BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 234, 15 October 1901, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

In* Oouncil met on Monday. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. E. Dockrill), Ors. Stohr, Tisch, Carter, (Jollis, Brooking, Lsaland, Glow, Oonnett. The action of the Mayor in communicating with the Minister for Railways and Traffic Manager re railway time-table was confirmed. Re footWl fii'd on Poverty Fist.— The Stir FootbillCiub wrote suggesting that the Oouncil give the club sole control of the reserve, i.e., appoint the club's committee, with the Mayor as chairman, to manage the ground under section 60 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900. The club proposes to plough, sow, and level the ground, and erect an iron fence on the outside, at an estimated co.'t of about .£4OO About £7O is in hand, from .£l5O to £2OO is anticipated from a bazaar, and the balance will be rai»ed by issuing debentures.—Djalt with by Works Committer. Messrs. H. Dempsey, N. K. MacDiarmid, E. Woods, N. E. Roberts and others wrote asking the Oouncil to improve Lemon-street by filling in holes and forming a footpath fron'ing s°ctions 1594-95, between Cameron and Gover-streets. This would enable the public to proceed to Liardet-street railway bridge and thus avoid the dangerous level crossings in Eliot-street, Cameron street, and .Oover strae*. W. Webber also wrote offering to contribute £ls towards cost of the filling. —Daalt with by Works Committee. J, W. Boon wrote requesting the Oouncil to attend to footpath at corner of Gover and Molesworth-streets, as he wished to proceed with the erection of a permanent fence around his property. —Dnalt with by Works Committee. The Land and Income Tix Depart ment, notified piymTt to the Council'* cred t o F a subsidy of £205 3<6donj rates collected. Or. Thos. Veale forwarded his resignation as councillor, owing to ill-health. Oo t.hn Mayor's motion, seconded by Or. Carter, the resignation was accepted with regret. Tho Sanitary Inpec'or reported that the sanitary condition of the town was good, excepting four places reported to the Health Committee. The slaughter • house was clean and in good order. The number of cattle killed during the month of September was 30 large and 150 small. The quantity of kerosene in store was: On the reclaimed land 43 cases, in other shops 246. The report was received. The Mayor expressed a doubt as to whether the Council's Inspector should icspect the slaughter-houses, as the department had taken over control as from Ist July last. Or. Stohr thought the Council's Inspector should continue to do the work, as there was no idea whether the department was doing it. The Mayor said they had no knowledge that the department was not; doing it. After some further discussion the subject was dropped. The Waterworks Engineer reported: —Everything in connection with the plant is going well excepting the valves. New ones had been ordered but had not yet come to hand. Some timber was also required for ladder steps. The number of hours of pumping during the four weeks weie 104, 93|, 92f, and 89. Some discussion arose on the subject of extr i labour at the waterworks, and finally Or. Carter suggested that the Works Committee be recommended to consider the appointment of a permanent assistant. The Mayor said this would mean that the Council's expenditure would exceed the estimates. The report was received. The Town Clerk submitted a return of the amount paid for extra work at tho wa'erworks for the past six months. The- amount was £36 6s 6 J.The acting-Turncock reported that tho plant was in good order. Nine services were laid during the motnh. The 3-inch main in Young-street, from Dawson-street to Hooker's, was lowered and all services connected with it, Repairs were effected to valves, taps etc. Or, Lealand urged the need for more mains to be laid. In a reoent case he paw that 150 feet of piping was necessary in order to effect a service. —lt was pointed out that a supply of mainpipes was due now, and would be laid on arrival. j Cr. S:olir said a number of mainpipes were lying in Hyne-strcet for] months p 'ft, and not laid, though they bad been promised long ago. The report was received. Toe Inspector of Buildings reported that all owners directed had deoided to comply with hi» request for improved fire escapes. The only exception was in the cise of the Theatre Royal, with which the Council would have to deal. The Inspector had no power to deal with the theatre, as it was not a residence. Or. Carter moved that the matter be referred the Borough Solicitor, with power to act.