BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 248, 13 October 1908, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present; His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch) and Councillors .1. W. Boon, F. C. Bellringer, .1. Wesl, C. T. .Mills, J. C. Morey, 11. li. Cattley, and G. \\. Browne. Apologies were, read irom Councillors Collis aa<l Coleman. ENCROACHMENTS. Jlr. S. Teed wrote objecting to 'lie Council's "encroachment fee'-' of £3 15s for the use for three years of the portion of Young-street adjoining his property, and tillering 15s per annum. Mr. P. (S. Law.sou objected to the fee of £2 per annum charged for his occupation of portion of Carrington-road .11 front of his residence, lie pointed out that the strip of road in his occupation was useless to the Council, for northward from his section the land fell sheer down to the lluatoki stream. Were the fence erected on the boundary there would be an unsightly recess, which was now well kept and planted with ornamental trees, etc. lie ii - stauccd the fee of 7s lid per annum paid for 20 lints encroachment iu Brown-street, and based 011 this an oIl'.T in pay 12s Oil per annum for his strip. The Jfayor remarked that the charges appeared to need revision, and the matter was referred to the Encroachments Committee for a report as to tile Council's position in regard to the matter. ALLEGED OVERWORKING.

Jlr. A. H. Kendall, borough engineer, wrote:—"l beg respectfully to report that it is absolutely impossible, without very serious loss to your Council, for me to spend time in connection with prosecutions in addition to my otlwr duties, except as au expert witness, as the large amount of time necessary to successfully prosecute and proceed with cases for breaches of by-laws makes it quite impossible to do justice to uy other work, and any forced neglect of this and consequent errors, omissions, or unnecessary expenditure as a result would all tend Ui cause very serious loss and bring discredit upon myself and others. There is at present more than sufficient work to occupy my lime in the work 1 have in hand and in connection with the abattoir and other

work in town, while the now cottage at Jlangorei should not be without frequent supervision, which latter will lit

in with other work to be done out there. The removal of the old railway line from the town will also give a very large volume of work requiring to b 1 carried out in the taking and revising of levels, preparations of plans and estimates, which cannot be arrived at by guesswork, but are only to be perfected after careful work and computation in and out of the office. The preparation of plans and estimates and specifications and taking of'levels means more time than I am afraid is generally supposed, and i s difficult to specify 01sliow, and while 1 am most willing and at all times anxious to do all in my power to carry out all instructions, I cannot refrain from pointing out that

it is a physical impossibility for any oue person to carry out all the varied and peculiar duties pertaining to my ollicc and at the same time successfully pilot many informations through the Court. Tile work which will be entailed

in connection with the proposed new scheme for increasing the water-pressure and supply of power at Jlangorei will take up a great deal of time, and will also require extra assistance." Cr. Collis wrote with reference to what he termed tile "double-barrelled resolution" dealing with Hie inspector's duties. If eases under the by-laws had to be taken to Court the town clerkwas quite competent to give the inspector his instructions, and. if required, coac-h liini as to what ris duties were. Of course, if tlie inspector were unable 1o receive and carry out such instructions. then the true remedv was obvious

lo anyone. It seemed to liini that the .Council was admitting a weak spot in the administration of that department and were trying to patch it up by putting back 011 to the shoulders of the engineer duties of which he had been relieved when (he present position of inspector was created. It seemed to liini the Council had a tendency to overload tflie willing horse, by quietly shunting the worst cases on to'him. lfe knew Jlr. Kendal] had quite enough to do in the work of his own office without. being called oil to share the work someone else was paid for. The ifayor considered that in any future prosecutions for breaches of Ihe drainage by-laws the borough solicitors should be retained, for the Council was proceeding only against people who eoula alford to connect with the sewers. As fur the breaches of the general by-J-am-.s, these should be left lo the »eneral inspector. If tie engineer hau to carry the inspector On his back, the sooner they got a fresh inspector the better. Cr. Hills thought the Council's resolutions had been framed so that either tlie engineer or tho inspector could undertake this work. Ci. J-ioon considered the inspector, wit'u the assistance of the town clerk or the borough solicitors, could undertake these prosecutions. Ci. Jicllringer said if was easy to see that neither Cr. Collis nor the engineer nor some of the other councillors were willing to entrust these things 1.0 me insipeotor. In his own opinion, too, it would be preposterous to send htm' lo Hie Court, for it would be to court defeat and to burlesque the whole thing.

