PETONE AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 151, 30 June 1925, Page 11

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. Brockelba.nk, T. Gallagher, A. Scholefjeld, N. Campbell, W. H. Edwards, H. Jay, V. Jacobson, G. Cook, and Jas./W. Sharpe.

The City Engineer asked that immediate attention should bo given to water and other services on the portion of Jackson street on which it was proposed to carry out paving operations nest season. In connection with the paving question, tho jSlayor moved that, failing the laying down of both Jackson.street east and Cuba street in bitumen/ this City Council carry out tho work in Cuba street in preference to , Jackson street. The motion was carried.

The question of the removal of ser-' vices, was held over pending a reply to the'council's resolution. ■ :■■:!-. ■■-a■-.;•'■■ Tho offer of the Gibner Estate ;to sell'"a.-piece of land for the; cutting off of a corner at Jackson street. , and Cuba street for the sum of £20 was accepted., . ;■_',;- ■'. : , '. r .-;

A complaint, backed by a deputation oE residents living in Tory street, was received, alleging that tho amoko from an ' industry in the neighbourhood- was causing a nuisance, and that tho vibration from the machinery also caused iv- ' convenience. Tho question was referred to tho Borough Engineer and Borough Inspector for report.

Tho Plunket Society (Potohe branch) nsked ' for ''a contribution to tho funds of the 'society. The Mayor stated that a sum had been placed on the estimates. The Petone Technical School applied for its annual grant. , The Mayor .leporled that the usual amount had been placed on the ■ estimates.

The Hutt Valley School Committees' Association asked if tho council would take action to;have a footbridge provided over the river at Wakefield street to serve the needs of "prospective scholars at the High School. The Mayor said that the Hutt Valley, Railway Board had arranged to place a footbridge 3ft Sin wide on the proposed railway bridge. The question of the maintehauco of the footbridge had not yel been decided.' It was decided to iiir form the association of tho arrangement.

Mr. J. D. Climic, Lower Hutt, advised the council that he considered that the proposed Hutt Valley railway deviation was a mistake; and that the district could be better served by«a bitument road with bus services. -.On the motion of Councillor Jay, it was decid-' cd to inform the Minister, of Railways that the Petono Borough Council en-'----dorsed the view of Mr., Climie, and that Mr. Cliinio's letter be forwarded to the Minister. Councillor Scholefield dissented fronj ■ this view, and asked for his objection to the. resolution to be recorded.

No action was taken in regard to the application of the Municipal Band for "a reduction of rent on the building it tenanted, nor upon the application of the Central Band for a subsidy. Mr.'E.J. Taylor protested against the council's.decision to allow the motor speed for the Korokoro roads 'to remain at 15 miles per hour, which he considered too high. The inspector -was authorised to interview Mr. Taylor. Tha' Department ,of Health wrote in regard to some structural alterations which were considered necessary to bakehouses in the borough. The serving of: the necessary notices .was referred *o tho inspector.

Tho R«v., J. A. Lochore, the borougl repreaentativo' on tha Wellington Hospital Board, asked for a direction by tho council as to whether the Petone residents desired, the Hospital Board to erect a maternity hospital in the Hutt Valley. The Mayor outlined the history of the riovemenfc to establish a hospital in the "Valley, and said he could not say what the mind of the Petone people was on tho question. Ho had discussed the question with the local medical men, -who did not think Petone people would use such an institution. On the motion of Councillor Jacobsoii, seconded by Councillor Scholefield, 'it was decided that the opinion of tho local Plnnket Society be obtained on the question. The present tenants of tha council's shop on the beach front offered to take the shop for a further term at 7s 6d per week (the present rent being 15s per week). It was decided to offer tho tenants a further term at the present rental, and failing acceptance to call for tenders.

Councillor Sharpe said that drivers of motor buses which were garaged in Pc tone -were being 'asked'to"pay dTiyers' licences to - the • Lower. Hutt Borough Council.;: ThV"inspector; pointed out'that drivers had to be. licensed" in'the'district' where the vehicle's ..were '-• garaged,^arid that only one license could .be'issued.' . ; The- following report of 'the WorksCommittee was adopted :—- [■ ''/' :. The committee has gone mto; this question, and understands from the engineer that the foreman has verbally informed him of his intention of! leaving the council's employ: in four weeks' time When the position is vacant, the council; is recommended to advertise for a work-: ing foreman at £5 10s .per week; and ■when three or more men are employed in-a gang the engineer be instructed to have a working leading hand in charge at an extra Is per.'day.: Further, 1 that, during heavy falls of rain, the borough be divided into districts and each man be responsible for the particular district allotted to hira-by the borough engineer, -(he committee has requested the engineer to do his best to arrange as'much ■work as possible for the casual men during wet weather to. minimise the time lost. In this respect the engineer has beeir asked to ascertain the position of the .Labour Department when the men voluntarily desire to work additional hours'to compensate.themselves for time lost during wet weather. The committee recommends that the item of £850 for a cottage at tho pumping station be struck off the estimates, and that at the present time the .council take- no further steps in the matter of erecting the- sugn-e^ted' building. The committee also' -rec'om-' mends . that the -necessary amount be placed oii: the • estimates "to provide an A.U motor, self-starlor, and piinm for use at the p'urnping station.. The inspector -■ having- reported that a." family is Imng in a shed with.-no. sanitary, conveniences, the committee,has instructed 1 iat i,ce owner "bo railed 'upon to install the necessary .sanitary conveniences. 1 he committee recommends that' th'e'snni of ±,16 be placed-upon the cstimnt.es for tho mstalladon of the electric light to the, valor works caretaker's" ho;,s<? Ilio'cominiltoois an-aimimr next Monday evening, will, the engineer.: to accompany;- the, Power Boat's en^Wr on an inspection of the placing of the street lamps' throughout the borough