BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1915, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. SEVERAL DEPUTATIONS. The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess), and Crs. L. M. Monteath, J. S. S. Medley, J. Ilayden, F E. Wilson, A. H. Johnstone, W. A Collis, W. F. Short, F. G. Hill, S. J. Smith, A. E. Sykes, and A. E. Watkins. An apology for absence was received from Cr. J. T. Mannix. ELECTPJC LIGHT DEPARTMENT. Mr. H. Black, electrical engineer, reported as follows: During the past month the work of altering private lighting lines has been continued. The street lighting gwitehboard has been moved into the new substation and street lighting overhead mains transferred from the old sub-sta-tion. One C6OO transformer has been placed in position in the new transformer room. The new switchboards were due in Wellington on the oth inst., and may be expected by the next steamer from that port. All the electric lighting lines along the tramway route have now been transferred to the tramway poles and the original electric light poles removed. The new transmission line has been completed and alterations to existing lines are being proceeded with. ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE. The committee reported as follows: The consulting eingineer was informed that the committee wore dissatisfied that the certificate of completion of the substation building should have been given in view of the unsatisfactory condition of the joinery. The committee intimated that they desired that the final certificate should not be given without a further inspection by the con- ( suiting engineer, and also desired that the joinery should be reinstated immediately. The recommendation of the consulting engineer for distempering at the substation at an extra cost of £3B. was adopted. In consideration of the United Insurance Company giving a letter of indemnity against any damage or loss caused directly or indirectly through the non-replacing of plate glass damaged at the substation, the company's application that the replacing of such glass be left over for the time being was acceded to, provided it was replaced before June 30, 1916. Insti'ustions weite given to the electrical engineer that in future no indents for goods are to be accepted unless the same are in writing and the consent of tile chairman is first obtained. That in future electric motors be sold cash on delivery, and if credit is required special application must, be made to the committee. The electrical engineer was instructed to submit a report setting out the names of the electrical staff, the wages paid, and the duties performed. That the application of the Rotokare Committee for an elec« trie light pole be granted at a price to be fixed by the chairman. The various reports were adopted.

OUTLET TO VOGELTOWN. A deputation representing (lio ratepayers of Vogeltown waited 011 the Council in regard to the expenditure of loan money for improvements to the Carrington Road and the Victoria Road. The deputation comprised Messrs C. Carter, R. Cock, Newton King, F. W. Okey, W. L. Gordge, W. Berridge, V. Griffiths, C. Randrup, and G. W. Browne. Mr. Carter, the spokesman, said Vogeltown was one of the most thickly populated parts of the town, and there was a. picturesque approach to the suburb, but the road out of town was not a good one. They asked that the expenditure provided in the loan for this road now be expended', as the work was urgent, some parts of the road being decidedly dangerous. He pointed out that in the £42,000 loan, a sum of £1202 10s was set aside for Carrington Road, and £522 for Victoria Road, a'total of £1724 10s. This money had not been expended and the ratepayers requested that it should be spent towards the improvements of the roads when the tramway route was completed. The corner where Pendarves Street joined the Carrington Road required widening to make a more sweeping corner, while the bend in the road known as Bauchop's Corner also required improvihg. Mr. R. Cock stated there were several dangerous corners on the Carrington Road which required improvement, and he hoped the Council would see its way to provide a good road before the winter. Mr. Newton King said the bend in the Carrington Road outside the late Mr. Bauchop's property was very bad indeed, while the junction with Pendarves Street was a dangerous right-hand corner. The Mayor said the Council intended to hold a special meeting to go into the question of the expenditure of tlie loan money, and he promised the deputation full consideration of its request when the special meeting was held. The Council, he added, could not undertake any other road works until the reformation of the tramway rout* from the breakwater to Fitzroy was completed. The wet weather experienced during the winter had delayed this work.

BOWLERS AND RATES. Messrs. J. D. Sole and A. Humphries waited, on the Council as representatives of the West End Bowling Club, and asked (or a remission of tin; rates on the club's green, which was virtually a public domain. It was understood that no rates would have to be paid and this privilege was enjoyed for a few years, but last year the rate was levied. The club had spent a lot of money on the property and so had provided tho town with improvements. There was no profit made by the club; they were merely imprving tho park for the public's benefit. The Mayor promised the deputation consideration of its request. THE CARRIERS' STAND. A deputation consisting of Messrs. T. C. list and R. Colson waited on the Council to ask why the resolution of -the Council resolving to shift the stand for carriers in. Currie Street had not been carried into effect. Mr. list said this was a matter of very considerable importance to property owners in Currie Street, and they would like the Council to Bee its way not to continue to inconvenience them. Tliey had had their full share of the carriers, and Mr,'fist thought it was;' time there should a change of locality £gr the stand. The Mayor said the Council had been trying to please everybody and had apparently pleased nobody, but the matter was one which would have to be gone into. He promised the deputation to give the matter every consideration. FEES FOTI HOARDINGS. Meisr- T. C. T.ist, H. Saunders, ami J. Chirk" romwiied a dooutotiou re-

presenting tlie Taranaki Amusements, Ltd., which waited on the Council in regard to the hoarding fees. •Mr. Clarke said the tariff fixed by the Council was a prohibitive one. The company liad six hoardings and the Council was asking £3O for their license, but the hoardings did not return anything like that. If the Council •pressed its charges it would simply mean that this form of advertising would have to be abolished. A sum of '£36 for sixi hoardings was certainly not reasonable for a town like New Plymouth. Mr. Clarke pointed out tluit the company was a good customer of the borough, for its rnte<; in future •would amount to about > a- year. The Mayor said when j..,. lime came to deal with the matter the views of the deputation would have every consideration. / BY-LAWS COMMITTEE. The Mayor, and C'rs. Monteath and Wilson wen: appointed to constitute a Bv-Laws Committee.