BOROUGH MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1921, Page 8

BOROUGH MATTERS.

NEW PLYMOUTH COUNCIL.

THE ORDINARY MEETING.

; The New Plymouth Borough-Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), Crs. J. Kibby, V. Griffiths, T. N. Blackball, W. Bumball, J. Brown and E. Dingle. An apology for absence was received from Cr. R. L. Parkin.

DEVON STREET WEST.

Reporting <ln the question of repairs to Devon Street West, between Morley Street and Cutfield Road, the engineer (Mr. W. 11. Cook) stated: The„ ceritrq of this, length of road is rough, and re J quires scarifying and rolling, with some fresh metal to make the surface good. A large amount of traffic passes over the road; this traffic would otherwise pass over St. Aubyn Street, but I notice the tendency is to avoid the narrow portion of this street, hence the division of traffic. I estimate the cost at £lBO to £lBO, which would come out of maintenance account, no money having been allocated in the loan for this road. On the motion of Crs. Blackball and Brown, it was decided that tile engineer be authorised to have the work carried out.

FINANCE AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The following recommendations from the finance and executive committee were adopted:—That the letter from the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, protesting against the destruction of Paritutu, be received; that the Council approve of the expenditure of £l5 for trees and £5 for labor for tree planting at Rotokare Domain, the expenditure to be charged against the funds of the domain; that Messrs. Duncan and Davies be thanked for donating £3 worth of trees to the Rotokare Domain; that the borough inspector be instructed to prosecute persons depositing hedge cuttings and noxious weeds upon borough streets; that Messrs. J. Johnston and J. Copestake be informed that owing tn the lack of funds the council cannot see its way to authorise the construction of the lower end of Record Street; that consideration of the letter from Mr. R. A. Large with reference to the storm-water drainage at Belt Road and Cutfield Road, and offering certain drainage rights, be deferred to enable the committee to view the locality (borough engineer's estimate of cost of work required 323); that Mr. John Knowles J>e informed that owing to lack of funds the council is unable to incur the expense of eradicating the gorse and blackberry growing upon the side of the upper portion of Mangorei Road; that residents hi the locality having taken up debentures to the value of £5OO, the borough engineer be authorised to form and metal and tar seal Govett- Avenue from Frankley Road to the top of the hill, provision for which was made in the £57,000 loan schedule; that Mr. C. Kyngdon’s offer to s'upply free of cost the metal and blinding required for repairing Rimu Street be accepted, and the borough engineer be authorised to do the work (estimated cost to council £20); that the borough engineer be authorised to form and metal the entrance to Omata Road at an estimated cost of £ll2, the expenditure being provided for in the £57,000 loan; that Messrs. Webster Bros be informed that there are no funds available for the asphalting of James Lane; that the attention of the Mt. Byron Improvement Committee be called to the condition of the Mt. Byron Domain, and the committee be asked whether it has . any intention of carrying on. ' That the council endorse the resolution passed by the Invercargill Borough Council, protesting against the responsibility for collecting income tax upon municipal debenture coupons being placed upon borough councils. That the authority given for tree planting in Liardet Street be cancelled, and that the Peace Celebrations Committee lie requested to recommend some other street in which trees purchased from money donated by the committee shall be planted. That in view of the financial position of the council the authorities given for the following works be cancelled,:— Fencing off Fulford Street at RubeBrougham Streets, battering banks and forming footpath; lowering drain Fitzrov Road; observatory paths fencing and flower beds, with the exception o. such port mis of the work as the gaoler may be willing to undertake without cost to council.

ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEI

The following recommendations of the eleetrict light committee were adopted: That authority be given for the sale of debentures of the £72,000 loan at such a price as will produce to the lender not exceeding 6 per cent, per annum. That the thanks of the council be tendered to the State Advances Office fpr arranging the State guarantee of tl»e £60,000 loan. A letter was received from the consuiting engineers referring to an interview "between the committee and Mr. Lee. and intimating that they regretted their inability to accept less than the commission of 5 per cent, agreed upon.

GENERAL

On the niotion of Crs. Rumball and Griffiths, the engineer was requested to report’ on the question of repairs to the Govett-Avenue Road beyond the proposed tar-sealing area.