BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 273, 11 November 1908, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The fortnightly meeting of the Borou'gh Council was held last evening' • Present: His Worship the Mayor, Ore. Boon, F. Bellringeiy Oollis, Morey. Cultley, f ßrown, Coleman ami C. X. -Mills. CORRESPONDENCE. Tile Taranaki. Garrison Band wrote stating their willingness to hold municipal concerts during November, December and January, dates and places tp be notified.—Letter received. Mr. Heslop Bamitt, wrote offering the Council the right of access to a deposit of road metal on the Waiwakaiho river. The grade was an easy one for an engine and he would be prepared to giro a 7 or 10 years' lease.—Referred to the Works Committee. The Taranaki Agricultural Society wrote requesting that the Council's employees be given a half-holiday on the ' people's day" of the forthcoming show. It was decided to grant the request. The Bank of New Zealand wrote in reply to a request of the Council ap-i plying for an overdraft secured by the hypothecation of the unsold debentures of the electric light loan, staling that the Bank would be prepared to work the electric light loan account to th.> extent ol £l.joo. Tile letter further suggested that it was understood the Council would lose no opportunity of placing the debentures, and that' the Bank would be free to dispose of them. -The terms of the letter were agreed to. ENCROACHMENT OX STREETS. Messrs. Uovett and Quilliam, borough solicitors, wrote respecting the matter of encroachments, stating that it was their opinion that the adverse use by an individual of part of a street was no bar. to tiie assertion by the public of their rights, and therefore the private owners referred to bv the Council djo

not by virtue of occupation obtain any rights in the portion of tlie streets enclosed. At the same time, it was | highly desirable that the terms upon which the portions of enclosed streets arc held by the different occupiers should be evidenced by means of some document in writing; and one of tho terms should be that peaceable posses-

siou should be given to the Council at any time upon reasonable notice. The alternative course would bo to proceed against the occupiers under section 281 of the Public Works Act, 1908. This section provides that when any person is in occupation of any land reserved, acquired or taken for any public work (which includes streets) without any right, title or license, or whose right, title or license lias expired or been forfeited or cancelled, the Minister for Lands or the Minister for Public Works, or any person appointed in writin'g by either or both of thenij may enter a plaint to recover possession thereof. This would be a much more expensive proceeding than taking possession under a lease or license from the Council. The Council should compel every occupier of a street encroachment to sign a necessary document and to pay at least a nominal rent and thus avoid future trouble—Referred to the Eneroachnvent Committee, with power to draft leases as suggested. RESERVES COMMITTEE.

The Reserves Committee recommended:—That the Public Trustee be infuriucd that the Council cannot see its way to alter tbc conditions of Mrs. Guest's lease in the direction of granting her compensation at the termination of her lease for buildings erected by her; that M. Mahev be granted permission to cut down and remove the trees growing iii the mifidlo of the ' stable paddock as pointed out by the chairman; that provided the monumental masons interested agree to pay the sum of CI is per annum each for tile use thereof, the borough engineer be authorised to erect a shed for their accommodation at the end of the path adjoining the paddock at present leased by Mr Stephens, and also to extend the water supply to tiro shed. (Cost of shed £22, extension of water pipe £5); that a water standpipe be erected half way between the fountain and the new' shed; i;i the event of the tradesmen executing work in any part of tile cemetery they be allowed to convey their material direct to the site of the work provided this can be done without injury to the paths and provided also that all surplus material and litter be removed within one week. Should, however, bad weather intervene (he sexton be empowered at his discretion to extend the Lime within reasonable limits. In all cases of concrete work mixing boards shall be used in order to .prevent damage to the paths or adjoining plots; that provided Mr. ISoultosi contributes one-half the cost the borough engineer be authorised to erect a fellee between Mr. bullion's property and the Kurt Niger reserve (cost .CI 1 ItisSd); that, tile question of metalling the road lending to the mortuary chapel be deferred for the nreseut.

The report was adopted, with the exception of the clauses referring to the Cemetery, which were deferred until the next meeting of the Council. WORKS COMMITTEE.

