Borough Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 297, 20 December 1904, Page 3

Borough Council.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Borough Council was -held on Monday evening. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Cock), and Crs. Cliff, Fraser, Browne, and Ahier. —Abolition of Wards The Mayor regretted that there was so small an attendance. He apologised for the absence of Cr. Brooking. There was a special resolution to be considered dealing with the pro posed abolition of*wards. Cr. Al)ier moved that the question be deferred till February. The Town Clerk said it would l» better -to consider the matter ii. January as it was necessary to prepare fresh rolls if the proposal wert carried.

Cr. Ahier said the ratepayers would not favour the change. Cr. Fraser maintained that so drastic a change should be placet, before a public meeting. The matter was finally deferrec till the second meeting in January.

ORDINARY MEETING. Crs. Wilson, Medley, and Colli} here took t'heir seats, and the ordinary meeting, adjourned from Monday week, was then held. —Electric Lighting.— Mr Mestayer forwaided a lettei from Mr Oswald lines, manager for the Brush Electrical Company, who asked for information as to certain fittings required. The plans for the generators, he was informed,- were well in hand. The letter was referred to the electric lighting committee. The Miayor and Cr. Ahier were authorised to sign the deed between the borough and the Taranaki County Council.

—Septic Tank.— Mr R. L. Jfestayer forwarded plans and specifications for the septir tank.—Received. \ —Powderham Street Bridge.— Mr A. H. Kendall, the general inspector, reported having spoken to two drivers of vehicles going over Powderham-struet bridge at other than a walking pace, and asked whether proceedings should be taken against them. He drew attention to the fact that the notices bore the 'name of a former town clerk, and mentioned that he did not think there was a by-law dealing with the subject. The Mayor questioned whether a prosecution would be successful.

Crs. Fraser and Collis stated that several convictions had been obtained some time ago. The report was referred to the bylaws committee, the clerk to issue a summons ii power was given under jthe Police Offences Act. —Scenery Reserve.— The Commissioner of Crown Lands stated that it was*, proposed to ac■quire for scenery preservation purposes section Y, containing six .acres, on the Town Belt, belonging the School Commissioners, and he Asked the council to grant the public access to the reserve through the Jlenui cemetery. The Mayor was of opinion that there could be no objection except to vehicular traffic. Cr. Cliff moved that the matter be referred to the reserves committee. Cr. Wilson seconded, and the motion was carried.

—The Railway Deviation.— The district engineer of railways stated that the question of the roadway through the present railway yard from Molesworth Street to St. Aubyn Street had been referred to the chief engineer. The department was not aware the matter was urgent. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Collis, it was decided to press on the department tin urgency of the matter. i —Financial.— Messrs Govett and Quilllam forwarded a long letter referring to the deed of hypothecation between the Bank of New Zealand and the Council.' i The letter was referred to the finance committee. —Defective Water-table.— About sixteen residents in Powderham Street West in a joint letter drew attention to the bad slate of the water-table in front of Mr Bennett's house. Cr. Collis said tihe bullock waggons were the cause of the whole .trouble. The engineer was instructed to rciport. —Account for Survey.— Messrs Govett ami Quillinin wrote in reply to a letter frjm the council that as regards the survey of Uulteel Street and Full'ord Street they were under the impression that Messrs Sladden and Palmer | were theborough surveyors, and they had .therefore employed them to undertake the survey. The account from .Messrs Sladden and Palmer for surveying the roads in question was refer/fd to the works committee. —Question of Deeds.—

Messrs Govett and (Xuilliam wrote in reference to the deed between Mr Standish and the council regarding the conveying of water through the former's property, ami in reference .to that with Mr Downes for the site >of the West End fire brigade station. The Town Clerk was instructed to _give effect to the requests contained in the letters. —Disputed Rent.— Messrs Malone, McVeagh, and Anderson wrote in reference to the lease held by Mr Peters over a reserve at Stratford taken under the Public Works Act. The Mayor explained that though the area taken by the Public Works Department was lost to the tenant the council had a claim for the rent of the whale area. Cr. Browne pointed out '.hat the tenants had been compensated by the Government for the rent involved. The Mayor said that it was on this that the 'borough solicitor based his opinion. Cr, Wilson moved that the question be referred to the works committee. Cr. Fraser seconded, and the motion was carried,

—Rebate of Rates.— Mrs Joseph and Mr Elwyn applied for rebates of rates on certain houses on the ground that they had | been unoccupied (or more than six months. The former claimed £3 us 7d on section 904, and the latter £2 Cs 3d on a house in Molesworth Street.

