PETONE BOROUGH BUSINESS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 18, 16 October 1917, Page 3

PETONE BOROUGH BUSINESS

MEETING Ol? THE COUNCIL. The* Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) presided over the ordinary, meeting of the Petone Borough Council, hold last evening. There were present: Councillors W. Cox, C. P. Brocklebank, J. Churchouso, Foster, S. Newlands, J. M'Doug. all, D. M'lCenzie, and It. H. Jones. A letter was received from tho secretary of the Petone Technical School, applying for the usual grant from the council, and it was deoided to subsidise the school to the amount of -C3O. St.-David's Presbyterian Church Girls' Bible Class applied for a ground for the purpose of playing basketball. Tho matter was left in the hands of the engineer to select a suitable ground for the applicants. It was decided to support the Hutt Borough Council in stating a case before the Supreme Court to test the validity of certain alterations in values of properties reduced since March 31, whon tlia rate, for tho year was struck. Tho council also agreed to pay one-third of tho coat of the action as requested. Tho necessity foi< taking this action, it was stated, 'was duo to the fact that some (properly-owners had their properties valued, with tho result that, tho values wcro reduced. A claim had been made for tho rates to be struck on ihe reduced valuation, and in order that tho councils concerned may ascertain their position a decision of the Supremo Court is to be obtained.

In supporting t-ho application of the Hutt County Council, Councillor Cox said, that ho was against land speculators getting a reduction in rates.

The borough engineer was instructed' lo confer with tho Lower Hutt borough engineer with respect to the best means of dealing with the water from Huggins's Gully.

E. iT. Taylor asked tho council to accept surrender of his lease of tlio borough's property at Mangaraki. • Tbo applicant stated that ho had lost a number of valuable cows through tho nature of the property. It was decided to grant tho Tequest, provided tho fences on tho property were left in a good state ot repair. Thts question of supplying the council's motor-bus to carry about 500 children between Hutt and Potone on Ijabour Day was dealt with in committeo. Councillor D. M'Kenzio brought up the question of the high price of meat, and tabled a motion to the effect that tho State should stock Crown lands with cattle and sheep and so be in a position to supply the people with meat at a cheaper rate. He spoke at some length. on the subject, quoting the latest statistics bearing on the matter. Ho was strongly in favour of encouraging State enterprise, and quoted tho success of the State coalmines in regulating the price of coal. Ho said it was a scandal that with so much meat, butter, and cheeso in store the pconlo should be paying such high prices for those commodities. The Mayor contended that Councillor Mlvenzie's motion, was a palliative that would have no beneficial effect whatever. Ho spoke at some length on the subject. The proposal did not commend itself to tho majority of the councillors. The borough engineer's report, which was adopted, stated inter alia that the building permits recently granted included n motor garage and store and two miscellaneous building?, of the total value of =£2035, and the building permits granted this year to date 6howed a total value of £5192. The borough inspector reported that there were three dilapidated dwellings in the borough, and he had requested the district health officer to inspect them. He recommended that a licence to pell be granted to an applicant whose ilniry had been registered by the Agricultural Department.