NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1919, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

„ , MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council was held last night, there being present: The Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess), Crs. J. Clarke, J. VV. Hayden, F. J. Hill, W. F. Short, VV. A. Collis, A. S. Brooker, R. L. Parkin, and H. V. S. Griffiths. The departmental officers' reports and the reports of committees were considered and approved. VANDALISM AT CEMETERY. In moving the adoption of the Cemetery Committee's report, Cr. Collis referred to the complaints regarding acts of vandalism committed in the cemetery. Every now and again there seemed to be a revival of tho trouble. A little While ago some little girls had been caught taking flowers and plants, and it was discovered that their parents knew nothing about their doings and that they sold what they took to other people. He thought those people were as much, or more, to blame than the children. The committee decided to notify the parents before taking further action. There were adults, however, who went to the cemetery to tend graves of their relatives, and, on finding they had not enough flowers for their purpose, took them from other plots on which. they were growing. The matter was one which demanded drastic action Mr. C. H. Burton wrote to the effect that notwithstanding his constant efforts for five years to keep a grave plot neat and tidy it was impossible for him to do it. Every season the spring flowers were stolen, and out of fourteen varieties of fuschias planted only eight remained. The same applied to other flowers. Only on Saturday and Sunday last the whole plot had been walked over and the plants crushed, evidently by children playing hide and seek behind the grave stones. In order to prevent the wholesale stealing, and to stop the cemetery being used as a playground, he suggested that the council should occasionally employ a man in plain clothes to be on the look.out. At present numbers of people are complaining of the thefts and desecration which occur. He stated he was aware that a girl was caught last week, but apparently the council was not aware of the universal complaints, or they would not have hushed the matter up. Drastic steps were necessary in order to meet the present position.

The Mayor said he had the letter put in because Mr. Burton had referred to the council "hushing up" something. Cr. Collis made some further explanations, and moved that Mr. Burton be informed that the committee was eni deavoring to prevent vandalism. In regard to the matter of children playing in j the cemetery, he said it was very difficult to stop them, as they might be playing in a part of the cemetery quite out of sight of those working in the cemetery. The only thing to do was to stop children under a certain age going into the cemetery. Some councillors disapproved of such a step being taken, and thought that a warning would be sufficient to make a prosecution unnecessary. The Mayor seconded "the motion, which was carried. GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. Subsequently a meeting of the General Purposes Committee was held, the same councillors being present. t TRAMWAYS EXTENSIONS. The local Ratepayers' Association wrote asking that the tramways engineer be allowed to address a pubiic meeting on the question of the extensions of the tramway system. The matters dealt with in the letter were referred to the Electric Light and Tramways Committee, and it was decided that arrangements would be made for the engineer to address a meeting as desired at a later date. \ WESTERN PARK. A deputation from the Westown Ratepayers' Association, consisting of Messrs G. Corney, J. D. Sole, R. J. Deare, and T. Petty, waited on the council to urge the decision of a recent meeting of the association that the constitution of the controlling committee of the Western Park be altered in. order to give the ratepayers larger powers in the matter. It was pointed out that the people of the West End were nmbitious in regard to the park, and it was believed it could be developed into a municipal playing ground. The idea in the minds of those interested was that a tea kiosk should be erected, and tennis courts and croquet lawns laid down. H was felt, however, that a larger committee was necessary, such as controlled the Kawaroa and East lind Reserves. It was specially stated that was no desire to remove the park from under the council's control. The Mayor asked if the deputation would put in writing the suggestions they had to make in regard to the working of their proposed scheme, and then the council would have something definite to act upon, and would consider them at next week's, meeting. This was agreed to, and the deputation withdrew, after thanking the council for receiving them. The Western Park Board wrote that the following gentlemen had been elected to represent the ratepayers on the board: Messri G, Corney, T. P«tty, R, Read, Mid

