Borough Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 10, 13 January 1904, Page 4

Borough Council.

The ordinary meeting of the Boroufe'h Counjeil was held on Monday Pri'Sent : His Worship the Mayor {Mr It. Cock), and Crs. Wood Brooking, Collis, Carter, Kdni,unds, IHsch, and Medley. Cr. Wocd asked for information legiarcliing a letter re the Es'plarrade cent ract.

The Mayor sta'U'd that all attempts to settle to liicttor haid failed, He hud pavd into Court the money held by the Council. Cr. Carter mO'Ved tinat the action of the Mayor in paying in the money to Court be approwd, and that Messrs Wilson ami <!rey's letter 1m referred to the CowK'il's solicitors. The Town Clerk said the Council could be at no loss by accepting the proposed settlement of 18s in the £, since they already had a deposit of over £2, wtoich would make up for the 2s in the £ deficiency. The motion was carried.

Cr. Wood asked that the engi neer'e letter to A. Milne be read'.

This was to the effect that the engli neer had refused to take over keiUng, clijanneilin-g, and plastering in Weymouth-street. CORRESPONDENCE.

Messrs Govett and Quilliam wrote giving advice re stopping Penjdarves Street.

The Mayor movod, and Cr. Wood seconded, that steps be taken to close the olid street. —Carried. Mr J. H. Bentley wrote, com-

plaining of offensive drainuige in 1 hyllis-street. Referred to the Works Committee.

Messrs and Newton, engineers, New Plymouth, complained that they had not been afforded an opportunity to quote for supplies ol hooks, etc., for abattoirs-.—Received, air.U the firm will be placed o<a the list.

Mr Hawkins, the Council's inspector at Aucklaind, wrote that the U.S.S. Co. d-ikl not handle pipes carefully.— Ir.qjiiries since showed this was not so.

Alfred C. Caso, turncock's assist■ant, applied for an increase of wages from 7s to 8s per -day. Councillors stated that the applicant was one of the "hairdest grafters" the Council had in its employ. Cr. Tisch moved that the request be granted'.—Carried. The sectetary of the Taraimki School Comini«saeincrs wrote re exchange of properties recently passed in the House, anid giving particulars of sections leased.

The Mayor further explained the position. There was an annual revenue of £27. The clerk had asked for the land to Ik? conveyed to the Council.

Mr W. J. Camlin, sexton, wrote asking for repairs to cottage at cemetery.—Referred to the Reserves Committee, with power to act. Mr Gokling asked that works on Vivian-street lx> completed without delay, as great inconvenience was caused to the applicant.

Cr. Carter explained the inconvenience. Mr Coklum£ could not fence his property. —To laUemk'd to. Cr. K'djmrnds forwarded his ivsignation as Councillor. Tlie Mayor announced that Cr. Bellringer Im«d inliinatud his mtention of resigning. In fuct the resig«mition sfhonld have Ixvn in his (ih<_* Mayor's ha/mls before then. He ex- : pressod sincere regret, especially at tihn resignation of Cr. Dellringer, wh<o hasl been compelled by circumstances to lvavu tin' Council. He moviAl that the Council place on record the valuable services to the Council by the retiring: Councillors. Cr. Brooking l seconded. Cr. Bellringer hmd been town clerk for ina'n.v years-, aad (had a wide knowlodye of borough- affairs, an-d had u f«d this k.nuwloc!(g}» for the b-ewiit of the town.

Cr. Wood agra-d. In C,\ Bcllringer the burgesses of New Plymouth were losing 0 f the best representatives. Cr. Bdiuurads, too, had been a good Councillor.

Cr. 1 iseh expressed similar senti ments.

ENGINEER'S IiEPOKT. The engineer reported that the tunnelling contract at the waterworvs were tjo-ing on very slowlv. He recommended that Mr Mestayer be asked to come and see tire work with a view to pushing on the work! Hie work at- the intake was satis•.Uetory. The foreman and lvis staff haid been y occupied since last meet-in* in various works, including the lower- ■'"« of the junction of Liardet and lond-aj-ves St relets.

Cr. Collis complained that the work authorised by the Council on Kawmoa Reserve hart not been done. 'lThe ground should be fenced, in order to protect trees.

In answer to Cr, Carter, the engineer said the waterworks tunnel wag

not half limshod—'about three chains shpi t of half-way. | The Mayor s-aid t l hat in the present ■ material where the contractor was working, only a foot an hour on eaclv face could be done. Cr. Wood moved the aid-option ol the engineer's report. Cr. Carter askurl -that a plan of the tunnel, showing progress made, bo placed on the table at each Council meeting.—Ag»ivi'd to. The report was ado-pUd. j\Jr Kyngdon, contractor for crushing stone at the waterworks, askud that the contractor be compelled to enable him to commence work.—Action deforivd. Accounts as presented were passed ibr payment. Cr. Wodd moved that "coal" be added to the list of supplies to be •annuallv tendered for. IJUOIKiiIAM-STUKKT ImiPUE. r Phe Mayor reported that lie had .ascertained that I'or a small expen-d-iture the Brouigham-street bridge could be majde to last another 25 % \ i-ars. With' regard to covering the kii.'gKstieet. portion, totara posts (IBit long x Win) could be obtained tfor 15s each. —The matter will be discussed at next Works Committee i» i- l in,i£.

('r. Tisch re the balance of Jt 1-1,000 on t'hv iioo,ooo loan. He woul'd mow that the Finance Committee taikv steps to raise this amount.

Cr. Carter seconded. The Council was committed to expenditure of nearly £90,000. and had only obtained £40,000. The Mayor said there was no hurry. The finances of the Council were sound, and it was belter to wait. The present- arrangements were paying far better than would a of having a large amount of money unused in bank. HOl.l-1 >AV ATTKACTI ONS.

Cr. (inter mo\!evl. according to notice, in tlw diiection of asking the Mayor to conivone a public meeting foi- the pdrp(Ose of instituting some holiday attractions in New Plymouth. He siaitd he did not think 'U'ny apoloigy was here. Anythi'ivg in tine interests of the Borough uame within the scope of the Council. The population was increasing, the town holding over 0000 people. Other towns, by energy and enterprise, were taking away the prestige of this town, which should be the metropolis of the province. New Plymouth was ba*kwaiul in this matter, in spite of her undoubted natural advantages. An athletic carnival, Mo.knu or Mount Egmont excursions mig'ht be arranged, and perhaps the Agricultural Show could be held during the holiday week.

Cr. Tisch seconded. This was the seaside resort of the district, and sthould l>e brougilit prominently (before the public. C'r. Wood supported the motion. He could not sec l , however, with Cr. Carter, that we were doing nothing, lie mentioned the baths. The Mayor said that since the matter bad been mooted lie had ibeen imendated from all quarters with suggestions for tlw? holidays. Seaside ]Wcnics, s[>orts gatherings, steamer excursions, and a ,bajnd contest had all l>een meirtionod. He hajd much pleasure in- supporting the motion.

The motion was put aud carried nnanimo usly.

('l'. Caiter moved his motion, o( H-hicli notice had )xt-n given, to the ofleet that tlu l Works Cojinmittce iiK'etimgs l« heM an Coimcil niiglits. 'llhe motion was lost after a ) ambling discussion,sovcral mombers exinvssing the opinion tlmt the Works Conuititteo meetings wciv an alssolute necessity.

C. Collis gave notice to move tiliiat no'tieeiboands be erected, directing to the places worth visiting in the vicinity of New Plymouth. This concluded the business.