PETONE AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 68, 18 September 1917, Page 4

PETONE AFFAIRS

MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL

The fortnightly meeting of. the Petone Borough Council was held last evening. Present: Mr. J. W. M'Ewan (Mayor), and Councillors C. P. Brocklebank, J. Churchouse, J. Foster, S. Newland, J. M'Dougall, D. M'Kenzie, R. Jones, sand E. Tovey. ' ; A deputation from the Petone Cricket Club waited on the council with a request that the club be granted the use of the Recreation Ground free for the ensuing season, owing to so many members being away at the front.'- On the motion of Councillor S. .Newland, the request was granted. The members of the deputation .stated that the £17 owing r to the council had been reduced to £5. The City Council stated that it could not see its way to authorise any reduc-. tion in the license fee for motor-"buses. The Labour Day Carnival Committee was granted the use of the Recreation Ground for Labour Day, and the committee was also granted the usual subsidy— £5 if the day is fine and £10 if wet. , The requirements of ths District. Health Officer were ordered to be complied with in regard to repairs to a house in Nelsonstreet. A letter embodying a resolution passed by the Green Island Borough Council relative to war bonuses for Civil servants was received, Councillor Churchouse remarking that the Petone Council should put its own house in order before dictat- • ing (to the Government. A resolution of the Municipal Assooiation Committee relating to the restriction of the right of naturalised enemy aliens was criticised by -Councillor Churchouse, on the grounds that, it disallowed such people the right to occupy oertairi positions, while it gave them freedom to compete in the laibour market with Brit-ish-born subjects, .and also that, the taking away of the rights of naturalised subjects was the teanng-up of a "scrap ■ of paper," and: a breach of faith with: such, persons, He desired to move a motion, which the Mayor ruled out of order. Certain information regarding meat prices was held, over until further infor- -i mation was .available. J The application for a grant of £30 to the Hutfc Park Committee in order to assist in paying rates claimed by the Hutt Borough and 'the Hutt River Board was not entertained, councillors contending that the park should'be rate-free, and also that Petone was faced with a greater expenditure of money for roads to the Park than the Lower Hutt Borough. Councillor Brocklebank said that at one time the Park was, by law, not liable for rates, and it would be interesting to know how the alteration to the law had been put through without the Park 'Committee's knowledge. The Engineer was ordered to report on the erection of a temporary fence to keep' the, public off the Recreation Ground oval on Labour Day. Applications for the position of caretaker on the beach and for the position of motor driver were held over.

WORKS COMMITTEE. The following recommendations of the Works Committee were adopted: — (1) That as soon as the Star 'bus is ready the Burford be overhauled, and that preparations be made for the completion of "the large body now stored in the garage, ■ and that the same be placed upon the Burford, and that the present body upon the Burford be transferred ■to the Denby as soon as it comes to : hand. \ (2) That an order has been placed with Messrs. Hatrick and Co. for a set of fire Stono tires for the Burford. (3) That notice boards warning motorists bo placed in the vicinity of the public schools. (4) That guards be erected in front of the entrances to the schools. ' ' In relation to paragraph 3, the Automobile Association has m-omked to provide four boards for the council to erect near the two schools. Each school is situated on a much-used road. Regarding paragraph 4, the outer edge of the footpath in front of each of the schools should be fenced to prevent children rushing straight on to the road and endangering their lives. The Engineer stated that the second 'bus would be available next week. Complaint was made by the Borough Inspector that drains had been found blocked by jam, milk, and tobacco tina, and other articles. If the practice of allowing these things to enter the drains was continued offenders would bo prosecuted. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Borough Engineer, Mr. A. Cowie, reported thafc the patching of Cuba-street had been completed; also parts of the Esplanade and Campbell-terrace. He suggested that it was inadvisable to lay down any macadamised roads, as the best metal would not stand the modern motor traffic. The best plan would be to continue patching until a permanent road BUrface could be laid down. The keibing of Ryan-street had been completed. The water at the corner of Cuba and South streets had been got away. The bowling green and croquet lawns were being put in order, but unless dry weather prevailed they would not be ready for the beginning of the season. He hoped to make a start with the pavilion immediately. Shelter-sheds would be built on the Esplanade in time for the opening <A the bathing season. Gas leaks had been detected in several streets, especially' where cast-iron mains were laid. The leaks in these cases were due to faulty caulking.. A small extension of the gas main had been laid in Udy-street.