BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 48, 24 February 1903, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Council met oa Monday evening. Pwsent: His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. Dackrill), Ors. Conaett, Bellringer, Laahnd, Brooking, Oollid, Carter, Tisch, and Webster, SPECIAL MEETING. The Auditor-General forwarded the Borough bahncc-sheet duly cortitie'. except as to an item of .£25 paid to Mr Stanford, S.M., in respect of travelling expenses wbi.'e inspecting hotels, for which there was no au'hority at law. The Town Olerk explained that the account would stand as it was with tho Auditor's tag attached. Ho had been in with the AuditorGeneral, who hid stated that no further action would bs taken in the matter. ORDINARY BUSINESS. The Fire Brigade wrot-) asking that action be deferred iu removing the west end station to Powderham street, which place was Bob deem id suit ibli for the purpose, being too remote from Devon and Si. Aubyn-streets. Mv Frank Roberts wrote calling attention to tho dangerous state of thi Oarriugton-road b»:ween thy Postal letter-box and the Recreation Grounds gate.- -Dealt with by Works Committee. S. Luke and Company, Wellington, submitted sketch of portable tar tank. The Solicitor, Mr 0. Samue l , wrote in reply to the Council's resolution, a?king him .to instruct Mr Fulton to prepare plans for the Henui Bridg.?. He advised that the phns should t>9 prep >red by the Borough Engineer, j and submitted to Mr Fulton for ap- ' pioval, and for such suggestions and ; alterations us ha might recoainrmd. : Not only was it probable that the preparation of the placs by an outsido | engineer might entail a cha r ge for comi mission far in excess of the charge for j advice and exanination, but he (Mr ISimu'jl) thought it bst'er that the communieatior/8 with Mr F.iltoo on theso technical matters shanld ba through tho lingineer. In r ply to Cr. Collie, the Mayor said that if Dr Walker replied to thi communication sent to him i.nd made any claim the mutter would be laid before tho solicitor. Thi Engineer reported that all work in hand was progressing in a satisfac tory maancr. Mr Webber Benm:d quite determined not to permit the widauing of L?mon Street unless the hole in his section was 611 ed in. Tne Henui Bridge had been re-decked with two thicknesses. A concrete foreman had been engaged. Cr. Celli3 inquired if it would be possible to regulate the siz i of tho stone from the ciusher, as he noticed some of the metal was over six inches long. The Engineer explained that the jm s of the ciusher were worn and this would be seen to before the next crushing. Cr. Brooking moved that the Engineer ba instructed to take legal proceedings against all persons making a bieach of the Bye-laws. Or. Stohr inquired if the motion was to cover all future cast-s. Cr, Brooking considered that the feeliog of the Council was in favour of taking each cas 1 on its merits. Or. Ti ch pointed oui tkat though some complaint had been made as to the harshness of the building bye-laws, no representatives of the building trade had brought the matter before the Council. Possibly now that new byelaws were being adopted some modification might ba made if necessary. Or. Counett urged that the bye-laws should be enforced. Or. Brooking's motion was carried. The Works Committee reported recommending : -That the application of Messrs Michell and Watt be not acceded to and that the bye laws be enforced ; that the letter from th* N-.w Plymouth Fire BrigaJe bs received ; that permission be granted to Mr Courtney to grant rights of way over parts of sections 910 and 926, New Plymouth, to the owners and occupiers for the timn bfcing of section 910 and chat the Weleyan Trustees be also permitted to grant rights of way over part sscfcioii 927, New Piymoutb, to tho same owners and occupiers, but so that the cert :iu,ste in respect of this wane ior. shall net be pigned until the Bjrough Solicitors report that all papers are in order and all costs piid ; that Mr F. Roberts be informed that (he portion of Carrington Road mentioned by him will be attended to at the earliest opportunity; that Dr. Walker ba iofo> med that the Council regret the accident sustained by him but accept no liability ; that the main in Young-street ba continued as far as Mr Smart's prop3rty ; that the urinal bo shifted to Sing-street the Mangotuku stream ; that the Huatoki and Mangotuku streams be cleaned out; that two loose boxes be built on tha present site in such a way that they can be moved when the question of! new stables is set! led. In moving the adoption of the report i Or. Brooking referred to the removal of the uriual from Broughain-stresfc to\

