NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1917, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the P.orough Covncil was held last night, there being present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. 0. 11. Burgess) presiding and Cvs. .1. Clarke, J. W. Tlayden. F. J. Hill, W. F. Short, K,. Griffiths. W. A. Collis, R. J. Heare and G! W. Browne. REPORTS. Or. Clarke moved, and tho Mayor seconded that tho last two words of paragraph C of the electric light and tramway committee's report, viz., "reading meters." be deleted, nad the words "rendering correct account'' be substituted. The amended report was adopted. The report of the Carnegie Institute Committee was adopted, with the exception of the last paragraph, which was referred back to the committee for further information. Tho other departmental and committee reports were adopted, and the council resolved itself into a works committee. LIGHTING CHARGES. AND METER ■ RENTS. At hj, recent meeting of the Electric Light Committee the question of electric charges was discussed and various amendments were' recommended wi(h. a view to re.imbur.sing the council for the loss of meter.rents, which tho borough solicitors advised' the council had no power to collect. Tim borough solicitors advised that, section 204- (2) of tlie Municipal Corporations Act, 1!K)S, required the consumer to pay for the meter. • Th'c council had no power to waive thi? payment, hut, under section 33 of the Amending Act, IM3, it might arrange with the consumer for payment by instalments with interest at not less than 41 per cent. The council was bound by paragraph 40 (g) of the License, and as by-law 1321 was in conflict with the ternls of the license it should be amended or repealed. Section 272.0f the Act and paragraph 40 (g} of the license gave the council ample power to cut off the power' in default of payment. In reference to the recovery by the consumer of money paid as meter rent, the opinion -was given that as a general rule money paid under mistake of law could not be recovered unlesss perhaps where there were circumstances which made it inequitable, that the party who received it shou'd retain it. The knowledge of an adverse legal opinion, which might be incorrect, would of itself enable recovery to be obtained. The point was not free from doubt, but they considered that meterrents paid to the council either before or after the legal opinion had been received could not be recovered by the consumer paying the rents.—Received. CORRESPONDENCE. The general manager of the Taranaki Amusements, Company (Mr. G. W. Saunders) applied for permission to erect a temporary stage on the 21st and 22nd inst. in the Empire Theatre, similar to that recently used by the DandiesGranted. It was further resolved that as tho matter was likely to crop up from time to time and delay might be experienced if the matter had to be considered by the council, the Mayor should be authorised to give the necessary permission in future. , The secretary of the New Plymouth Boys' High School wrote asking that the charge for water for the old school should be withdrawn, the school having been destroyed by fire in August, 1010. The town clerk recommended that an allowance of £7 10s should be made in respect to the charge, the balance ( £2 10s) being a charge for water for the principal's residence, bringing the total charges to the school down to £44 !)s Sd. On the motion of Cr. Griffiths the recommendation for the reduction was confirmed. The town clerk wrote stating that the work of the different departments would be facilitated if an inter-com-munication telephone could be installed. By. means of an eight number enunciator efficient communication could be had with five departments and the exchange, with two spare connections for future extensions. The total cost of the installation would probably be £1!). The annual rent of the present system would be increased by £9 in all. If the intercommunication were confined to the town clerk's department the cost of a five number enunciator would be £lO, and he recommended that the installation should be made in his and the Mayor's office at least. The other departments would also find it a great convenience. It was decided to have the system installed. A Napier firm wrote enclosing samples of a ''fly circular" which was extensively used throughout the Dominion by public bodies and which was recommended by the Public Health Department to combat the pest and to minimise the harmful effects of the nuisance. The borough inspector (Mr. R. Day) wrote to-the effect that he considered the idea a good one and should like to issue 5000 such circulars in New Plymouth, but he considered that a more effective circular could be printed locally at a slightly increased price. He asked that 5000 should be obtained from a local firm at a.cost of £5, qr from the Napier firm at £3 12s. The Mayor pointed out that considerable difficulty would be experienced in distributing the circulars. The cost of postage was prohibitive. Cr. Griffiths suggested that the circulars might be distributed by meterreaders—The matter was left in the hands of the Sanitation Committee. The bandmaster of the Citizens' Band (Mr. F. W. G. McLeod, L.T.S.) wrote for permission to postpone the next musical recital at Fitzroy from Thursday evening next till Sunday next, November 25, on account of the number of counter-attractions on the former date. He suggested that if power were given to the town clerk or a member of the council to deal with similar situations a great deal of routine might be avoided. The application was granted. The question of dealing with similar applications will be considered by the Mayor and the town clerk. On behalf of the Central School Ball Committee, Mr. E. L. Mcllroy applied for a refund or a reduction in the charge made for lighting, as the proceeds of the ball were for the benefit of the children and patriotic purposes. The majority of their creditors had reduced their accounts by 50 per cent, and the Gas Company had remitted the whole of their claim.—lt was decided to remit 50 per cent, of the charge for lighting. Mr. N. C. Harding wrote tendering his resignation to the council, as he had been appointed (own clerk of Patea, and ex-, pressed bis appreciation of the consideration shown by the council during his 4% years' service under them. The Patea Council asked him to take up duties on December 1, and he asked that he should be relieved on November 28. The town clerk reported that the Patea Borough Couacil had agreed tc allow

Mr. Ilarding to remain in Now Plymouth till the end of the year, Mr. Harding's resignation was accepted with regret. The towrt clerk was antliorlfiod to engage an assistant at tile same salarv. .SUBURBAN- BUS SERVICE. TJie president!; of the Westown anrt \ ogeltown 'Progressive Associations (Messrs ,T. D. Sole and A. T. Moore), at (he request of the council, submitted (lie following suggestions for the proposed municipal bus service to Westown and Vogeltown: (1) The bus to be ot the stora.se battery system, with a seatin,? capacity of 2-2 or 2-1 passengers. (2) lhat tor tho time being one man undertake the whole of the work. viz.. driving. Sollceting fares, etc. (3) That if it could be conveniently arranged, the route to Westown should bo via Dawson street, as (hat route would suit a number of ratepayers on Fraiiklcv road, and also those on Stahdish road who do not use the present Morley street tram#. (4) That on special occasions tho ordinary time table should be amended, and (lie bus be diverted to any special route that the council thought fit, one day's notice to be given of the alteration "of the time-table. (!5) That the tramways should confer with the delegates appointed from the two suburbs eoneernfd, to arrange suitable stopping places. A time-table' of the daily and Saturday night runs was also submitted. '" The letter was received, but consideration of the matter was held over till Monday next. CARRIXGTON ROAD. The borough engineer reported that, on Wednesday momi,ng a start would be nmde in stripping the hill below Pendarves street of its metal, and commencing filling.in and other repairs. The entrance to Pendarves street would be widened, and the pathway set back along the Oarringtpn road at once. It was resolved that the Oarrington load should be closed to traffic, as recommended by the engineer. GENERAL. Mr. R. \i. D. Robertson was granted permission to erect a motor garage on his property in Wakefield street on the boundary line between his and Mr. Garner's property, on condition that he undertakes, to remove the same when requested to do so by the council. It was decided that, subject to (lie plans and specifications being approved bv the borough council, the tender of Messrs. Coleman and Sons of £390 for (he erection of a building upon the railway reserve at Moturoa be accepted, provided the reserves committee make financial arrangements with the builders satisfactory to the Mayor. The tender of Messrs Cook and Lister for the supply of dog collars at the following rates was accepted: Large 11'/,d each; small 10Vf,d each; relabelling collars 2'/id each. The application of Mr. E. T. Bullot for permission to cut grass for hay in Whitoley s(reet was granted.