BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 101, 14 May 1901, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tiie ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held on Monday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. E. Dockrill), Os. Bellringer, Glow,] Brooking, Collia, Oarter, Veale, Stohr, and Lealand. Messrs McAlluro, A lis worth, and Hignett (Education Board), and MoDiarmid, Berry, and Boy (High School Board of Governors) waited on the Oaur:cil in reference to this reserve.

The Borough silicitor advised relative to St. Michael's Square, Sections 998-9 were conveyed to the Coun- , cil for public recreation and could only be let for grazing from year to year. The public could not be excluded, except from parts planted, for more than ten days in a year. The Council had power to prescribe the games to be permitted and as to charge for admission to the ground and grandstands. Sections 1000 to 1005 and 1014 to 1021 were veated in His Majesty, and were subject to the Public Domains Act. There did not seem to be power to enable the body or society to charge for admission, asd he was of opinion tint, except sections 998 and 999, fiom none of tha sections could the public be excluded or a charge for admission made. Power is given to agree for the purchase, exchange or leafe of aßy tenements or hereditaments deemed necessary for the purposes of the Act or f>r the improvement of the land, but so thattbe same, when purchase'!, be conveyed to His Majesty and be subject to the Act. Mr. McAllum said they w?re thfrei ns a deputation from the Education' Bwrd and the High School Board if Governors, and they were approaching the Ouuncil to see if they could eecure a portion of St. Michael's Square as a site for a technical school which was proposed to bo created by the Government. The erection of • uch an institution would be beneficial to bo'h town and district. The Cjuou'l had, he understood, been elected-as a pogresgive body, The es'ablishmeat cf such a school would be a progressive measure. The Education BoirJ and High School B"ard of Governor thought the best) site would be on St. Michael's Square, as it would be near to the other educa'nnal institution'. He thought if the Council coul I give a 'ite on the Fla*, a reserva ia the We.t End might be given in ex:hang . What they wished to see was a buildng that would be an ornament to the ;own and of use to the surrounding listrict as well. There were many letsils in connection with the matter, md he suggested that the Council hould set up a Committee to discus ihe matter fully. The Mayor said, the Star Football 31ub had made an application for the isf of the Flat.

Mr. McAllum said they should recognise the claim of the children first.

The Mayor : But the Olub must b< recognised also. Toe Mayor said it wa l evident from the letter tbat tbe sect : ons next th u Central school could not be used a* suggested. Mr. McAl'um referred to the o f Stratford where a reserve was t aosferred, through a'l agreeing and getting a*n Act through Parliament.

Mr. McDiarmid endowed Mr Mo Allum's remarks. They w.int-d th«' sympathy of the Council—they dil not want to force it to do anything. Bri tain had long lagged behind other cotm'rio in the matter of technical eluca i n, but was now waking up. In New Zealand the Government was pushing the cause on, aod be thought New Plymouth should do all it cnu'd. T' offore, they thought a portion of thFlat should be devoted to buildings which were to be established to acctimmolate technical c'asses. Ths Council might alfo see its way to place the | museum in the sime buildings, which would be an advantage. Mr. Allsworth thought if a committee were appointed some to id might come of it. There was ni doubt of the need of technical and art fdiojl?. Many people had a mistaken idea of technical schools, but he considered th« schools were really for the purple of finding out: what a boy was fitted for be'ore his education was finishid, so that he might thus save several valuable y9Hrs. If the Council could see i's way to se 1 ; up a committer, some pbce might be which a icoil tou'd be «reo'ed even if the Flat could not" be ob'ained. Mr. Isaac.", one of the Government directors if technical education, would ,be in the district shortly, and some assistaic j might be gained from him. The school would afford grea*; benefits to the farming as well as other classes.

Mr. Hignett spoke emphasising the great impartance of minual and technical education. He believed if th'various bodies would combine no trouble would be experienced in getting a Bill passed which would enable a part ion of Paverty Fht to be obtlined, and a better site, he thoaght, could not b>< obtained.

Or. Bodlringer paid he would oppos anything that was done to get any of the reserve by the Educatiou Boirds. He considered in esseotial that the reserve should be kept as a r.-c evion ground. He sympathised with technicil educatiou, but in the pesent state of labour hws in Naw Z aland he did not see that any god cm'd come cf tectnrcil schools. The etc iorson the Flat were obtained some years ag", an.l were tied down for recreation purposes. I Fart might b > used as sit 9 for a mmeum and the rest shou'd b) kep*. for recrea tion. The Central School wts allowed to be built on the reserve, and then another quarter acre was obtained, and now they wanted tl e tat. Mr. MoAllum : No; we only want a site for the school.