King-street, opposite the Town Hall. He said that some time back a suggrs- j fcion was made by Mr Skinner for the exchange of property with Mr Todman,' but it appeared that a special Act was j necessary. As the effect; would be to narrow the street it was doubtful if the pawer would be granted. Mr : Janes, the tenant, also objected to tin | proposal. With re? vrd to the question j ■ of scabies tho matter had not pro

grossed. | Or. Oollis asked for details as to the ' recommendation relative to Messrs MitchelJ and Watt, Cr. Broaking sud there was nothing to report beyond the fact that the byelaws should be enforced. The Mayor said the statements made in Messrs Mitchell and Watt's lutter were not borao out by the facte. Or. Oollis was satisfied with the explanation. Or. Garter inqnirod what was to be done with tho Fie Brigade letter as to the west end atatioa, Or, Brooking Haid hoagrsed with the ! contention of the Brigade, and cou-j sidsred that in time there would havo | to be two stations in the West Ead one being on the South Roid. Ou the motion of Or. Bellringer the letter was referred to the Fire Peevention Committee. Cr. Carter advocated that the question of stables stand over. Ho objacted to spsnding moaoy ou the pro- i sent old buildings. Or. Ooiinott pointed out that the Borough had valuable horses, which i must be looked after properly. 1 Or. Lealand mov<.d that the engineer I be instructed ta prepare plans for a i stiiblo containing three loose-boxes and ' tlu-te stalls, so that there might be i si ornge room for fodder. c Or. Oollis protested against the > motion, as it couioiiitod the Council to > r.'huililiri<; the stables at an uusuitable 1 phce, and it "bsxed up" the question of t another site. 1 The Mayor considered tho present J site was too valuable, and it would be' si

.better to erect stasias nearer the pad- | docks, but until the site was vaated in I the Council permanent stubles could not be erected. ! Evontually, after a long desultory discussion, Cr. Lealand's amendment I was withdrawn, and the report was received. I The Band Rotuada Oommittes re ported lvcommending:—]. That Mr M sseugei's design be carried out provided it cui bo o:o:n f.r a sum njt exceeding £3OO including fouoda'ions at the site originally doeidwd upon. 2 'That a further hum of .£l5O be vot"d to carry out the work. Tot;il smiut.t, I including Government subsidy, £4OO 1 3. That tbe Works Committee te 'authorised to go on with the work. The Mayo-, in moving the adoption cf the report, siid that »s the Rotunda was a raemoiiilof tho Ooroaatio i of Kiug El ward it was thought that a few pounds should not stand in the way of a suitabVi building. another desultory dUcussion took place. Or. B llringer moved that tenders be ca'led for the work Hhrried. fha Committee's report was then adopted. The Mayor reported that Mr T. K. Skinuer's claim had hren settled for £325 ; al-otha"; tbe auditor had for the fibs; timo disallowed tha division of expnse for clerical work in connection with -ho waterwo ks and geneial accouot. He moved—Thit the Municipal Associa : km be requested to support an arntudmeut to the Municipal Corporation* Act, 1900, to enable transfers to be imde from separate accounts to general account of a proportion of tbe coat of office supervision and clerical work, otc, incurred therewith.—Carried. The Health Commit'ee reported recommending: —That tbe Government Health Department having appointed Mr Schauer Sanitary Inspector for the Taranaki District, the Council agrees to the appointment, end also to tha contribution of £66 Is 61 lwvied by tho Department to cover the Inspector* salaiy and expense*; that owing to th* Heokh Department having appointed a Siuitary Inspector, Mr Free bo given notica that bis Bervicrs will not be required uftor the 31st Mrch next; that tenders be called for the nmov :1 of nightsoil etc., for tbe term of threa years, according to specifications drawn up by the Committee; that provisiou be made in t u e bye-laws that nightsoil and rubbish shall be remold from premises in the Central Ward by the Borough contractors only (-xcept in the taso of any person having a properly constructed flush water closet; that the services be weekly in the Central Ward, and weekly, or fortnightly, a*; tho option of the occupier, in tha Est and West wards; that the Engineer report at the next meeting of the Oouucil as to the most suitable site for a urinal, in the eastern portion of the Central ward. —Adopted, Cr. Tisch said that, as an interested party, he had decided not to move the motion of which be bad given notice with reference to diverting the Mangotuku stream. Cr. Brooking then moved that the resolution passed by the Council abandoning the diversion of the Mangotuku s'reun ba rescinded and that the wok be taken in hand. He pointed out that the diversion would cost about £I4OO, but about £BOO of this would be saved in connection with extra work enta'led in tho drainage of scheme thus reducing the cost to £6OO. Or. Conns't urged the importance of the work and pointed out that it would afford an opportunity of removing the earth at the bick of the Town Hall. The Engineer stated that tha total cost of tbe diversion was £2300. J Cr. Bellringer opposed expenditure ' for this work and protested strongly ; against the b.ick streets being robbed of between £6OO and £7OO for the j diversion. He was sure thit the rateI payers would not have voted lor the i loan if so large an expenditure had | been proposed for the diversion. He j should divide the Council on the ; matter. i Cr. Carter was opposed to the ex- : penseof the diversion. The Mayor also opposed the motion :as he was strongly of opinion that the I stream could b« brought through the !town in as pure a sta'e as when it ■ entered. He feh the Council wis not | justified in the expenditure, j Cr. Brooking, in r*ply, favoured furjther inquiry and therefore he would have preferred to merely rescind the resolution. He would also like th>o Oauncil to ba unanimous. On a division the motion was carried. Ayes—Crs. Connett, Leiland, Brookling, CoHis, Stohr. Noes—Crs. Bellringer, Carter, and (he Mayor. I Or. Brooking moved to lefer the matter to tbe HeUth Committee.— Carried. A on vernation ensued as to the desuability of n»t delaying Mr MesUyer'e plans. The Sonitary Inspector, Mr Schauer, offered te inspect and report on the stream to Dr. Talinfine, wbose report would be soat to the Ceuncil as soon as possible. CV. Stohr urged that ns soon as Dr., Valintine'sreport was receive! itsbould j bo dealt with by the Health Committee. Or. Bellringer contended that the) resolution passed was not worth any-! thing, as it preceded the Health' Officer's rrporfc. Cr. Le land aaoved that as soon as '

