BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 260, 13 April 1915, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. T!ib ii.iiml monthly meeting of the Borough Council was, held test evening* when there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. E. Wilson), and Councillor.) '.I. Kibby, F. H. Jackson, W, .'lcaly, S. J. Smith, W. A. Collis, W. Ambury", C. H. Burgess, A. E. Sykes, and J< Clarke.

TOWN CLERK'S REPORT. The Mayor said the town clerk's annual rejiort was a very exhaustive one. On his motion, the report was received and the town clerk thanked for his work. OTHER REPORTS. The engineer's report, the abattoir manager's report, and the works, electric light, and .library .committees' reports (as published) were received. ■ When the eombhYcd reserves and library committee's report was brought up the Mayor suggested that the matter be referred to the council in committee. Cr. Collis, chairman of the committee, agreed, and moved that the report be. -e----ceived and referred to the council in committee and that Mr. Messenger be asked to prepare a sketch plan and cb« timato of the cost.—Cr. Healy seconded, and this was carried. RESERVES COMMITTEE, The reserves committee reported that, subject to the consent of the Pukekura Tnrk Board being obtained, permission be given to the Taranaki Jockey Club to form a carriage drive over a portion of the reserve owned by the council'and leased to the Pukekura Park Board, such permission, however, to be at the will of the council; that in view of the fact that the West End Foreshore Committee are oxpending the sum of £4O on the improvement of the entrance to Tisch Avenue, the council contribute £5 towards the cost; that Mr. K. fleorgo be informed that the council cannot see its way to reduce the rent of the Rotokarc Reserve.

Cr. Collis, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the road referred to at the racecourse was not the Jockey Club's freehold property, but- on the borough reserve which was.leased by the Pukekura Park Board. The board thought that it would prove an improvement. The report was adopted.

CAB AND OTHER STANDS. Cr. Collis, on behalf of the committee set up to find a suitable stand for cabs, etc., moved the adoption of the following sites:— Cabs: Brougham Street and King Street; taxi-cabs: Upper Brougham Street; expresses: Currie Street and Currie Lane.

Cr. Healy seconded. Cr. Clarke objected to the taxis standing in Brougham Street, as it would be dangerous.

Eventually that portion of the report referring to the cabs v,-as carried; that regarding expresses wa* held over until the engineer should report on the co3t of putting Currie Lane in good order; and that referring to the taxi-cabs was referred back to the committee to report to the next meeting of the council. BOROUGH INSPECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT. The borough inspector (Mr. B. Tippins) reported that during the past year the revenue derived from the various reserves represented a substantial increase compared with the previous year. The appointment of an assistant had enabled" him to carry out his duties much more satisfactorily. Back premises, particularly in the newer area, were, in much better condition than. for some time past. Eighty-eight eases were taken before the Court for breaches of the borough bye-laws. Three wore dismissed, and there were 85 convictions. The fees received were:—Dangerous goods £33, dogs £142 13s fid, drivers £4O, vehicles £122, Court fines £35 12s 6d, pound fees £47 8s fid, motor-ears and bicycles £52 ss, auctioneers £1(!2, lodging houses £ll, billiards £2O, public performances £2l, hawkers £7 10s, second hand dealers £2, total. £707 19s Od.

LOAN WORK TO BE DISCONTINUED. The borough engineer wrote that as the tramways contractor would probably commence laying the tram track in the course of a few days he requested permission to discontinue all loan work (except the completion of the work in hand) until the tram route was complete. He considered this course absolutely necessary in . order to keep the streets open for traffic. The moneycould be expended to bettor advantage subsequently. The mayor agreed with what the engineer had written. Should the loan proposal be carried, the work to be carried out under that would be sufficient to keep them busy.

7t was decided to give the engineer permission to do as requested. FITZROY HALL. The borough engineer called attention to a newspaper letter drawing a comparison between the building of the new tram-car shed and the removal of the Fitzroy Hall. The comparison was unfair and useless. The Fitzroy Hall was worth £SO more on the present than oa the old site.