PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 38, 13 August 1895, Page 4

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

= An ordinary meeting of the Petone Borough Council was held last evening Present— The Mayor (Mr. B. C. Kirk)) Councillors Corner, Castle, Jackeon, Luaty, Mothea, Bnrridge, Damant, Webb, and Cur tin. Conrjoillor Mothes introduced the members of the local Sobool Committee, who asked for relief from payment of feus under tho nightsoil contract, amounting to about SSI 10s per annum. The Key. A. Thomson (Chairman) and Mr. C J. Johnston (Secretary) acted as spokesmen for the Committee. After discussion, the Mayor promised that the Connoil would connider the matter. Mr. T. Henry waited upon the Conncil and asked who was responsible for the dangerous condition the drainage works were left in after nightfall. Sire. Henry had fallen into an open drain which was qnite unprotected. The Mayor said that by the specifications the Connoil was fully protected in this direotion, but no doubt the question would be considered later on. Mr. H. Findlay asked if the Council had any power in the direotion of extending the postal delivery. The Mayor promised that the Council's influence should be brought to bear in the matter of Mr. Findlay'B particular grievance. Councillor Burridge moved — " That the Engineer receive three months' notice of the Council's intention of terminating the agreement." He said nothing could be done to the roads until the completion of the drainage oontraots, and, looking at the straitened finances of the borongh, he , considered that a saving of .£SO per «.htithti was worth consideration. Councillor Castle seconded the motion ppo forma. The Mayor said there was qnite enough in the merits of the proposition for the Council to take it into consideration, and he moved an amendment that the question be referred to the next meeting of tho Works Committee. Councillor Damant seconded the amendment. After oieoussion the amendment was put and lost, and the motion was agreed to. Councillor Motbes broughi~-trrTi£e old . question of polico pioteotion for tho JJo'rough. The resident constable was ill, and there was only an occasional vi-it from another constable, who retnrncd to town at night. He moved—" That the Defence Department be requested to afford better police protection in the Borough than at present obtains." Councillor Damant seconded the proposition. The Mayor undertook to ccc that the matter was properly put before the Minister in charge. The motion was agreed to. On the question of the state the drainage works were left in at night, the Clerk of Works reported that the lighting and proteotion were qnite np to the average of similar oontraots. The Mayor also stated that the Connoil was free from all responsibility in the matter. The Workß Committee recommended:— 1. That the complaint of Mr. J. Austin, as to gorse growing near his house, be referred to .the Foreman for attention. 2 That the action of the Engineer in ordering 15in pipen to oarry the drain through the Gear Company's'property be approved. 3. That the Mayor inform the Harbour Board's solioitor of the intentions of the Council and the • reasons for postponing the completion of the main outfall, and, if neoeaeary, obtain the Board's sanction to snoh course. 4. That the attention of the Engineer be called to the condition of Biohmond-Btreet, near the Esplanade. 5. That the letter re-ceived-from the Hntt Borongh Connoil re drain near Mr. Everest's be referred to the Engineer, withinstrnotions to confer with the Mayor of that borongh on the subjeot. 6. That the complaint of the Hutt Borongh Connoil as to gorse growing on the drains running into Moran'a Creek be referred to the Engineer, with instructions to have the matter attended to if necessary. The report was adopted. . f> The Charitable Aid Committee drew the attention of the Connoil to the fact that the relief works abont to be started in Wellington were open to bond, fide cases of the unemployed of Petone who had been resident there for over three months. The Committee proposes to reoommend Bnitable applicants for relief to the Committee in charge for employment on the work. The Finance Committee reported the Banlc overdraft to be on 31st July, £i"i 9; rates colleoted, .£279 ; July receipts, J. 254 ,; payments on general account, .£147; on drainage aooount, £2 ; aooonnts passed for pay. ment on general account, £173 ; on drainage tMaountrJßSSO. The Council then eat in committee, and dealt withthe requisition of the School Committee a*' to the nightsoil fees. It waß deoided to make a fixed obarge of £5 per IHIHTI m t