The clerk was ins-tructeS to obtain all necessary information to lay before the works committee. —Clemow StreetMessrs (iovet" and Quilliam wrote in reference to the ITenui Road Hoard obtaining a strip of Clemow Hreet for the \ purpose of forming oolpaths. Crs. Wilson and Wood were deputed to sign any deeds required.

—Water to the Abattoirs.— The Secret-dry of Agriculture, in) reference to the complaint by the butchers using the abattoirs, asked or fuller particulars as to the cost jf laying water to the abattoirs.

The Town Clerk read a letter he lad sent to the department, pointing out that the charge was less than would be charged were the .neter system brought in. The Mayor stated that the interest jn the loan proposed (£600) would )e less than if the council advanced he money.

On Or. Cliff's motion the matter was referred to the abattoirs committee to confer with the butchers -with a view to getting them to withdraw their objection to the luan. —Abattoir Engine.—

Mr Dalrympie, inspector of mahinery, wrote in reference to the want of certain parts in the eng'ine at the abattoirs.

It was decided to get the missing mrts and to ask the driver by whose permission they had been re.noved. —Sewerage Connections.— Mr W. Francis was granted permission to connect Mrs Biss' section So 1427, Dovon-street East, with the sewwagu uyattrn. —Complaint Answered.—

Mr M. Jones wrote to the general .nspector regarding the complaints ibout his changing 'bus horses in .he street, saying the operation oconly a minute and a half. The letter was received. —Hc-nui Bridge Contract.—

Mr A. A. Pikett wrote objecting wo the reduction proposed by the engineer in regard to his contract for .-be Henui bridge. The Mayor stated that in addition o the £893 held back as the 25 per ;ent. on the contract price, the sum ii £474 was still owing to Mr Pikett. He thought the council could ~«iy Mi 1 Pikett £4OO, as it would jtall have in hand more than the .mount in dispute. The jc-ng'ineer pointed out that a ■nal certificate would not be given jntil the expiration of the maintenance period, three months from Dec•mbcr 31st.

The matter in dispute was referred -o a coimmtteo consisting- of the Jayor and Crs. Brooking, Fraser, ;liu, Browne, and Ahier. At the request of Mr Pikett, who .vas present, the payment of the £474 was passed, subject to the engineer giving a «ertificatc. —Engineer's Report.—

The engineer reported that the contractor fol the pipe bridges had nearly completed three, and hoped .o finish by December /24th. He thought most of the water mains would be finished by the eno ,f the week. He also reported on .he other works in progress. —Progress Payments - Progress payments were passed as follows : John Hayes £25 13s ; McA'illiams and Andrews, £SOO ; Mr AlcManus, £3 4s (id; W. Knyvett, Cl9l 18s 6d.

In reply to Cr. Wilson, the engineer said ]Mr Mestayer recommended .he-payment to Messrs McWilliams and Andrews. —Notices of Motion.— Cr. Cliff gave notice of motion '-hat the allocation of £SOO for iueoa Street lie rescinded. Cr. Ahier gave notice to move that Cameron Street from Mr Percy Smith's house to Gilbert-street be temporarily closed. —Objection to Drain.— Messrs Weston and Weston wrote isking that the heating of the ob.ection laid by Mr Mcintosh to the ■rain being laid through the Taralaki Hotel right-of-way be held over .ill next ordinary meeting, as Mr iVeston was indisposed, and therelore was unable to be present on his Jient's behalf. The request was agreed to.