MARION BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9103, 24 March 1908, Page 5

MARION BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held last evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr J. MoEldowney), Ors. Gibbous, Hilton, Gould, Lyon and Bred in. CORRESPONDENCE, g From Wanganui-Patea Charitable Aid Board, forwarding £2B IGs 9d for charitable aid purposes. From Lauds & Survey Department, stating that as no plan had been received no action could be taken in regard to J. H. Miles’ application for a right-of-way on section 20, : block 17, High street. From Education Department, stating that £l6 9s 8d subsidy is payable to the Marton Public Library. From Patea-Wanganui Charitable Aid Board, forwarding order for William Nicol’s admission to Sanatorium at Rotorua.

From Secretary Raetihi Fire Committee, in’connection with the proposed purchase of Marton’s manual lire engine, and asking for information as to size, hose capacity of the engine, etc.—Attended to. From Health Officer, Wellington, advising that notice had been served on owner to pull down a. condemned building on Pukepapa road. From Secretary Local Bodies Committee, giving result of conference of representatives of Local Bodies held on 16th March. From Wanganui Education Board, asking Council to contribute towards salary for instructor in plumbing who will conduct classes in different towns.—Declined.

From Edwin Mossman, asking Council to lay on gas to the schoolhouse. —To be informed "that Council is prepared to lay on gas if Education Board will pay cost of installation.

From Leslie Reynolds, forwarding account for £53 10s for reporting on water supply for the Borough of Marton.—Held over pending receipt of answers to questions submitted by Council.

From W. J. Mogridge, asking permission on behalf of the Hockey Club to graze sheep on western portion of park, to eat dowm the grass.—Referred to Park Committee. From F. Mercer and R. H. Carey, tobacconists, desiring that the hours of closing their establishments bo gazetted, as follows: —Tuesdays, 0 p.m. ; Wednesdays, Ip.m.; Fridays, 6 p.m. —The Mayor and Town Clerk to certify to signatures. The Inspector of Buildings reported for the mouth. Kiue permits had been granted. REPORTS. The Gas Manager reported for the month. Sales amounted to £157 5s (id, the expenditure being £137 -Is ad. Two meters have been fixed and two services laid. Considerable difficulty had been experienced in meet iug the demand for gas, but now that the new’ retorts are working no further trouble is anticipated. Until the new purifier is fixed it will be difficult to maintain the gas free from sulphuretted hydrogen. The contract for carting ccal ends this month. The manager had been requested to bring before the Council a cookery book especially got up to advertise cooking by gas. By direction of the Mayor, he had charged 3d per gallon for tar supplied for street purposes. This is below the market value.

The Foreman reported :—Repairing the footpaths has been much delayed for want of sand, but 20 yards arrived on Saturday. Two water services have been laid. In regard to Mr Meyer’s application for water services one had been put in in Bowen street, which will supply three houses, but he wants two houses in Follett street supplied, which can only be done by laying a one-inch pipe* from William street, about chains. Mr Meyers also asks for two crossings in Bowenstreet. Bell street has been laid off as directed. On Wednesday night the seats in the Park were overturned. They had been replaced and fastened down by cross pieces. The report included a statement of the cost of repaving footpaths showing the expenditure to date to he £76 12s. Had visited Marton Extension and found that Wellington [road and Henderson’s line had been very badly cut up by the contractor. It would take at least 200 yards of gravel to put them in repair. Stray horses are making a mess of the footpaths in the new streets. The ranger says he cannot impound as the streets have not been taken, over by the Council. —It was decided to lay water on to Mr Meyer’s two houses in Follett street, cost not to exceed £6 10s. I Crs. Hilton, Gould, and Lyon were appointed to confer with Mr Manning, contractor, in respect to damage to Wellington road and Henderson’s line. OTHER MATTERS.

At the instance of Or. Gibbons it was resolved that the Works Committee be requested to repair footpath on the eastern side * of Broadway from the White Hart corner to the Drill Hall. It was decided to invite tenders for cartage of coal from station to gas works. The question of removing the firebell to a better site was brought up by Or. Lyon, who urged that the site next to the Borough Chambers was most suitable. He would support a proposal to purchase a new bell and steel tower as it was a matter of great importance that residents living on the outskirts of the Borough with a business in town should hear a fire alarm. Assistance was also needed at the manual engine and unless residents were aroused the brigade would be powerlesO to cope with a serious outbreak.

Or. Hilton was strongly in favour of the Park as a site for the fire alarm. It was proposed to erect a new station there and it was advisable to have a fire alarm nest to the Fire Brigade building. He had gone into the cost ,of a new bell and steel tower which would not exceed £75. He wanted to see the Fire Brigade loan gone on with. The Mayor suggested the matter be deferred pending the receipt of further information from Mr Leslie Reynolds on the present water supply. If larger pipes were laid a steam engine might be required and it would be necessary to go in for a bigger loan. Or. Hilton was content to allow the matter to stand over. FINANCE.

Accounts passed for > payment amounted to £lB3 14s lOd, a bank overdraft of £1434 2s lOd. The Town Clerk laid a report on the table 'of the estimatedf-receipts and actual cost 1 for year 1907-8 (to 31st March) as follows : GAS ACCOUNTS. Estimate. Actual. £ £ s d Coke, tar, etc 200 200 13 6 Gas fittings 450 538 13 3 Gas Consumers 1700 1864.15. 7

The latter item includes gas by meter £1724 17s 4d; street lamps (consumed) £9O 5s 4d and Town Hail, Council Chambers, Fire Brigade Station"£l39 9s lid.

Tho Clerk reported that all gas consumers accounts have been collected for the year.

OTHER RECEIPTS. £ £ s d General rate 12(57 1283 14 0 Library rate 52 53 8 1 Govt, subsidy 158 26(5 G 9 License fees 215 258 4 6 Log tax 20 81 3 0 Town Hall 200 163 6 0 Park fees 80 38 13 0 Library 40 42 17 8 Water charges 175 207 5 11