NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1918, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MEETING OF WOKKS OOMffiTTEE. The Worlds Committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council met last night- There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess), Crs. G. W. Browne, R. J. Deare, W. A. Col'lis, E. Griffiths, W. F. Short, F. J. Hill, J. W. Hayden, .and J. Clarke. CORRESPOXDtKOE. G. A. Colson wrote that, owing to the racehorses continually training on the sandhills, he had decided to fence, as it would .be impossible to reclaim as long os they were allowed to train there. If the borough provided the wiro and* staples, he would provide the posts and labor. The inspector reported that the letter was practically a motion to fence on one of the boundaries of the sanitary deposit at Fitzroy. Colsou has about 70 acres adjoining the reserve, and on account of bad fences the place was overrun with other people's cattle. Some experimental plots which the inspector had there last year were missed by that cause- Racehorse owners also took their horses through the borough land in order to train on the sand. If the proposed fence was erected, all the damage resulting from that could be stopped. The cost of the wire as&ed for would be about £ls. It was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the town clerk, on the understanding that the ownership of thu wire was definitely stated, as, in the event of the fence having to be removed at some futuro time, the council must be safeguarded in respect to the material supplied. A requisition from a majority of the occupiers of butchers' shops within the borough, which was to be submitted to the Minister of Labor, was forwarded by the Inspector of Factories, together with his certificate, applying that the closing hours of butchers' shops be as follows:—Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 5.30 p.m.; Saturdays, 6 p.m.; Fridays, 9 p.m.; certain exceptions were made to provide for variation in the case of holidays, and for those shops where Saturday was observed as tie weekly half-holiday. The question was raised by the town clerk as to whether pork butchers should be reckoned when arriving at the number necessary to constitute a majority of the butchers, and the factory in, spector had replied that, according to the Shops and Offices Act, they were regarded as a separate trade. The council passed a resolution autho* rising the town clerk to sign the necessary certificate as to the number signing tho requisition being a majority of the butchers occupying shops in the borough. i

STREET UGHTING. Seven ratepayers petitioned the council to erect a street lamp at the corner of Dartmoor Avenue and Webster Street. Two more new houses we „ shortly to be erected, and the locality needed lighting very .much. The electric light manager reported that the cost of the light would be £5 10s. The electric light manager furnished a summary report of the total street lights in the borough, which numbered 322, and the capital expenditure thereon up to March 31, WIS, was £5643. The cost of interest, sinking fund and depreciation was £564 5s 9d. wages, renewals and alterations £l<!2 9s 4d; consumption of current ('70.195 units) at cost 2d, £695 19s 2d; an annual payment of £IOSO, leaving a loss for the year of £366 14s 3d. The loss, had been going on for some years, and it would be difficult to give the exact figures. The object, however, was that the council could view the applications for new lamps with their eyes open to the present position, and consider the possibility of reducing some of the existing lights. Tho Mayor pointed out that every street lamp at present in use meant a loss of £l pei; annum to the electris light department, and it was a question whether or not the council should undertake to share the loss. Other councillors expressed the opinion that if the department was supplying light at less than cost the council should take a share of tho deficiency and that all future street lamps should be allowed for at a cost of an additional £l. The matter was referred to the siTeets sulb-committee, to consider if it was possible to reduce the number of lights at present in use. BOROUGH MOTOR BUS.

A H.' Harris and Co., Christelmrch, wrote in reply to the council's inquiry as to the whereabouts of the chassis for the electric bus, that steamer space was eiipected to be available in July and that delivery could bo looked for in August The chassis would be vailed across the States from New York in order to secure freight space in a vessel coming to New Zealand. GENERAL. The borough engineer reported that he hail come to an understanding with the district railway engineer as to the conditions to be complied with i n connection with the deviation of the MaJigaotuku stream, and was preparing plans for consideration. An understanding has also been reached in respect to the levels of Kawau and Molesworth streets, with a view to making them conform to the levelg of the proposed new railway yard. The licensee of the Terminus Hotel applied for a reduction of rates, 111 terms of the provisions o( the Sale of ILiquor Restriction Act. It was resolved tojjrant the reduction, on production of tho necessary proof of reduction of rent. Messrs Roy and Nicholson wrote stating that they had been instructed by Brougham street ratepayers that in the event of the council taking any steps towards the construction of a nublic convenience in Brougham street, application won!d bo made to the Supreme Court for a writ tc restrain such action. The matter was referred to the Dorongli solicitor.