W. B. Davies, and asked the council's approval, which was given. LIBRARY AND MUSEUM. The Carnegie Institute Committee reported that Messrs W. H. Skinner, (i. H. 13oll>y, and F. T. Davis had been elected subscribers' representatives on the committee. They also reported that a donation of old coins had been received from Mr. K. Lash, and thanks were expressed for the same. Messrs Skinner, Moyes, and Davis had been appointed a subcommittee to exercise a general supervision over the affairs of the museum. Mr. Skinner waited on the council in regard to a recommendation of the committee that a grant of £SO should be made towards the purchase of exhibits' which may be procurable from time to time, and towards the general development of the museum. Be pointed out that valuable exhibits might be lost for want of such a fund, but that it might be that none or very little of the amount would be spent before the end of the financial year. The Mayor said that, while he had thought the council would be sympathetic towards the suggestion, there would not be time to discuss it at the present meeti ing, but that the council would deal with it next Monday night. The Under-Secretary of Internal Affaii-3 wrote stating that H.R.H. Princess Mary desired to present to the principal museums of the Empire a gift from her Sailors' and soldiers' Christmas Fund, consisting of an embossed brass box, a bullet pencil ease, and a New Year card, as distributed to all soldiers in tha British Empire on Christmas Day, J914, and also a photograph of Her Royai Highness such as was sent to the sailors and soldiers at the front at the same time. The Department asked if the local museum would be prepared to accept the gift in the event of it being offered It was decided to 'intimate that the gift would be accepted with thanks. The New Plymouth Harbor Board wrote offering to place the model of the dredge Paritutu, now in the board's office, on loan to the Carnegie Institute Museum. The offer was accepted with thanks. Mr. P. J. H. White wrote tendering his resignation as the council's representative on the Carnegie Institute Committes on account of pressure of private business. * Regret was expressed that two old members of the committee should be retiring at the present juncture, and it was decided to ask Mr. White to withdraw his resignation at least till the end of the present financial year.

STREETS WORK. The engineer reported having commenced the work of re-surfacing Liardct Street from Devon to Molesworth Street, and stated that the estimated cost was £214 16s 4d. In regard to the length between Leach and Pendarves Streets he said the cost would be £l7O 10s Id, being £2O above the loan allowance The cost of doing the work necessary be. tween Pendarves Street and the entrance to Pukekura Park would be £73 Is 3d, including a width of 24 feet between the rows of trees.

The work on Dawson Street, between Devon and Powdcrham Streets would cost £ll4 2s lOd, £79 above the amount allowed in the loan, but, as the road was to be tarred, it was not more thun was necessary in order to put it in a good state for tarring and prevent scouring at the bottom of the hill.

The estimates were authorised, any excess in the cost to be charged to the general account. W. L. Luscombe wrote asking the council to put a few loads of gravel on Mt. Edgcombe Street, between Wallace Place and Barrett Street.

The engineer reported that before any gravelling was done the road should be at least partially formed. An estimate for forming and gravelling was given as £75 13s 9d.

It was decided that the road be metalled only, the expenditure to be limited to £44. W. J. Honeyfield wrote asking if the council would provide teams and obtain the Railway Department's permission to remove the bank opposite his property at Moturoa. The engineer said he had communicated with the Railway Department, who were considering the matter, and it was left in Mr. Cook's hands.'

The Veatry of St. Mary's Church wrote in regard to the proposed closing of Fulfotd Street, between Robe and Brougham Streets, asking that in the event of that being done the church authorities be guaranteed access for carting building or other material on special occasions.

It was decided that the Streets Subcommittee should inspect the locality and report to the council. GENERAL. The Harbor Board wrote asking if the council would erect two street lights between the tram terminus and the root of the breakwater on account of the badly lighted 'state of that portion of the approach to the wharf and the fact that large numbers of people took the tram when going to catch the boat. ft was decided to refer the letter to the Electric Light and Streets Subcommittee. ft was decided to support the proposal of the Taninaki Bowling Centre to make representations in the direction of having a universal Saturday halfholiday. The Citizens' Band was granted permission to take up a collection at a recital to be given at Kawaroa Park on September 21. xhe Secretary of the Treasury wrote bringing the Victory Loan under the notice of the council and asking for assistance in. bringing it before the public. The council expressed the opinion that the loan should receive generous public support.