BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2599, 28 June 1923, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Borough Council was convened by the Mayor last Tuesday night, owing |o the last Council meeting business extending over four hours. Those present were:—His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Chrystall), and Crs. Bryant, Smith, Thorpe, McMurray, Adams, Parkin, Colev and Walker. CORRESPONDENCE was read and dealt with as follows; From tlie Health Inspector reporting on an inspection he had made of the hack yard of one of the Main Street business premises and suggesting that the Council give the owner twelve hours’ notice to clean same up. Cr. Coley said that the matter had already been attended to by the owner and that the promises were now in good order. He also said that before the Council served private persons with notices to clean lip their promises they should look to their own sections. Tic drew attention to certain breaches of the by-laws being committed on the empty section belonging to the Council at the rear of the Town Hall.

The Mayor brought up the matter of drainage connections. He said that notices had been served on property owners in the Main Street to connect up with the drainage scheme six to eight months ago and as yet only one or two had connected up. Cr. Adams said that some op the local plumbers were idle and that it was no excuse to sav that plumbers were not available. He would like to know why the Council was importing a plumber.

The Mayor said that they would need long lives to see some of (he local plumbers complete the work.

Cr. MeMurray said that the Town Hall was not yet connected up with the water and drainage and he did not see how the Council could compel property holders to connect up until they had themselves done mi. The Mayor suggested that ti e matter he held over, which suggestion was adopted.

From the Foxton Fire Board pointing out the urgent necessity for fire plug indicators and asking the Council to give (his matter their immediate consideration. Cr. Bryant said that the matter had been considered about three months ago and nothing satisfactory had been done. He would like to see the matter fixed up at oncm The Mayor said that the timber bad been ordered for the work. Decided that the material having 1,0011 ordered the work of erecting fire plug indicators be proceeded with. Cr. Coley moved that all fire plug covers and lobby boxes in streets be raised or lowered to bring them lev! with surrounding ground level and that metal he placed around them, and that the Water and Drainage foreman be instructed to give tb : s matter his attention.

Tn speaking on this matter (V. Coley said that he had made an inspection of the borough and from what be could see the toby boxes had been “chucked on the ground.” As regards the fii’e ping boxes, they were in some places !) inches above the road level. He had also noticed that the water pipe drains in Frances and Cook Streets had not been filled in. The lobby boxes should he concreted in so as to make them immovable, as it was they could be removed. The Mayor suggested securing the boxes with chains. Cr. Coley said that no private man would ever have passed work that this Council has passed. The motion was carried unanimously.

From tlie Fire Board asking the Council to connect the water works engineer's residence with the telephone. The Mayor said this work was the Fire Board’s job. They had already provided for it in their estimates. He said that the Council did not require the connection. Or. Smith said that the Council would benelit by the connection. The Board had thought the Council would make some grant towards the cost owing to this. Cr. Walker said that it would lie no advantage to the Council to have their engineer connected with the ’phone. Cr. Coley said that it was only reasonable to pay something of the cost. The Council would benefit by the connection.

Cr. Me Murray suggested that the Council pay half the cost of installation.

The Mayor said they had already got to pay half. The Clerk pointed out that it the Council granted half the cost they would have to pay in all £4 10s. It was decided on the motion of the Mayor and Cr. Bryant that the request he declined.

Another letter was received from the Fire Board asking the Council to provide an approach across the footway to the tire station.

Cr. Bryant said the work was not necessary and was not the Council’s work.

The matter was referred to the Works Committee.

The Mayor was elected to represent the Council at the conference of Municipal bodies at Christchurch on the 18th July. It was decided that tenders be called for the purchase and removal of windmill, tanks, stand and pump, at the corner of Purcell St. and the Avenue Road.