—No action. The report was received. The following reports from the Work* Committee were read:—That the plans of. Mr, Hawke'a new shop at d residence in Egmont-streetand his proposal for house drainage be approved ■ subject to the borough regulations and' the requirements of the Health Act,s| being complied with; that Mr. Heidi's application for permission to erect signboard be granted; that Mr. Oollis' letter re Marsland Hill be left to the chairman to deal with ; that the fum be cleared from the road bordering on i the waterworks; that Mr. Skinner be empowered to make the necessary examination of the Waiwakaiho River, to obtiin tbe information asked for by Mr. Mestayer in his letter of 21st September; that as suggested by the engineer the. chairman be empowered to have holes drilled in order to find a suitable foundation for the proposed new bridge at Te Henui; that a meter be put in at the Church of England • that the chairman see Mr. Atkinson re the contractors allowing earth to encroich on his section in Fillis-street,; that Mr. Gpvett be informed that the Oouncil will lay water to his property on his contributing £IQ towards the o 'sta thereof; that the turncock report as to waste of water at Mr, Smith's, fishmonger, Hospital-road; that the plans, of Mr. Webster's and Mr, Oolson's naw shops bo approved subject to the borough regulations being complied with ; that Gover-street be completed according to the original specifications ; that after completing Gilbert-street the contractors deposit the balanoa of the earth in Fillis-street; that Messrs, H. Dempsey and others be informed that I the completion of Lemon street is one; of the works contemplated in tbe new loan proposals; that Mr. Webber be) | notified that the (jouncil cannot accept ' I his offer at present, but if made again' j when Lemon-street is being completed j I the offer will be favourably considered; ( , that with reference to the proposal of } the proprietor of the Jubilee Boarding-

House to erect a balcony over the lane I leading from Carrie-street totheHuaItoki Stream, he be informed that in view of the contracted space of the lane in question the Council is unable to give the permission asked for; that j Mr. Lepper's application to erect sign- j board be acceded to; that the Railway | Department be informed that the : Council' will be pleased to form and metal Kawau-street as Boon as the department may think it desirable, but that with regard to the continuation of Currie-street the Council • is advised that it cannot legally expend , any money thereon; that the turncock be directed to inspect the various j W.C's. and apparatus in town and re- - port to the Council; that the fish-stand , be removed to the vacant section in Brougham-street; thit Mr. Tuke's ap- : plication ba not entertained ; that Hi'. • Boon's application bs referred to the chairman; that stone-kerbing be placed to the footpath in Robe-street near the Courthouse. The report was adopted. The following report from the Fire Prevention Committee was read: That failing an immediate reply from Mr. Raynes undertaking to proceed at oace with the erection of the fire escapes to the Imperial Hotel as required by the Inspector of Buildings, legal p oceedings be taken to compel him to comply with the Inspector's requirement 9; that the Inspector of Buildings report each month as to buildings inspected and whether his notices are complied with ; that the By-laws Committee be requested to ins'ruot the Borough solicitor to expedite the completion of the by-law dealing with the fees to be collected by the Inspr-dtor of Buildings. In the discussion wbioh insured, reference was made to the fact that the Impjiial Hotel had not been provided > with proper fira escape provision. Or. Carter urged that the matter shou'd be referred to the Borough solicitor with to act. Toe Theatre Royal might also be referred to him.— Agreed to, and the amended report was adopted. Or. Brooking moved that the proprietor of the theatre b i required to bring the theatre into a proper sanitary condition, and aleo made safe from fire, within .30 days, or the Council will refuse to license the building.—The resolution was carried. The following report from the Health Committee was read:—" That notices be sent to the owner and licensee of the Taranaki Hotel informing them that tlie drain leading from the hotel to the Huatoki stream is a | nuisance, and requiring them to have ! the drain raised and lengthened to the satisfaction of the Council; that the Huatoki stream be cleaned out from the Powderham-street bridge to the ' railway bridge, and the Mangotuku stream cleaned out from the Alexander Hall to the junction with the Huatoki; ! that the Railway Department be requested to remove the bags of sand deposited by it at the mouth of the Huatoki; that notice boards be placed on each side of the Huatoki, between i the town bridge and the