HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1152, 13 June 1911, Page 6

HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

4QUESTION OF FIBE ESCAPES. The ordinary meeting of the Lower Ilutt Borough Council .as held last evening. Present: —Thfi Mayor P. Bunny), Councillors Knight, Kempthorne, Hoots, Clendon, Ball, Hobos, Hodgins, and Hawthorne. Dr. Hector applied for tho erection .*f a street lamp at the entrance to his residence in Waterloo Road, and offered to contribute <£2 to .C 3 and expenses of cleaning for a period of three or four years. On the report of the Works Committee it was decided to grant the request conditional on Dr. Hector paying i? 3 annually for four years. The secretary of the Hutt. Fire Brigado forwarded a comprehensive report on the question of the fire escapes at the public halls, and also at the hotels in the borough. .At both St. James and King George's Halls the provisions (tho report state) were unsatisfactory. l'n two of the churches tho doors opened inwards, while the fire escapes at some of the hotels were stated to bo unsatisfactory. Councillor Hodgins pointed out that tlu hole! fire escapes were under the supo*. vision of the Licensing Committee, anl Uic police had ma<te an inspection of them two weeks ago, and had reported them to be satisfactory. Councillor .]|Mv,-t hpj'no .stated that 1 lie plans of King-George's Theatre had been passed by both the past and tho present engineers. Ho gave particulars describing (he fire escapes at tho theatre. Ho commented in severe terms on the report, anil stated that he intended asking Mr. Hugo to come out and inspect the building. The engineer stated that he considered Uic escapes at King George's Theatre to be ample. The plans for St, jr.i)ie3> Hall had not been passed in his time, and certain alterations were desirable. The Mavor thought that the coun:il must take* the advico of its engineer. The report was eventually referred K, the Works Committee. The 3'etone Borough Council returned the council's account of .£l7 17s. for expenses incurred in connection with tin recent Harbour Board election, aid stated that, tho Ilarbour Board objected to certain of the items. The Town Clerk reported that, he had forwarded particulars of the disputed items, which he considered were reasonable.

Councillor llobbs was appointed one of the council's representatives on the IV tone Technical School Board, vice Mr. 11. Baldwin, resigned. Mr. R. Lee, representing tho Western Ilutt branch of the Ilutt Ratepayers' Association, applied for tho extension of the footpath along Parliament Street.— Application to bo dealt with in the estimates for tho coming year.

Consideration of other applications from ratepayers asking for improvements t'o footpaths in various parts of tho borough wero also deferred until the estimates wero being framed. The applications of five members of the council's staff for increases of wages wero similarly deferred.

A petition, signed by 91 ratepayers and resielents in the vicinity of Moiling Siding was presented, asking for the erection of a street lamp at Melling railway crossing.—Railway Department to bo asked to contribute towards the cost of a lamp.

An application for exemption from obligation to connect with the sewerago system was received from Mr. Neazor. The ground of application was the probability of the property being reejuired for tramway construction purposes. The application was not acceded to.

Councillor Knight was nominated for the vacancy on tho Taita Cemetery Board caused by the resignation of Mr. G. I'earce.

The Valuer-General intimated that Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., would prosido at a sitting of tho Assessment Court at Lower Ilutt on July 12.

The Town Clerk reported that only one application had been received for the position of junior clerk.—lt was decided to call for further applications. Messrs. Gray and Jackson, on behalf of Jlr. C. Harris, asked for the return of =£25, deposited, which had been forfeited through Mr. Harris being unable to complete contract agreement. It was resolved lhat Hie opinion of thn solicitor to (he Municipal Association be obtained on t'he matter.

The engineer's report, on King George's Theatre being satisfactory, a public-hall license was granted for same. Councillor Clendon moved, and Councillor Ilobbs seconded: "That the library subscription bo reduced to three shillings for the half-year, and five shillings for the year." The Mavor stated that he would support the reduction if a minimum of 250 subscribers were obtained, and it was eventually resolved to postpone further consideration of the ■ motion. Tn the meantime a library committee, consisting of Councillors Clendon, Ball, and Hoots was appointed. The engineer reported that the sewers round ITautana (square- and Hautana Street have been completed and also nil side connections. This section of sowers was.now. being (lushed, and as scon a.s the work had been done, house connections would be ready to be made. Five and a half chains of sower bad been laid in IMlevue Road, the cost to dat« being ,il". r > 12s. Id. A petrol engine and pump had been procured and wero doing good work—even better than the steam roller, and large pump, which had been in use previously. The footpath in Western ITutt was in an indifferent condition and it was recommended that, the whole path be graded, travelled, rolled, and tarred. ■ The cost, it was estimated, would bo about ,£3O.

The council decided to hold its annual lour of inspection of the borough next Saturday.

Jt was decided (o join wit'h (he Wellington celebrations in connection with the Coronation.