BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 269, 13 November 1901, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met on Monday even-1 ing. Present: The Mayor (Mr E. 1 Dockrill), Civ. Glow, Brooking, Colli.", I Oarter, Tiseh, Stohr, and Lualand. Mr W. D, Webster took his seat on the Council, vice Or Veale, resigned. An apology for absence was received from Cr Connstt. Mrs H. Bla'chford wrote complainin" of d.toiHge flo'io by '>nrth encroachi in-; on hsr prcpery in Gilberfc-st-eat. It was umlors oo i that the writer bad rquested that the eaith should be plac d on the land. -l*lo action taken. I Messrs Wright and Hutchen wrote, that Mr McLean desired tosellapor-j :.ion of his property to Mr Stevenson, j but the law required that a strip on .he street should bo dedicated to the public to make tha street full width. The Borough Solicitor advised on the subject. The Agricultural Department wrote in refatence to taking land for abattoirs. With reference to the Henui Bridge, the Borough Solicitor advised that under section 219 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, a. council was enabled under some circumstances when re-building a bridge in such a position that it "will in its opinion be of advantage and benefit to the whole, or any considerate portion of an adjacent borough or county or other district" to obtain a c ntribution towards th« cost of the work, Tbe flenui-rond district, which is part of the Turanaki County, and other parts of the county would doubtless benefit by the v/ork in question. The Act doss not appear to that inhabitants should ba recdered Table to contribute twice, —as under a County, |and again under aRo d Boa'd. The Solicitor inclined to the belief thita cmiribution should be applied for from the Turanaki County aloi.e The B jrough Solicitor advised that no licent e for shooting galleries within the borough be granted, owing to the responsibilities 1 ho Council was under. IV Mayor explained that the solicitor hud !>>•• n instructed to otnio all reference *o shooting galliries in drawing up the new by-laws.

The solicitor also advised on the matter of fire-escapes at the Imperial Hotel. He could not ad viae the Council to take any steps in the matter at present. Cr. Cljw thjught the owner of the hotel should have done something towards erecting a new building. The Mayor pointed out that no responsibility now rested on the Council if any accident occurred.

Messrs MacLaren advised that the new stone-ciusher would arrive in about three weeks' time.

In reference to a nuisance at the back cf the Taranaki Hotel, the Health Committee reported that it had been decided, if an improvement had not been carried out within one week, the Council should carry out the work at ftlio owner's expense. The Borough Surveyor forwarded an estimate of tbe Co3t of a full width concrete bridge over tho Henui stream I'U Devon-street—.£444B.

Messrs H. Ok«>y and C. M, Lspper I waited on the Council on behalf of the Oounty Council in reference to the widening and raising of the Henui 'bridge. They asked the Council to caref ally con«idor tbe question whether it was wise to ask the Oounty Council to rate the country people for work in the Borough, and pointed out that thel County had expanded a large sum in I widening the road and making tootpaths in Fi'zroy. Councillors had looked upon the matsar in a broadminded way, and had no 5 csked the borough to contribute, and the Borough Council should do tbe aims. The, County had also taken over the Break-"atpr-road, which was of the greatest advant*ga to the borough. The provision was in the Act, enabling the borough to do such a thing, but it was probably put in for some special purpos». |

The Mayor said the Council had limply to carry out the law as it found it. The work would have been carried out before tbis, bnt for the accident of the war interfering with the raising of the loan.

The. Smitary Inspector reported that the condition of tha town was good, except in the cise of the Huitoki River and Mrs Ballot's premises. A nuisance was very often caused by business people opening cases on tbe footpath and allowing straw and paper to fly about the streets. The quantity of kerosene in store was 303 cases on the reclaimed land, and 227 in shops —Received.

Cr. Carter urged that business people should not be debarred from unpacking oi the footpithff, though they should be made to do the work within & reasonable time.

Cr. Brooking complained tbat the nuisance was caused by tbe amount of debris allowed to b« about.

| The Mayor said the Governmant Health Officer bad advised that a scaveneing system should be instituted, but nothing could be done until the by-laws were put into shape. The Acting-Turno nek's report was roid and received.