Or. Belliioger: W. 11, you didu't 6Ry so. In conclusion he taid he thought the educational bodies had other • e eryes which ould be used.

Or. Oollis said he could not quit* agree with Or. Bellringcr. They had j the Recreation Grounds close by, and i next that the rec c cour<c, which ail jrdt d breathing spaces. He thought the Council cou'd arrange an exchange cf part of the Flat for a piece of land in, say, the West End, where there wcie not s) many breathing spices provided. He thought if the Council set up a committ.e and cins'dercd the matter thoroughly they would be doiog gcoJ for the ratepayers if a suitable exchange

could bo arranged. He moved that ™ the matter be referred to the Rotterros Committee, with a recommendation to consider the sninr ful'y, and report to the Conn ■{',. Cr. Carter roconded. Mr. McAll'irL said lie would like it understood that tho deputation was asking Lr tho Council's sympathy. But he would point out that if the site on Poverty Flat was not obtained the schools would be erected elsewhere, Cr. Stohr thought the school might be erected in the Wras End just as wfll as on the Flat. Cr. Brooking asked what area the deputation wanted on the Flat. He thought the Courtenay street site would do as well as the Flat. Cr. Collia agreed. The motion was then carried, and the deputation, after thanking tbe Council for its consideration, withdrew, Mr. John Holme*, Government Executive Officer in connection with the Royal visit, wro'e stating that the matter of erecting a butter-box arch was being taken up by the Dairy Association. Dr. Mason, Health Officer, wrote 1 drawing attention to the need for better 1 sanitary arrangements at the Govern-* 1 mtnt Building?. The Invorcargill City Cuncil wrote ' enquiring what action the Council was tnkiDg in reference to the inspection ' and slaughter of pigs killed. ' Cr. Glow said hehad seen pigs in ; New Plymouth in a worse condition > than cattl*. > Councilors agree) tint the master 1 wss oue which would have to be considered shortly. 3 The Postal Department notified there ' was no ction to street lamps being ' phed on telegraph posts where such i posts obstructed the light. 8 Six'een ratepayers and residents of 1 Molesworth and Cover streets petitioned 3 for a lamp to be erected on the corner " of those streets. The request will be attended to as soon as possible.

The Borough Solicitor advised that the Mat-eland Hi!l Reserves appeared to be vested in His Majesty, but various parts had been made subject to various provisions Two and a-balf perches were set apirt for a monument for those Impo'iai troops who were killed in the N-w Zoaland war; three acres were set apart r or gaol purposes ; part was m.di (subject to lh* Borough of N*w Plymouth Reserves Act for a reservoir in connection with the waterworks; thrae roods for an addition to Fu'ford»trest, and between 11 and 12aciesfer an addition to the gaol site, while a small poition.saems to have been set ipirtiora trig station. He bad not heen able to secure a suffijifn'lv long in t rview with the Commissioner of Growu Lands to enable him to advise the Council fu.ly, but had given instructitn i for a tracing to be prepared to show which pirt the gaol ties were entitled to exclude all parsons from.

The B rough S licitor further advised as to ihe Council's position with r-gard to the Diwson-street dam and Mr. Courtney's rights in the same. The Railway District Engineer wro'e seating that direct access from the goods-sheds road to Brougham* street could not be f Anted with the main line in its present position, but th't if the propose! sew app-oach Una were constructed tbe matter would be drsidered on a renewed application fr>-n the Council. It was resolved that the Works Oomtni'.tee be empowered to obtain the Borough solicitor's opinion as to their position in connection wi'h new biildirg'. »

Tho Sanitary Inspector reported the cmdition.of the town as sit inflatory. Tie hlaughterbousewascl an and in good order, the number of cat'le killed •luring tlie month being 30 large and 150 simili. An obstruction has been

•auyrd in Bull >r-streft through a per►o> t cth ring cattle Miero.— Ihe tethering <f c.ttleon the reserve wan discussed, but no action taken.—The report was lec ived.

Tlie Wiit< rworks Engine-r reporter! tliat 'he oigines were doing wtll conviderirg tho work they hid to do. He c.mlrl o ly bring the water up from 2 to 2|iivhesin 11 houw during the day v hich Lecessitated night pumping. Between mi !nij(ht and 6 a.m. the loss of watt r was often 6to 7 ii-cheg. The hour, c.f pumping wire reported at 1041. 881, 84| and 83| per w.ek respectively.

