BOROUGH COUNCIL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 30, 11 January 1916, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETSNC. The meeting last niu;lit was attended by His Worship the Major >.Mr .1. W. Bonn), and Cra. A. a, Davey, S. D. Hunter. T. Lawson, («. V\. Mills, J. 11, Thompson. E. S. Hntheruird, A. D. Stanley, and KW. Hancock. An apology tor no'n-sitteudnuce was made for Cr. Young. , ' COHUEsroNHEXCE. The secretary of the Stratford Klectrica! Supply Co. forwarded the I'ok lo\i my resolution which was passed at a. directors’ nicotine on the dlst December; “That seeing that a basis ol agreement for the purchase of the Company's undertaking was arrived at ever four months ago. this Company trusts that the agreement will be completed as early as possible, as they can not allow the offer to go indefinitely.”_The Mayor explained that the Council had written two letters to. the Department asking for permission to borrow money for the purpose of the completing of negotiations, Imt no reply had been received. I util they got a reply to that effect it would not he thongnt, be wise to go any iurtliei in the matter. He expected a reply

anv time, during the week.—C r. Hunter advised further explaining to the Department of the .-circumstances of the negotiations. On the motion of Cr. Thompson, it was eventually revolved to leave the question of a reply to the Company’s letter in Hie bands of the Mayor. ,

\v, S. Short,'Assistant Ivnder-Secre-ta,.y, inquired if the negotiations for ilk* taking over of the Stratton! electrical Supply Company's works had i)oen completed.—Reply to he forwarded in terms of position stated above. Cecil Wright, Stratford, drew attention to the sanitary condition of the southern half of sections 39 and -10, ■Ronton Street. Members of his househoki were troubled with sore throats, and the nature of’ the affection was sl! cli as to point to the want of even

rudimentary sanitary arrangements m the adjoining promises.— It was tied' ded to write to Mr M right and notuy him that the premises .wore to he connected with the main sower. A. Gray. Sanitary Inspector wrote stating that he had examined the old shed complained of at the rear ot premises adjoining section iB, Broadway, and found the shed partly open, and full of piano eases, pvoodeu boxes and paper. No nuisance exists and tlie shed is only a danger in case ot lire. Received.

The Grey month Borough Council iorivarded the following resolution, asking for the Connell's co-operation ; “That this Council views with astonishment the number of persons resident in tins Dominion, who, according to the National' Registration returns compiled bv the Government, are not prepared to act in any capacity whatever in connection with the war. In

fairness to those who have signified their intention of acting in any capacity, the Government he urged to publish a completehist of the names and

addresses of those who are not prepared to act in any capacity. It names and addresses cannot he supplied on account oi the confidential nature ol the returns, then that the uumhers oi the 31,000 no capacity men he shown as for each city, borough and county New Zealand. Failing Use aforesaid information, that the Government bo asked to amend the Actmo as to'enahle them to publish a complete list of the names and addresses ot those u ho aie not prepared to act in any capacity in connection with the War. ’ My Council ask your Council’s co-operation in the matter, and if it approves of tint resolution it is reipiestcd to pass a similar motion and to forward a copy of same to the Government and to the -member lor your district soliciting his whole-hearted support.— Received-

Captain Grubb, lire inspector, stated that the canvas hose in the front lobby pi the. hall and at the side of fhe stage in the Town Hall was perished, ami, he recommended that loUft of one-

Inch new hose be procured urgently. —Refererd to tlfe Town Hal) Committee to report on the condition of the fire appliances. Webster. Dobson and Co. wrote re surrender of the lease at the Municipal if ui I dings, pointing out that owing to the impending dissolution of partnership they would have no use for the premises.—The matter was dealt with in committee, and on resuming in open Council it was reported that no action was to he taken.

