BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 71, 24 March 1903, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

, The Borough Council met on Monday ] evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor-(Mr E. Dockrill), Ors. Bellringer, Brooking, Collin, Garter, Tisch, Stohr, Webjter, (Jonnett, Lea'and. I The General Manager of Railways 1 wrote notifying that instructions had been given for the roadway, giving access to the bsach from Cover-stive', to be improved, and thai the work would be put in hand immediately, but it was to bs distinctly understood that | whan the work was done the Department weuld not spend any money in j maintaining the read. He did not ■ concur with the Council in their opinion j that the rubble wall had any effect in diverting the seas on to the bsach |beyond. I Dr. Valintine, assistant Chief Health Officer, wrote, stating that he agr. Ed jwitb the Sanitary Inspector that it I would be more satisfactory to the j Council and the ratepayers if the ' Council undertook the removal of the nighißoil rather than Ist a contract for same, »s the Council did not get rid of its responsibility by employing acjn-triC'-.or, He also urged tha importmce ; of the removal of rubbish. He regretted being unable to attend the Council, and suggested their postpjning cansidera- . tion of the nightsoil contract aud also 1 the diversion of the Mangutuku stream for a fortnight, when ha would make a point of being present. ! ft. B. 0. Pfiilim tn wrote agreeing to contribu'e j£so to the diversion of tho I Mangotuku stream, if the work was ! effectively done forthwith. The-Town Clerk wrote applying for jan increase in salary of £IOO p<r ' annum, mentioning as ret sons the large increase in his duties and responsibilities. He alio detailed the salaries paid i to other town clerks, j Mr Brooking said Mr Ritehia wag in .town ta-day, aui so far as could be 'gathered tbere soemei to b* little I doubt but that the plans for the abattoirs, as amended, wou'd be passed by . the Department. Mr Ritchie had seen itha arrangements for slaughtering at j the Waitara works, and had eotad same. I Mr Louis Bullot wrote, stating he had applied for a permit for alterations ,to a house of Mr A. D. Gray's, and as ! the. matter was urgent hid asked for an ' immediate permit, but had bsen unable ;to obtain same and he urged an alteration in the bye-laws to meet such | cases. In a subsequent letter he denied misunderstanding the matter and com- ! plained of the Inspector's moods being at oDe time gentlemanly and at others

autocratic—too often the litter, j The Engineer said he was very busy at the time and told Mr Ballot he I could not gh'e a p9rmit there and then ' and that seven days was allowed him in which to give the permit. Thereupon Mr Ballot got angry and said he would wait the save a days. He was afraid he would have to continue an autoorat if he had to carry out the byelaws. j Mr Brooking said complaints had j been made that frequently Mr Spencer

could not be foupd in his office and he suggested that it should ba understood that Mr Spencer would bo in his office at 9 o'clock. It would facilitate mat 1 era and allow him to attend to these permit matters. j The Mayer thought perhaps both parties bad been a little hssty but ae seven days was allowed no complaiat could be made. He hoped that all hands would work amicably in the future. The Engimetr said that some time previously he had to wait on the same man five or six times over a.p3rmit. Or. B?)lringer said there was a lot of discontent among tha contractors and this grumbling would continue until 1 some arrangement wis nnde by which the Eigiuejr would b# found in his office to attend to these matters. It was decided to refer the matter to the Works Committee to fix a time for the Engineer to bs in his office. The Engineer reported he had called for tendons for the salt water baths. Ha had visitsd the Waitara Fieizing Works and had an interview with Mr Ritchie, resulting in modifications of the abattoir pkns. He proposal to c*II for tenders for cutting down Brougham-street from Fu'ford-streei. He proposed shifting the stone-crusher to the abattoir site as soon as possible. Surveys in connection therewith were now in hand. He suggested obtaiuing a to test csment. Details were given of work done since the lint masting. He reported that Mr F. Beilringer had not complied with the notice given, nor had Messrs Raynes and Oo.—Received. The Works Committee reported recommending :—That the letter from Messrs Bullot and A. D. Grey re i*sue of building permits ba received ; that the notice to fence Gill-street yards, from Messrs Okey and Rollo, be deferred for further consideration ; that Mr Henry Hboker be permi'ted to plac9 a small tablet ou the Hua'oki Bridge in Devon-street, containing the following words: "Erected for the Now Plymouth Town Board, by Mr Henry Hooker, 1875 that the following names be submitted to the Uounoil from wlijch to select an engine-driver e'c., for the traction engine: E. Lee,i V. Arden. Other applicants: Tuomas Urry, W. H. Rudkio, Percy George;! that Messrs Smart Brothers (jeing the lowest tender for water-works supplies, be accepted. Other tenderer: D. B?rry and Company. That no tender t>3 accepted for forage.