railway bridge, notifying that persons throwing refuse into the stream will be pro<ecute I; | that the bed of the Huatoki be nar- , rawed up to the foot bridge at the btck of the Taranaki Hotel, so as to give a swifter current; that the Borough ' solicitor be asked to advise as to the effect of the legislation introduced this j session on health mattirs, and also to | ask what sections of the Publio Health Act, 1900, and the Municipal Corpora- ' tions Act, 1900, dealing with health matters, can now be enforced by the Council without reference to the Health Department, and what sections have to be enforced by the Health Department alone." Adopted excepting the first portion of clause 6. The By-hws Committal report d , that amendments to building by-laws were considered and adopted, and ordered to be forwarded to the Borough solicitor for perusal. That the by-laws re buildings for public performances, billiard rooms, and common lodging ' houses were adopted and\ordered to he forwarded to the Borough solicitor for perusal. That the Council be recom- | mended to appoint a committee to deal with all applications under Section 363 of" The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900," with reference to Sunday entertainments, and that the committee be instructed to refuse all permits for entertainments for personal gain aud for all entertainments not of a purely sacred charac f er.—Adopted, and the Mayor was appointed to carry out the instructions in the meantime. The Reserves Commit'e# reported recommending:—That Mr F. P, Oorkill be engaged to value the Waiwakaiho cite. That the application of the Star Football Blub r« Poverty Flat be deferred for further consideration. That upon the Borough folicitor reporting that all papers are in order and all rent and costs paid, leave be given to Mr John Preston Bonnor to sublet subsection 8 section 1, Block 3, Ng*ire S.D., to Mr W. H. Goss That the Commissioner of Crown Lands tie informed that the Council will meet as a Domain Board an Mondiy, 9th December, at 17.15 pm„ and that Mount B yon be the name to ba given to the Domain in I question. That Mr G. Boulton'a tenj dor of ten pounds per annum for the (Smaller paddock, Racecourse R serve, ! and the Star Club's tender of fiteen pounds one shilling per annum for the larger paddock, be accepted. (Other tenders: Smaller paddock, F. tfoldsworth, .£9; larger paddock, F. P. Oorkill, .£l3; G. Boulton, .£11; Dr. Walker, £10.) —Adopted. Mr F. P. Corkill wrote in prote t against the letting of a section oa the Avenue-road to the Sfw Football Club, ( the lapd having previously boen met j for grazing purposes.—The Mayor Slid the land was a recreation reserve and grazing was only a secondary consideration. Any club was quite in order in obtaining the use of the ground. The Mayor saic( the Town Clerk had notified his intention to resign, but j had agreed to remain in office until the new loans had beon raised, and a great deal of other new work had got into, train. The > eaignation flat be officially handed in tj'l Is'- January next, after which three months' notice was required. Accounts were passed. I Cr. Brooking asked what the Coun- j nil was going to do in reference to the Commonwealth Hotel, I The Mayor replied that the Works; Committee should consider the question j and make a reoommendation, j Or. Stohr asked if the Council was going to asphalt the footpath at the Commonwealth Hotel.—Or. Brooking replied that the footpath would be kept i jin order, but the asphalting would, have to remain until the verandah > ■ question had been settled. j Or Brooking referred to reports re-1 ceived from Mr Mesteyer re electrio | light and sewerage. He moved that they be handed to the press. The • water report had not yet come to hand|

as some amendments wore found necessary, and fresh surveys had to be made. Tke Mayor referred to the complaints made that the Council had not fairly met the Education Board with regard to its offer of land for a technical school site. While in Wellington he had made inquiries, and found that the New Plymouth Council was offering a larger area of land than was given in Wellington. The Mayor moved a motion of sympathy in connection with the death of President McKinley, which was carried, unanimously. Mr Oollis asked what the Council | intended to do in the matter of baths. Would an offer by a cjmpitiy be entertained to erect and conduct baths ? The Mayor siid something would have to ba done soon, or the grant of laud would lapse. Or Tisch stated he would give notice that a sum of £lO or £l2 be offered as a premium for the bast design of suitable baths Or Carter gave notice to move at next meeting that a competent assistant engineer be engaged at the waterworks. The Council rose at 11.5 p.m.