk could easily be measured. He bad never heard of a standard weight in regard to metal.

Cr. Bryant said the motion was ihs uni.

Cr. Whibley said that he did not consider il would he practical to cart by weight. Cr. Cole.v said that there must he a standard weight. The Council was losing a yard with every truck. Cr. Martin said Ihe Hoad Foreman had said he had nothing to complain about. Cr. Hand said that since he had been carting he had found that Ihe mol a 1 for Ihe most part was the right weight. Some trucks had been little smaller, but the majority had been the same.

Mr Coley’s motion that all metal supplied to the Council he weighed and Government weighbridge certificates he obtained for eacli truck, metal to he paid for ns per measurement calculated as per standard weight, was defeated.

ROADMAN,

It. was decided that Mr W. H. Coley he appointed roadman, on the conditions of application as laid down by the Council. MR. BLACKMAN’S REPORT.

It was decided that Mr Blackman’s report he referred to the Gas Works Committee for consideration.

BUILDING PERMITS

Cr. Whibley moved that unless the fee for building permits for building recently erected by Mr G. Coley he not paid within seven days, the Town Clerk be instructed to take legal proceedings to recover same. Cr. Martin said that unless this matter was dealt with in accordance with constitutional procedure, any one could stick up an old shed anywhere. The bylaws should be strictly adhered to. The motion was lost.