BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 189, 19 January 1915, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

' MOXTiILY MKETIXU The usual monthly meeting of the Xcw Plymouth Borough Council was i eld last night. Present: ilis Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. E. Wilson), Crs. Kibby, Jackson, iltaly, Johnstone, Collia, ' Amburv, Clarke, lbirges:;, Sykes, aiubMannix. KKPOB'rS. The borough engineer's, report, the elcctr.eal engineer's report, and the abattoir manager's report,' as already published. v.-"i\; received, In moving the adoption of tile Finance ('Diiuiutiee'rt report, the Mayor said lie was pleased to be able to state that the V.hoie el .tile chUlic light loan of C-20 ; llll0 had been sold by the Council's brokers The major povton of the loan had l.een received, am! the balance was to be paid our on J'cbiuary 1 . 'I lie Works Couiiviitce's report was ado, t,-,|

In aniMug tin. adop'iir.n of the Klectric I.iipit :', : iionit,ie.-- ii'port, Cr. Kibby eiMigrai.'i'ia'i'ti the Council on having authorial such ;>, handsome sub-sta-liou.

After reading a letter from Mr. Xatusch, the committee's report was adopted, .with the exception of the first paragraph.

TDK TUAMWAYS.

The Mayor moved the adoption of the Tramways Committee's report, with the exception of clause 5, which he proposed should b(. deleted. With regard to paragraph (i (raising the 10 per cent.), lie stated that it was not proposed to exercise the authority to raise the £5500 until seven or nine months hence, and that if it were found then that the amount did not sullice to discharge all liabilities, the resolution could be rescinded, and the ratepayers asked for a sum sufficient to complete the scheme. Cr. Clarke raised the point as to whether the acceptance of tenders exceeding the amount of the loan had not raised a bar to a further loan.

Cr. Kibby contended tliat the clause should be deleted. He pointed out that the new Council would probably attach great weight to the fact that the present Council had decided to raise the 10 per cent., and he contended that the better course would be to hold the matter over.

Cr. Jackson moved tin; deletion of the clause, so that the question .might be further considered by the Works Committee.

The' Mayor: It is not advisable to discuss the matter in open. Council. A long debate then ensued, practically in committee.

Eventually the Mayor moved the adoption of the report, subject to the deletion of paragraph 5, and the amendment of paragraph 0 to the effect that the 10 per cent, be raised as required. The motion was duly seconded.

Crsjackson moved that paragraph (i be deleted, and Cr. Kibby seconded the amendment, which was lost by S to 2, the motion being carried. It was then decided to accept Messrs. Shaw and Payne's tender for the earshed, on receipt of Mr. Sykcs' withdrawal of his tender. ' '

The Mayor reported that itcM:*! had been received to the effect that the rails for the tramway had been shipped, and were expected to arrive early west month. The borough engineer was authorised to- call for tenders for the formation of the road between the Ngamotu road and the railway. CARRIAGE AND HANDLING OF MEAT.

In moving the adoption of the Abattoir Committes's report, Cr. Kibby suggested that the report should be altered so as to provide that all meat (including that for export) should be carried in conveyances used for no otlier purpose. He considered that equal care should be taken over meat for export as that for tlie town supply. Cr. Collis urged that further inquiry should be made. Cr. Burgess said it was a pity there was not some system in vogue for handling meat. The Mayor stated that there were regulations already in force. Cr. Sykcs inquired if it would be possible for the Council to do the carting direct to the shops, the butchers paying the eost. The 'Mayor: It will ultimately come to that. O. Healy pointed out that there would be considerable difficulty in arranging for tlie time of delivery. Cr. Kibby considered that in the matter of meat for local consumption, there should be no question of cost, as it affected the public health, but with reference to meat for export, finance should bo considered.

Eventually the report wag adopted, it being a recommendation to the committee to bring down a further report on Urn subject. STORM-WATER. The Mayor reported that, in conjunction with Cr. Kibby, the question of the nuisance caused by storm-water at the High School had been investigated. They found that a very great deal of stormwater was thrown on to the High 1 School property; that the. present means for carrying it away were quite 'inadequate, and that the cost of effecting a remedy would be about £'2o 10s. Jt was decided that,-without recognising any liability, the Council will allow the High Schoo' Hoard .€l3 towards the cost of putting in an adequate drain to dispose of tile storm-water. THE INTAKE WORKS. The borough engineer reported, with reference to Or. Smith's request at the last meeting of the Council, that Councillors should visit the intake works [ owing to the damage caused by the flood; that Councillors had visited tho Bite, when C'r. Smith had stated that damage would be caused at a later date unless certain aTlditional wori" suggested to him by another person was carried out, and that another, engineer be asked to report on the work. The borough engineer emphatically protested against any experimenting work, or any permanent obstruction being placed in the river at or near the intake, as such obstruction would not only be useless, but would collect stones and timber against the screen, lie had visited the intake again on the following Tuesday, when the river was again in heavy flood, and found that-no scour had taken place. From two and a half years' experience of the river currents, he was confident that while the projecting point above the intake remained, there was not the slightest danger of scour at the intake. The whole success of the scheme depended on the uninterrupted flow of the river in llood-time. On the suggestion of Cr. Clarke, the matter was held over until Cr. Smith was present. TRAMWAYS ENGINEER. A letter was read from Mr. R. H. Hartley, inquiring whether tho position of tramways engineer, which had been oli'ered to him, was tennii: ' ie at the iini iU of the installation, c '. whether tty permanent appointment ,'ould dep -ii!! on the engineer giving ; itisfa.-ti)!). faction The Town Cleric read the reply s< ;it to Mr. Hartley, in which lie expressed the

opinion (without committing the Couri-l ,| oil) that it' tli • engineer gave satisfac* 'A tion, lie would have a very good chance' -j of receiving a permanent appointment, *'i The Mayor said that nothing could be' -| done until Mr. Bartlcv nirin>.<t>--l his 4 decision. " T

DISPOSAL OF A COTTAGE. The borough engineer reported on the cottage on the car-shed sire at Kit&>\ roy. ITc said it was in a good sound condition, and would stand jemoval to another site. • Lifter considerable discussion, in which it was urged that the colt.tsri would be an eyesore, it was decided to oft'er the cottage to the ■Xgamotu to- ' • *,■ Committec, a motion by Cr. T! - uifc the cottage be sold at auction i< iiu. defeated. A SUP OK LAND. The question of negotiating for the purchase of a piece of land adjoining the' ear-shed site was referred to the Mayor and ( r. Kibby. BOULDKtt ROYALTY. The' borough engineer reported that the Defence Department had decided to. charge the Council a royally of 3d. per yard for carting' sand, gravel, and boulders across the liewa llewa reserve, also for material- removed from . tho reserve. The terms were agreed to. COX.STITCTIOX OF COMMITTEES. ■ The name of Cr. Burgess was (substituted for that of the late Cr. Tabor on the Abattoir, Baths and -Band, and Western Park Committees.