SUBURBAN COUNCILS

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 88, 12 October 1915, Page 5

SUBURBAN COUNCILS

PETONE BOROUGH The Petone Borough Council met last evening, the following being present : — The Mayor (Mr J W. M'Ewan) and Councillors Cox, Brocklebank, Anderson, M'Dougall, M'Kenzie, Jones, and Trueman. The Petone Fire Brigade was granted permission to hold its annual competition on the Recreation Ground on Labour Day, in connection with the carnival. St. David's Cricket Club was also granted a wicket on the reserve for the coming season free of charge. In acknowledging receipt of a letter from the council suggesting that ten acres of the Wilford Settlement should be set aside as a reserve, the Department of Internal Affairs advised that the matter had been referred to the Lande Department to deal with. A request that the Petone Council supply the Hutt gas consumers 'with, gascookers was referred to the Gas Committee. In his report, the Engineer (Mr. A. Cowie) stated, in regard to the beach improvement scheme, that the" work of filling was going on satisfactorily, and had been completed and blinded nearly to Queen-street. The bare patches had been sown with gras6 seed, and after the first good rain the heavy roller would be put on. Six Norfolk Island pines had been 'planted for an experiment on the western side of Nelson-street, and if these made fair progress the planting would be extended along the whole beach. The framework and roof of the dressing-sheds were finished, and the asbestos sheets on . the walls and the slates on the roof would be put on without delay The boat skids had been completed, and the iron rails for the trolley placed in position. Reporting on the Recreation Ground, ■Mr. Cowie stated that the old trotting track had "been ploughed up and prepared for grass seeds, which would be sown thi6 week. All the cricket pilches had been top dressed and prepared for the season. The swing boats had been erected, and enquiries were being made for a pole for a giant-stride. All the grass .seeds on the bowling green and tennis courts had been sown, and a hedge planted. Water would be laid on for watering purposes. The paths were not yet completed, but as material was available this work would be gone on with. The work of laying the main in Col-lins-street had not yet been commenced. The material was on the ground and a start would be made shortly. An extension of the main was necessary in Southstreet. Already two houses were being built with a prospect of others soon. The length required was 4£ chains, and he estimated the expense at £32. A 3-inch main would be ample. OTHER REPORTS. In. the_ course of his report, the sewerage engineer (Mr. R. Fox) gave details of a trial of the plant, and stated that the tests were very satisfactory, and demonstrated that the pumps and motors were above specification. The cost of tne whole scheme to date was £42,897 14s 9d. Mr. W. B. Gough (Inspector) reported that the number of inspections made during the month was 117. Itiddler's Creek had been cleaned out in all the premises from Nelson-street culvert to the cooperage boundary. One of the causes of the trouble was that occupiers of dwellings had fowl runs in such" a position that the creek became choked and polluted ; action would be taken against offenders in future. The usual report was also presented by the gas manager (Mr. J. C. Masters). LOWER HUTT The monthly meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council was held last evening. Present. The Mayor (Mr H. A. Baldwin) and Councillors Hobbs, Brassel, Clendon, Hodgins, Carver, Mcl drum, and M'Dougall. The application of the secretary of the Fitzherbert-terrace School for the use of the Recreation Ground for school sports on sth November was granted Mr. E. H. Mirams's request that he be _ allowed to remain in his present residence until his new house was ready for occupation was acceded to ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr. W. J. Roche), in submitting his monthly report, stated that the cost of the Ludlam-crescent work was £50 14s 3d, as against the estimate of £49. He submitted the following thoroughfares that had been prepared for tarring: — Kings-road (north side), Pre-toria-street (south side), Rowner-streeb (both sides), and Bristol-street (the whole of the south side), and seven chains of the north side. The total area prepared was 4350 square yards. The cost of this was £55 13s 2d. Repairs to the hydraulic pump were being effected, and the parts were being put together. To prevent a repetition of the former mishap, the part previously screwed had now been The report of the Works Committee recommended that the plans and specifications for roading the Holworthy estate be approved on condition that water mains be laid, as provided for in section 116 (2) of the Public Works Act and its amendments, and that the owners be required to deposit with the Borough Treasurer the amount of the Borough Engineer's estimate of the cost of tarring and sanding the footpaths. This work would be done by the council, the council agreeing to pay interest on the amount so deposited, at the same rate as paid on temporary loans. The Building Committee recommended Mr. Hawthorne's offer of a five years' lease of the council chambers at the rental of £130 per annum, provided the premises are renovated. The report of the Gas Committee for the year ended 31st July, 1915, stated, that with regard to the gas main and lamp in Rata-street, petition,/ it recommended that the council inform the petitioners that in the event of five residents in Rata-street undertaking to become gas consumers in the event of the council deciding to lay a gas main, that council would be prepared to lay such main and erect a street lamp in Ratastreet. The reports were adopted.