PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 37, 12 August 1905, Page 2

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Petone Borough Council met last evening, tho Mayor (Air. Q. London) presiding. There were also present — Councillors Macfarlane, Wakeham, Findlay, Hastings, M'Ewan, and Nicholson. It Was reported tliat the debit balance at the District Fund Account was £3879, with a contingent liability of £685. , The engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) reported that the formation. of g. track through the Petone Domain to Korokoro had been commenced, but as it would be necessary to erect a light bridge about 40ft in length across the gully, an additional £30 would be required. Metalling of the borough streets had been general during the month, and the Korokoro-road between Dr. Hamilton's house and the embankment had been repaired ready to receive the gravel promised by the Railway Department. 'Attention was drawn to the fact that high trees in private properties along roads had a detrimental ef--feet on the roads, and caused extra cost for maintenance. He thought such trees should not be allowed to exceed 15 to 20 feet in height. The Council will obtain information as to its powers before taking action. The first matter was dealt with by- the Council sitting as a Domain Board (Councillor M'Ewan chairman), and it was resolved to notify the Korokoro-and Maungaraki settlers of the additional'cost, and to intimate that if a further donation towards the work was made by the settlers the Council would be asked to subsidise it as before. The Borough Inspector (Mr. W. B. Gough) suggested that the word "occupier in sections 22, 23, and 24 of the sanitary by-laws should be altered to read "owner," as at present these sections were practically unworkable. Nest month he intended ' to make his spring house to house inspection of the borough. Several persons were reported for breaches of by-laws. The Council decided to adopt the suggestion re change in the sanitary by-law. There was- some discussion on the question of cycling on .footpaths, the Inspector having reported a batch of offenders. Some Councillors thought great discretion should be exercised while the roads were in a- bad state, but the Mayor and others considered a very wide discretion had been used. "All were agreed that there was a real heed for cycle tracks along the main roads. Councillor Hastings moved that in the present cases no proceedings be taken, but after discussion he withdrew that •motion in favour o| one by the Mayor that prosscntiona be taken in each case now reported, and tKat no fine be asked for •jn'ths casa of first-offenders. -This was carried. On the subject of , discretion, th^ Inspector remarked that the,re had been no conviction for 'cycling W fqotpaths for eight months. In his report on the gasworks for the month the Engineer stated that the coal carbonised during the month was 94 tons Bcwt., producing 1,234,800 cubic feet of gas, or an average of 13,000 ft. per ton, showing an increase over same month last year of 185,800 ft. Six panes of glass . were wantonly broken in three lamps in Jackson-street on 16th 'July. The progress of the new works had be^en satisfactory. During the month arrangements were made with the Westport Coal Company for a supply of unscreened coal at a greatly reduced price. If tho returns looked for proved correct, a saving of over £200 per annum would be effected. As the exhauster and engine will probably arrive within the .next two months, authority was asked to erect a house for same, and the Council would bo wase to build large enough for a duplicate set. The boiler would be housed under the sanio roof. During the month 25 new services hao been put in. He' strongly advised tho Council to stocs samples of ! gas fittings, etc., and to display same in one of the rooms of the new building. The Gas Works Committee will report on the above, and other matters at next Monday's meeting of the Councils Accounts amounting to £991 were passed for payment. The Street-naming Committee recommended that 1000 numbers be purchased for nnmbering houses; and be sold to owners of houses at 9d for one, Is 6d for 2, and 2s for 3, the coat to include fixing in position. Further, that all streets leading from the Esplanade to Jacksonstreet be numbered, Kclly'fi-lane to be number one. That Peel-Street' be called Kupe-street J Elizabeth -street bo Atiawustreet; the junotion from this street with Jackson-street be Tahu-street j Adelaide street be Iluia-street j Manchester-street be Hotu-street; High-street be Mamoestreefc; and Emerson-street be Rangitanestreet. The report was adopted after brief -discussion.