MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1920, Page 5

MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH j COUNCIL. GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE, The General Purposes Committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: —The Mayor (Mr. 'Jas. Clarke), Crs. .1. W. Hayden, A. S. Brooker, R. L. Parkin, F. J. Hill, W. ACollis, and V. Griffiths. ROADS AND FOOTPATHS. Six ratepayers wrote again calling the attention of the Council to the condition of Dartmoor Avenue and Webster Street, which was said to be now practically impassable. The general manager reported that he was unable to recommend that the work should be done, as the ordinary revenue was insufficient for general maintenance He was not in favor of borrowing in advance from the loans authorised'. It was stated that the work had been authorised some time ago, but nothing had been done. The matter was referred to the streets sub-committee. Eight residents and property-owners of Seaview Road, Westown, wrote, calling attention to the bad state of the road, and suggested forming and metalling tho first 15 chains. The borough engineer reported the cost would be approximately .€145, including a culvert at the entrance, and the general manager commented on similar lines to his note on the letter relating to Dartmoor Avenue and Webster Street. The matter was left in the hands of the streets sub-committee, with an idea of affording some temporary relief. Several ratepayers and residents of Lemon Street wrote, asking the Council to do something to improve the footpaths in the street before the winter season.

The engineer reported the work of giving the paths a coating of gravel was in hand. BUILDING MATTERS. Plans were approved for the erection of two residences on Avenue Road, estimated to cost £I7OO and £750 lyPermission was granted to Mr. W. W. Thomson to use certain timber from a house at Okato in the erection of two houses within the Borough, the inspector having certified the same to be in a sound condition. The Council endorsed the resolution of the Pahiatua County Council, drawing the attention of the Prime Minister to the unsatisfactory wording of the Housing Act, lillfl, in that it does not make provision for the purchase of land to erect buildings or to purchase dwellings jjlready erected. It was decided that in regard to ail buildings erected in the future, the bylaws requiring a separate branch sewer to each building be strictly enforced. . HEALTH INSPECTION. A long letter was received from*the Chief Health Officer in regard to health inspection and sanitary matters. It was admitted that the Council's view that, one inspector for the Taranaki Hospital District was insufficient to cope with the prevention of infectious diseases, and that there was sufficient work in this connection in the Borough of New Plymouth alone for one inspector, niid thero was no reason why such an officer should not be employed by the Council. Regarding the outside authorities, thew was work in those districts for another man, and there was no reason why they should not employ an inspector and contribute to the salary of an officer appointed by the Department. In the event, of the Act being altered the Department would be prepared to supply a specially trained officer for work in the Borough, and accept a substantial sum towards his salary from the Council. As an alternative proposal the Council could appoint a trained officer . . . the Department becoming the one authority keeping a general oversight in regard to infectious diseases. •. . . Tho sug-

gestion was that the Department should take the position now allotted to th« Hospital Boards and levy direct on tha local bodies unable to afford an inspector .' . . instead of doing so through the medium of the hospital levies as at present. ... The borough manager suggested that if the Department contributed towards the salary of the inspector, the arrangement proposed should prove acceptable I) the Council.

NGAIRE RESERVE. A sub-committee consisting of the Mayor, in company with the' General Manager'mid the Valuer (Mr. H. F. Russell) met the tenants of the above rjserve at Stratford and discussed the valuations of the improvements effected on the various farms. Mr. J. B. Richards, the tenants' valuer, acted as spokesiua-i for the tenants. The valuations submitted were as follows: — Richards, Govf. RuSsell. £ £ £ No. 1 (Ml 840 925 No. 2 788 1060 1045 No. a 1001 812 143(1 No. 4 1628 1575 2000 No. 5 1642 2235 2810 No. fl 1084 1054 1715 No. 7 2068 1667 2276 No. 8 IflOS 1735 2300 No. 0 1046 1127 1725 : | No. 10 403 582 785 No. 11 875 825 880 £13,144 '£14,412 £17,897 The matter was discussed at sorm) length, when the Committee came to the conclusion that the valuations submitted by Mr. Russell were fair and reasonable. The most substantial argument submitted by the tenants was that as under the present leases the Council wer« not entitled to ths improvmtatt tat, MY«aI-