BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 186, 28 July 1908, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Iho Borough Council met last ni s lit. Resent: lhs Worship tha Mayor (Air. u. J.i3ch) and Councillors Bellrinjjor, Boon, Coleman, West, Oollis, Mills, aV Browne.

THE ABATTOIRS. Ur..trengloy, JJistiicfc Health Ollicrr, wrote in rolerence to the newspaper report of tho hist Abattoir Committee meeting asking if Messrs. Jfurtagh and btieet had. been informed that tlicy must obtaui the pormission of the Department to carry on the boiling-do™ industry. ° . It was moved that Dr. l'vengley be informed that the Council will see that time ' S comi)licd witJl at tUe P r °P<*

Cr. Mills opposed, on the ground thai -Here was too much work of tire Depart uent being placed on the Council. This vork was the work of the Department, lot of the Council. Or. Collin thought it as well to nuke every endeavor to work on friendly relations with the Department, to prevent overlapping. The motion was carried. DRAINAGE COMMITTEE. Ihe Drainage Committee report, as published, was read. Cr. Kollringer objected to the expenditure of £io in laying a sewer in Wet-mouth-street to suit Air. K. Heard's convenience, for his section could bo drained mto the lime-street sewer without anv expense to the Council. -The Council had always preached that it had no funds tor such work. Tho Mayor said lliat four other connections could be picked up. Cr.Collis said that for vears he hid endeavored to have the scwe r extended in Vivian-street to pick up live connections witli houses that wore built, not going to be built," as in the case under notice That work would cost £25, but he had been told repeatedly that there were no funds. If there was no .£23 for Vivian-street, there was no. £25 'or Weymouth-street. At any rate, his claims were in first. Cr Bellringer then complained that I tiic_toune.il had not proceeded with the I drainage of the low-lying area between (..il -street and Devon-street in the ast end. |

t'r. Browne: That work is authorised. | It s provided for. Gr. Mills: Then why isn't it done* Cr. Browne: We're waiting for a favorable opportunity. The Mayor said the reason that there was a little money to squabble over wis merely because the £4OO allocated for private drainage connections was not going to be expended, and the monev was now available for sewer extensions.

The clause was referred back, to be reported on in conjunction with the other applications before the Council and the various works authorised. The remainder of the report was adopted.

ELECTItIC LIGHT. Upon the reading of the Electric LWil Committee's report, " Or. Bellringer suggested that the Electric Light Committee might take into consideration the provision of some system of charging for lighting and hcatiii" on an avorage basis, for at present it meant that every consumer must have a separate installation for the radiators if he wished to secure the lower tariff charged for heating' purposes. There was a difference of 4d per unit (2d as against (id) between the two. Some new idea would have to be adopted if electricity was to successfully compete with the gas for heating purposes. The committee's report was adopted, and the chairman undertook to bring the suggestion before the committee. THE MUNICIPAL DANCING-ROOM.

Cr. Collis moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee's report. Cr. Mills objected to the committee's proposal to lease the old reading-room for dancing classes, on the grounds that there were other places available. The Mayor also opposed the remit, tn the grounds that.it would interfere with the ambulance classes which were now being conducted in that room as a resuit of Mrs. Dockrill's exertions. He thought the Council would be well advised to foster the lirst-aid classes. Cr. Collis said the committee had had no application from the ambulance people, who had obtained permission from the Mayor to use the room. He thought the Mayor should have left that to the committee which had control of tlie building. The committee was "after revenue."

Cr. Mills objected on principle to the borough chambers being turned into a dancing saloon, for the music and skipping and dancing would be a source of annoyance to other people holding meetings in the building. And, too, he objected to the Council entering into competition with the proprietors of dancing halls.

Cr. Collis maintained that to giw rooms free, as to the ambulance, was establishing a dangerous precedent.

The clause was referred back to 'lie committee, and the remainder adopted. ENGINEER'S REPORT. , The engineer's report was adopted, this including a recommendation, that Mr. S. Hooker, the present foreman, be appointed caretaker at the waterworks reservoir.

The Works Committee's report was adopted.

GENERAL. Upon the motion of Crs. Browne and Collis, the engineer was instructed to report to the Works Committee up-m tlie amount of plant, etc., not now in use. and likely to be saleable. The engineer was instructed to have the reservoir at the old waterworks emptied. The t'bristchureli City Council asked the co-operation of tlie Council in opposing the Auctioneers Bill, on the ground that its operations would deprive the Councils of some revenue.— No definite action was taken.

A letter from the Carrington Road Board, applying for the use of the Council's steam "road roller, was referred to the engineer, with power to act. The borough solicitors notified that the Council's offer of £25 in payment of compensation claimed by Hamerton and others in connection with the St. Anbyn street-widening had been declined—Referred to tlie Works Committee.