BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 275, 11 April 1911, Page 8

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Xmv Plymouth Borough Council was held in the Borough Council chambers last night. There were present: The Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch), in the chair, and Crs. W. Browne, J. T. Mannix, IT. .T. Gilbert, J. Clarke, A. E. Watkins, J. West, .1. Buttimore, G. W. Hartnell, and F. E. Wilson. AVENUE ROAD RESERVES. Messrs. Govett and Quilliam, Borough solocitors, advised in connection with the leasing of Avenue road reserves, as to .whether the Council would be justified in proceeding with the leasing of the reserve without laying out the streets afresh, that, after conferring with the Deputy District Land Registrar, they were still of opinion that the Council, would be acting illegally by treating tho land, formerly parts of Shortland, Bell, Wakefield and Hendrie streets, as being still streets. As before advised, the only course open to the Council was to make the so-called streets one chain wide, and dedicate them. Tt wa?. decided, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Wilson, to have the necessary surveys made of the Avenue road reserve, and lay out the streets afresh, in accordance with the advice of the borough solicitors. FIRE PLUGS. The borough engineer recommended that half the fire-plugs applied for by the Fire Board for the central portion of the town should be obtained, as they would be very valuable and desirable in case of an outbreak of fire in the centre of the business portion.—Referred to next year's Estimates Committee to deal with. ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES. The electrical engineer asked for the following supplies: A hundred 30ft. poles, three miles of Xo. 12 insulated wire, 1500 , insulators, and 200 meters, at a cost of about £BOO. He reported that several poles required replacing. So fur not a pole had come down during a gale, but there were some which would not stand the strain of the coming winter, and required replacing. The supplies required are to be obtained. FIRE ESCAPES. j The secretary of the Xew Plvmoutli Fire Board drew attention to the suggestions made by the superintendent of the Board that, in his opinion, it was absolutely necessary that a regular and thorough inspection should be made of all fire escapes attached to buildings under the control of the Council. Further, he considered all the sashes of these buildings should be ('"nble-hnng.

Cr. Gilbert suggestthat the Fire Board's i'wntor should be asked to visit everv boardin™-house and public place, and give a definite report o f what was actuallv required. They had had considerable trouble with fire escapes in the past.

In the course of discussion, it was elicited that, according to the Municipal] Corporations Act of 1910, it was the duty] of the Council to have every building inspected bv its building inspector, who was now Mr. Tippins. The duties of the Fire Board did not extend to boardinghbuscs and private houses, but only to buildings in which public entertainments were held. Cr. Wilson remarked that the Fire Board had only drawn attention to the need of inspection of fire escapes. The recent .Stratford fire had shown that this was absolutely necessary. If there was a loss of life in Xew Plymouth through lack of a fire escape, he would not like to be on tlie Council. The Council should certainly have an annual inspection. The Mayor stated that six or seven years ago an inspector was appointed to make a house-to-house examination, and brought down several recommendations. Cr. West suggested that their own inspector and the Flic Board's inspector should be asked to make a joint report. Cr. Clarke would not object to this if it was made clear who was to pay the Fire Board.

It was resolved, on tne motion of the Mayor, seconded By Cr. Watkins, that Inspector Tippins be instructed to give effect to the duties of Inspector of Buildings under section 20 of the Muni-i cipal Corporations Act, 1008. GEXERAL. Mr. John Halo complained of the damage done to his dam bv the over (low from the cleaning of the filters at the reservoir being turned through his property. He asked the Council to meet him with part cost of repairs, and suggested that the borough engineer should be sent out to confer with him, when he would see that the position was not exaggerated. —The engineer was instructed to confer as suggested. Messrs. M. Jones. J. F. Hooker, S. W. Shaw, and tha Westport Coal Company, ratepayers in King street, asked that King street should be kerbed and channelled between Egmont street and Queen street.—Referred to the incoming Council. Mr. L. B. Webster wrote, agreeing to allow the batter in the proposed grading of Morley street to encroach on his lan<f, provided the Council would re-erect the fence. The question of tenders for sewer pipes was deferred to enable further enquiries to be made.