LOWER HUTT AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 100, 25 October 1916, Page 10

LOWER HUTT AFFAIRS

MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Lowsr Hutt Borough Council was held last evening, presided over by Mr. H. Baldwin (Mayor). There were also present: Councillors Hodgins, . Meldrum, Carver, Brasell, Clendon, M'Dougall, Hobbs, and Ball.

Mr. M. Welch, chairman of the Hutt County Council, waited on the council, and stated that apparently his council had no power to erect a gas lamp within the borough, even . though the light would chiefly benefit county ratepayers. He, however, would obtain the opinion of the Coanty Solicitor on the matter. The question had reference to a proposal by the Borough Council to supply the gas if the county would erect the lamp and lay the necessary main. The owner of the Town Hall building wrote objecting to the spending of a larger sum than £10 in the renovation of the building, on the ground of the decreased rental at which it was let to the council. The letter was referred to No. 1 Committee.

On. the motion of Councillor M'Dougall, seconded by Councillor Hodgins, Mr. J. R. Astall is to be informed that, providing the sections in his new subdivision comply with the bylaw in regard to width and area, the council will raise no objection to passing the plan. A desultory discussion took place with regard to the District' Health Officer's letter re combating the fly pest, several members considering that the proposals outlined in the letter, .in regard to manure, would press unduly hard on market gardeners. Councillors Clendon and M'Dougall pleaded for a definite and strong campaign against flies, and begged members to treat the matter seriwisly. Ultimately the matter was referred to No. 1 Committee to take the necessary steps to bring the borough .into line with the city.

Mr. Howard, the council's enginedriven-, was granted three months' leave of absence.

It was decided to inform Mr. Lindsay, who had complained that some ratepayers were getting waiter mains laid to their boundaries free, while he had paid for the main to be laid to his property, that he had agreed to the payments made by him in 1911.

Mr. Crowl, of the Wellington Meat Export Company's staff, is to be requested to report on the efficiency of the council's hydraulic pumps. Miss Lees, tho librarian, is to be granted fourteen days' holiday on pay.

It was decided to institute proceedings against an unlicensed drainlayer who, it was alleged, had obtained no permit, and had laid a drain and filled in the ground without having the drain inspected . *- WORKS DEPARTMENT.

The engineer reported that the watermain in Pharazyn-street had been completed <it a cost of £103 3s, the estimate being ±;100. The extension of the watermain to Mr. Shearer's property had been carried out at a cost of £11 13s sd. The gas-main in Buckley-street had been laid a,t a cost of £101 6s 6d. ' The cost would have closely approximated the estimate of £120 had not a considerable saving been effected by the purchase of pipes at pre-war rates. Good progress was being made with the metalling of the main road. The work of cleaning the creeks was being proceeded with satisfactorily.

The Lower Hutt Borough Inspector reported last evening Hint during the last fortnight itwo connection© were made with t-he gas-mains, three "with the water, and three with the sewerage, making the totals to date 591, 1032, and 932 respectively. In the course of a lengthy statement, the Borough Inspector adversely reported upon a stable within the borough, owing to its dose proximity to various food trades—viz., a butcher, baker, fruiterer, and fishmonger. At the close of his report he stated that " somethingshould be done in. this matter immediately, as on visiting these premises on two occasions during the past week stable manure was heaped against the concrete wall of the stopbank and of the floor of the stable, with the usual myriads of flies on and about it. I would also ■- suggest that the bylaws dealing with stables and manure receptacles be remodelled." On the motion of the Mayor, the Teport was ordered to be forwarded to the District Health Officer.