BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 8, 10 June 1913, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Borough- Council was held last evening. • Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G.-W: Browne), Councillors A: H. Johnstone, W. Ambury, J. Kibby, F. Jackson, YV. Healy, G. Tabor, J. T. .Mannix, A. Clark, W. A. Collis and J. filarke. An apology -for absence was received from Cr. N. T.. Maunder. .

THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE. The Director of the New Plymouth Technical College (Mr, A. Gray) waited on the Council with reference to their rcceilt action in withdrawing the usual vote of £25 to the College. Mr. Gray explained that the Board had, when extending its operations, made allowance for this grant, the refusal of which meant a decrease in the Board's income of £SO, making allowance for a Government subsidy. The speaker instanced the fact that other local bodies contributed to the funds' of their technical colleges, towns of the size of New Plymouth voting as much as £SO. This amount he asked the Council to donate, the £25 extra being urgently required to purchase a metal-turning latlie for the mechanical engineering class. In reply to a question as to why the vote had been withdrawn, the Mayor sa,id that the Council had been interested in the plumbing classes, the attendance at which had been falling off. Cr. Clark queried whether the day would come when technical colleges would be self-supporting, and asked, further, whether it was not also the place of other local bodies, and particularly county councils, to contribute to technical school funds. In reply, Mr. Gray remarked that he believed the day of self-supporting technical colleges would come, but, in the meantime, it was a common thing to expect grants from local bodies. He was making it his to approach other local bodies in this district for contributions.

The deputation then withdrew. In the discussion that followed, Cr. W. Ambury thought that Mr. Gray's representations must influence the Council in considering their decision. He referred, especially, to the excellent work done by Mr. Gray, and to the fact that the attendance had 1 been doubled. He moved that a subsidy of £25 should be granted. Cr. Johnstone, who was the mover of the original motion, said the argument that impressed him was the fact that the Technical College Board had entered into certain liabilities, on the expectation of receiving this £25 grant. He considered that the Board should make an annual application for the grant., Cr. J. Clark remarked that the Board should not have entered into any liabilities in such a manner. He would oppose the grant when it was considered next year. The motion was carried. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Harbormaster (Mr. W. Waller) called the attention of the Council to the great benefit that two additional lights would confer on citizens using the Breakwater road, namely, at the postal box, Pioneer road, and about. 200 yards on the town side of the Breakwater Hotel.—Referred to the Lighting Committee.

Some twenty-five ratepayers and residents living in Gilbert street and near Pukekura Park, called the attention of the Council to the state of a drain at the corner of Liardet and Gilbert streets, the pipes appearing to be too small to carry off storm water. The footpath on the north side of Gilbert street, adjoining Liardet street, had been washed away, and required attention. The borough engineer (Mr. C. Siritrop) reported, in connection with this matter, that the pipes were too small and the grade too easy to carry the storm water that came down Gover street and into Gilbert street. This stream, when it reached Liardet street, was sometimes four feet wide, and would fill an 18-incli pipe. A pipe this size could not be put in, as there would not be sufficient cover, unless it was lowered and carried out to the gully, a distance of approximately three chains, at a cost of £OO. When the Gover street kerbing and channelling was done, the ■water from this street would be carried into Leach street stream, and then the pipes in Liardet street would be large enough. The engineer's letter will be forwarded to the petitioners. Mr. F. P. Corkill complained of a barbwire fence in Ptndarves street, which projected on to the street, and asked that the owner should be instructed to shift it to the correct boundary.—lt was decided to accede to the request, it being explained that the owners were waiting for surveyors to put in the boundary pegs. . 1 The Borough Inspector (Mr. U. Tippins ) reported that a resident in Devon street had refused to pull his house down, as he was trying to sell it.—Decided to order the removal of the building

CONCRETE WORK. The Borough Engineer (Mr. C. Skitrop) wrote as follows:—"In order to keep mv concrete party profitably employed, I respectfully request that the following kerbing and channeling be done:—Standisli Hill, western side r from Hospital gates to Wallace Place, £42; Frankleigh road western side from Standish Hill to tannery, £4O; Victoria road, western side, from Selwyn street 18 chains southward £4B; Barrett street, southern side, from Standish street three chains westward, £7; making a total of £l-37. « The last two mentioned items will he

put in hand but the remainder were referred to the Works' Committee.

PUBLIC CONVENIENCES. Councillor Healy raised the question of public conveniences, and said that nothing was more urgently required in this town. He moved that the engineer be instructed to put the work in hand. Councillor Kibby seconded the motion. The point was raised, that the resolution authorising the work having been passed bv the old Council, had now lapsed, but several Councillors contended that it was work authorised, and must be gone on with unless the resolution of the previous Council was rescinded. Councillor Collis gave notice to rescind the previous motion, but Councillor Jackson considered that the Council should first deal 'with Councillor lTealy's motion, urging that the Council was justified in going on with this work.

The Mayor considered that the convenience should be placed ill the middle of Brougham street, instead of close to the footpath, as formerly arranged. The motion was lost, and notice of motion to rescind' the previous resolution will he given.