BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 285, 11 May 1915, Page 8

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tin! annual monthly meeting <'f the New Plymouth Borough Council was held last night. I'reswit: llis Worship (la: M.ivor (Mr. .1. 10. Wilson), Crs. Moaloath, Medley, Haydcn, .Smith. Colli*, Short, Hill, Burgess, Kykcs, Mannix, and Wntkins. Tlie following reports (already published) wore adopted:—Borough engineer and electric light engineer. Tu connection with the abattoir managers report, the Mayor said he considered the proposed drain from tin' boiling down works should not be al'owed to drain into the river. He further thought the council should have additional information from Messrs Hole as to their proposals for improvements at their works, ft was a .question whether these works should not be removed t.o another site. After some discussion Cr. Mannix asked that Dr. Home's report should be read, and the request was complied with. The report recommended (inter alia) that a proper open concrete drain should be provided, and that no poultry should be allowed in or around the works.

The report was received, and the question of the boiling down works was referred to the Abattoir Committee. The Finance Committee's report was adopted, except as to two accounts which were referred back. The Works and Electric Light Committees' reports were adopted. ESTIMATES COMMITTEE'S REPOKT. The committee reported recommending:— (1) That the necessary steps be taken to strike a general rate of one shilling and four pence in the ,C on the annual value of all rateable property within the borough. (2) That the annually recurring special rates levied on all rateable property within the boundaries of the borough prior to the alteration of such boundaries on tiie Ist December, 1011, the amounts in the ;C on the annual value hereinafter mentioned be collected for the year ending March 31st, 1910:—£00,000 loan raised under "The Municipal Corporations Act, 1000", elevenpence halfpenny in the £; £I9OO loan for extension of drainage raised under "The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1001", one-sUth of a penny in the £: £SOOO loan for extension of (Jill Street raised under "The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1008", ono penny in the £; £301)0 loan for Powdevham Street culvert raised under "The Local Bodies Loans Act, 100S", one halfpenny in the £; £11,22.) loan for streets improvement and sewer extension raised under "The Local Bodies Loans Act, 100S" and "The State Guaranteed Advances Act, 1000", one penny and five-sixths of a penny in the £. Total, Is 3d ill the £. (3) That of the annually recurring special rates struck over special rating areas prior to the merging; of the same into the Borough of New Plymouth the amounts in the £ on the annual value herinaftcr mentioned be collected for the year ending March 31st, 1010:—Bridge rate Id; St. Aubyn lid; Barrett Road Is 3d; Carrington Road 5 13-ltid; Brook lands Road 1 l-3d; Frankley Road M; Veale Road 4d. Frankleigh Park (Ikl; Elliott Road 4 2-iid; Moa. Road 1 7-0 d". Mongarci Road 4d. (4) That of the annually recurring special rate of 7id in the £ oil the rateable value (on the basis of tlie annual value) of all rateable property within the Borough of New Plymouth made for providing the interest and sinking fund on the special loan of £42,000 (waterworks and streets) the amount of sixpence in the £ on the rateable value above described be collected for the year ending March 31st, 1916. (5) That tie.' Council in anticipation of revenue do borrow from its bankers, the Bank of New Zealand, from time to time as required by way of overdraft on the district fund account the sum of ten thousand pounds ( £10,000) or any sum not exceeding that amount, at interest not exceeding six pounds per centum per annum, such interest to be computed as from the respective days of the moneys being advanced by the bank and to tie considered as accruing from day to day and to be payable on demand, but unless and until demanded to be payable on the. 31st day of March and tlie 30th day of 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 rate before mentioned. (0) That the moneys so to b?> borrowed by way of overdraft shall be drawn out of the said bank uy cheques signed by the treasurer and countersigned by any two of the 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. (7) That the Town Cleric be authorised to undertake that the overdraft required is within and shall be kept within the. limit prescribed by section 00 of "The Municipal Corporations Act 1008." (8) That the Mayor and each of the councillors be empowered to countersign cheques on the district fund account. (0) That the following subsidies be granted: AVestern Park £SO, Library £12.). (10) That a subsidy be granted to the Board of Trustees appointed under "The Taranaki Botanic Hardens Act, 1870" of such sum which together with the share of revenue payable to tlie said trustees under section 4 of "The New Plymouth Recreation and Racecourse Reserve Amendment Act, 1010" shall amount to the sum of £l5O. (II) That the sum <•; £25 be paid to the Taranaki Education Board, the controlling authority of the New Plymouth Technical Kcchool, for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of technical classes formed under part 7 of "The Education Act, 1008." (12) That the honorarium of his Worship the Mayor for the ensuing year be £l5O. The receipts for the ensuing year were set down at £23,402, and the expenditure, after providing for £SOO for a reduction of the general account was set down at tlie same sum. The report was adopted.

In reply to Cr. Watkins, the Mayor stated that owing to the Council's stall' being so fully engaged it was impossible for them to undertake the lighting and heating of the car shed. GENERAL. On the motion of Cr. Collis a vote of theiiks was accorded to Mr. Messenger for gettiiag out plans for housing the ■Skinner collection and making no charge for same. Formal resolutions were passed concerning the statutory half-holiday and the closing hour of shops in the furniture trade. Cr. Sykes was added to the Tramways Committee, and Cr. Hill replaces Cr. Short oil the Baths Committee. Cr. Watkins advocated that the borough engineer should inspect the bearding houses instead of employing a special inspector, but the Mayor explained that the proposal was not feasible.

On the motion of the Mayor, seeondod by Or. Smith, it was decided that the solicitors be instructed to take steps to compel Mr. Saxton to comply with the notice to reinstate the premises adjacent to Ycale's slkop, and if necessary io prosecute him for non-compliance with the notice. A letter was read from Mr. N. King that tli? proposed site Icr

s!k;1 tu be used for storing benzine was not satisfactory to the merchants and sugesting a site near tin; borough pound.

It was decided that the matter lie refei'i'i .1 to a committee consisting of the .Mayor, Cr. C'oliis, and the chairman of the Works Committee.

The borough engineer wrote pointing out that if it were necessary to treat the tr.'.m truck with soltar fiUOO gallons of tar should be ordered.

The Mayor moved that the consulting engineer be instructed that the Council desires that Nultar be substituted lor tar oil the tram track, the Council to do the work and adjust the matter with the contractors, and that the engineer be authorised to order the necessary supply. 'The motion was earned. APPOINTMENT OF ENGINEER. Some discussion took place on the question of adjourning the Council in order to go into the question of appointing an engineer in place of Mr. Skitrop, who had resigned. Cr. Smith advocated the postponing ol the appointment until after the fate of the proposed loan was decided. Cr. Sykcs objected to any delay 011 the ground that if anything went wrong the Council would be to b'ame.

It was eventually decided to adjourn until this evening.