The Waterworks Engineer reported (hat improvements to the dam had given two feat more of water, and would lessan the amount of pumping required. Tbe hours of pumping for I he pist four vvseks ware 93|, 92, 88£, 79. He had found it necessary to engage a new assistant, who was working satisfact irily.—Rccdivefl. The Inspector of Buildings reported thit his requirements with regard to fi e-ntcipes «t the Convent snd the Whi'e Hart Hotel were being complied with. He hid no 1 ; made a h iusa-to-hui-o irsp ction, but would do so as sooti as directed by the Council.—Roreived. T*»o following reports froiq the W«*"l?s Committee) were read ;—That Mr Samuel be asked to advise as to the steps io be tiken to obtain contribution towards the costs of construction from the local authorities benefiting by the now bridge to be erected at Te Henui; that the plans and specifications of the abattoir bc> forwarded to the Agricultural Department for approval ; that Mr Webber's appjicatjqij bq left tq the j that the Jbrough solicitor be instruoted be p-o----'ced at once to take N.R. No. 159, Hua District, under " The Public Works Act" ; that Mr Skinnor be authorised to prepare three copies of the phns and spec : ficttions and of the fa Henuj j that Kawai} g'reet, hi forced and metalled bi as tD give aoßnps to the railway goids shed j that Molesworth street be graded between Llardet street and ICawau street; that Mr Skinner make th.i smveys a*ltrd for by Mr Mestayer ia his letter of 23rd Oc'obsr ; that the nfcessary harness be purchased ; that Mr Sanderson be written to asking him whether he intends to alter tbe present balcony rf the Commonwealth Ho'el so es to conform with the curve

of the kerbiog at tlio jutction of Egmont and Brougham streets; that the Police Department ba requested to enforce the bye-laws re cycling on footpaths and cycling after dark without proper lights; that the waterworks engineer inspect the river above the dam and report; that it is desirable that this Council should wholly rebuild a bridge over the Henui River in Devon street 1 , beiog a position in which j such bridge will, in the opinion of the ! Oounc'l, ba of advan'age and b -nefit t > la canf'i'ienble portion of t l e inhabitants of th a adjacent county of Taranaki as well as t" the inhabitants of the borough of New Plymouth, and that in the opinion of this Council it is reasonable that the County Council of Taranaki should contribute to the cost of constructing such bridge, and that steps be taken accordingly and the requisite plans, specifications, and estimstaa* bs prepared, and notices and deposits given and made; that Mr O'Driscoll's application be left to the Chairman to deal with; that Mrs Black's application for water to be kid on ba granted on the same terms as those granted to Mfssrs Wilson and Sladden; that Mr Buchanan's application for permission to place a cellar flap in Ourria lane be granted on condition that the sime be carried out to j the satisfaction of the B jrough Foreman ; that Mr Smith be permitted to ereot an awning to protect his fish stand on the vacant section ia King-street, same to be removed whenever required by the Council; that the Henui Road Board bo informed that the crusher is oxpt ctcd to arrive at the end of the present month, and that when it is in working order the Council will be pleased to supply broken metal to any of tbe local bodies requiring the same, but that the Council is unable at present to fix the price per yard; that two large meters be procured and placed at the town railway station; that a smaller meter be placed at the Government Buildings; that notices be sent ti the persons mentioned in the turncock's report requiring them to provide proper flu*h cisterns to their w.i>.'s. —Adopted, excepting c'auee 2, which was expunged from the report. - The Fire Prevention Committee reported recommending that Fred Cornelius James Bellringer be appointed Inspector of Public Buildings under Section 368 of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1890."—Adopted. The Health Committee reported that! the Chairman (Or. Tisch) had gone with the District Health Officer, Dr. Valintine, on his inspection round the borough, A long conference was then hqld with Dr. Valintine on health matters, during which he promised to sen J a Government Inspector to make a house to honse inspection. The Dr, stated that he wou'd forward tbe report of his present visit to the Council from Wellington.—The report was adopted. j The Reserves Committee reported recommending that the application of the Star Club be granted subject to the aits being approved of. —The report was adopted. It was resolved to recommend the Works Committee to put on a cart for collection and removal of rubbish from backyards, etc. The Cemetery Committee was granted further time to report on the fencing of bush in the cemetery. Accounts were passed. A notice of motion by Or. Tisch that the Council erect salt water swimming baths, and that designs be invited for suitable baths by 31st December was brought forward. Ha thought it a matter for regret that a town of the size and position of New Plymouth should be without such baths, which would undoubtedly become a payable institution.

Or. Lealand seconded, and Or. Stohr urged that the matter should receive immad'a'o attention. The motion was carried.

Or. Carter's notion of motion re an assistant engineer at the Waterworks was deferred tilt nes;t meeting, Or. Stohr drew attention to the need of the water cart being on the str-aets earlier in the mornings. Or. Webster was appointed to vacancies on committees caused by the resignation of Or. Veale. '

I Or, Collis referred to a complaint he [had had made to him about earth rej moved from Gover-street. The cootractor had dump?d earth on to one resident's f-nee and caused other inconvenience.

Or. Brooking explained what was being done by the contractor. The objection referred to had been me\ Or. Carter asked if the Oouocil would take any action in connection with the New Year's Day seaside picnio, The Mayor said the Oouncil did not take any official part. Several persons had spoken to him about the matter, and he underVooi thac people at Stratford and other places which had largely patronised the picn : o last year were anxious that it should be held again. Cr. Tisch gave no bice to move at next i meeting that the Oouncil obtain the services of a surveyor and engineer general manager of public woss, his offices to be in the Town Hall. The Council adjourned at 11.10 p.m.