BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1922, Page 2

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

WAR MEMORIAL SITE. The New Plymouth Borough Council met on Monday night to discus* in committee certain business, but dealt also with matters set out hereunder. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), was in the chair, and the following (jouncillors were present: Messrs. J. Kibby, T. N. Blackball, E. Dingle, R. A. Large, J. Brown, F. J. Hill, and V. Griffiths. The Harbor Board advised that it had been agreed that the basis of exchange of property between the board and tne council in connection with the war memorial site be on values by arbitration, any difference in the values to be paid for in cash or future exchange, as may be agreed upon by the two bodies. The council agreed to the proposal, and appointed Mr. R. Ellis as its valuer. Mr. W. Nicoll asked if the couucii would pay half the cost of a board fence between its section and one belonging to Mrs. Nicoll at the corner of Mangorei Road and Devon Street. The council decided that it would contribute only the half cost of a post and wire fence. The programme of recitals submitted by the 4th Battalion Wellington Regiment Band was approved, but the council declined to give permission to take collections at more than six recitals in addition to those specified on the programme. The appointment of a cleaner at the Carnegie Institute was left in the hands of Cr. Brown, with power to act. The engineer wrote with reference to tree planting at the council’s nurseries with the object of growing trees for use for transmission poles, wharf piles and house building, stating he had been in communication with Mr. Maxwell and also the State Forestry Department on the subject, both of whom had furnished a great deal of useful information and enumerated the trees they considered should be planted. —The council decided to leave to the discretion of the engineer the class of trees to be planted. Messrs. Weston and Billing wrote on behalf of Mr. J. Coleman supporting a claim for compensation in respect to the diversion of the waters of the Waiwakaiho river through the hydro-electric works. It was stated that Mr. Coleman would be obliged to erect some 30 chains of fencing to prevent stock crossing the dry river-bed, thereby losing the use of land on the banks of the river, and further loss was occasioned by the absence of drinking water for his stock.—The council declined to acknowledge any liability in regard to the claim for compensation. Mr. F. H. ‘ Jellyman, on behalf of Mr. Walker, butcher, Vogeltown, applied to the council to run the three phase system to Vogeltown.—lt was decided to inform the applicant that as there was only one applicant for the power at present, the council could not consider the extension of the system to Vogeltown. Mr. A. E. Sykes intimated that he intended rebuilding in Brougham Street shortly, and desired to know if the council intended proceeding with the erection of the public convenience directly in front of his building, as was shown on the plan. —The council decided that the conveniences would not he erected directly opposite any existing doorway. Permission was granted to the local Salvation Army to take up a street collection on October 20, in >aid of its annual self-denial appeal. The collection is to be strictly confined to the streets.

The report of the librarian of the Carnegie Institute for the month ended September 2>l stated that 17 new subscribers had joined and 16 had left. A total of 58 new books had been added to the library. A few more exhibits have been added to the Old Colonists' collection, and several cases arranged to accommodate further gifts. Smail plates giving the brief history have been placed over the old try pots and mill stones standing in front of the institute. Improvements have been effected in the mounting and displaying of a number of exhibits in the museum. During the month, Mr. H. D. Skinner, of the Otago University Museum, had oeen in New Plymouth, and had given the librarian valuable assistance and information relating to the Skinner Collection, and had also suggested a scheme for localising the Taranaki Maori exhibits. He is also arranging to send some further exhibits, in exchange, to supplement the local collection.