BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1916, Page 8

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING, The ordinary meeting of the New Pl.vnouth Borough Council was held last night, when there were present:. The Mayor (Mr 0. IT. Burgess), Crs. A. E." Wa'tkiiis, J. T. Manntx, E. Orifiiths, S. .i Smith, F. J. Hill, W. F. Short, \V. A. Collis, A. H. Johnstone. F. E. Wilson, J. W. Hayden, J. S. S. Medley, and L. JM. .'Monteath. REPORTS. The rp]iorts of the borough engineer, electrical engineer, tramway manager, abattoir manager, and sanitary inspector v,ere read and received. The reports of the Works, Abattoir, Electric Light, Tramways (subject to slight amendment), Carnegie Institute, and Sanitation Committees were adopted. MUNICIPAL OFFICES ANI? MUSEUM. The Municipal Offices Furnishing Committee, consisting of the Mayoi. Crs. Johnstone. Mannix- and Monteath. recommended that, no tender for die furnishing of the sub-station buildings be accepted; that in view of the fact that any unexpected balance of the £OOOO loan could only be used in repaying the loan, the original intention to erect a combined hnildinp for museum and municpal buildings be adhered to: that the sub-station in the meantime, be used as municipal office.-, (the present furniture to be moved from the old Town Hall), and that only such work as is absolutelv necessary be curried out at the >r.l>-sl.i!tioii, under the direction of the committee. The Mavoi stated that the object of removing the stall' to the sub-station was to save monev, and enable the loan money earmarked for the erection of officer to be devoted to something more 1 useful. He had since found out that the money eonlcl not he diverted, as it was borrowed Fm the express purpose of municipal offices and museum. It was therefore decided not to accept any tender for furnishings and the old furniture would have to do until the new Duildin" was erected. The report was adopted. RESERVES COMMITTEE. Some discussion ensued over the clause in the Reserves ('cnniuittce report "That the Ooverninent be offered the sum of £5lO for the freeheld of Native Reserve No. 1"). Te Henui, the purchase money to be taken from compensation received flom the N'icaore Reserve. Or. W. A. Collis considered that the land should he secured as it would make a coiitiuna'ion of the East End Reserve. Cr. Wa-tkins considered that the money should be utilised to purchase laud for housing the Council's slat", but it was pointed out that the money from the sale of the reserve had to he invested in revenue [.'reducing lands. Crs CrillUhs and Smith favored the purchase. Cr. Mentealh objected, to the purchase until the Council knew how nineli money lionl/l lie 'ictnally available from the tompen ation. Cr. K. K. Wilson remarked that the Hind would not be an extension of the Last End Reserve, wlii.-li was separated from it by a terminable Native lease. The -lau>e was deleted and the report' was then adopted. TRAMWAYS AND ELECTRIC LTOIJT COMMITTEE. In furthevancf of the scheme for amalgamating the tramways and electric light cl-purtincnt, which was decided on al last inei'liiig. bv the apiiointmeiit of Mr. R If. Hartley as engineer to the two ileparti icnts. the Tramways and Electric ..iL'lit Committee was formally dissolved. The Mayor, Crs;.. Moritcatli. Orifiiths Hayden, Mannix, Watkins, and Wilson were appointed a new committee - , with Cr. Monteath as chairman.

STOCK ROOTn. Cr. S. J. Smith .said it had been found impossible to get a stock route along the south side of the railway line. It was possible, by crossing the railway bridge at Payntcr's l.uuc, to obtain a chain road coming out at the bacou factory near the Waiwakaiho bridge. This would necessitate the acquiring of three or four acres of land, on which was a house which could be removed. He considered that the cost would be £-2000 or £3OOO (exclusive of cost of metalling) He moved that the report be received and referred to the finance committee. This was seconded by (jr. A. H. Johnstone. The Mayor said that a route had been suggested to cross Devon street at Pavnter's Lane, and proceed via Barriball street, but they did not eonsidet this, as they found that Barriball street was not really a street. Cr. A. H. Johnstone considered that the. council should' consider this .-oute. as. if the i' .lenity of Barriball Road could be overcome, they, would obtain a stool; route for practically nothing. It wight, perhaps, be little more circuitous. Finally the resolution was withdrawn and it was divided to refer the report back to the committee io> consideration of the Barriball street route. CTRRIE STREET FOOTPATH. Cr. Medley, in accordance with notice of motion moved that Currie street footpath from Devon street to the railway goodsheds should be tarred. Cr. S. J. Smith seconded pro forma. The Mayor was opposed to the expenditure, of money on anything but repairs until the report of the committee that bad been set up in connection with street maintenance had been brought down. The matter vas accordingly deferred. ; WORKS COMMITTER. A meeting of the works committee was held subsequently. On account of it being considered that lull compliance with the building bylaws would be attended ivitli loss to the ownei, without a corresponding benefit to the community, Mr. Pi. 1) Poison was granted permission to shift the back wall of his building in Currie street 30ft, on condition that lie enter into a bond of £IOO to erect within five years a wall of material rcqired by the by-laws on any further extension, Messrs. Orierson and Aimer's applica tion for permission to substitute Oregon pine lathing for expanded metal in connection with lath and plaster work in | Everybody's Theatre building wa.s deferred. The draft deed with the A.M.?. Society with reference to the retaining wali along the Devon street frontage of the Society's new building, was approved. The District. Health Officer is to be informed that tiie council is taking steps to prevent improper drainage into the Mangotukn stream, but is unable, for financial reasons, to undertake the diversion of the stream. The borough engineer was authorised in lav a 4in water main in Payntcr's Lane, from Karamu street to Devon street (estimated cost, £l-3).