PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 62, 15 March 1898, Page 2

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

An ordinaiy meeting of the Petone Borough Council was held last evening. Present— The Mayor (Mr. 11. C. Kirk), Councillors Mothes, Corner, Cook, Pindlay, (Mrs.) liab}', Austin, Webb, Lusty, and Fraser. Mr. T. M. Wilford wrote on behalf of Mr. W. Walsh, claiming £15, value of a horse destroyed in consequence of injuries caused by its stepping into a hole in the road. Referred to the road foreman for a report. The Works Committee's recommendations, already published, were adopted, with the alteration that the time allowed lo householders for connecting their premises with the drainage system be extended until 30th April. In the matter of Mr. Singer's application for leave to erect soap works within the borough, the Mayor considered the information afforded meagre, and he moved that consideration of the application be deferred until full information, with plans, &c, was submitted. Councillor Austin seconded the amendment, which caused a lively discussion. On being put the amendment was lost. The following tenders were accepted : — Foi^ road metal, Mr. Mexted's, as follows— Blue metal 7s per yard, rotten rock Is 2d, screened river metal Is lOd, unscreened, Is 7d; rations, H. Damant, at 3d; kerosene, H. Damant, at lls per case ; carting, G. Packwood, at 10s per day. The Engineer was instructed to inspect the flood-gates in the stop-bank, and report as to the necessity of further provision being made ; also among minor works to effect repairs in Eich-mond-street and on the Esplanade. Speaking to the latter motion, Councillor Webb pointed out that the holes in this road were caused by the frequent bursts of the Wellington water mains, and the perfunctory manner in which the holes were filled in. It was decided to employ an outside surveyor to get out the the alignment of Jackson-street, and that the land required be taken if necessary under the Public Works Act. Councillor Findlay moved, as per notice, that the bylaw referring to householders paying half "the cost of the formation of footpaths be rescinded, and that the cost be paid out of the Street Improvement Loan. This was seconded by Councillor Eaby, but was not agreed to. The Engineer, in his report on the work done since he took office, referred to the bad smells emanating from the open gratings of of the drains, giving as his opinion that the area of the gratings was too large, and that, instead of acting as inlets for fresh air, they acted as outlets for foul air. He suggested protecting the open end and erecting ventilating shafts from the dead ends. The report was adopted. The Finance Committee recommended that the Clerk be directed to interview persons indebted to the Council for sanitary accounts, and that failing payment steps be taken to recover the amount due. This was agreed to. The various bank accounts were reported as under : — General • account, overdraft, £1190 ; drainage account, credit, £163 ; street improvement account, credit, £94. Accounts were passed as follows .-—General account, £53 ; drainage account, £43 ; street improvement account, £12.