BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 231, 27 October 1903, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met on Monday. Present : Hi» Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Cock), Crs, Wood, Bellringer, Burgess, BrooUin», Oollis, Garter, Ti6oh, Edmuud j , and Alexander, In connection with a statement tabled of expenditure of loan money,, the Mayor fsaid that he proposed toed' a special meeting to v consider tho matter. Some discussion ensued as to the date for such meeting, and it was (--veutually fixed for Wednesday evening. Correspondence was read from the Engineer to the Northern S.S. Company and Wilson and Company relative •o damaged cement. Also to Mr .Hawkins relative to damaged pip?s. At the request of Co. Alexander a letter from the Engineer to Mr Mestayer was road, in which it was poiuted out that the new sewers should not bi connected with the present sewer owing to is limited capacity for carrying off storm water. In reply to a question by Or. Collis the Engineer said the new road to the | abattoir site needed backing up, as the | metal was pushing outward. . The Mayor said he had inspected the ; rrad and quite agreed that it was in i a bad state, apparently being too ■ narrow. Or. Alexander drew attention to the > large size of the metal and desired the 3 Council to record its objection to stones r being passed of a size up to four inches. He protested against the f theory that Councillors were ignorant 3 of what was right. He moved that the Council disapprove of stones being passed unless broken to the proper , sizs.

Or. Tiseh seconded the motion. Or. Bellringer considered it was a want of confidence motion, as if the Engineer was not capable of passing stones ha was not capable of controlling larger work. The motion was carried. The Honui Eoad B lard wrote giving permission to lay water mains in the Board's roads on condition that the level's were first obtained from the Board's Engineers, The Mayor considered it was waste of money to get the levels in questioc He moved that the Engineer consult with Messrs Sladden and Palmar on the mat'er. Or. A'.exinder seconded the motion. Or. Edmunds moved that the letter be received, but the amendment was not seconded. The Mayor pointed out that it would be bad policy to let the Board think the Council was giving it a slap in the f6GB. The motion was carried. The Auditor-General wrote pointing out that £134 charged cq loan account in connection with the Henui bridge inquiry must be charged to general account.

Mr H. Okey wrote, stating that the entrance to the abattoir land on which he had grazing rights was constantly left open and his cattle got out. He chimed for loss of sheep. Or. Brooking moved that the question of a gate and other matters mentioned by Mr Okey as well as the ques tion of giving notice of termination of tenanoy be referred to the Works Committee.—Carried. Messrs Briscoe and 00, wrote relative to pipes and also as to penalty for late delivery which they considered was bard on them. They urged a reconsideration of the matter. The Mayor said that during his whole experience in business he had never heard people squeak in that way. After some discussion it was decided to adhere to the Council's resolution. T. F. Smith wrote thanking the Council for h ; s appointment as Turncick, and asking whether the conditions as to tima heretofore in force were to be followed. ' Or, Brooking moved th,a,t tbu Turncock be placed, under, the control of the Engineer, and keep a time-sheet the same as the other employees. —Carried. W. Armstrong wrote stating that the work at the Ksplanade had been altered three times, and the contraot and specifications broken, He sub mitted a statement of oast totalling 4115 Us 6d. He also stated that he had been called on by the Engineer to make good damage to a drain. —Referred to Works Committee. A petition was rend from several ratepayers in the Oeutral Ward pro testing against a weekly visit by the night soil contractor, and asking for a fortnightly service. The Mayor pointed out that the contraot was let, and that the Council had no say in the matter. Cr. Carter moved that a reply be sent to the effect that before long the sewerage system will be \u force,— Carried, I The Borough Engineer reported the commincement of the Brougham-street [extension, The gravel was only poor at present, but he hoped it would be better on opening up. There was no really satisfactory site for a weigh, bridge, but there were three available sites. The cost would be about .£SO. The pipe head at the intake had ad- ■ vanced to about 400 feet, and the other works there were progressing except as to the intake road. The contractors for the power-hoose were to start on Tuesday. The B iths and Band Rotunda were also progressing. The concrete work at the abattoirs was in h ,nd. Cr. Collis said that if the gravel found was the brown gravel it was not worth cartiog out. Or. Brooking, while admitting that the black stuff was the best, favoured carting out any sort they could get, The Mayor considered that the metal on the Abattoir-road should be backed and blinded, and he moved to that effect.—Ca tried. Some discussion tools phoe as to the

