BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1916, Page 8

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

iADJOUKXED MEETING. 'Die monthly meeting of the above Council, adjourned from Monday evening, was continued last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr C. 11. Burgess)',' Crs. L. M. Montcatli, J. S. Medlev, J. W. llnyden, F. Wilson, A. H. johnstone, W. Collis, W. P. Short, F. J. Hill-, S. G. Smith, E. Griffiths, J. T. Mannix, and A. E. Watkins. Considerable discussion took place on the Stock Committee'* report in rcjrard to change of travelling stock routes. The report was adopted, in conjunction with that of the Street Maintenance. Committee, Reserves Committee, Sanitation, Carnegie Institute, Finance, and Abattoirs Committees. Messrs Govett & Quilliam advised that the Harbor Hoard proposed to submit by public auction a "21 years' lease of land as a site for iron works. Part was in the borough and pari in the Taranaki County. The conditions of lease provided that £10,030 shall be spent in erecting ironworks and machinery within twelve months of the lease, and reserves a right of way through the Paritutu Reserve. The Council was requested to pass a resolution to the oft'eet that none of the land i_s intended to be used for a dwelling-house.

On the motion of Crs. Hayden and Colli? the resolution, with a slight amendment, was adopted. Mr. R. Day, building and sanitary inspector, reported on August 9 on licensed buildings. He said: ''All are satisfactory, with the following exceptions: People's Pictures: Wooden building with plenty of exits, therefore fairly safe. At the same time a wooden building for pictures is not in keeping with absolute safety. No alternative lighting. WhiteIcy Church: The gallery in this building is a death-trap, owing to the faulty construction of stairs. Those are winders, whereas public, stairs should have landings of full space and a decent get away at the foot. The doors open inward, adding to the danger. If 0. slight panic did occur someone would be seriously injured. Empire Theatre: Seating accommodation of the right number, but scats are wrongly arranged. Aisles and stairs are too narrow, and people from all parts meet 011 a narrow vestibule. There is only one stairway out of the gallery. No independent light is sup- 1 plied in the event of failure of the electric light. If a panic occurred here in a full house there would be serious accidents, both 011 the stairs and in the vestibule.

Messrs Nixon & Nixon applied for a two-inch water pipe to be laid on to Everybody's Theatre, from Powtlerham Street. It would be used for lire ■extinguishing purposes only. There was a previous report, on .Tnly 20, from the fire superintendent (Mr. l'\ C. .1. Bellringer), dealing with the People's Pictures, Empire Theatre, Coronation Hall, Ciootl Templar Hall, and other halls and churches.

The Works Committee's report re No. 1 area was also taken again.

Cr. Haydcn, in accordance with notice, moved: "That no further steps be taken in connection with ttke resolution as to the erecting of municipal oilices and museum until such time as the Council have considered proposals for a municipal theatre; that in the meantime a committee of five be appointed to submit a report as to the feasibility and cost of erecting a municipal theatre, of which the proposed building for municipal oilices and museum would form a part." He said there was already talk of building municipal offices and a museum; there was iUOOO set asidn, and lie ill ought the opportunity should be taken for building a municipal theatre. In addition to the £UOOO, not more than a sum of £I2.<JCO (with .tliOO interest on it) would suffice. People might say a theatre was not wanted, but it would be of much more benefit than a museum.

A municipal town hall was a necessity to the town, and it would be an attraction. His idea was to build a £GOOO building adjacent to the offices. Cr. Jledley seconded.

The Mayor said lie was against the suggestion'; it meant borrowing, and there was a certain sentiment against this; He agreed that a municipal building was necessary, but the time was not yet ripe. Cr. Johnstone said another scheme had been submitted for the filling of the unsightly gap caused -hv the recent lire, and he hoped the Council would consider it well. It was one for beautifying the town, and would form the principal ingress and egress to the town. Cr. siiort was in .favor of considering the proposal of Cr. Johnstone. Or. Hayden agreed to add to his motion that the sub-committee wlien deliberating take into consideration a rough plan submitted by C'r. Johnstone, and the motion was carried. Crs. Johnstone, Haydon, Short, Wilson, llill and Mannix were elected a committee to deal with the matter. Cr. Watkins brought up the question jf the payment of license for the old Theatre Royal. He thought tliat the amount should be paid, as from April 1, in the ordinary course, and tliat the Amusements Company, Ltd., be reimbursed from the date of the fire. ; The Town Clerk said that lie was not prepared to say that a fee could be

charged. Cr. Watkins said that this matter was _>ne that should be cleared up. It was., li® considered, a matter for the superintendent of the 1. 1 ire Board. The Mayor .said that the superintendent was a servant of the Fire Board, and therefore the clerk was right in writ■ii;r to the Board, not the superintendent. Cr. Watkins contended that the bylaw was quite clear, that the superintendent had the sole right of granting a license. His Worship: Then the Board should have notified the Council straight away. Cr. Mannix seconded the motion pro for.r.n, but it was not carried,