PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 61, 9 September 1905, Page 2

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Petone Borough Council was held last evening, the Mayor (Mr. G. London) presiding. It was decided to request the Health Department to send an official to inspect an alleged insanitary building occupied by Chinese. Reporting on the gasworks, fc^e^Borough Engineer stated that the coal carbonised during the month was 96, tons 16cwt, producing 1,246,000 cubic feet of gas, an increase over the corresponding month of last year of 239,400 ft. Fifteen new services were laid in August, making 84 for the year. A house-to-house visit had been made over a. largo area 6f the borough with good results. That it was necessary had been amply proved. A progress report' was made of the improvements being carried out at the gasworks. Word had beeh received that the new meter and condensers had been shipped by the Mimiro, to arrive early in October. The total number of services in the Lower Hutt was now 234. The Borough Inspector (Mr. W. B. Goilgh) reported that he was making a house-to-house inspection of the borough. He made special inspection of various premises in which cases of Scarlet fe\er had lately occurred, with the view of ascertaining, if possible, the cause of the increase of scarlet fever oases. He was of opinion that the cause of the increase was solely contagious infection. Forty-nine cattle had been impounded during the month. In regard to tree-planting on the Esplanade, the Engineer reported that little could be done so late in the season, and it would be better to -defer further planting till next season. The Council, however, might consider the question of ways and means and for an annual expenditure on a properly-formed esplanade, consisting of a wall, footpath, and bicycle track. Details were given of the condition of rights of way in- the borough, and the Engineer suggested remedies, and recommended that the Council might undertake to construct and maintain all such ways at the expense of the owners adjoining. The debit balance at the District Fund Account was now £5545, with a contingent liability of £393. The bill pf costs of Messrs. Stafford, Treadwell, and Yield, to which the Council objected, and which Mi\ H. D. Bell, as arbitrator, had decided was not unreasonable, was again under discussion. The Public Trustee wrote that unless the account was paid without further delay, he would pay it out of loan moneys due to the Council, as it Was in connection with the raising of- loan moneys that the bill of costs was incurred Councillors did not appear to relish this ] prospect, and after some discussion the matter was deferred, till Monday even- j ing. > - ' Reporting to the Council as a Domain Board, the Engineer stated that the track through the Domain had been completed with the exception of part Of tne bridge across the gully.