BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 295, 8 May 1911, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

OFFICIAL REPORTS. The following reports will be presented at the meeting of the Borough Council to be held this evening:— ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. Kendall (borough engineer) reports: — Streets.—The metalling of St. Aubyn street has now reached as far as Queen street. I beg to submit plans mid specifications -of Morley street and Barrett street in accordance with your instructions of April 1, 1911. I beg to submit draft plan herewith showing suggested levels of Hobson street from Courtenay street to Lemon street. Boulders and Metal.—The supply of boulders at the abattoirs is getting very much reduced, and will only last a few weeks longer at most. Investigations are, however, being made, and I hope very shortly to be in a position to make recommendations for a further supply, and would suggest that in the meantime no harm could be done by inviting tenders for the supply of 1000 yards or more. Abattoir.—The painting at the abattoir is proceeding. Waterworks. —The caretaker at the waterworks reports that everything is working satisfactorily, and I have reported separately on damage that was being done to the dam. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Mr. Black, electrical engineer, reports:— Poles.—Alternative prices have been received for round poles as used in the past and for ordinary square tapered poles. The prices are somewhat higher than we have previously paid. Connections.—During the past month 19 new connections have been put on, making the total to date 695. Street Lighting.—A four-light Osram fitting has been put up in place of the arc lamp at the intersection of Devon and Brougham streets, and another at Devon and Eliot streets. If these meet with the approval of the council others might be procured and used to replace the other arc lamps. We have one fitting similar to that at Brougham street, and three the same as the one at Eliot street.

Tenders for Plant.—T regret that, owing to being short-handed, I have not been able to get these tenders-scheduled in time for this meeting.- There are twenty tenders in all, the majority being for the complete plant, and the remainder for sections only. No two tenders are made" up on quite the same lines, and most comprise a number of plternatives. These tenders comprise most of-thc leading makers, and a good selection is offered. '.Also the- makers and tenderers have gone to a good deal of trouble and expense to make tVir tenders as complete as possible. Where there are so many and they are so good, the selection of one is not an easy matter. WukpyS COMMITTEE.'

' The ; Works Committee reports:— That the question of the title to the old railway line. in-Leach street be referred to the borough solicitors to advise; that a copy of Mr. F. P. CorkilPs letter re smoke nuisance be forwarded to Mr. E. May with a copy of the bylaw referring to the prevention of snioke nuisances; that the sergeant of police be informed that it is not the intention of the council to take any action in connection with a breach of the - bylaws by a person delivering an address in Brougham street on -the 25th- ult, no obstruction having been caused and the meeting having been a'very orderly one: that the borough l engineer be authorised to procure five extra fire plugs to be placed where most necessary in the business portion of- the : borough; , that Councillor Browne -be 'appqinted- DeputyMayor for the ensuing; year; .that Inspector Tippins be placed in the town clerk's department; i; thalj ; ,the, outdoorwork of the sexton, at, ;tijic, cemetery be under the supervision'- of ■■ the thorough engineer; that the' - Majigorei Road Board be requested, to abate the] nuisance caused by . {Storm-water running into the reservoir r'cser.ve" on the Mangorei road; that 'consideration of the application of tyic caretaker of tke waterworks for the electric light to be installed in his cottage be deferred; that., the tender of Messrs. T. and R. Parkin for the supply of 3000 cubic yards of crushed metal at the prices set out in' their schedule of prices: he accepted; that the electric light: b6- installed at the borough stables: and ;tlie' ' building insured; that the borough!'engineer be instructed to put. the'' Clemow road ingood repair; that'the'plans' of the levels of Hobson street Between Courtenay street and Lemon' street' as' submitted by the borough.'enginewr be> approved; that the borough engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for earthwork in Hobson street and'submit' the same to .the .Executive Committee for approval and that the Executive Committee be authorised to,-call for tenders for the work; .that, the borough engineer, be authorised .to procure the necessary pipes to-drain.the water from the rubbish depot.' ■ ■ ELECTRIC LIGHT' COMMITTEE.

