NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1918, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

WOKKS COMMITTEE. The works committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. There were present: llis Worship the Jlavor (Mr. 0. If. Burgess), Cra. J. Clarke, ,1. W. Ilayden, V. ,1. Hill, W. P. .Short, !•;. Griffiths, 1?. J. Dearo, and 0. W. Browne. The borough inspector wrote drawing attention to the storage of benzine iri areas No. 2 and and it was resolved to inform him that the council is pre pared to consider special written applications for permission to dispense, under by-law 21, with the requirement for the erection of' a fire-proof store, each case being dealt with separately on its merits. Uoon Bros., Ltd., applied for a 1 j-inch water connection, for extraordinary service, to be made to thte New Plymouth Boys' High School. The engineer submitted on estimate of the cost of the connection ( £6 IDs dd), which had been submitted to the firm, and said that upon lodging the amount, and the council consenting to the application, the work could be put in hand. It was decided that, subject to the High School Board installing a water meter at their own cost, to gauge the supply, and also paying the cost of the connection ( £(> 13s sd), the borough engineer be-authorised to put in a lj-inch water service to the Boys' High School, the present water charges, however, to remain as at present during tha pleasure of the council, the meter being used merely as a guide to the council as. to the water used.

The secretary of the New Plymouth branch of the General Laborers' Industrial Union, applied for the usual holidays for the drivers in the employ of the council, namely, two weeks on full pay, It was resolved to inform the union that when the last industrial agreement was drawn up the arrangement was that the drivers should receive a higher wage than formerly, together with overtime in lieu of the fortnight's holiday previously granted to them, and that under the circumstances the council cannot see its \tfay to alter the arrangement then arrived at. The honorary secretary of the Hgamotu 'Beautifying and Improvement Committee wrote Btating that the committee had decided to have a schema prepared for the proper sanitation of the area under the committee's control. An application was also made for the removal of household refuce from tho beach cottages.—The inspector reported that it would be quite iraponsiblo with the present staff to undertake the removal of garbage from the cottages, and, even if it were possible, the cost would be prohibitive. He suggested that it would be better for the committee to ".nrhrtake with its caretaker for a daily removal of garbage, and trench the same into the ground where the plantation is being formed. • The matter of removal of garbage was referred to the Mayor and Cr. J. W. Hnydsn, with power to r.ct. Mr. Claude Weston applied to become •>, pnrty to the oouncil'n telephone line to the filters, agreeing <o pay half the ecst of the erection of thj line. —Tho engineer reported that thciv did not scom to be any objection to the application, providing the council had strict priority to we of line, especially during the Lours between 5.30 p.m. and 8.20 a.m., \7hicll would be necessary for flra massages. It was resolved {o inform Mr. Woßton thet an the line was installed for urgent communication in case cf fire, under the circumstances the council regretted it could not see its way to grant his re* ijuent.

The secretary cf the Baptist Tabernacle wrote drawing the council's attention to the unfinished, unsightly, and, in a measure, dangerous, state in which the approach to the building hadboen left, in consequence of the borough's works in altering the levels in Lemon and Liardet streets. When the fence and entrance gateway were erected, the builder obtained from the then engineer the proposed levels of the streets, and worked accordingly. Now, owing to the alterations, the concrete step off the footpath was altogether too high, and the church officials considered the borough should make good the entrance to the building and the Liardet street fencing.—The engineer reported that the regrading of the pathway had exposed four inches of concrete, and the total height of the step was approximately 8 inches. It was impossible to say whether a permanent level was given, or whether it was adhered to. In any case, the builders had trespassed by placing concrete upon the street, and the onus was on the trustees of the building to remove same It was resolved to send a copy of the engineer's letter to the trustees of the church. Messrs A. R. Harris and Co. wrote that they had 110 definite advice as to the shipment of the chassis for the electric motor bus, except that by mail which stated that the truck would be boxed and ready for shipment early last month (January). The difficulty appeared to be not in the matter of shipping between New York and New Zealand, but in railage from the manufacturers to the port of shipment.—Received. It was resolved to instruct the architect to board in both ends of the council's seaside cottage, at a cost not exceeding ,£5 iis, and that the reserves committed and Cr. Hayden be authorised to spend up to £lO "in furnishing the cottage.