BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1917, Page 8

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. C. 11. Burgess), Crs. J. Clarke. J. W. Hayden, F. J. Hill, W. F. Short,W.A.Collis, R.J. Ueare, G. W. Browne and E. Griffiths. REPORTS, . * The reorts of the various officers, the works committee, the finance committee, and the reserves committee, as previously published, were adopted. TRAMWAYS EXTENSION. Cr. Browne said he thought the time had arrived when the council should consider the matter of the suburban extension of the tramways, with a. view to carrying out their roads in sueh a manner as to fit them for future extension. He thought the council should formulate a scheme with a view to putting the whole position before the people, "wlien the time was opportune, and in order that the extensions could be carried out by degrees, and as each section became a paying proposition. On. the motion of the Mayor, Cr. Browne's suggestion was referred to the tramways- committee. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES. The Mayor said a vexed question on the order paper was that of public conveniences. Cr. Hayden moved that public conveniences bo erected on the original site in Brougham street. He considered that the best position for the conveniences which were very badly wanted. The motion was seconded by Cr. Hill. Cr. Collis moved as an amendment that the mover and seconder of the motion be asked to report. The Mayor said if that were done tliey all knew what the report would be. Cr. Deare said the whole council might make an infection, but Cr. Clarke pointea out that all the council already knew the town thoroughly. Various sites were suggested, hut ultimately further consideration of the matter wast held over till next meeting of the works committee. GENERAL. Cr. Collis asked if members of the council liad noted the rider added by the jury to their verdict in connection with the Auckland tramway fatality. It was to the effect that the conducor of a car should have a clear view through the car of what was ahead, unobstructed by advertisements on the windows alongside the doors.—The Mayor said the present arrangements with regard to advertisements on the cars was for five years, but the tramway committee could take Cr. Collis' suggestion into consideration. * Messrs Govett and Quilliam, borough solicitors, advised that in their opinion Mr. Jones had no legal claim for damages against the council in connection with a horse falling into a drain.—Mr. Jones is to be informed accordingly. Mr. G. Brewer waited on the council in support jgf his application for permission to remove two cottages from outside the borough to Belt road, within the borough.—The engineer condemned the cottages as unfit to be within the borough, the lining of white pine being infested with the borer. He thought the buildings should ,be absolutely condemned—On the motion of Cr. Hayden, the application for a permit was refused, The inspector of prisons notified that in view of the probability that sufficient prisoners would soon be sent to New Plymouth to work the quarry, it was not now proposed to proceed further in the matter of leasing the quarry to the council.—ln connection with this' matter, the borough engineer reported that so long as the council obtained ample supplies without the delays of recent times, the arrangement for the quarry to remain under the control of the prison authorities would be quite satisfactory.— Received. The New Plymouth Pieirrots applied for permission to block oft that portion of Brougham street between Powderham street and Devon street, on the evening at Saturday, the 30th instant, for the purpose of roping off the enclosure for the band and Pierrots' concert. They also asked for the special lighting of t)ic enclosure on the evening in question.—The electrical engineer, Mr. Bartley, reported that he had not had time to go into the matter fully, but saw no difficulty in the way of providing a reasonable amount of special lighting.— Granted, subject to the arrangements being approved of b the engineer. Mr. B. Tippins wrote at length in explanation of his resignation as borough inspector and his action in connection with the case brought by Inspector Day against George Bruce. He contended that the evidence he had given in the court to the effect that Bruce's yard was not insanitary although untidy, was correct. He had made that statement in answer to a question by the magistrate. All his previous. replies to Inspector Day having been quite satisfactory to him.' He wns sorry to have had to answer the magistrate's question contrary to the wishes of In'spector Day, but under the circumstances lie had no choice. It had been stated that he should have told Inspector Day that he had no case, but he was not Inspector Day's legal adviser, and when he had offered an opinion on a previous occasion lie had been told to mind his own Jbusiness. If Inspector Day chose to go into court when he had 110 case, the responsibility should be his. If the council still thought lie had done wrong, he would retire, knowing that in carrying out his duties as borough inspector he had shown neither fear of nor favor to any man. Cr. Griffiths asked if there -'was anything in the letter indicating that Mr. •Tippins desired to withdraw his resignation. The Mayor said the only thing of the kind was Mr. Tippins' statement that he would 'retire if the council thought lie had done wrong. At any rate Mr. Tippins liad resigned and nothing had ■been said by the council which could have given him cause to do so. It was decided to simply receive the letter and take no further action.