Borough Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 161, 12 July 1904, Page 2

Borough Council.

Tlu> ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held last night, Presr*t : His Worship the Mayor (Air H. Cork), uml Org. Ahier, llrooking, Browne, Carter, Collis, dill, Medley, Wilson and Wood.

The town clerk road a letUT, on the request of Cr. Carter, to the Audit Department, answering queries relating to the annutil accounts, mure particularly dealing with the abattoirs, town clock fund, and the expenditure of loan money, the department having ruled that advertising and legal expenses in lotting loan contracts were not chargeable against the loan. The town clerk also road tho rojily lo Mr R. L. Stanford, who complained that tho soxton had not allowed one Pyeroft to remove some trees from the cemetery. The reply was to the effect that I'ycroft should have oi. fined tho necessary order from tho to n clerk, and the chairman commended the sexton for his action iu conserving the public interests.

In answer to Cr. Cliff, tho Mayor explained that he had written to Hon. Kennedy Macdonald, giving information regarding the remaining borough debentures. That gentleman had since advised that he would probably place them in a few days. The wigrneer__statcid__tJiat _ Moore, thu borough drain-layer, haid "talen oul the necessary license.

Mr Mestayer wrote regarding the reservoir and pipe-bridge contracts. The levels were supplied by Mr Skinner. Mr Ahier said Mr Skinner had asMured him that ho hod not furnished these levels, but merely the levels of ihe line. In fairness to his reputation this should be published. He did not think that the onus of all mistakes should be cast on the absent man.

Mr F. T. Bellringer, captain of the New Plymouth Arc ibrigiade, forwarded a sketch of the proposed oust ward station.—Referred to the works committee.

Atua, late assistant at the waterworks, again asked for overtime wages.—A committee consisting of Crs. Cliff, Wood and Collis was appointl..'d to inquire and report. Messrs Pikett and Co., contractors for the reservoir, asked for particulars of the conditions imposed.—This had been referred to Mr Mestayer. The Taranakl Education Board wrote urging that bofctor arrangements be made for drainage from Uie Central School.—Referred to the sewerage committee.

Mr J. W. West drow attention to the bad state of the road on the Menu! hill on the east, side of the bridge now building.—Referred to the engineer.

A lengthy letter from Mr T. E. Taylor, on the question of electric light, was referred to the works committee.

The sanitary inspector reported that there had beta no case of infectious disease in the borough during the past month, or In fact for the past three months. He gave a schedule of drain connections, etc., made during the past six months. —The report was adopted. Mr F. Stohr, general inspector, furnished a detailed report of his work for the month. No infringenuwt of the by-laws, whether by horse, cow, or cyclist, had come under his notice. The wholesale poisoning of dogs still continues, and he had brought the matter under tho notico of tho police.—Adopted, on the motion of Crs. Wood and) Ahier, who expressed their appreciation of its detailed information. It was decided to waive tho claim for penalties that might have been imposed for delay in supplying timI l>er for the bridge covering in Klngvtroot, next Messrs Weston and Weston's.

The finance committee's report, recommending payment of loan accounts amounting to £2213 2s 7d, abattoirs £95 19s sd, general £IBBO lis Id, was passed. Tho works commlttco's report was considered, Mr Jones waiting on the council on the matter of what he termed the excessive charge for permits—one pound a year for each of tho live hoardings proposed to be orected by him on sites approved by tho council.—lt was reßolved to adhere to the recommendations of the works committee, and to mako one l>oui«l per annum the standard rate. —The report was adopted.

Tho reservos committee recommend,«l tho fencing of Kawaroa Park, und planting at Fort Niger, Woolcombe Terrace, and th« Esplanade. '1 he committee certainly objected to the mortuary chapel being used as a morgue.—Cr. Collis moved the adoption of tho report. Or. Brooking explained the position regarding the mortuary chapel, which was a painful one, owing to tho absence of a public morguo. He naw no objection to bodies lonioinlng there for a day or two In cases oJ gtnengenoiv These bodies must he put somewhere, away from tho private hospitals where the demise occurred. They must consider tho living, not the dead. Cr. Collis strongly objected. Supposing tho chapel were required by someone else whilst the bodies were lying there ? And what) about the risk of infection 7 Besides, private hospitals must provide their own conveniences ; tho public would not supply them. Cr. Wood was of a similar opin- | ion. If there was to be a mortuary chapel, let it bo maintained as such. Cr. Collis Raid Uiey wero now considering tho living. An amendment by Crs. Brooking and Browne, that the town clerk be empowered to grant permits to place dead bodies in the morgue when' he considered such necessary, was lost, and the motion carried.

On tho matter of fencing and planting reserves, Cr. Ahier entered a strong protest. "Frittering away money on theso things, planting trees, etc., when wo have such roads as Devon-street West and the South Hoad with tho metal worn out."

Eventually tho report was adopted, with the exception of tile first clause reghrdfiig tho Question of planting reserves. The matter will ho referred back to the works committee. A late letter was received from Mi Mcstayer on the matter of amending the reservoir contract in various directions.

Cr. Ahier : I think ho ought to chuck up tho job. Tho Mayor saw no reason why the reservoir should not bo built with concrete Instead of asphalt. The present reservoir was as good as when it was erected years ago. Cr. Ahier : The engineer should have known all this before Cr. Collls said that Mr Mestayer claimed for the Nouchateh us;>halt many advantages, owing to its glassy surface, rendering it clean and easily cleaned.

(Jr. Ahier : Our engineer is nil "Yes, no." Cr. Wilson moved that the contract l>o signed according to tho specifications. Ho deprecated these continual changes. Tho council woukl be landed in «« action for damages soon,

Cr. Cliff seconded, and tho motion was carried.