Or. Brooking said tbis was a bad time to buy oits. Or. Lealand considered this was th« bast time to buy oats. Or. Stohr considered that if the Council bought tbe oats required they would sive a good deal in pric». Some discussion ensued as to the candidates for the position of enginedriver, and it wan decided that tbe names of all tbe candidates ba left in except Rudkin,who withdrew his application. The report was then adopted. The Finance Committee recommended that the Town Clerk bd granted an increase of .£SO per annum. The Mayor, in moving tbe adoption of the report, said the application was only reasonable. Or. Oonnstfc, in seconding the motion, pointed out thut the committee work was very heavy. Or. Leviand thought tbe mattor should be left over till the new Council was elected. Other Councillors coutsnded that the present Council should , deal with the matter. The report was adopted. Or. Tisch said that the Committe", ! to whom was referred the question c.f the Borough staff, were not ready with their report. The Health Committee reported «s follows: —The Conomittoß hsd a long i conference with Mr Schauer, Government Sanitary Inspector, concerning the sanitary by-laws ; only on.> tender i was received for the sanitary contract, being from the present contractors, I Messrs Sorrenson and Bagley, Night-

soil; Central Ward,weaklysJ p:rptn, Western and Eistern Ward*, weekly 5| per pan, fornightly 9J par pm, Rubbish, per box 8i; the Committee recommended the Council to acc«pt the tender, an tin work wua carried out by the game contractors la-t y'ar in a very Sitisfxctory manner; chit the Works Ooamutee be asked to put the urinal in a sanitary condition, and to affix a suitable notice to the same for the guidance of the public; owing to tho District Health Officer not b?iog able to visit New Ptymou f ,h at prtsuit, the Committee is unable to report upon the MmgotuKu s'roim diversion. Or. Tiseh considered that to carry out Dr. Valintine's suggestion of b emitary rate not be a popular move. ' Tho report was adopted.

Or. Tisch referred to the resolution pissed at tbe last meeting relative to the exchange of si-ctioas 404 to 409 for th;> old refuse at Te HUnui. All the improvement made en the sections at tho Hospital wore at tbe cist of the iisard. He moved that oi the solul'or r?por;ing all papers in order and th<vj ! UBS being regordod as equal, that the propositi exchange bftc:rried out. Thn Alayor considere l theie should be ar< port as to value. He wished to further the exchmgp, but he considered that the B wrrt should get a valuation.

Or. Tisch did not consider the matter was one for incurring the expense of a valuation, but he wished the Council to take the exch tnge as baing properties of i qual value.

After some discussion it was decided to refer the matter to tha Reserves Committer in conjunction with ths chair in an of the Hospital Board (Or. Tisnh.) Or. L-ahnd brought up the question of inch pipes being laid in streets, and be pointed out th*t such pipes were of no use is cdse of firs. He urged that instiuctions should be given to discontinue laying inch pipes.

It was stated that as the Oouncil had run ou f . of 4-inch pip's it was nscssiry to use the small pipes, but only as a temporary expedient. With t.ha new service tbe larger maias would ; be tiec9B<ftry.

j Or. Carter movoi that a return of all meetings of the Oouncil and CommiteM should bo laid on the tab!?, so that the public might know the extent of the work to be performed by Oouncillors. —Carried.

Or. Ootlis moved that the Railway Department be asked to fit up eleotric bells at the various crossiags id tha town, to notify the advent of trains in the same way as is done elsewhere. Or. Stohr seconded the motion, which was carried.

fn reply to Or. Tisch, the Engineer said he had got the plans out for the Bind Rotunda. He was proceeding to speak on the matter when the Mayor askod him to reserve his remarks until the Oounoil was in com®if;tee. The Council then wont into committee, the proceedings baing in camera.