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Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1131, 19 May 1911, Page 7

"I submit that we should refuse to advertise in any paper that publishes these secret reports," remarked Councillor Hindmarsh during discussion which occurred in the City Council last night as to how a certain report on the request to supply power to tho Hutt Tramway Board got into tho newspapers before it was put before the council. "It is no doubt very smart of the pressmen, aided the speaker, but he thought it was time a stop was put to the practice. Inferring to this particular report, it was suggested by ono councillor that it must have been either obtained from some official of the council, or else it was taken from the council's offices. Various methods were suggested of preventing tho reports getting out, ono councillor remarking that it was farcical to go on as they vero going. It would ne preferable to make all the Teports public at once to the present unsatisfactory system. No definite decision was arrived at. Regulations under the Public Health •Vet were gazetted last night presenilis the measures to be taken to prevent or check the- spread of plague by means ol rats These regulations are only to coins into force at times and places specified by the Minister and gazetted. A local authority, acting upon the report ot an inspector, "may of its own motion, ami shall if tlic District Health Officer so recommends," require the owner unci occupier of rat-infested premises to take stew for the destruction and exclusion of tho rats. The penalty for failing to comply with such a requisition is not to exceed ,C 5, but there is a further penalty of 10s. a day for each day beyond a date named in tho requisition, the whole fine not to exceed .£SO. The District Health Ofiicer may prohibit the use of a rat-infested building for the preparation or storage of food, and if there is evidence that rat-plague exists on any premises, lie may temporarily prohibit tho use of any building thereon. By an amending regulation gazetted last night, all moneys belonging to this Public Service Superannuation Fund ond in the hands of tho Public Trustee will henceforth form part of the common fund of the Public Trust Office, and will be invested by the Public Trustee accordingly. This regulation applies to nil moneys belonging to the fund, and in the hands of the Public Trustee at tho present timn (whether such moneys are already invested by the Public Trustee on behalf of the Public Service Superannuation Board or not), and all moneys so invested will be deemed to form part of the common fund accordingly. 'Councillor Fitzgerald desired to know at tho City Council meeting last evening why a letter from Messrs. W. H. Edwards and Son, in reference to tin , tender for (ho removal of the Queen's Statue, had not appeared on Hie order paper as having been received. Councillor Fletcher and Councillor ShirtclilFc also took the matter up. The Mayor replied that Hie Town Clerk had explained ro him that the letter had inadvertently been placed on the wrong file. It hail been received oji May 3. Messrs. Edwards and Son in the letter explained that tho provision in the specifications requiring XIOOO insurance, was an impossible condition: no insurance company would Inko tho risk. They, however, made other propo.-als, and asked that their tender be further considered. The Mayor recalled (hat it had beon unanimously decided by the Council that their own engineers should do the work. None ot !ho tcndjjre-rs had complied with the insurance condition.". "Has the City Council sole control of (lie Hutt Road?" asked Councillor Barber at the City Council meeting last; evening. "They were the controlling body of the old road, but who has control of the new road?" "I don't, know," replied tho Mayor. Councillor Ilarber said he asked the question because of an obstruction caused on the road by tho Railway Department. The Mayor said the City Engineer would communicate with the District Engineer ou the matter,