I Dr. Valin'inn's teport Jwas reciiv.<da Jepjcial imieting of tlij Oou:uil be i summoned. The Mnvr considered 'hit after Health Officer's rep >rt was recoiv.d it should be subnit el to ;hs solicitor* 'and thir opitiwn obtained as tj the ' legality of the diversion. J I This course was adopcd. I TheSpeeidL ar. Committee reported ! recommending : -Tim', Mr B. linoksr's ' tender of £4Ol 16< for re.jjmJiug Stm- '' dish's Hil bo aecepV-d ; tW, Mr Mei- < tayer he iufo: (hat the sawatage | contract wi 1 be subiliviW fs reeom- ] menied by him ; that th.j Mutineer < communicate with Mr M staver m stoneware pip-.s and also re cement, 1 contracts; that the Council accept the ( terms regarding grade < f Old Hospital- j road, as set out iu the let'er from the Hmui R>ud IJ.fud, dated 10th tV> ruaiy; that Mr Bals' letter re pro- j posed Borough be refarr.xl to i, theVVotksCommit.ee; lhi», thoOain- !■ cii agree to the te-ms as to enciu.ch- " ment (-et ou l , i:i Mr Kwing's letter ff * 27th Jav.uiry; that Mr Weblor'aofFVr c regarding oner inch mnt on hi* proporty d b<* not <tccept-!<1 ; that the Couivii ligreo 1 to tho requirements us 1, " e«fc out in Mr B. B .yly'w hitter of 6t'i a February with the cxitepti-.iu of k epic*;.?, drain through Mr Biyly'a piop-ity clear; that the Eu»ineur report on ad- r visability of tminolling or train under Vivi,ui-st;ee', near Mr j, Bayly's gully; that the Works Com- n [»it'o:>,iuconjunction with tho JiotougU a Ki.giiiaor, interview the Hcnui Uoxd b Board us to completing the* road to the U i ibattoir sito; that the Mayor and Cr. m

=* I Brooking be a con.w 1 tee to report regarding tho Band R .tunda; that til* Engineer report on advisability of level crossings at earner of Dsvon and Brougham-st'eets, and at Bank of AiHtrahsia corner; that tha Engine* rrport n* to cost of k rbing and channelling Vivian-street, from Dawson* street to Powderham-a'reet. On tba prop sal to go into cimmittea on loan maUirs, Or. Brooking urged that the Comniittaa shou'd ba a strict one, and ev-ryon * but; Councillors exoluded, If the burgesses could not trnst tbeOouacil'ers to do work in committee then ■hey could elect othere. Cr. Connett took tha same view. Or. Bellringer strongly opposed discussing such important matters as the loan proposals without allowing the proceedings lo be reported. He challenged any accusation against the press of having aVus d their portion, and he claimed that the ratepayers were entitled to know what was going on. Cr. Collis pointed out that the reoonmeadHtions of the committees were already publifhed, The Miyor considered that it was injudicious for the Council to allow committee business to bs reported. Cr. B ookirig moved that the resolution allowing proceedings in committee o bo report d b* rescinded. The mo ion was seconded by Or. Connett <md carri don a division. Ayes—Ors. Oonneit, Brooking, Coil's, Webster, Stohr, and tha Mayor. Now—Ors. Bell iaK«r, Ltnlaad, Carter, Tiscb. T e report-rs then withdrew, but the Coin cil i dj urncd till another evening f< r tha C'imroi teo bu«in^e.