DEVONPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 103, 1 May 1894, Page 2

DEVONPORT.

The erdiaary meeting of the Devon port Borough Council last evening was attended by Messrs E. W."Alison (Mayor, presiding), B. Duder, W. Avenel, R. Wynyard, 0. Mays, R. Cameron, M. Niccol, fl. Lankham, S. C. Macky, and Hammond.

Calliope DocK.-^-The Waterworks' Engineer estimated that the cost of connecting the nearest part of the Calliope Dock with the water supply would be not less than £50.—The question of connecting the Dock with the water supply was referred to the Waterworks Committ* * to bring up a report on,the Engineer to bepresentat theCominittee meeting, and it was decided to send a reply to that effect to the Auckland Harbour Board.

Dangerous Pipe Track.—Mr M. Peterson wrote complaining that he had met with an accident and had broken the axle of his cart owing to the dangerous state of the water-pipe track in Cheltenham Road. He claimed 30s as damages for the injury to his cart.—The letter was referred to the waterworks contractors.

Licensing Elections.—A letter was received from the clerk to the Waitemata County Council requesting: the Devon port Borough Council to pay the sum of £28 3s sd, the borough's share of the expenses in connection with the recent licensing election in the Eden electorate. The general opinion was that the expenses were excessive but that there was no help for it but to pay.— The matter was referred to the Finance and Legal Committee to report upon. Closing of Roads.—With regard to Mr W. J. Napier's recent complaints to the Council re the alleged illegal closing of public roads in the Borough, Messrs Devore and Cooper, the Council's solicitors, wrote stating that, with reference to the road at Narrow Neck, where Messrs Duder Bros. bad leased come property, the road was a public one, and must bo' kept open, and that the fence closing id must be removed. Mr Napier's suggestion that swing gates should be erected could not legally be given effect to. With regard to the alleged closing of roads ab Stanleystreet, and from Brick Bay to Stanley Point, the solicitors stated that an exhaustive search had been made, but no proof of dedication of the roads in question, or showing that the roads were public ones, cculd be found. In these two cases, therefore, the roads were not public ones.— The matter was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee.

Financial Estimate.—The statement of •atimabed receipts and expenditure for the year ended March 31sb, 1895, was read by tbe Mayor. The statement showed that the estimated receipts stood at £1,600 Is Id, and that the expenditure was estimated at £1,746 5a 7d, leaving a liability of £146 4s 6d. The incoming rates for tbe year were estimated at £930 9s, and there were in arrears rates totalling £245 8s Id. The total rateable value of the borough was stated to be £18,596.—The estimates were approved of. Grey-street.— The Streets Committee recommended that £15 should be spent on the footpath in Grey-street. A long discussion took place over the question of improving the Grey - street foocpath, (Jr. Maya characterising the proposal to spend only £15 on the street as a " shabby " one. He considered that the street should have more money spent on it. —It was decided that the Council should meet on the ground and go into the matter there.

Finance.— Accounts amounting to £1,741 3s 2d were passed for payment. Of this amounb £1,214 16a 3d went to Messrs J. Chambers and Son, agenb for Tangye's, on accounb of waterworks machinery supplied, and £407 10s to Messrs Cole and Moody, waterworks contractors. .

Waterworks Contract. — Cr. Mays strongly complained of the manner in which the contractors had covered up the water-pipe tracks in the borough. After BOtne discussion ib was resolved, " That tl.o Engineer be instructed to cauße the contractors to forthwith put tbe pipe-tracks in good order throughout the borough, and metal them as required by the conditions of contract), the Engineer to report on tbe matter ab next meeting." Waterworks Committee.—The name ot Cr. Macky was added to the Waterworks Committee, on the motion of the Mayor. General Rate, —On the motion of, the Mayor, ib was decided to strike ab the nexb meeting of the Council a general rate of la in the £ on all rateable property in the borough for the ensuing year, payable on June 1, 1894.

Waterworks Rate.—The Mayor moved, in accordance with notice given, "That a special rate of 9d in the £ be levied on all rateable property within the borough, for the purpose of providing the interest upon the loan of £15,000 raised by this Council for waterworks purposes. Such rate shall be an annual recurring rate, and shall be payable in one sum on June Ist of every year until the said loan is paid off."—The motion waa adopted. The Mayor stated that the rate would be payable year after year for 49 more years.