PETONE BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 8

PETONE BOROUGH AFFAIRS

MEETING OV THE COUNCIL. Tho ordinary of tho Potono Couiiuil, ndjoiirncd from last week, \viirf iieltl liist evening. The Mayor (Mr. J. \V- -\l.'K«iin) prosidod, and therewere alno present Councillors C. 1 , . Brocklebank, \\. Cox, J". Clnuchouse, J. M'Doiigull, A. lU'lvenzie, I!.- H. Jones, ii nd B. Tosi'y. A request was received from tlio Lower llutt lioremgh Council for tho appointment of two representatives to attend a conference regarding the driving of stock through the respective "boroughs of Hutt and Petone. The Mayor and Councillor Ncvvland were appointed to represent Fetone.

Thu committee of the Petoiie District High School was granted permission to requisition'.the services of Mr. J. Smith, the supervisor ■of the borough reserves, to teach the pupils of the school how to plant and prune trees and shrubs. The General Manager of Railways (Mr. E. H. Uiley), in reply to the council, stated that.instructious had been issued to allow women and girls access to a part of the railway statiou without payment. Councillors considered tho reply very satisfactory, and expressed the hope that similar facilities would be given women sit other railway stations. The secretary 'of the Grace Trnstees wrote informing tho council that an estimate was being procured of the cost of connecting tho premises held in trust with the sewerage system: In the event of the cost being too great and the council insisting on the work being done, the trustees stated that they would be compelled to close the place up. Tho owner of the promises occupied by the council us n plumbing shop gave notice to the council to vacate the premises, and it. was decided to , authorise tho borough engineer to erect a , building for the use of the council's plumbers. A report was, received from. tho Harbour Board engineer (Mr. J. Marchbanks) respecting the pollution of the harbour at Petone. The engineer stated that ho liad inspected the foreshore during the winter months, and did not find any undue pollution, but ho intended making a further inspection during tho summer ■months. Hβ pointed out that the council had power to deal with pollution. Councillor Churchouee said it was unfortunate' that the inspection had not been mado in the summer months, as it was a well-known fact that the harbour was polluted, and ho alleged that the health of bathers was endangered The Mayor remarked (that the council was tho biggest offender in regard to polluting the harbour. The Iselson. Street drain discharged wash and greasy water iuto the harbour. There must do Borne cause for disease, and he desired to point out that Petone was as healthy a place -to live in as any in New. Zealand, and thoro were fewer cases of tuberculosis or diphtheria in the district per head of population. _. than in. any similar ono in the Dominion. , A letter was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs advising that it is hoped to introduce legislation during the present session of Parliament dealing with the registration and licensing bi motor, drivers. Councillor M'Kenzio moved, in accordance with notice—"That it is tho wish of tho Potono Council that the Government allow all letters, newspapers, and parcels to be carried free of postage to soldiers and sailors who are on active service at the front. The heavy tax on many persons who are eking out a bare existence is almost prohibitive in sending comforts and reading matter to those that are grateful for them. Wβ suggest that tho articles bo conveyed frco of charge, which will mean taxation ovei tho whole people instead of a. portion as at present." Tho motion was wwnilj supported and carried unanimously. On a fnrther motion by Councillor M'Kenzio it was resolved to ascertain il a right of way existed through a propcrtj lending to Koro Koro. Councillor Cox moved:-'"J lint tho aclion of tlm council representatives or the Petone IMto Board, in refusmp: to sil with a foreign-born subject, appointed l>.i the Government on tho ; Potono J' in Board be approved by tho council, am Hint t'ho Government bo asked to recou siller tho apnoiiithunit." Tho motim was opposed by two councillors, on Uw 'ground that it was not in accordance wit British fuir play, but after other councillors had Fpokeii tho motion was earned