BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 136, 10 June 1903, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

In Council met on Monday evening. Present— > is Worship the Mayor (Mr B. Cock), Ors. Wood, Bellringer, Smith, Brooking, Collis, Oonnett, Tiscb, Edmends, and Al. xandtr. i 1 T. Baeham, employed in the engi- - neer'a office, applied for an increase of' ] salary. I, Or. Brooking said it was a temporary. appointment. <, Or. Alexander suggested a bonus, j Or. Wood tneved that the salary remain as it is. ( Cr. Oollis seconded. Cr. Brooking moved that the letter be received, and that the question of a bonus will be considered later on. Seconded by Or. Alexander. The amendment was carried. A. Mcintosh wrote with reference to the foot tr'dgeat the rear of the Taranaki Hotel, stating that the Ooun cS had been granted a yearly tecancy of the passage way to the bridge from Brougham-street, presumably to enable them to provide for the public a connection between the two streets. He declined to contribute tow&rdsrepairing the bridge, and offered to surrender the lease and have the passage closed. If the Council decided to keep the footway open, he pointed out that they should at once negociate with him, as be was contemplating erecting sbops there. - Or. Brooking advocated acquiring sufficient land to obtaio a cart way between Brougham and Gill-streets. Or. Bellringer agreed as to the desirability of that course. Or. Wood moved that the Mayor be requested to see what terms could bs arranged with Mr Mclntcsh for obtaining the required land. -Carried. A letter was read from Messrs Webster and Hooker relative to the damage to their property consequent on the new levels of King-street. The Mayor strongly urged the necessity of the Council being firm on the matter of levels, as it was necessary to act in the public interest even if private individuals suffered harm. A good deal of the complaints the Council received were all myths. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. A letter from Mr J. 0. George relative to drain pipes at his property in Diwson-street was referred to the Engineer. Mr Henry King wrote offering the land and easements required by the Council at the water intake and power station for £l6O. The Mayor considered the offer was a very reasonable one, and that by the new arrangement as to the road they would save considerable expense in the contract. i On the motion of Cr. Wood, seconded by Or. Oonnett, it was resolved that the solicitor be instructed to prepare the necessary deeds to carry out the arrangements proposed by Mr King, the Engineer to see that all the required property was included in the deed. • A letter from MrShefield, relative to the road at Standish's Hill, was referred fo the Works Committee. A letter was read from the County Council, accepting the terms of the Borough relative to the metalling of the County road at Te Henui, by way of equivalent to the wear and tear cf the road by heavy traffic by the Borough carts and contractors. The County Council, however, on further consideration, stipulated that the araaog«ment might be terminated by the County after five years. The Mayor said that it was estimated that the Borough's contribution to the County for heavy traffic would bs about £6O a year. Or. Wood explained the reasons which led the committee to arrange the terms submitted to the County Council. Or. Bellringer moved that the Council agree to the conditions, except as to the clause altered by the County Council.—Harried. Messrs Govett and Quilliam wrote, suggesting the Mayor should be authorised to give consents to mortgage.— Agreed to. The Municipal Association of New Zealand wrote stating there would ba no conference this year and suggesting that any matters of desired legislation should be brought before the committee.—To be borne in mind, A petition from Archibald Hood complaining of the devastation caused to his property by the Mangotuku stream and a"king for relief, was referred to the Works Committee. A letter was read from the Henui Road Board notifying that they would meet on Monday next when they would be happy to receive any members of the Council. - -a"^!^" The Mayor said he would arrange for a deputation to wait on the Board. The Borough Engineer reported his negotiations with the Railway Department as to preventing erosion. The work at Standish's Hill had been restarted and would probably be ready this week for metal. The work at the baths was progressing. The toe of the bank at the entrance to the Carriagtonroad had slipped ard required tresele wo'lr to V "M it up.

THt N'l-wr-ce Inspector reported giving notice to cut overhanging trees The Turncock's report detailed work dona, —Received. The Sanitary Inspector reported having continued his house to house intpsctioD, also an inspection of boarding houses, most of which were in good order, but one was uninhabitable. Sanitary improvements were drsirable

in most cases. Only one mild case of infectious disease (scarlet ftver) had occurred in May, He thanked the Council for providing him an office. — Received. Or. Bellringer inquired when there j was likely to be finality as to the Henui bridge plans. i The Engineer said the plans were being pushed forward as fast as possible. { Or. Brooking moved that a committee consisting of the Mayor, Ora. Wood, Tisch, and the mover be appointed to consider and report on the Council's st ifl generally.—Carried. | The Mayor reported that, with Or.; Tisch, Mr Hooker had been interviewed '■ relative to his account for printing bye-laws, and had explained the reasons for the extras. Mr Hooker was willing to reduce the account by £5. It was decided to settle the account for £SO. In reply to Cr. Bellringer, the Mayor said it was not proposed to offer any debentures to the public at present. Accounts amounting to .£450 13b 7d ordinary and £240 loan account were passed for payment, eubject to being certified to.

Cr. Tisch brought up the question of appointing a Lodgingbouse Insp r ctor. The Mayor said the Sanitary Inspector was the best authority. Cr. Brooking drew attention to the question of collecting fees. Cr. Tisch moved that Mr Free be temporarily appointed inspector of lodging-houses.—Carried. Cr. Smith drew attention to the danger caused by contractors in dicpping while carting same.— Contractors are to be notified that they must not leavd boulders on the road. Or. Oollis brought up the question of the shopkec-pars sweeping tubbish into tbe gutters after the man had cleaned the streets.—The Council's staff are to report offenders to the Town Cletk. In reply to Or. Oollis, the Mayor stated that the licenses for billiardrooms, issued under the bye-laws, were for 11 o'clock closing. Cr. Oollis gave notice of motion that the licenses be for 10 o'clock. Or. Bellringer suggested that to the bye-law preventing persons under 16 from frequenting billiard-rooms be added the words "or persons who in the opinion of the police are under the age of 16." Adopted. The Council rose at midnight.