Borough Works Committee.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7729, 3 February 1905, Page 2

Borough Works Committee.

Special Meeting,

I A special meeting of the Works Committee was held at the Town Hall on Thursday evening. Present : Bis Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Cock) Cis. Cliff, Wilson, Brooking, Fra.svr, Browne, Allien Collis, nnd Medley. j Urgent Works on Streets.— ' 'Hie Mayor explained that the committee had been called together a week earlier than usual, lie had promised to bring down a scheme for certain pressing works, ami the engineer had got out a detailed statement showing the state of the various streets in the town and sections thereof, with particulars of what was needed to complete the streets. Some 8497 yards of metal was required, cor.tiing £MO(>l>, mid thisi the .Major considered was a moderate sum. lie had agreed with the engineer that contain portions of streets needed immediate attention, and he detailed the parts proposed to ix: completed. The Mayor further statod that he thought the council should do the urgent works rather than do nothing. Taking, the averago ordinary expenditure io the end of March there would bo about £2OOO available for extra works. The new council would be l>ettcr oil than thio present council by £I7OO, owing to non-recurring expendi'uire, and in addition would receive about £4OO increased revenue. He con- ' sidered if the works mentioned were taken in hand during the summer there would be a considerable saving of expense, and he suggested jcalling for tenders for the urgent works now needing atitentJion. lie moved that the engineer toe instructed, to proceed with the works) for completing Eliot-street. I (Jr. ClilV seconded the motion. I Cr, Collis reminded' the committee that next year interest on loan money would have to be mot out of revenue. He deprecated the council undertaking such a large expenditure so near the elec'Uoiv. He advocated obtaining a large supply of metal ready for use, but urged that the council shouild go to work carefully, especially in view of having to meet intetest. He pointed out that the electnc light loan money would not be reproductive for another year.. He moved that the .question of the additional work be deferred till the next ordinary meeting, and that the Town Clerk, in the meanwhile, prepare a rough balance sheet of next years income and expenditure, ; The Mayor strongly ad vacated deciding the question at once. Though he did not wish ta rush it through, the meeting had been called especially to deal with the matter, and he hoped a decision would be arrived at, i Cr. Collis pe.sustcd in his amendment* I The Mayor said that on reflection |he would withdraw his remarks as Ito pushing the question to a vote, .and if the councillors wished would consent to hold the matter over, | Cr. Fraser, in seconding the amendment, thought it would be a great mistake for the .council to commit itself to the who'ie Scheme brought forward. He poin/ted out that expenditure might be needed for sanitary matters. [ Cr, Brooking favoured- deferring consideration of the proposed expenjditure till the next meeting. He did not like the idea of ear-marking some £I6OO or £IBOO of next ; ear's reveime. He quite agreed that the present was the best time for the work to lie done, but he. would like time 'to carefully consider the matter,, Cr, Medley considered the Mayor hnd given the question a great deal of thought, and he should in interest of progress support the motion)] Cr. Wilson favoured going slowly. He agreed with the proposal! to postpone the matter so as to allow councillors to go eaiefully over the streets on which money was proposed to be spent. At the same, time he concurred in the wisdom of executing work in the dry season. He urged that a copy of the engineer's remarks on the proposed work's should be supplied to eacn councillor. The Mayor solid if the matter was adjourned it would certainly be advisable to adopt Cr. Wilson's suggest. tion< Cr. Ahier was heartily in sympathy with the original motion. He considered it was the duty of the council to give the ratepayers good passable streets. A great deal of money had been spent wastcfully such as planting trees, but the proposed outlay was a good asset. Uood streets meant better houses, un improved town, and inpreased rates! Ho considered the schemo brought :orward was one of the best the Mayor had brought dpwn. Cr. Brooking said the whole of the .-ouncti was favourable to improving he streets, Dut the question was! IVhere was the money to come-from? Iho Mayor expressed his, thanks to Jle engineer for the elaborate pains -akon over his report. The amendment was then put and tectared curried on a show of hands >y, o to 3, —Curric Street Extension.— On the motion of the Mayor a comi lit too consisting of the mover, Jrs, Wilson Booking;, and Frasn >r wore appointed to meet the larbour Board in relation to Cur'ie Street extension. —Plumbers.' Licenses.— Three young 1 men waited on the •mmdttee with the object of obaining a temporary license to act s ttvey did not posess the ne&ssary certificates. The Mayor was in favour of granting facilities for enabling young len to earn their living, though he onsidvied they should make an efjrt to obtain the necessary ccrtih-a-tes. Cr. Browne considered the council houNd be careful in giving certiiiates except for certain work, but o't of a sanitary, nature* Cr, Ahier moved that the borugh engineer be authorised to grant temporary journeyman's 'license for 2 months.. He thought it would be ■onstrous l 0 debar young men om earning their living at their ■ade. One of the applicants asked that water license be granted for the resent< Cr. Wilson protested against these <j •oqtient relaxations of the bye-laws, hieh were framed for the purpose f being observed. Cr. Fraser considered thai it was onstrous to prevent young men otu learning their business. The ifcguard was tha,t masters wou'id ot continue to employ, incapable lurneymen. Thy motion .was then carrjedj , —Currie Lane Bridget.— The Mayor stated that the engi;er advised the bridge over the ream from Currie-street to Broug-iim-slueet must be re-constructed, hen the bridge was down the question of stopping the right-ofi-way might arise. After some discussion it was decv.d'edto defer the uiatltw for further information* —Relaxing the Bye-Laws.— Mr J,- Sanderson wrote applying for permission to erect a Small nd- , djition on the upper floor of the Herald office.. The engineer's report was adverse, on the ground that the proposal was contrary to the bye-laws, 'On' the moition of Cr. Cliff the request waa complied with, —Ariki-street.— it was, derided to kenb Ariki-street with concrete, tenders to be called for the work, —ClianneJUiig.— The engineer, was authorised to call for. tenders for certain channelling in HwUsoiij, Courtenay ami I'owderham Streets, The Chief Postmaster, Mr F. Iloldsworih, applied for permission • to put up a tent for telegraph operators near the Walcefidld-street entrance gate of the racecourse, as the Taranaki Jockey Club declined to allow a telegraph office ou the 'ground. Cr. Cliff moved that the request bo complied with. Cr* Fraser advocated obtaining from th,e Jockey Club their reasons for the refusal to have a telegraph ollice 011 tho course. The Mayor explained that the trouble arose in connection with bookmakers and others sending; away I commissions on the various races instead of the money, being invested on the totalisator. The motion was carried.I —Queen-street Widening-. After considerable discussion the engineer, wus instructed to prcpar» plans, specifications, and estimates for extending the culvert in Queenstreet opposite the Crown Dairy' Company's office as aulhoriSMsd in tho loan proposals, and to submit gaino.