STRATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held 011 Monday evening. Present: .llis Worship the Mayor, Crs. Davey, Hunter, Lawson, Thompson, Mills, Stanley, .Hancock, 'Rutherford. Before the ordinary meeting a special meeting was held to consider the statutory half holiday, llis Worship moved that Thursday continue to be the day on which tlie half-holiday is to be observed in the borough. Cr. Hunter seconded and the motion was carried.

CORRESPONDENCE. Cecil Wright drew attention to tlie insanitary condition of a section ill Kenton Street. It was derided to reply that the property will be. connected to the sewer. The secretary of tlie Electrical Supply Company forwarded the following resolution by the directors: ''That seeing that a basis of agreement for the purchase of this company's undertaking was arrived at over four months ago, this company fusts that the agreement will be completed as early as possible, as they cannot allow the offer to go 011 indefinitely." Tlie Mayor said the trouble was that they could not get the loan, and until they could -borrow the money they eouTil do nothing. Application had been made to the Government for consent to borrow, but 110 reply had been received.

A. A. Koch, district engineer, wrote: ''Tll reply to the Council's letter of loth October re approach to railway station from Broadway, it is considered that a 10ft. path 011 each side of the approach, with the intermediate space (60ft. wide) used as a roadway, would be sufficient, or, if the Beautifying Society would undertake the care thereof, shrubberies between a HOft. roadway and the footpaths would make a suitable and attractive entrance to the station. The footpaths would be made tlie same gradients as the roadway. The gates at the street entrance would be removed. If the Council required a 30ft. roadway with intermediate shrubberies, he asked that the Beautifying Society undertake to take care of and maintain the shrubberies.

The Mayor said lio had called the. Works Committee together, and they had approved of the plan, tat suggested that the footpath be made the same level as the station platform. He thought the Department would not agree to it. as it was an expensive work. The action of the Works Committee was approved. The Under-Secretary of the Publk: Works Department asked if the Council had completed negotiations ■with the Stratford Electrical Supply Company for the purchase of their, plant, and the result of same. It was decided to reply that the Council were acting permission from the Government to borrow the money. T. G. Grubb, fire inspector, informed the Council that the fire hose at the Town Ilall had perished, and recommended that 150 feet of new hose be procured. The matter was left in the hands of the Town Hall Committee, with power to act. Webster, Dobson and Co. asked permission to surrender lease of shop in new Municipal Buildings, on account of dissolution of partnership in the firm. No action was taken. The Inspector of Noxious Weeds asked the Council to give. instructions for noxious weeds to be cleared off Stratford borough reserves. His Worship said the town was going back as regards weeds, especially blackberries, and ho moved that the tenants of all reserves ,bo written to, asking them to clear their reserves of .weeds. Seconded bv Or. Hills and carried. Cr. Mills said the town was being overrun by St. John's wort, and the attention of the inspector should be called to it. He knew from experience in the South Island that it was a bad weed and would soon spread throughout the borough. The abattoir manager reported that .V2 cows. 40 heifers, 0 oxen, (i calves, 231 sheep, 19-1 lambs, and 35 pigs had been killed, while 4 cows, 2 heifers, and 2 pigs had been condemned. The slaughtering fees amounted to £0) ISs 3d.

WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 1. Mr. Holliday's request for culvert: Mr. Sullivan has arranged with Mr. Holiday to make the culvert at anplicant's cost. 2. Mr McAllister's request for asphalt: We recommend tiiat the request be granted, applicant to pay half cost. 3. Kopouatama Cemetery paths (est. £ 10): We recommend that this work be done. ,4. Mr (.'niaeke's application for water: The water service applied for lias been put in. ">. Intersection of Soyton Street and Broadway: We recommend that the necessary work be done. 0. Juliet Street SoutK- Your committee is awaiting a 'reply from the State Advances Department re application for loan before reporting on lliis work. 7. Suspension bridge, Cordelia Street: The plans and specifications arc not yet completed, and your committee recommends that the overseer be granted an extension of time in which to complete the work. S. Waterworks by-laws: Your committee is of opinion that the time has arrived when the waterworks by-laws should be amended in the direction of making provision under the heading of ''extraordinary water supply" for a charge for water-flushed closets, and recommend the suggestion to the favorable consideration of the Council. I In regard to clause -S Cr. Uwson asked if this was not an old motion that had I been defeated by the past Council and the present Council. Jf so, he-was prepared to fight it over again. He moved that clause 8 in tile report be deleted. Cr. Hunter seconded, and said he felt like Cr. Lawson that ratepayers would not stand it, so why resurrect this motion again?

■iiis Worship admitted it was on the same lines asva motion that had been defeated by the present Council, but it was a fact that people were crying out for drainage. The Council had no money to do the work, and by adopting this sugge-tion the -evemie gained would go towards helping those ratepayers to set the drainage. On a vote being taken the amendment was lost, on the lasting- vote of the Mayoi. , Cr. Hancock mentioned the insanitary condition of a creek near the Masonic Tlall. in Juliet Street South, and it was decided that the sanitary inspectors attention be drawn to same. His Worship moyed that 110 permission be given to plough up borough reserves leased to tenants unless they undertook to lay same down in English grasses.— Seconded by Or. Hunter and carried. I Cr. Thompson objected to letters coming in late, and coining before the Council without the responsible officer ileal[ing with them. He moved that no let'ten bo considered by the Council unle®

sent in three Jays More the meeting.— The motion lapsed,for want of a seconder. Auctioneers' licenses were granted to X. B. Fletcher, ,\[, Priest, U. Cottier, and T. J. Kaniason. ami accounts amounting to ,t'2sli 12s Ud were passed ior payment.