site of the weighbridge, Deferred, In reply to Or. Brookiog the Mayor said tbat Standish's Hill was nearly oompleted, (Jr. Alexander moved that Vivian and Fulford-streets should be finished. Or, Tieoh moved that the Engineer be instructed to have 500 yards of earth from Standish's Hill carted to Ful ford-at root as already promised. Or, Brooking urged both streets being done together. The Engineer advocated taking the work of both streets at once. Cr. Tisch withdrew his amendment and the motion was carried, Or. Alexander moved, that oae of the staff o)ean. out the fennel at the back of St. Mary's Church,—Carried. The Mayor moved that tho Engineer obtain a price for grading work near Mr Kerr's,—Carried, The Inspectar reported having issued 150 certificates of dwollinus. The cabs, expresses, and 'buses had been remouod to their new stands.—Re-

ceived. The Works Committee reported i That the New Plymouth Trades Association be informed that the question of asphalting crossings \ B Dflyoa-itreet

will be considered after the sewerage works io that street; are completed, and that the question of altering the ex- ' press stand has already been dealt with ; that the Devon-street Bewers be commenced at once, and that Mr Mes tayers recomtnen Nations re temporary connections be adopted; that the necessary notices be served on owners under section 374, o?" The Municipal Dr.rporation Act, 1900 ;" that the Huaoki stream be thoroughly cleaned nut between ihe P<>wderham-i»treet bridtre >ind the Railway yards, and the Mangv nuku stream from to 'h i Suatoki stream ; that the commiLte) \ having considered each case separately on i f ß merits, and being si'ibfi >d that to enforce the foil compliance wi"h the Building Bye L*,ws would in each instance entail great; loss to tbe owners, without a correspoadin" buifefl 1 ; ?o the public, the Bjrough Eugineer bn authorised to grant permits in the following ersas, dispensing wim tin erection of the brick walls as applied foe: (,i) Stables in King street for Mr M. Junes (short wall above the shy roof), (b) Additions and alterations to thu Kia Oa Tea Room*, for Mr F, Jackson, (<■) Erec'ion of second storey and extension to buildings occupied by Messrs Campbell and Gaorge, provided plans are submitted, and building commenced within six months from date, (d) Additions to the Taranaki Olub buildings, according to plans submitted by Mr Messenger; that Mr Mestayers letter re'outer wall of the septic tank be referred to the Borough solicitors; that the question of what land shall be required for a septic tank in the East end be referred to the committee previously appointod to consider the plans of the street sewers; that a oommittee consisting of Ors. Brooking, Bellringer and Edmunds be appointed to report on the Dead granting easements from Mr H. King; that MrT. W. Fisher be informed that the Borough Engineer has been instructed to prepare a report on tbe levels of Leach-street, and that no definite information can be given him until the report is received; that consideration of the application of the Car* rington Road Board for a contribution of half cost of a new bridge at the O'td > Mill-road be deferred, and that in the meantime thd Bjrough Engineer be | instructed to report on the ooat of such, bridge, and of forming 1 and metalling the road in th» i Borough leading to the bridge; that Mr de In Haye be informed that the Counoil regret being unable to ' grant him a water service for a small i tno'or; that Mr Ooker's letter re metalling Gilbert-street be received and the I Engineer be instructed to get the : work done at onoe; that the Engineer ' be instructed to report on Mr A, 0, Ifoakes* request for an approach to his property in Oameron-street; that the ■ question of 6reoting a destructor be " deferred j thit in aooordanoe with the ) r«o nmondation from the District I Health Officer notice be given to Mr 0. Oxenham to pull down the building* downed by him on part section 645 i Devon-street, within six wo;ks from ' date of notice; (hit in answer to his i complaint re Gover-Btreet tunnel, Mi Palmer be sent a copy of the Eogin • eer's report on the mit'cr, and that ■ such report be adopted b, the Council; that providwd In takes not less than : 480 yards Mr J. 0. Montiefiore bo piirt 6d per yard royalty for earth removed from ths 3>rougb Reserve at the oorner of King and ' tha quantities to be first pegged off by the Borough Engineer; that consideration of the letter from the Swimming Olub re opening day at the silt w»tf>r i laths be deferred ; that the question ol a bell tower for the East End be do ferred, that the livery-stable-keeper be informed that tbe bye-law relating to the driving of horses in the Borough will be strictly enforced in the future: that the Borough solicitors be in structad to take tne necessary steps t< acquire 4 und-tr the Public Works &.o\ the land required for the reservoir site (consisting of about 5| acres owned by Mr C. Gledhill); that the Bye-law*. Oommittee frame bye-laws for the abattoirs and report by next mee v inr> of the Council if possible; that stepbe taken to. raise the balance of the £90,00.0 law at 4| par cent; that the Borough Engineer's report ae to the work to be done by the Borough stiff duriog the next fortnight be adopted ; that from and after the 30th October cibs and expresses be required to re move to the new stands; that the stand for the breakwater buses be alongside the footpath in Devon-stree> opposite section 395, and the stand for the Vogeltown and Fitzray buses be alongside the footpath in Devon-street opposite the Government Buildings; that a return of loan expenditure and authorised works be laid on the Ooun oil table; that the Borough Engineer be authorised to procure a boiler for the abattoir from Messrs. Ohirabers and Bon as quoted at £75; that the Borough Engineer be instructed to execute the necessary repairs, at tbe corner of Morley and Hine-streets; that the Borough Engineer be authorised to repair the damage to Mr Breach's fence in Gover-street; that hmp posts be erected at the oorner of Gill and Mooa-streets and at the corner of Weymouth-street and' Bulkeley Terrace; that the Borough Engineer be instructed to make the grade in Vivian-street near Mr Weston's property as suggested to him on the ground by the Committee.—Adopted The Reserves Committee reported : —That upon the Borough Solicitors reporting that »U pap is are in order and all rent and oosts paid, leave be granted to the le sees of sublivisions 3 and 4, Ng<ure Rwrve, to j their interest in the le*se to the Union ] Bank of Australasia, Ltd —Adopted, Or. Wood moved tha,t all plans an spacifications for contracts be submitted ito the Work.B Committee, and that a* [far as possible they should be availabla three days before the meetings.— Carried,