Or. B.llringer in moving th<» rvcaipt f the repot, said the waste wa« only

about ihe bame as usur), and though this was not deeira' l.«, it would not continue after the Council had meters fixed.

The report was adopted. The acting Turncock reported the plant in good order, and that be waa making a house-to-house inspection. He also reported a case of the rupposed •urr< ptitiou? use of a abaft fixed to the wheel used hy an adjoining owner. The Secretary of the Rscreation Grounds B.mrd forwarded a copy of a •esolu'i *n pw.d, inviting the Council f.o name two members ti i opr. sint it on the Beard.—Referred to the Reserves Comnvttee.

The President of the Scenery Presetvation Socioty (Mr. W, H. Skiner) wro'e diawing attention to the ondition of the native bush along the binks of tho Henui within part of the Cemetery Re-erve occupiid ,by Mr. Quiikfall and used for grczirg. Thia beautiful s'rip was pist disappearing through the a'tioD of cit'le and horses o ti'g oft' young nnd tender plants aa they appear abova the soil and also by cutting d>wnof the larger growth for patching the fmoe and tit's should not be done und-r any circiims'aco'g, Ferciog would c-st at tieoutvde £3.

I The Ciptaia of the Fire B.igtdo j wrote p ifting out that ucder the recnt Act if a building were dfstroycd luring a fire »i'ha view of t-trying the prrgris*of the cor flagratii 11 the damage to »ucli build rg if uninsured or panly insured was to be paid by the latepayers on the principle thst it w»s for the public gool Formerly the insur•nce offices paid, bu'. Captain B-Hrir.ger poinded out that in future the doctiine of "pubic good" mi?ht be pushed by i insurince rompani s further than was - I con'erap'ated uod'rthe Act. ' The Fire r'reve-ition Commit*** »e----p>rtej tha', the Town Cl*k obtain the "p-'nion cf tie B irough So^c : tor refat've to the fira pn-v> clauses of the Municipal Oorpaiati- ns A-', 190 Or Tin report adopted,

Jff • The Town Hall Committee reported that the Polynesian Socle'y be allowed to phce their library in the Council Chamber io the placa where the first library stood.— Adopted. The Finance Committee reported as followers: That the Borough surveyor's account be referred back to enable the large number of p'ans now in hand to be completed prior to passing the account. —Adopted. j

The Works Committee reported :- 1. That the pre3en'. arrangement with the Waterworks Engine r be terminated en the 30th June, and that the Council resume posssssion of the waterworks grounds from that date; the Engineer to ba paid at the rate of £\ 50 per annum, with bousa'and grsz'ng of top paddock ; the grazing to be fu' ject to the right of tho public to t-ther horses in the paddock wbfn visiting the waterworks and to be held at the pleasure of the Council. 2. That Mr. Mertayer be written to re reporting on drainage, water*orks andelectric lighting, and that in the event of a satisfactory reply bnng received fr6n him the Committee be empowered to arrange for his visiting New Plymouth and reporting thereon. 3. That a claim be .made on the party who broke the water trough near thf rail way station, and I hit inquiries be made re larger troughs wirh ball cock apparatus. 4. That the Committee can-1 not recommend the Conrcil to place a lamp opposite the Club premiss, the) street being already well lightod. 5. That the Ch drawn a'tend ti Mr. Handy 'a request re foofpitb and k-rb-ing. 6. That after the 31st July, J9Ol, only water - waste - preventing waterclosets be allowed; and that all parties who have water-clossts with ordinary taps benotifiedthsUhewaterwiil not be supplied to any but tha approved waterclesets after that dite; lhat all wat rtroughs for stables or paddocks must be similarly fitted with ball-cock sppairtmi to prevent waste. That wherever practicable, when the light frem street lamps is iotercp'ed by telegraph or telephone pi'es, th>lamps be placed on brackets affixed t-> the poles. That the request tf Mr. E. Ghattertoa and others re lamp at comer of Gover and Moleworth streets be attended to as toen as prictirabla. That the Star Football Club be informed that the Council cmoot grant its request re St. Michael's Fquar.% but that the solicitor's opinion m«y be set-n at the office. Th»t the Town Clerk order a roller and stone crusher fron Mtasra McLaren and Co. After some discussion the report was adopted.

Accomta amounting to £239 3s 5d Were passed. The Finance Committee ware instructed to call a special meeting of the Council for the consideration of the estimates as soon as they are in a position to be biought forward. The Council adjourned.