t'v. Mills repeated that the inspector was given tlie same authority as tlie vngmeer in tliis matter, and was cquaily capable. Eventually Hie matter was referred to the Works Committee for consideration.

Mr. John Hodgson, late custodian at -the reservoir, applied for the position of "handy man" in supervising the Council's machinery at tUie abattoirs and elsewhere.—The engineer reported recommending such an appointment, as tlie successful working of tlie machinery would lose nothing by being in the hands of a capable mechanical engineer.—Referred to tlie Abattoirs Committee.

The. Works Committee was requested to consider the matter of adding to thft waterworks cottage, and Mr Hook-, or will be asked to make application for the work in the usual wav. \yORKS COMMITTEE, the orks Committee recommended that tlie petitioners for the extension of the water main. Devon road, Eitzroy, be informed that as the engineer reports that the cost of the extension would not be less than £94. the Council is satisfied that the revenue to be derived would not be sufficient- to warrant the work being done; that the Drainage Committee be requested to lay a newer in Rendarves street about Wo chains eastwards from Eliot street to remedy the nuisanme caused bv house drainage in those streets; tihat in view of the financial position of the

street vote, and of the fact that only a very small sum is available to carry on for the balance of the year, the Council must not expect any new work to be undertaken during the next half-year; that the borough engineer be authorised to round np and place screenings on the footpath in Devon street west; Ui;tt in cases when* tae Gas Company proceed with the laying of gas mains \*i'h<uit giving tlie notice to the Council, the borough engineer be instructed to take proceedings; that inin the event of Mr. Jones continuing to allow the neighbors' cattle to use his water trough at Vogeltown, the borough engineer be instructed to cut the supply off. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Mr. If. Black, electrical engineer, reported. inter alia:—Fitzroy: The primary line lias been erected to the abattoirs and one of the 50-k.w. transformers placed in the shed erected for it. Tile 111:1111 fuses and .motor for the' jailjattoirs have also liecn (ixed in this slied. The cables have been run from lliis died into tile engine-room, 'Me switchboard erected and Uic motors installed for the chillin;; room. These motors an' being run bv the contractors, Jlessr*. .7. H. MncKwan and Co., as Ihev rei|iiire (hein. The 2.>h.p. motor, made bv the. liritish Thomson - Houston Compa iiv, IJu- first of ihi'ir niuko to In* hisl.ii lied li'mv, appears 1<» Ik* a good madi'ne, and should jrivo vnery Kiitisraotioii. Tim 5-li.p. is a (ienernl Kl<m trio Company's Anieriran nmtmlnriurr. Uif ivp,' of Jiinlnr mnsllv TiM'd Itrt - '' Tlie wires for li-rhLini,' tlio c'iiiliiiin* room tmv<» also run. nii Hi-" main eal'le taken into tin- aluvtloir huildi'iiir for I lie motor fo>- the hoists. As siiiiii Hi I 1!- conl raelurs arc ready t-hi- motor \viti lv rouner'ed. Street li K lilrmr: The Tour Kin lie -re ] j> 1111;iillIonised have liven erected ill Pevoll and I'tiinnlif streets. Three enclose,l a res have been taken out.. One of these will be erectvd at the hit.orfeoi/tion of Devon and Clover streets when authorised. There are two enclosed a res now available. The street lamp s for Hie County Council have been erected along the licit, ronil and Soutli Toad. 'lltie inn Iter of vc-distrihul iiur live liflita was referred to the Works Committee.