BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2580, 15 May 1923, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Last night the first meeting of the new Council was held in the Council Chambers. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: — From C. H. Speirs, asking the Council to re-open pipe drain leading from under block of buildings in Main St., on to the street water table as the exit had been blocked by the construction of concrete kerbing. Referred to Borough foreman with power to act. From W. I. Davis, piano tuner, offering to repair Town Hall piano for the sum of £5 9/6. —Referred to the Town Hall Committee. From the various church authorities asking that the church buildings be exempt from putting in gully-traps, pipes, etc., in connection with the drainage scheme as provided by the by-laws, as the necessity and expenditure was not justified.—A lengthy discussion ensued. Cr. Coley t|uestioned the wisdom of making exception? as other people would ask for /similar exemptions. The Council should get a report on the matter from the Health officer. Cr. Walker moved that the exempton be granted and the same conditions be extended to other churches. The Mayor supported the motion as in such cases there would be no detriment to the health of the community. Cr. Ross said be failed to see that the request was necessary. The Mayor said that churches were not in the same category as dwelling houses in connection with drainage, etc.

The Town Clerk was instructed to write and ascertain the procedure adopted in other towns and the matter was held over in the meantime. From the Beautifying Society, calling attention to the fact that there were a number of hedges overhanging the footpaths.—The owners to be notified to attend to same and also that notice hi* given to have lupins and other noxious weeds cleared from the roads fronting private property. The. road foreman to level up footpaths and make them passable for pedestrians. The Beautifying Society's request for a gate at the Johnston St. entrance to Easton Park was referred to tlie Reserves. Committee. GENERAL.

The owners of shop premises in Main St. are to be notified that water leaking through the verandahs <>n to the footpaths must be remedied.

A request from Mr H. J. Reid re the purchase of wall for the Hall cottage was agreed to. A vote of thanks and appreciation was passed to the Returned Soldiers, friendly societies, and band for assistance in making Anznc celebrations such a success.

The Mayor and Cr. Alex Ross were appointed to represent the Council on a deputation to the Prime Minister re matters in connection with the flax industry at Wellington to-day.

The Mayor moved, seconded by Cr. Bryant that application lie made to tlie Beautifying Society for a grant of £250 for the purpose of erecting a pavilion at Easton Park. The Mayor said the money had been ear-marked for this purpose, but the rules did not allow of it being done. He had asked that the rule be rescinded but this had been defeated by the society. If the rules were not- altered then the money should be liauded over to the Borough Council.

Cr. McMurray said tlie funds were for beautifying purpose* and not for buildings. The reason why the Society, had not done anything was because Easton Park was given over to rugby. He was not in favour of the motion as the Council should erect such a building. He had no objection to a loan for the purpose. —The motion was carried. A petition from ratepayers was received asking that a footpath be constructed in Park St. After some discussion it was decided to refer the question of footpaths to the Public Works Committee to bring down a report." It was decided to support the Stratford Borough Council’s protest aganst motor speed records. ROAD POPE,MAN’S REPORT. “During the past month the road stall' has been engaged on the following works: —Completing the topdressing of southern portion of Main St, with tar and sand. Dis- ,;| charging sancbfrom-trucks to Coun,l; cil yard; cartiiig knd filling in sand , at new council chambers, carting metal and patching ruts Johnston St,; gleaning, Awahop, Johnston St., Aveiiue Rd., and Spring St. drains and general work. Would suggest r r . that about 500 to-600-yards of new metal be procured as soon as possible and that portion of Johnston IjV St. between Union St. and the Avenue Road where specially worn, X be given a good coat of Belmont if obtainable, but we should stipulate . 'a., that „the metal be crushed to a size . : suitable for road repair. I mentibn g this because the last metal we got < from Belmont was very coarse and r it was impossible to do satisfactory .. work with it. Most of the roads in The borough will need some repair but the Rangitikei and Taikatahuna metal appears to be most suitable ; fox’ the less used roads. I might mention that Wharf and Russell Sts. and Johnston St. from the windmill to Rope Works, were first repaired with Belmont metal in 1917. Since then very little metal has been put on these particular roads.. Johnston St. however, owing to water and drainage operations, has given us a good deal of work. The sewer trench is now fairlv well settled

down and I am now patching up the worst of the ruts till new metal comes to hand. We are also cleaning remaining drains.” In connection with procuring metal Cr. Coley said that some weight or proper measurement should he decided on. The Council has been losing money over its metal purchases owing to getting short weight. In his opinion £4OO or £SOO would have been saved if this matter bad been considered when be first brought it up. Cr. Adams pointed out that the water and drainage trenches were not being filled in properly. They were a danger to vehicles. The one in Duncan St, was particularly bad. One-man had come to him and said that lie was going to sue the Council for damages owing to breaking a spring in his car through going over the Duncan St. bump. Cr. Bryant said that the trench was filled in by the contractors for the school job. They were responsible.

Cr. Coley quite agreed with Cr. Adams. Re Belmont metal. The road in front of Ross’s mill was laid down with Belmont and it was very rough. He “had lost all his teeth riding past Ross’s mill over the boulders.” He also pointed out that the fire plugs were too .high and a danger to traffic.

Cr. Ross said lie would like to see nothing hut Belmont metal on the roads. Tt made file best roads. Belmont was certainly a bit rough at. first hut it made a good foundation. The Council lmd to look ahead. The roads in the future would he tarred and it was necessary to have a good foundation for this work. Cr. MeMurrny said that everything depended on the formation of a road. It was decided that the road foreman’s report, be adopted and that 400 yards of Belmont metal, suitably crushed and screenings and 100 yards of Rangitikei metal he ordered.

On the motion of Cr. Coley, seconded by Cr. MeMurrny it was decided that all metal coming to band for the council be weighed on the railway weigh-bridge and that sonip trucks be measured and a report on same be submitted jo the Council, excluding Mnnnwatn Countv Council metal. —Cr. Coley said (lie Council laid lost- a considerable sum of money by not adopting a proper method of ascertaining quantities. NOTICE OF MOTIONS.

Crs. MeMurrny and Adams gave notice of liioton “Hint the by-laws relating to water and drainage be •evised mid that (lie Town Clerk obtain copies of by-laws relating to same from other boron "Is.” “That Ihe offer of the Horn when • ua Electro Power Board to supply the borough with 60 lamps be accepted and the previous motion reseinded.” QUARTERLY REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER.

“During the past three months, only live eases of infectious disease have been notified iii flic borough. Tn all these eases, steps were taken to prevent Hie spread of infection. A case of suspected food poisoning was also notified, and a thorough investigation to locate the source of infection was carried out.

“Drainage and plumbing have occupied the greatest portion u£ my time. Twenty new drains have been inspected, and eventually passed, while one old drain was tested and condemned. Plumbing inspections have also been made where work has been completed, hut owing to the shortage of plumbers, this work is well behind the draining. Only six plumbing jobs have been entirely completed. This! is most unsatisfactory, particularly to the householders. and the position is being met at present, by refusing to issue,fresh drainage permits to a plumber whose plumbing works are not nearly up to date. “Three, drainlayers’ examinations have'been conducted this quarter, and the issue of two fresh licenses has been recommended. “11l addition to the above, inspections of premises have been made in various parts of the borough particularly in the business area. Those inspections have resulted in. improvements being carried out where necessary. “Generally speaking, the sanitary conditions of the Borough at the present time, is in a fairly satisfactory condition, but the ideal will not he attained until the drainage is completed, and until a system of municipal rubbish collection is established. The present system is only successful as far as (he control of the tip-'is concerned, but is not convenient to property holders.”