Till' Works < ll illlll i tt.L'i l recommended: That Mr Doboll lip informed that tiro Council cannot see their war to lay a larger water mail! ill licit Road; that the Borough Kngineer ho authorised to give a water sun-ice to Mr. J Buttiinoro's pvopeil y. Ilobson Street 1 estimated cost .110); that Mr Blauehett lie informed that the Council cannot see its way to lay a larger main in George Street, Vogeltown, but that ho will lie permitted to connect with the present main on the usual terms; that -Mr. Roberts' application for permission to erect a wooden building on the part of the sceptic tank site leased by him be referred to the liorougli Engineer to rcpoH upon; the committee report having settled lor tlie sum ol' tlic > claim o| the executors of Pavi-is estate for compensation for land dodicatetl for widening St. Aubyn Street; that the Borqugh Engineer report as to the cost- of installing an electric motor for the stone, crusher and the annual cost of running; that the Borough Engineer be instructed to call for tenders for carting shingle from the beach to tire crusher depot.—Received. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The electrical engineer reported;— Transmission line.—The remainder of tin' No. 0 bare copper wire has been erected and put into circuit. The insulated main has still to be erected. Abattoir Hoist Motor.—This motor has been connected, and will be rim under load to-morrow. Transformers One of the 50-k.w transformers has been connected at the sub-station, and 1 propose using some of the No. 0 wire to run from the station down Liardct Street to relieve some of the smaller transformers which are getting about fully loaded. Bullock Hoists.—Jn reply to yours of October 22, with copy of letter from Messrs. Luke and To., T am enclosing correspondence on the subject. I did not reply before, as I. wished t<* see the hoists that hare been supplier!, to be quite sure as to details. When 1 first received instructions in this matter I made inquiries for a Hoist direct connected to electric motor. Eor

this I received several illustrations and catalogues, but could find nothing that; would exactly suit our requirements, so had to fall back on a simple friction hoist with belt drive. As Messrs. Luke and Co. have supplied some of these lo Waitam whieh 1 thought- might | suit. If applied lo them for price and particulars. It' tliey had been making these in any great number they would 110 doubt have had nn illustrated catalogue. but being only a small line they sent me a pen-aiul-iuk sketch with general dimension*. I then made a drawing of the building l , and found that we could not get their form of hoist to do. and got, out a plan for two single hoists to be belt driven from countershaft, As I had gone to Messrs. Taike and Co. 1 though! that 1 would give them chance in quoting for the two single hoists so kepi, to their dimensions as far as possible, but left as much latitude as T could in detail*. As these are sueh simple appliances and are made by any engineer, T did not for one moment imagine thai Lukes would think

that we were in any way appropriating their ideas. For the two single hoists and countershaft Messrs, Luke and Co were too liiyh ( .CSil). 7 notice that they claim to be the only firm in New Zealand who have made these hoists Ti will no doubt be n surprise to th n m tii learn that the hoists which have just been erected at (he New Plymouth Abattoirs are Ihe same those in use at the Auckland Abattoirs, and thai tlicv are patented. .Messrs Luke and, Cn.'s hoists are dnnMo friction hoists with leather-faced f riot ion pinion, one eccentric and one globular bearing, while ours are single friction hoists with grooved friction wheel ;md pinion and eccentric shaft. patent). —Adopted. ABATTOIR VAXAOEn. The Abattoir maiuiger reports: The ch'Uer is working sueccfsfiilly. The new beef mils niv a great improvement ami are working well, it would be an improvement to the look of the 1 abattoir and also from a working point of vi'ow if new mutton rails were put in and raised to the same height as the beef rails so that, they could hi\ oomveeled with t lie main rail connecting with the chilling chamber.—Adopted. ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE, Tire Electric Light Committee recom* mended That the new powerhouse

cottage be with the London and Lancashire Insurance Co. for the sum of 4:150; that in accordance with the report of tile electrical engineer Messrs Lube and Co.'s claim for Co for nlans of bullock hoists be not entertained.— Adopted. GENERAL. Or. Mills, on behalf of the committee interested in making the swimming pond on tile Rec. for the schoolchildren, requested that the Council grant the use of a small amount of hard tyiubori to be used as piles on which to erect i bathing shed.—'The matter was inferred to the Works Committee, with power to act. Accounts amounting to £ll3O lis 2d were passed for payment.