INGLEWOOD NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 359, 9 April 1910, Page 2

INGLEWOOD NOTES.

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING. (From Our Resident Correspondent.) The ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held on Wednesday evening. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: From J. H. Turner, offering to supply Council with 50-candle-power electric bulbs.—Declined. From the ratepayers of Maire street, petitioning for the re-formation of the footpath. — It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Works Committee, with power to act. From the secretary, Presbyterian Church, re water supply for new manse, and stating that several residents in the vicinity were desirous of having the water laid on.—Held over to intermediate meeting, Waterworks Committee to investigate and report. From the Fire Brigade, applying for the usual subsidy.—Held over; to be considered when the estimates for ensuing year are framed. From L. Bunyan, re sales at pound. —Decided that the Council had no authority to alter the existing arrangements. From the Municipal Conference, asking for a delegate.—The clerk was instructed to approach Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., and request him to represent the Council.

From J. W. Winfield, enquiring terms on which the asphalting of footpaths was undertaken and asking that portion in front of his shop be asphalted as soon as possible.—The clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Winfield that the Council would pay half the cost; work to be commenced immediately.

From Building Inspector, stating that the had not been furnished with plans and specification of Mr. H. B. Curtis' new buildings.—Mr. Curtis replied in person that he had not been asked for the plans, but that he would see the matter was attended to.

From borough solicitor, enclosing copy of judgment of case with R. Bond, builder.—Resolved to bring matter up at the intermediate meeting, when further information would be available.

Messrs W . H. Taylor and F. Spurdle waited on the Council as representatives of the Druids' Lodge, and enquired the scale of charges for supply of meter and use of electric light for Druids' Hull.— It was pointed out that the rates were not under the Council's jurisdiction, and the deputation was referred to the Electric Light Co. A petition was received from ratepayers respecting Mr. C. Coad.—lt was decided to discuss the matter in committee.

It was resolved that Mr. Orbell, of Orbell and Mackay, borough surveyors, be instructed to lodge specifications at the Council's office for necessary repairs to the municipal baths, so that there might be no delay in their being effected.

The action of the Mayor in sending the turncock to assist in the repairing of the electric light wires during the recent gale was confirmed. The clerk was authorised to sue for unpaid rates and rents.

It was decided to hold a special meeting on Wednesday next to consider the roll of ratepayers.

It was resolved that the usual honorarium be granted to the Mayor. Mr. J. Gibbs called attention to the fact that the estimates for the year had been considerably exceeded. As a matter of fact the figures were £428 5s 5d. He considered that such an increase was excessive.

Mr. Surrey, in reply, as chairman of the Works Committee, explained that the expenditure had been greatly increased in several items, the principal of which was streets, £22 10s 9d. He said that all the work done had been highly necessary, and mostly of a permanent nature, and that a large portion of it could not be anticipated in the estimates.

Mr. Young stated that the estimates had certainly been exceeded, but that the work done was of such a kind as was not likely to occur again. The past year, he said, was one of the heaviest that was likely to arise, and that he considered that the amount spent was not large in comparison with the work done. Cr. Tarplee pointed out that the baths being placed in their present site had caused additional expenditure. also that all the work done had been consented to by the Council.

Cr. Bennett failed to see the point of the complaints, as reports of the work done and amounts spent had been brought before and sanctioned by the Council month by month.

His Worship the Mayor said that he himself had been a member of various works committees for years and that he should known where work was needed. The Works Committee had drawn his attention to the expenditure, and he had told them that all the works were necessary and such as would eventually effect a saving. When the statement was looked into it showed excess on— Streets £200, baths £80, and pipes £40, a total of £320. So that the committee were really only £80 over the estimates. For the baths the extra expense had been incurred to make them presentable, and they had so far paid better than was anticipated. He concluded as a business man that the Council had not spent a penny too much. Cr. Fawcett said he would like to see something done to the fence round the square. The present fence was in a disgraceful state, and should be repaired or a new fence erected. It would be better to leave the square open to the public than to allow such an eye-sore to remain in the centre of the town. Cr. Young replied that the Works Committee had the matter in hand, and that, with the Council's permission, the work would be done. Cr. Fawcett complained that the channelling in front of the Post Office was silting up and proposed that the men be instructed to clean it out.

Cr. Young explained that, the channel had been badly laid in the first instance. His Worship the Mayor proposed that a vote of thanks be recorded to the town clerk for the neat and concise manner in which he had tabulated his reports. Cr. Tarplee gave notice of motion as

follows:—"That the minute treating with Mr. Leech's water-charges be rescinded." He recommended that the Waterworks Committee should visit the premises and ascertain if Mr. Leech were using more water than he should. —Cr. Fawcett considered that Mr. Leech paid plenty for his water supply —Cr. Tarplee suggested that the Waterworks Committee be instructed to report. The Council then went into committee. On resuming it was announced that Mr. F. Bennett had been appointed working foreman in the place of Mr. C. Coad. All other employees were reinstated in their former positions.