Borough Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 281, 1 December 1904, Page 3

Borough Council.

ADJOURNED MEETING. The adjourned meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday night, when there were present : His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Cock) and Crs. Wood, Cliff, Wilson, Coll is, Brooking, Fraser, Browne, Ahier, and Medley. —The Waterworks.— The council went into committee to receive a verbal report by Mr Mestayer on the tunnelling contract in connection with the waterworks. No action was taken fn the matter, pending a written report to be submitted to the next works committee meeting. The relation of the council with Mr Saxton was also discussed. The draft deed between the council and Mr Saxton was approved. —Fire Station Contract.— Mr James Salt, contractor for the erection of the East End fire brigade station, wrote in reference to a difference between* himself ami the engineer as to the casing of the basement. The ' engineer said the specifications allowed for the wcathertooarding of the whole exterior of the two side walls and back. Cr. Brooking pointed out that prior to Mr Gibbon's appointment the council agreed to the conditions of tender laid down by the Builders' Association, and that owing to his not being aware of • this resolution the conditions were not attached. Mr Salt was in attendance, but the council decided that nothing would be gained by hearing 1 him. A motion, proposed by Cr. Medley, seconded by Cr. Wood, was passed, leaving the matter in the engineer's hands.

—Gas Account.— Ther Gas Company wrote accepting! the council's oiler of £2O in settlement of the disputed account due on street lighting-, the amount due since October 31st to be paid in full. It also agreed to render accounts monthly, giving details of the lamps, requiring mantles.—Received. —Abattoirs Committee.— Crs. Cliff, Collis, and Medley were appointed an abattoirs committee. —Noxious Weeds.— Cr. Wood brought forward the state of the council's leased reserves in Stratford county, and it was deckled to ask the inspector to deal with the matter. Crs. Cliff, Eraser, and Browne were appointed a committee to report on what plants shall be declared noxious weeds within the botI oug'h. —Outside Water Supply.— In accordance with notice of motion Cr. Browne moved that the resolution referring to the outside water supply be rescinded. • Cr. Wood seconded. The motion was carried, Cr. Brooking alone dissenting. The Mayor said the petition from outside consumers referring to this matter would be considered by the works committee. —Our Boads.— Cr. Medley moved, in accordance with notice of motion, that the South Boad be metalled from the Terminus Hotel to the Worough boundaries. He said it was a most pressing requirement, as the road was a main artery to the town. Of course the question was where was the money to come from, but the resolution should be passed to show ratepayers that the work would be the next undertaken. Cr. Ahier thought councillors should, for the sako of the town, see that expenditure was dually divided. The road was a most important one.

Cr. Wood inquired as to the cost, amd whence funds were to come.

Cr. Medley said he could not give an estimate. The piece from the hotel to Garner's store was the worst in the borough. Cr. Wood wanted a limit placed. Cr. Collis said to do the whole piece would cost £IOOO.

In reference to a remark about expenditure on the Henui bridge, Cr. Wood said that work was paid out of loan money, whereas the South Road would come out of revenue. Cr. Wilson concurred that the South Road was urgent work, but he protested against piecemeal patching at the will of individual councillors, irrespective of the opinion of the engineer. He moved as an amendment "That the engineer bring down a report on the roads most needing attention," saying they could then work on a system.

Cr. Fraser, in seconding-, said he agreed that the i<uad needed attention, tat he ■ thought the council should i>e guided by the engineer. Cr. Medley was agreeable to the engineer being so instructed, as ho was sure |the report would show that the work was a necessity. Cr. Cliff thought on , the score of economy he would support the amendment, though he did not think it right to put the engineer in the position that he must say that the road was in need of metalling. lie would prefer a resolution dealing only with the section from the hotel to the store. The Mayor said the bullock earts engaged in the work of removing Mount Elliot had cut up many streets in the borough, and the engineer's instruction should be confined to the portion of the South Road mentioned. Cr. Medley having withdrawn his motion, Cr. Cliff moved as an amendment to Cr. Wilson's motion "that the South Road be metalled from the hotel to Mr Stagpoole's." Cr. Wilson contended that the amendment was quite distinct from his motion, and he was granted permission to temporarily withdraw his motion. Finally Cr. Cliff's motion was carried, with the alteration that the curve into Queen-street be eased. Cr. Wilson then moved "that the engineer report on the streets generally." Cr. Fraser seconded the motion which was carried. In reply to Cr. Ahior, the engineer said he would be doing the work needed in Powderbatn gully in a few days.