BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2377, 10 January 1922, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last night. CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: —

From Edward Newman, M.P., conveying to His Worship the Mayor and, Councillors his sincere thanks for the kind message sent him in a letter of the 15th instant, and stating that it was a great pleasure to him to co-operate with His Worship in securing the necessary funds to carry out the important works now in progress in the borough, and lie hoped the Council would not fail to make use of his services whenever required in the future. He would like to say that credit is equally due to His Worship the Mayor and Cr. Whibley for the success which attended the application for the funds in question. —Received. RAT EXTERMINATION. From (lie Department of Health, re plague matters, and suggesting that Mr McKnight devote one half of each day to house to house inspection, etc., paying particular attention to rubbish accumulated and evidence of rats.

Cr. Martin said that something should be done in the matter, and done quickly. On Saturday evening last, lie said, he saw some rats having a “steeplechase'* in a shop in the southern end of Main Street. He had also seen rats at the hack of Main Street in the day time. He said that that part of Main Street towards he Council Chambers was the dirtiest part, of the town. He was quite prepared to take any Co.iiiicillor around and prove his statements.

Cr. Bryant said that Cr. Marlin was making a false statement. The Mayor said that half of each day would he too much for Mr McKniglit to he at such work.

Cr. Smith said lie did not think that Iho Health Inspector was paying proper attention to Foxton. He had never seen him about.

The Mayor pointed out that the Inspector had been down several limes, and that he lmd a large district to cover. The Council paid £7 Ills a quarter for his services to the borough. Cr. Whibley said that the Inspector was frequently at Foxton. It was decided that Air McKnight lie employed for three days a week (o give instructions to clean up rubbish and destroy rats, for a period of one month, under the instructions of the Health Inspector.

rnrs'- works manager. From Mr A. C. Kcimerley, asking permission to leave the worksypf oc_ viding lie is able to produce a capable substitute. The Mayor said that lie understood there was a likelihood of Mr Kennerley losing his job if lie was retained much longer. C‘r. Martin said that Air Kennerley would have insisted on the Council keeping to the agreement had the matter been reversed. He considered it would he all right to allow Air Kennerley to go providing a capable man was obtained —a man of their approval. He moved, seconded by Cr. Rand; that the Gas Manager be informed that he must fulfil the- terms of agreement, unless the succeeding manager is able to take up his duties before the expiry of the three months' notice, as requested by the Council from Air Kennerley. Cr. Thompson said the matter could he.deferred until next meeting. Cr. Ross said the motion should go through. The Council could not 'afford to take any risks with the works. The motion was carried, the Afavor and Crs. Coley and Thompson voting against it. WATER AND DRAINAGE. The engineer said that most of the timber was to hand for <lie septic tank. He said that the Council should take advantage of Ah' Ross’ offer of a pump, and lit it up, and use their own gas engine for pumping the water from the septic tank. The new pump will soon he to hand, and they could then substitute it for the loaned one. He had received the foundation drawings of the pump, and from experience the pump itself usually arrived about six weeks later. They could use some of the water pipes for the suction to tlm excavation. In connection with the water pipes, some lmd arrived, and other's were due. The work of laying them would not he long, and lie was of the opinion Hint it would lie a good idea to hold that work over and do it at such times as the work at the septic tank was held up by freshes in the river. It would he advisable to have the water pipes laid as soon as the pump arrives, so that in case of fire water pressure of about 501bs. to the square inch would he available. It would also he advisable to sink the other wells so as to have adequate supply in such eases.

It was decided tjiat the suggestions made by Mr Climie for pumping from the excavation lie carried out., and that the matter of artesian bores be left in the hands of the Mayor- and Town Clerk to report to the next meeting. TOWN HALL It was decided that tenders be invited for lease of the Town Hall for a period of two years from the Ist March, 1922, on the conditions and terms of lease at present in force, except that prices of admission be not increased for special programmes on more than three nights per month,

It was decided that the Town Hall Commit tee meet on Friday,. at 4 p.m., at the Town Hall, to inspect the plant and equipment. Decided that the Council go into the matter of using the Town Hall for Council meetings, and other purposes, Crs. Coley and Rand voting against the proposal.

GAS MANAGER’S REPORT. The Gas Manager reported as follows : “The amount of gas manufactured during the month of December shows an increase over the corresponding period of last year. During the month six meters were changed, and four choked services cleared. Four meters were not registering. One new service has been laid, and a house fitted up. The main which supplies Berry’s , mill had to be altered, because.it. was in the way of the septic tank. The No. 2 holder and standards have received another coat of paint, also the new iron lias been painted and put on stokehouse roof." —The report was adopted. REPAIRS AT GAS WORKS.

It was decided that the preliminary steps having been taken to raise a loan for certain works, the Council is of the opinion that the work of re-sheeting the holder and setting up new lied of six retorts |,c undertaken out of current account. Councillors Bryant, Thompson and Walker recorded their votes against the proposal.

Cr. Bryant, in speaking to the motion, said lie did not consider patching was any good. The Council had some experience of that before. The old holder bought sec-ond-hand from Gisborne cost as much as a new one when it was fixed up. Cr. Coley objected to Cr. Bryant’s statement. He said the holder had been bought second-hand for £SO. A new one at that time would have cost £14,000. Cr. Bryant said they might have got the holder for that sum, hut it Post between £BOO and £OOO to set it up. ROAD FOREMAN’S REPORT. . The Borough Road Foreman reported ns follows: — “During the past month the road staff have been engaged in the following works: Planting river hank with ice plant (this, by the way, has got well established); completing the asphalting of. Avenue Road footpath; screening coke ash and carting same to Council yard; mixing asphalt in yard; weeding water i a hies and footpaths, Avenue Road, Clyde Street, and Whyte Street; mowing grass at cemetery, and general maintenance work, patching ruts, etc. The grass in Victoria Park has also been cut. I am sorry to state that since completing the asphalt footpath in Avenue Road, some apparently irresponsible individual has galloped-a horse along tlie centre of it for a considerable distance, and broken up the This is very annoying, and especially as the path had been well finished off, and had got firm for ordinary use. We have once, more grubbed out the wattle at the cemetery- This has been a nuisance for a great many years. It appears to be as strong as ever. The rushes are also getting more numerous, and I propose grubbing them all out at our first opportunity. The concrete pipes for culvert over drain to Whyte Street have not yet come to hand. As soon as they arrive this work will be put through. Other work for the month will include topdressing of weak places and ruts in Alain Street, grubbing weeds Xrietoria Park, and general maintenance. Alain Street would he all the better for a fresh coating of tar right through. We have a fair amount of tar available.” The Mayor said that in connection with the wattle weed in the cemetery, he thought it would be. a good idea to procure some Wanganui weed destroyer, and try that. Re tarring the road, he considered it would be better to patch until the water mains are down. Cr. Bryant said that the southern end of Alain Street wanted doing badly. He considered the whole street should he top-dressed. Cr. Walker said.Jlmt a close examination of the road showed that the surface was very thin. If it started to break up, more expense would he incurred. He was of the opinion that the whole road should he top-dressed. The Mayor suggested that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee.

The report was adopted, and that portion referring to the re-tarring of Alain Street was referred to the Public Works Committee.