BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1922, Page 6

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

NEW PLYMOUTH COUNCIL. ■rule ERECTION OF OIL STORES. The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), Councillors J. Kibby, T. W. Blackhall, E. Dingle, R. A. Large, J. Brown, F. J. Hill, and V. Griffiths. The special regulations authorising the raising of the Frankleigh Park loan and a special rate in connection therewith were confirmed. The Farmers’ Co-op. asked permission to erect a benzine store in Courtenay Street. The site had been verbally approved by the Government inspector and the Borough Tn spector (Mr. R. Day) recommended that permission be granted subject to the approval of the Government inspector being obtained. The store when full would hold 1000 cases. Cr. Large said he was sorry to see benzine stores going up all over the borough. The Mayor agreed, particularly to the erection of such a store in Courtenay Street, i but he would move that the application bfe granted subject to the plans being approved by the Explosives Department. The resolution was carried, councillors,, remarking that they would have to grant this application as others of a similar nature had been approved. PRIVATE CROSSINGS. Mr. J. H. Bleakley, Vogeltown, wrote with reference to a crossing put in at his property by the council, for which he had had to pay £5 12s 6d. He pointed out that the work had not yet been finished, as the road had not been metalled from the metal to the crossing. Unless this was done, the road between the crossing and the metal would be cut up and spoil the work which had already been done. Mr. Cook, the Borough Engineer, said < that it had not been the practise to gravel or metal between private crossings and the metalled roadway. If this was done it would require some hundreds of yards of metal each year. When it had been done the work had been carried out at the request of, and had been paid for by, th? private owner, as the council had no direct interest in private crossings. It was decided to supply the metal on the terms suggested by the applicant. DRAINAGE SCHEME. The Deputy-Director-General of Health telegraphed that the department was of opinion that engineers competent, to report on a complete drainage scheme for the borough were available in the Dominion,, and recommended the council to advertise. It was further suggested that the engineer in-chief of the Public Works Department and the Director-General of Health be asked to advise in the final selection. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration. THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE. The Secretary of the Taranaki Education Board (Mr. H. W. Insull) advised that the Education Department had approved of the establishment of a Board of i Managers for the New Plymouth Technical College, and asked that the council arrange for a representative to meet him at the Education Board’s office. The Mayor said that as the council paid a subsidy to the Technical College they should have a representative, not necessarily a member of the council, but someone who knew something about education and technical education in particular. Cr. Blackball would not be able to act as their representative, as he had on the Advisory Board, owing to his having left New Plymouth. It was decided to leave the matter over until next Monday night. LOCAL BODIES’ LOANS. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Minister of Internal Affairs, forwarded a copy of the Local Bodies’ Loans Amendment Act, and called particular attention to Sections 6 and 7. The former section gives power to local bodies to borrow money for the relief of unemployment, and the latter section authorises the borrowing of the cost of raising a loan to pay off antecedent liability in cases where a local body has raised or proposes to raise the necessary loan outside New Zealand.—Received. THE LICENSING ISSUE. The Taranaki Licensed Victuallers’ Association applied for permission to erect posters on all the hotels in New Plymouth, while the Taranaki Provincial Prohibition Council requested permission to erect hoardings in various parts of the borough. Permission had already been given in accordance with the by-laws, subject to the notices being removed within seven days after the election and to the payment of such fees as the council might impose. The licensed victuallers agreed to these terms, but the Prohibition Council asked for further information as to the fees before committing themselves. |

The council decided to charge each party £l. HOLDSWORTHY ROAD. Mr. A. H. Huggitt asked the council to consider the matter of improxing Holdsworthy Road, leading to his section. Mr. Cook reported that this length of road had never been formed, but when it was in the county some gravel was tipped along one side for a short length. Subject to certain conditions, he recommended that about 20 cubic yards of metal be roughly spread to get over the soft length, the ruts to be ploughed, and a roughlyformed track made at a cost of about £l5. Owing to shortage of funds it was decided to hold over the application. GENERAL. With reference to the miniature rifle range at the Technical College, the council reconsidered the matter. It was decided to grant approval during the pleasure of the council and subject to a safe range being erected, and that no firing was carried out except when a master was present. Mry L. Little, on behalf of the Sports Ground Committee, asked permission to remove about 100 yards of black soil from the old Carrington Road, for top-dressing the Sports Ground. The engineer said no harm would be done if the application were granted.-—The application was granted. Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths, secretary of the t Whiteley Methodist Church Trust, forwarded an amended plan of alterations to the stairs leading to the gallery in the church. The plans provided for square landings, as requested by the Fire Board superintendent.—The plans will b'e forwarded to the Fire Board for its consideration.