j J. Laverty, Mantlet Street, wrote m (reply to the Con noil’s letter re ranger's report,. stating that the report was contrary to fact. Me explained that he had three sections in Hamlet Street and one on the Warwick Koad, and sometimes drove ids cattle along those, roads when shifting them from one section to another, hut he denied lie did 'so for the purpose of grazing the earth'. — Received. A letter, the contents of winch were recently pul.Tshed in Mm ‘-Strut font Evening IW-V’ was read frmu the District Railway Engineer re the approach to the / Railway Stat ion from Hroad,'v;;V. Tiie Mayor said tin* construction of an approach was rather a.,’! oigent laaMer. and in consequence he had called the Works Committee together. The Committee discussed the plans and thought that they were very good. The Department decided to make the fool path the same gradient as the road. His Worship stated that if the matter had been done as; the Council

recommended, two concrete jetaiiung wadis would have had to he construct-, ed. That would have been very expeus:vp nTU I the "Department would not have agreed to it. The action o! the Works Committee in the matter was adopted. A. E. Wilson", Noxious Weeds Inspector, wrote requesting that instruct ions he given to clear noxious

weeds on the Council’s reserves.—The Mayor said there was no doubt the Borough was going back as far as the weeds were concerned. Some places were in a very bad state. The Council should get something done and request residents to cut weeds and blackberries on their properties.—Cr. Lawson was strongly of opinion that with the exception of those lessees who had long tenures the Council should do the work itself. He instanced the procedure of the Inglewood Borough Council, which followed this course with their reserves.—On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Mills, it was resolved that lessees be asked to clear their sections of weeds. The Mayor remarked that if they would not do so he would rather take the sections away and put them up again for lease. Nothing had been done in the matter of clearing the noxious weeds in the Borough for some time, and now was an opportune time to set action in motion. I

Fr«d Foley, of His Majesty’s Theatre. wrote asking permission to erect a 16 x Bft hoarding, facing the railway station, on the section occupied by S. Pivac.—lt was decided to refer Mr Foley to the Railway Department. vj ' ‘ THE WORKS COMMITTEE.

The Committee reported as follows: Mr Holliday’s request for Culvert. —Mr Sullivan luis arranged with Mr Holliday to make the culvert at applicants cost. Mr McAllister’s request for Aspbait.—We recommend that this work he granted. Applicant to pay half cost. Kopuatama Cemetery Paths, estimate £lo.—We recommend that this work he done. Mr Uniacki's application for Water. —The wite: service app'icd for has been put in. j Intersection of Seyton Street and I Broadway —We recommend that the necessary work be done. Juliet Street South.—Your Committee is awaiting a reply from the Stbte Advances Department re application for loan before reporting on this work. vSuspension Bridge. Cordelia Street. —The plans and specifications are not yet completed and your Committee recommends that the Overseer lie granted an extension of time in which to complete the work. Waterworks By-Laws.—Your Committee is of opinion that the time has arrived when the waterworks by-laws should be amended in the direction of making provision under the beading rtf “Extraordinary Water Supply” for a charge for water flushed closets and (recommend the suggestion to the favorable consideration of the Council. No tenders for the supply of boulders on the Flint Road were received, and the matter was left in the hands of the Overseer. OBJECTION TO A CLAUSE. Cr. Lawson asked if the clause in reference to the Waterworks By-laws was not ja facsimile of a motion brought down by His Worship and defeated. and which was also defeated by the old Council. It was the same old thing over agin. He moved that the cause be struck out.—Seconded by Cr Hunter. The Mayor said it was a different matter. The position was being practically forced upon the Council. The Hospital Board had asked the Health Inspector to report on the condition of the Borough on account of an epidemic of fever. The Inspectors from Wellington and Hawera had. conferred with him only that day, and he (the Mayor) had hopes of arranging a conference with the Hospital Board on the matter. They would have to put in drainage, and there was no possibility of doing it out of their present revenue; there was also no chance of raising a loan for the purpose; and the only way was by means such as was suggested. Cr. Hunter said it seemed to him that it was an attempt to push along the old thing, which had been voted out two or three times. He would again oppose the proposition might and main. If the Health Department demanded drainage the Council would have to get a loan. The scheme only penalised those who had gone to the expense of pitting in flushed closets. A loan would have to be raised in some way. He was absolutely certain the town would vote it out by four or five to one. The principle of raising the taxation, was against the policy of the Council. On the amendment being put to the meeting it was supported by Crs Lawson, Hunter, Hancock and Stanley, and opposed by His Worship. Crs. Davey, Mills, Thompson and Rutherford. The amendment was declared lost, and report was adopted in toto. ABATTOIR MANAGER’S REPORT.

