BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 215, 17 September 1901, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the New Plymoi'te Borough Council w»s held in the Council Chambers on Monday morning. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr, E. Doekrfli, in the chair), Ors. Brooking, Collis, Lealand, Stohr, Clow, and Connett. The application of Messrs H. Brown md Company for a license for apd-J vate tram line was considered, and on 'he motion of Or. Connett, it was resolved that, subject to tbe Borough solicitor reporting all papers in order, and all costs paid, the Council grant the appl cation of H. Brown and Company to lay down, construct, aid maintain a private tramway across Morley-street at the point marked on the plan submitted, for a period of five yoars, subject to the following conditions:—(l) The road to be kept in good order and condition, and free from any obstructions tb traffic. (2) Than' the requirements of part 5 of the Tramway Act are complied with. (3) That a yearly license fee, p»id in advance, of £1 is pdd to the Council. Or. Tiacb. brought up the question of the site for a technical school, having given notice that the question be reopened and discussed. He pointed out the advantages such an institution would be to the town and district, and thought the Council should assist in the matter in every possible way. He noticed by the reports of the meetings of the Education Board that that body was prepared to meet the Council in a re 'so Table way if the matter were reopeced, and he understood that the money wrs forthcoming for a building which would be of great advantage to tbe town.

The Mayor paid before anything cou'd be i^oi,e it would be necessa<y to rcscii. d the resolution previously cariied.

Cr. Oollis moved, and Or. Brooking seconded, tbat the resolution of the Couiiil re si'e for a technical school, pas-u'd in May, be rescinded to enable the ques iou to be discussed. Thu Mayor said he was prepared to challenge anyone to prove tbat a quarter of an" acre, the area offered by the Council, was insufficient for a site. If, as time went en, it was found that the quarter acre was not enough the Council could consider the question of extending the area. In the meantime he was not in favour of doing so. Toe motion was then put, and lost on the voices. On the motion of Cr. Connett, seconded by the Mayor, the Town Clerk was granted leave of absence through siokness. I

Some discussion took place regarding the telegram from Sir Joseph Ward, Postmaster-General, refusing the site ofierei by the Council for a new Post Offic.

Councillors geneially pointed out that they had valued the site offered at £lO a foot below its market value, and that tbe Count ii had not asked for the large arei mentioned in Sir Joseph Ward's telegram. Tbe Mayor said it had been suggested that the Government could ha\ e given a pieoe of land on the railway reserve below Burgess and Fraser's when the line was shifted. It was resolved to acknowledge the telegram, and the matter dropped. Oa the motion of Cr. Connett, seconded by Cr. Callis, the Mayor was appointed to represent the Council on the deputation to the Minister for Railways re the diversion of the line to the seaward side of the town. Some drcuasion took place as to the actual route, the majority of the Council favouring the beach route. Tbe Mayor thought there was very little hope of-this being done. Cr. Connett thought the question of stone for the necessary protective wall would be a fatal objection. The Mayor was left a free hand in the matter.

Or. Collis moved, and Or. Oonnett seconded, that tbe chairman of the Works Committee (Or. Brooking) act as Deputy-Mayor during the absence of the Mayor in Wellington. Tne motion was carried, and the Council adjourned.