PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 427, 9 February 1909, Page 3

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

■ - ■ ' -.*■'' '■'•. "■'.'' "■■'' ■■:* ~;,' Last night's meeting of the Potono. Borough Council was attended by the Mayor; (Mr.; J. W.-. M'Ewan), Councillors Coles, Short, Young, Harding, Loddor,'Castle, Golquhoun, and Smith. : . ■'■'..' . .. ■ The Hutt Park Committee forwarded .-'av copy of Messrs. Stafford and Treadwell's bill of: costs in connection with the: Park litigation, and tho committee asjeed \.for an expression of the council's opinion on the bill.-"• Tho costs amounted to £69 175.-Tho Mayor stated that tho council had already-expressed its views on tho matter, -aiid he did-not think that it was necessaryfor them tp do so again. Councillor Colquhoun said he thoughtthat, since the matter was last before them, a considerable amount.'had been,tacke,d on to the costs, and the committee ■ 'wished to get tho 'opinion '.of the '. council as to whether to'agreo to the payment.; Members of the council were generally of opinion that the costs were too great, but they differed as to how the matter-should be dealt with- Councillor Castle suggested that the bill of costs should be taxed by tho registrar, and eventually the May or moved to the cefFct that -the. letter 'be .replied to •urging the Park Cpmmittee .'to come; to an amicable arrangement,-and, .failing:this, to have tho bill of costs;taxed. . ~ ■~ ■ •'.': The Under-Socretary.:for Lands wrote advising that the Minister .had agreed to the sale of [the site, required by the council for a pumping station, at the price offered, viz., £300 per acre.. The land ,m.,.qu'estion is a little over an acre in extent;/'■ .';'•' -'■■:. ■ : . A letter'was-received ironi the -Christ-, church. City Council regarding the Public Bodies.Loan Act,,1908, in which it is pro.vided that the Public Trustee msut be apnointed a-. , ' sinking funds commissioner by local bodies who may. not invest'their sinking funds outside New Zealand. The Christehurch Council considered that the'provision was unnecessary and calculated to take away : a large amount of the local bodies' freedom; ;They, suggested that an effort be made : to have the Act amended or repealed. '.: . : The Mayor stated that the matter.'.had been, before the-Wellington 1 City Council recently, and- the Mayor (Hon. 'I , ;; W. Hislop) Jiad : expressed the opinion that the Government 'was going ..too fn.r. The section regarding tho investment of sinking funds would, mean ■that a large amount.,'of interest would .be lost to the local bodies. ■ •It was decided, on the motion of Councillor Coles,-that the council support the action of the Christchurch .Council, and; request the number for ■ the district to support' an amendment to the.Act. ' ':■. ' : '■..■. '/ v "- Plans and specifications of the new Hutt Bridge were received and laid on tha table. ■■..: '~ The : rtpprt of-the Domain' Board for-the year ended December 31,1905, was received'. The expenditure was shown to be £23 9s. ;2d;.--..;- ..:■- , •■"' - : :;}.■■: \■• .~'