BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 156, 23 June 1908, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The New Plymouth Borough Council held its usual fortnightly meeting last night. Present: Mr. 0. Tisch (.Mayor) and Councillors Boon, 1?. Bellringer, (.:. Coleman, J. West, C. I. Mills, 11. K. Caltley, G. W. Browne, Collis, and J. C. Movev. MUNICIPAL CONFEKENCE. . The secretary of the Municipal Association intimated that the. annual conference would be held in July. Ho forwarded a list of remits already on the 1 order-paper, and asked the Council to forward any matters which it might I have to submit. ACCIDENT TO AN EMPLOYEE. Mr. 11. Bruce -wrote asking for a further extension of lcuvo to his son, who

had been injured some weeks ago in the Council's employ. The position was reviewed, it being pointed out that though two local doctors pronounced him fit for work, an Auckland doctor recommended him another n.onth's rest.

Councillors Bellringer and Collis questioned the Council's position in the matter. What was its liabilityV The, Council might by a resolution implicate itself.

The Town Clerk, in answer to a question, said that Mr. Webster, agent of the accicjont insurance eompany,i had stated the company wottltl reimburse the Council wlmtevev it was compelled to pay. Councillor Mills said the insurance lonipani had to lake the. burden from Ihe Council's- shoulders. Thai was what the Council insured for. The Council's notion in granting or extending leave would not matter a hit. I The extension ivas granted as applied for.

ABATTOIRS AND ELECTRICITY. The Electrical Engineer, Mr. H. Black, reported that he had erected the pole line for the supply of electric power to the abattoirs, and hoped shortly to run lite high-tension cables. But the department could not supply current until the Telegraph Department moved its wires. The transformer and motor had been ordered. Until these works were completed and the telephone Hues were moved the committeu could not supply current to the abattoirs. The report was referred to the Abattoirs Committee.

WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee's report, us already published, was read. Tile -Mayor intimated that the Eitzroy Town Hoard would probably confer with the Works Committee concerning the proposal to charge the Hoard JC3O a year for water for ine-prcvention purposes; also, that lie would like to defer consideration of tlie clause relating to the extension of the metalling of (jillstreet until after the borough treasurer's ijuarteriy statement. These clauses were withdrawn for the present, and tlie remainder of .the report adopted, the deferring of the (jillstreet clause lioing carried on the casting vole of the Mayor. TUK THEATRE. The Council discussed the sanitary condition of Uie Theatre Royal. Councillor Mills considered some of the Fire Hoard's recommendations (endorsed by the Borough Engineer) were unnecessary and likely to prove a hardship. It was stated that, in the inaiu, the theatre company agreed with the recommendations. COTT.U.K AT THE POWERHOUSE. I The Electric Light Committee, in addition to Uie clauses published yesterj day, recommended that the Borough Engineer and Electrical Engineer confer with reference to the erection of the ' cottage at the powerhouse—Adopted. THE LIBRARY. Councillor Ucllriugcr asked the Council to give its opinion concerning a proi, p0.,al to reduce the library subscription ■ from ten shillings to five shillings a year lor working men, with, a view of popu- ■ larising the institution, lie moved that . it be a suggestion to the committee to . take into consideration the mutter of n reducing the subscription accordingly.— ~ This was agreed to. AN EXPLANATION.

Councillor Bellringer asked permission to remark that at the end of the financial year the Works Committee had 800 yards of boulders on hand, and these had since been crushed and placed on the streets. J3y a newspaper controversyit had been made to appear that the contrary was the case. The metalling of Egniont-strcet had absorbed a good deal of that supplv. The Mayor stated that when he took oilicc on (ith May there was no stone at the crusher or in the bius. In answer to the Mayor, the Engineer said that in the two weeks prior to' May 71'U yards of stone were nsed up on four jobs. There were no boulders on hand when the .Mayor took oilicc. Councillor .Mills argued that it was good policy to keep a stock of stone on hand for use in tlie winter. It was not fair to the streets to have this Ilea., traliic in the wet weather. The matter dropped, CARNEGIE LIBRARY OPENING.

Upon their application, it was decided lo allow the local branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union the use of the present reading-room U3 a, refreshment-room at the Carnegie Library opening ceremony, and to make 2 st~-)l charge if they thought fit