The committee ■' recommends:— That the electrical engineer l)e instructed to replace the arc, lamps' with four-light Osrams and to dispose of present arc lamps to the best advantage; that in accordance with tW recommendation of the • town clerk Mr. ffolden be appointed accountant in the electric light department at a salary of. £ 126 per- annum; that applications be called for the position of meter-reader at a salary of £lO4 per annum. ESTIMATES COMMITTEE. The Estimates Committee recommends:— That the council, in anticipation of revenue, do borrow from its banker, the Bank of New Zealand, from time to time, as required, by way of overdraft on the District ' Fund Account, the sum of £IO,OOO, or any sum not exceeding that amount, at interest not exceeding 6 per cent, per annum, such interest to be computed as from the respective days of the moneys being advanced by the Bank, and to be considered as accruing from day to day, and to be payable on demand, but unless and.until demanded to be payable on the last days of March and September in each year, and to be turned into principal on the balancing of the books on those days, and thenceforth, to become principal and bear interest accordingly at the rates before mentioned; that the moneys so to be borrowed by way of overdraft shall be drawn out of the said bank by cheque* signed by the treasurer and countersigned by any two councillors from time to time appointed by the council for that purpose, and every cheque so drawn and so countersigned shall.be a- sufficient authority to the bank to advance the amount named by way of overdraft to the council, and to charge the account of the council with that amount; that the town clerk be authorised to undertake that the overdraft required is within and shall be kept within Ike limit prescribed by section flfl of "The Municipal Corporations Act. 1903": that the Mayor and each of the councillors be empowered to countersign cheques on the district fund account; that the annual allowance to his Worship the Mayor be £100; that the salary of the accountant, electric light department, be £126 per annum, and that of the meter-

' reader £lO4 per annum; that in future j all applications for increase in salaries i must be received by the town clerk ! through heads of departments in time ■ for the February council meeting in each BOROUGH FINANCES. ESTIMATES FOR COMING YEAR. The following are the draft estimates prepared by the Estimates Committee of the Borough Council for submission to the council this evening:RECEIPTS. £. s. d. Government subsidy 344 0 0 Licenses — Under Licensing Act 365 0 0 Borough By-laws and Auctioneers Act 410 0 0 Rent of Reserves 755 0 0 ReimbursementsStreets 80 0 0 Waterworks 75 0 0 Drainage fees 75 0 0 Drainage agreements 33 0 0 General— Fire Board 105 0 0 Dogs 85 0 0 Rent Town Hall 15 0 0 Baths .v 90 0 U Sundries 125 0 0 Electric light 5,500 0 0 Special rate 4,400 0 0 Water rate, domestic supplies 310 0 0 Extra water supplies 1,850 0 0 Ten per cent, penalty on rates 30 0 0 General rate .. .• 3,175 ■ 0 0

£18,322 0 0 ' ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE. £. s. d. Salaries 460 0 0 Mayor 100 0 0 Advertising, printing, etc. .. 190 0 0 Audit ■ 24 0 0 Sundries 20 0 0 StreetsLabor and meta.l 2,200 0 0 Gill street extension .... 300 0 0 Horses "200 0 0 • Concrete kerb and channel 300 0 0 Asphalting and tarring ... 150 0 0 Forage ~ , 200 0 0 Plant, materials, and repairs 200 0 0 Rent, borough yards .... 37 0 0 Fitzroy Town Board re Devon road 10 0 0 Lighting streets 680 0 0 Borough Engineer's office— Borough engineer £3OO Foreman 187 Engineer's assistant 30 £517 Less to- be eharged loan 150 £307 Stationery, etc. ... 30

ReservesUpkeep ; 125 o -0 Town Hall ■■&s 0 0 SubsidiesHospital Board 305 0 0 Fire-Board .■. '2lO-0 p Recreation Grounds Bd. 150 0 0 Library 150 0 0 Western Park Board .... 50 0 0 Band (two years) 24 0 0 General— . - ■ Sundries 100 0 0 Bank interest and charges 200 0 0 General inspector (including bonus £7 10s) 147 0' 0 Interest on loans and • sinking funds £5718, less £1374 included in electric light 4,344 0 o' Electric, light (including £ 1374 interest and less £328 due to District • Fund 5;172 0 0 P.O. clock, -lighting and winding 30 o 0 Electoral " roll, printing and advertising 50 0 0 Licensing. 25 0 0 Rubbish Depot , ■SO r 0 0 Drainage 100 0 0 Election and polls 60, 0 0 Expenses re baths .• 170 0 0 Dog collars, etc '..:.. 10 0 0 Waterworks r 980 0 0

£18,065 0 0 Balance for year 1911--1!)12 only ...' 2at 0 0 £18,322 0 0