HASTINGS BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XV, Issue 148, 29 May 1925, Page 3

HASTINGS BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the Hastings Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last evening, the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Maddison) presiding. Crs P. Cohr, S. J. McKee, R. Baker, M. Johnson, J. H. McKenzie, T. Donovan, G. O. Lowe, and J. Simmons were also present. Ix?ave of absence was granted to Or. R. E. Hay. CORRESPONDENCE.

Th© following correspondence wa a dealt with:—

The Runanga Borough Council forwarded the following resolution, which the Council was asked to support : “That the Government be urged to provide pensions for the victims of infantile paralysis.”—The Mayor said h© was of the opinion that although there were many deserving cases throughout New Zealand, this was not a matter for the local bodies to concern themselves with, but rather for th© Government. There was no motion and the letter was received.

The Department of Health requested the Council, pursuant to the Plumbers Registration Act, to nominate a member of the Plumbers’ Board of New Zealand, to be appointed by the GovernorGeneral. The person nominated must hold the position of engineer to some borough council or drainage bop rd in New Zealand, and the nomination should have th© consent of the nominee. —Received.

The Napier Borough Council writing regarding th© Hastings Council’s offer of a Diesel engine, intimated that the superintendent was of the opinion that the engine was too small to bo of real value to them, but that the offer would be placed before the Electric Lighting Committee at the next meeting.—Received.

Mrs E. E. Burwood pointed out that extension of the footpath in front of her premises m Brunswick street had not yet been done, and asked that the work be put in hand.—Writer to bo informed that the Council would b© prepared to complete this work in the near future.

A numerously signed petition was received from ratepayers residing in the neighbourhood of Burnett street, requesting the Council to consider the question of opening up that street to Nelson street.—Referred to the Works Committee for consideration. Another petition was received asking the Council to concrete the footpath in front of the petitioners’ residences in Fitzroy Avenue, from th© Park gates to Tomoana road.—The Mayor moved that the petitioners I)© informed that the work was on the schedule and would be done in due course. This was carried.

The Minister of Public Works wrote that the Main Highways Board had given consideration to the matter of giving assistance to boroughs through which main highways ran, and it had been resolved that in certain cases assistance should be granted. It was noted, however, that according to a printed statement of the Main Highways Board’s findings the intention now was to grant assistance to borough councils with a population of under 6000. and therefore the proposal would not bo of assistance to the Hastings Council.

RULE OF THE FOOTPATH.

In accordance with a notice of motion Cr. Simmons moved and Cr. Cohr seconded: “That for the purpose of obtaining a more rigid observance of the by-law ‘Keep to the Left’ concerning pedestrian traffic, a white line be painted on th© footpaths, such lines to be two inches wide and one chain in length, commencing from the main street crossings, and that the cooperation bo invited in this matter of th© police and of th© staffs of the schools.

Cr. McKee said that this scheme had been tried in other centres and given up as no good. Cr. McKenzie expressed himself as heartily in support of anything which would lead to better control of traffic. Cr. Johnson said that to him it seemed that th© only time there was anything approaching congestion in Hastings was on Saturday .afternoons. People really liked to see a bustle and they would not like being fenced round with all sorts of drastic regulations. Crs. Simmons and Cohr spoke in support of th© motion and other councillors expressed varying opinions. The motion was carried on the voices. GENERAL BUSINESS.

It was decided that tenders should be invited for the Council’s advertising.