Or. Bellringer moved that a Committee of the Council consisting of the Mayor, Ore. Carter, Tisch, and the mover wait on the Recreation Grounds Board with a view to arrange a scheme for representation of the Oounoil and theOriofeet and Football Olubaon that Board. The Mayor sreonded the motion with pleasure. He explained that the Board was quite prepared to give the Council a vote. He considered there had been friotion in the past over the Board's ao%n in letting the ground. Ho. was satisfied it would be a bansfit to have new blood on the Board.— Carried. Or. Collis brought up the question of the proposad alteration in the railway time-table, and suggested that a public meeting should be oalled to protest againßt the alterations, especially as to delaying the afternoon whereby many, country 68ttlerq would he prevented from coding to town owing to the late hour of arriving home. Or, Alexander considered the timetable was worse than before both as to the inwards and outwards trains. Why, be asked, should this end of the dig.

rict be always " jumped on " by the Railway Depirtmeut. It was enough to drive every supporter of the Government into the rauks of the Opposition. The Mayor suggested that the Ohamber of Commerce should deal with the matter. Or. Alexander objected on the ground that the Chamber was " too blow to worms.". He moved that the Mayo* coiiVtne a public meeting on Thursday overling. (Jr. Wool, in seconding the-motion, piir.'od out that the afternoon train t> i.ig ()<l:yed would preveut dairy I'm■naers fn in /.-oii'ig back i a time to rni'k and so k cp them from town. The mutton was carried. Oo the motiot of Or. Tisch it was decided ti coutiuu) the concrete kerb-ii.-g in Vivian-street to Fulferd-street, av>d thunrii o street. Or moved that all plumbs era bj rtq tired to take out a license wi*htn une month; that any plumber wha hw not ob ained a certificate but ban been at th« tr«ide for not less than 10 years previously be granted a provision il license on applicition, ukd tb it they be required to pass a practical examination within twelve months ; tint all drain layers ba required to take ou-. licenses within the same period, and that the Engineer arrange for tb» examination. He dw*lt on the necessity for ensuring competent wurk in relation to drainage and water supply. Or. Wood seconded the motion. In reply to Or. Carter the Mayor explained what had been done by the Education Board as to plumbing classes and examinations, and pointed out that as usual in New Plymouth jealousy had arisen and a oertainf section of the plumbers had refused to join to* Board's classes, so that there had been two schools instead of one. Or. Xisch considered the proposal was a very fair one* The motion was than carried. Oq the motion of Or. Uollisitwas decided to have the ground near the biths levfllsd down and made tidy. The Council adjourned till 8 p.uu !<» Wednesday.