BOROUGH MEETINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 16 March 1900, Page 3

BOROUGH MEETINGS.

BIIfKEXHEAD. PROPOSED TOWN HALL SITE. THE FERRY GRIEVANCES. Birkenheacl Borough Council held a monthly meeting- 'last night, when there were present the Mayor (Mr C. E. .Button), Councillors Kav, Keves, Hadfield, Wallace, Low. and Gascoigne. Road Repairs.— A letter asking' for attention to a road leading- to Mr Hiseoek's house at Chelsea was favourably received and referred to the works committee. ( Verandah— On the recommendation of the works committee .Messrs Clow Eros, were given permission to erect a verandah. Summer Eoads.—The works committee were given standing power to make "summer roads" where needed. Loose Road Metal.—Cr. Gascoigne. drew attention to the trouble caused by road metalling becoming loose, and moved that an experiment be made on the road from Mrs Wernham's house to Mr Harris's of the effect of 4 inches of cinder covered with one quarter the proportion of clay; and also cinder with one third of clay. Cr. Kay seconded, but on the suggestion of the Mayor the question was referred to the works committee with power to act. Advertising the District,—On tin? question of advertising for road metal Crs. Kay and Keyes moved that notices should he posted up in the district. Crs. Hadfield and Wallace moved that the advertisement be fed in the "Star," the former obthat they would thus be adsing the district. The amendi.....it was carried. Temporary Yard.—Power was given to the works committee to erect a temporary general yard near the wharf for shells, pipes, etc. The Pine Tree Nuisance.—Cr. Gascoigne moved that the works committee be directed' to draw up a report for the next meeting showing what parts of the roads were suffering from overhanging pine trees. Cr. Keyes seconded. Cr. Hadfield said the matter had already been referred once to this committee, and they had taken no action. The. motion was carried. The Rating List.—The town clerk submitted the new valuation list, which showed that the rateable value of the borough had increased during the year from £563S to £6S4S, a difference of £1210. Dogs. —The dog inspector's bill was passed, in ■which it was shown that £15 15/ had been collected in the borough in clog taxes, equivalent to 63 clogs. After all expenses were paid the Council retained a profit of about £10. Overdue Rates.—Replying to a question by Ci\ Wallace the Mayor said that the addition of 10 per cent, to rates which were 6 months overdue from the, day on which the rate was stated to be payable was bound by law td be enforced. Neither the town clerk nor the Council had any power to .release the defaulter. Town Hall Site,—Crs. Wallace and Keyes reported Judge Edgar had been interviewed with regard to the purchase of a site for a town hall in the borough. He offered to sell-the Council or a.ny other authority for this purpose a corner of his property at the point where the Birkenheacl and Birkdale Roads met, opposite the finger post at Mr W. Taylor's. He offered 2 chains frontage on the main .road with about 2i chains frontage on the side road leading to Hall's beach —a three-cornered section covering half an acre—and the price asked was £ 1 per foot, a. total of £132. Mr Harris stated that Judge Edgar was reminded that the land was wanted for. a public purpose, and he suggested that the Council should make an offer. Eventually on the motion of Cr. Wallace the town, clerk was instructed to offer to purchase the site for £120, the Council paying a deposit of £20, and subsequent yearly instalments of £20 for five years, the unpaid balance to be subject to 5 per cent, interest. The Ferry Boats.—Cr. Gascoigne brought up the ferry question, and stater that he saw the -Mayor was interesting himself m it. He felt that although as a Council they had no legal power in. the matter, yet they had a moral force, and he hoped they would use that power to'strengthen the Mayor's hands in getting improvements in the ferry service. He felt that the Birkenhead and Northcote passengers were entitled either to a reduction of the fares or to season tickets such as were granted to residents at Devonport. The attitude of the Ferry Company had the effect of keeping back their districts, and he asked that the Council should do their part in showing them that the feeling on the question was unanimous. It was also often impossible to get a clean seat on the steamers.The Mayor said that in answer to a circular invitation he attended before the Harbour Board that afternoon to hear the grievances on the matter, especially in regard to clean seats. Mr Alison was present, and said the steamers were kept as clean as it was possible to keep them, but that this was difficult owing to the steamers having to carry cargo. Mr Alison also declared that the assertions made in the letter to the Harbour Board were scandalous. The Mayor added that he did not know that Cr. Gaseoigne agreed with him in this matter, bub was glad to see the spontaneous feeling which existed throughout the borough. Other councillors concur* red. •