Petone Borough Council.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1889, Page 2

Petone Borough Council.

An adjourned meeting of the Petone Borongh Conncil was held last evening in the Council's office. Present— His Worship the Mayor (Mr. S. R. Johnson), Councillors Kelly, Wilkie, Fraser, Hess, Upton, Collett. The Mayor moved, in pursuance of notice, " That in future tho meetings of the Council be held monthly, and on the second Tuesday in each month ; that the Works and Finance Committees meet on the preceding Fridays." This was seconded by Councillor Collett and carried. Michael Hodgins, of Taratahi, in a letter to the Counoil, stated that the late Town Board entered into a contraot to pnrchase from him fifteen acres or thereabouts of land at Fornhill Creek, at £24 per acre, for the purpose of a water supply, and also asserted '. that the Board authorised him to purchase i tho adjoining laDd from Mr. W. Bnick, which ; he dH. Hp waR now prepared to hand over '. both lots of land to ihe Conncil. The Clerk l was instructed to reply that the Council was ' not in possession of any contract entered ' into by the late Town Board and Mr. ] Hodgins. j Messrs Kirk and Atkinson, on behalf of Mr. Tringham, gave the Council formal

notice that unless satisfactory arrangements were made within a week towards ending the negotiations for the purchase of a part of a section at the corner of Nelson and Jaokson streets, they would fence it at its proper bonndary, which would doubtless interfere with the general traffic. After a good deal of discussion, it was resolved that, before answering Messrs. Kirk and Atkinson's letter, the Council obtain further advice on the matter from their solicitor, Mr. Bunny. Councillor Stansell sent in his resignation, on the grouod that he was in a hopeless minority in the Council, though supported by a majority of the ratepayers, as evidenced by the poll on Saturday lost. As no proposition was forthcoming, the Mayor declared the restenation accepted by default. Mr. Trueman waited on the Council, and explained that hia landlord intended to erect larger business premises ; but, before doing so, it was thought better to come to some agreement with the Council relative to the survey of the property. The fence in Nelsonstreet was 6ft outside of tbe survey -peg, and that in Jackson-street 2ft. The question was, on the suggestion of the Mayor, referred to the Works Committee. Previous to appointing a dog-tax collector, some discussion took place as to the necessary conditions, and the following was adopted : —That the collector be paid half his commission on handing over his fees to the Treasurer, and the balance when he hands over the registration fees of 100 dogs. The tender of Mr. D. C. Leahy, at sixpence per dog, was accepted, subject to his finding surety and complying with tho conditions. A letter from the Returning Officer, stating the result of the poll taken on the proposal to borrow -£10,000 for water and drainage, was read and received. Councillor Collett wished to know if it were necessary to rescind the resolution to the effect that no more pipes be put down until the drainage qnestion was settled. He asked the question because he understood that the person whose shaft was broken by his cart getting into the open drain on the ! Hutt-road, opposite Mr. Griffiths', intended to proceed against the Council. The Mayor said that at the last meeting it was decided to stop all public works for the | present, and therefore he could not accept such a motion from Councillor Collett. The Mayor explained that no notice had been taken of the circular issued with reference to outstanding rates, which amounted to about i! 100. Councillor Kelly thereupon proposed, and Councillor Hess secondpd, "That all outstanding rates be sued for without further notice." This was agreed to.