BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 321, 12 January 1909, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

. The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: His Worship the .Mayor (Air. G. Tiseh) and Councillors J. Boon, F. Bellringer, J. West, W. A. Collis, C. T. Mills, .).' C. Morey, 11. .11. Cattley, ti. W. Browne, and Jl. Coleman. • TO\VX CLOCK VAGARIES. T!ie borough engineer reported that he had no doubt that if the attention of the Public Works Department were drawn to the matter they would take prompt steps to repair the dome of the clock tower, or do whatever was required to prevent water from obtaining -access to the interior, particularly at the north-west and north-east side's, as the amount of water which found entry must sooner or later rot the Hour of the room winch contained the movement of I the clock. The: wnU'r had apparently | never been stopped from finding access I since the erection of the Post Ollice. The principal detail requiring to he completed in the. belfry appeared to be the

supports of the bells, which comprised I <i load of one ton, and the supports were two Sin x -fin hardwood beams laid Hat. One of these .showed a deflection or sag of over two inches in its span. The iron bolts, hammers, and chains were also rusting badly, and should he scraped and painted. The engineer ■added that the condition of the movement appeared to be in every way as good as when he had seen 'it shortly after it was fixed, having with all other (details apparently had the best care •Mr. Cooke could bestow. . Cr. Collis said that there seemed to be some departmental trouble, the. present engineer being reported to have said that he saw no reason why he

should be called upon to clean up his predecessor's leavings. The report will be brought under the notice of the Public Works Department.

i GILUSTREET EXTENSION. The Prime Minister wrote acknowledging receipt of plans setting forth, us requested by him, the particulars 'with respect lo the railway laud required by the Xew Plymouth Borough Council in connection with the proposed extension of Gill-street. He would go carefully into the matter of the request of the Council to obtain certain lands free of charge.—Consideration deferred, pending receipt of the Prime Minister's further letter. BUILDING BY-LAWS.

Cr. West asked for information as to the enforcement of tlie building by-laws in respect of Mr. Newton King's 'building on Kawau pa reserve. Had lie been compelled to pull down the building erected contrary to the by-laws, as in Grupen's case, or what?

Cr. Bcliringer said that Mr. King had asked to be allowed to keep the building standing until his permanent store was erected.

Cr. Collis said that Mr. Grupen had •wanted something of the kind, too, but his structure had had to come down.

Cr. West said he would like to see all treated alike.

' The, Mayor thought the Council could trust the committee to have enough backbone to withstand the inlluence of ■Mr. King or Mr. Grupcn or anyone else.

NOTICE OF .MOTION. Cr. Browne gave notice to move at next meeting, "That the subsidy payable to the Charitable Aid and Hospital Board be raised by separate annual rate instead of being paid out of general revenue, as at present, and that the, Finance Committee take steps to strike the necessary rate for the forthcoming year." ABATTOIR REPORT.

The abattoir manager reported that during the month there had been slaughtered for human consumption 101 cows, 49 bullocks, 19 calves, 513 sheep, 373 lambs, and 155 pigs (including 18 'suckers). Increases wei'e 10 cattle, 5 'calves, 43 slrecp, 52 lambs, 11 pigs, and 21 tripes. Fees paid were £l2O Is 3d, a decrease of £lO 2s. GENERAL.

Mr. Francis Simpson, Commissioner of Crown Lands, acknowledged receipt of the Council's application to have Pukcti Pa, Kcscrvv Y, Town licit, New Plymouth, vested in the Council, and stated that the request, with his recommendation* on the matter, had been forwarded to the proper quarter. An, application of the New Plymouth Gas Company for permission to enlarge the coalshed in Molesworth-street was referred to the Works Committee. The South British Accident Insurance Company notified that under the Employers' Liability Act, 11108, the Conntil's premium would need to be in-creascd.-HPayincht authorised.