The following stock were slaughtered :—Cows 52. heifers 40. oxen 6, calves 6, sheep 231, lambs 194, pigs 35, tripes prepared 29. Slaughtering fees : £6l 18s 3d. Stock condemned: Cows, 1 wholly, 3 partially; heifers, 1 wholly, ,L partially; pigs. 1 wholly, 1 partially. The main cattle race requires remetal'ling, as there are some very bad holes ''in it. which I have already shown to 'Mr Sullivan. The swedes have been sown in No. 1. paddock and are now up 'land looking well. With regard to the working of this ground and to ensure | a good strike with the seed, T got the j man to give it an extra discing and !rolling.— lt was decided that the Abattoir Committee report re remetalling, '—Adopted. j RANGER’S REPORT. 1 .ui W. Barlow, Borough Inspector, reported that from December 1 to 31 he impounded two head of cattle; one person was convicted for driving a vehicle without lights; sixteen street lights were put in, and two dogs were destroyed.—Received. i

OVERSEER’S REPORT. Mr Suljjvan reported on the progress of worWpir the past month as follows :

The remodelling of Pembroke Road between Portia Street and Broadway has been completed. Culverts have been inserted in the following places: Junction of Orlando and Pembroke Road, near ticket box to racecourse and at large gate to racecourse.

Crossings have been made to Mr T. Mercer’s (Brecken Road), and Mr T. Milner’s (Hamlet Street). Footpaths in old cemetery have been cleaned up.

A water trough lias been erected on Regan Street opposite Dr. Paget’s property.

Watertahles have been cleaned out on Pembroke Road, Regan and Cordelia Street.

Grass has been cleaned off sides of channels'in various streets. Grass has been cut on various streets with the recently purchased mower. I have to report that the machine in working splendidly. Water has been laid to Mr Uniackc’s (Ariel Street). Mrs Archer’s (Juliet Street), and Mrs Moon’s (Miranda Street).

Some time during the winter months I had instructions to do some work on Juliet Street South at its junction with Romeo Street. Owing to the wet state of the road at that time it was impossible to have any work of a comprehensive nature carried out. 1 mention this so that something may be done to the road during the summer months. I must ask for an extension of at least 14 days’ time to complete the plans, etc., of the Cordelia Street suspension bridge.—Received. Cr. Hancock said that the work in Juliet Street had been authorised, but nothing had been done, and the matter should not he left to the winter until it was put iu hand. There were now five houses on Juliet Street and there was no formed road or footpath to the houses whatever. —3 he Mayor said the ratepayers wore entitled to have the work done, hut it was wise to wait until th# Council received an answer from the Department re the loan before the matter was put in hand.

GENERAL. Cr. Hancock brought up the matter of the sanitary condition of the section adjoining the Hinemoa Lodge in Joliet Street. He said that the water was stagnant and was the homo of many frogs.—lt was decided, on Cr. Hancock’s motion, to draw the attention of the Sanitary Inspector to the matter. The Council went into committee on two matters and it was reported foi publication that the Council’s Overseer be designated Engineer for the future; also that the Mayor be empowered to confer with the Hospital Board upon the matter of securing a report on the sanitary condition of the Borough. While discussing Mr J. Laverty s letter Cr. Hancock said it seemed as if some people could graze the roads night and day and yet no notice was taken, while others were pounced upon if their stock loitered on the road a few minutes while being taken from one paddock to another. Accounts amounting to £256 12s 9d were passed for payment.