HUTT COUNCIL.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 27, 29 November 1928, Page 7

HUTT COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council was held on Monday evening. Present — Mayor (Mr. W. T. Strand), Crs A. J. Hobbs, J. Mitchell, A.. K. Carver, F. Camplbell, B. Walilie, W. tf. Meldruni, A. Mcßain, Sir. A. Roberts. Cr. Grrieison waa granted leave of absence owing to illness.

Mv H. Miller wrote stating tliat ke had been, requested an behalf of the schoolmasters ol! the district to convey to the members of the Council their great appreciation of the Council's action, in granting the children of the Hutt schools the free use of the-Riddifoxd baths, and also permitting larger numbers to attend the classes. —Received. The Wobum Bowling Club tendered for a lease of section of land for 21 years with the right of renewal for a further term, of 21 years lat a rental of £1 a i year. On the motion of the Mayor the tender was accepted. Mr Bunny, Borough Solicitor, reported that the section taken in Heke Street for street widening purposes for which the Council paid £800 had been resold for £775, after the Council taking 16ft 6 inches for the widening of the street. The Mayor expressed his pleasure at such a good deal. It meant that the Council only paid £25 for the 16ft 6in. of laud. The High School Board of Governors wrote asking the Council to appoint a representative in place of the late Mr Baldwin. The Mayor said he woulfl like to see Mr D. A. Ewen appointed to the vacancy. It was the unanimous ,wish of the Councillors that Mr Ewen be asked to accept the position. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee- reported as follows: — * New' Bridge.—The Borough Engineer reported that in connection with the erection of the new bridge there were several items not included in the contract for which provision would have to be made. These aT© mostly in connection with the approaches and some of the items will be required to be installed within the next few weeks, and the remainder after * the bridge fillings have consolidated. The total expenditure is £1594, but of this only £250 covers immediate necessities, the balance not being required in the meantime and can be provided for on next year's estimates. Your Committee has given very careful consideration to the report and has to recommend that the whole of the work be done. Flooding of the Awamutu. —A letter was received from the Hutt Park Coanmitee stating that the Committee desired to make it clear that if necessary steps would be taken to restrain the making of the suggested cut in carrying out scheme No. 6. Your Committee gave the matter further consideration, and also a report from the Borough Engineer, and finally instructed that the Hutt Park Committee be advised that in view of the fact that the Committee is still satisfied that scheme No. 6 is best for all concerned, it cannot recommend Council to depart from the decision previously arrived at to carry out scheme referred to. The Park Committee 'has been further advised that it is proposed to start the work on Scheme No. 6 after the trotting meeting, viz., Monday morning.

Report adopted. - ESTATES COMMITTEE. The Estates Committee reported as follows:— Plunket Room.—-A deputation ■ from the Men's Advisory Committee of the local branch of the Pluriiet Society, consisting of Messrs D .A. Ewen and G. A. Chapman, waited upon your I Committee with the request that Council waive the right to the use of the large room in the Plunket Building known as the tearoom, as provided for in. the arrangement granting the Plunket Society the use of the room. In support of the request Mr i Ewea stated that during the month of October 2,201 visitors had attended at the rooms, and there were also 68 visitors in connection with the pre-natal brancn !of the work, while 19 of the visitors i were new cases and were making their first visit to the -rooms. He stated that the work of, the Society had so largely increased that the available accommodation was being made very great use of, and if the Council could grant their request for the exclusive use of the room, there would foe no disorganisation of their work. Mr. Ewen further explained that the room was in use every day except Saturdays and Sundays.

After the deputation had retired your Committee gave consideration, to its representations and h£s to~ recommend

that the Council's right to use the room be confined to Saturdays iis it is not required by the Plunket Society on that day. c Plunket Fete. —The Lower Hutt Branch of tke Plunket Society wrote making application to hold its annual Fete in the Riddiford Park between the Plunket Building and the Children's Playground, on the.Bth December. Your ' Committee has to report having granted the application. I Lease of Land outside Stopbank. —The Legion of .Frontiersmen has made application for the use of a piece of laud, the property of the Council, lying outside the stopbank between the western approach to the new bridge and the band room. It is proposed to build a small recreation hall and a shooting range, and your Committee submits the matter to Council for its favourable consideration. Sections, Comer Oudby St. and Oxford Terrace. —A letter was recently before the Council from the Lands Department making application to sell an area of land loh jperches. Council then instructed that an application be made to the Department for the ground to be handed over to the Council for the purpose of a Children's Playground. The Department replied regretting that the suggestion could not be given effect to., as there wasanother similar area to the north of the pieces referred to. A plan of the additional land was received, together with an intimation that the Department would be prepared to disjwse of both pieces of land for the sum of £340. Your Committee has to recommend that Council offer £250 for both peices of land referred to. Widening of Laing's Road. —In October 1925 negotiations were opened with the Postal Department with a view to obtaining a strip of land on the Laing's road frontage of the present Post Office for the purpose of widening, when the Post Office authorities undertook to dedicate the strip which would be 164 ft. wide at its eastern end tapering to a point at the junction of Laing's road and Main street. The consideration money was to be £100, but the Council was also to erect a new fence on the new alignment and to effect the necessary alterations to the wooden *shed which is situated on the land which would be thrown into the street. Your Committee has now to recommend that the Department's offer be accepted, and the probable cost of the work desired by the Department will be available for the Council meeting. The report was adopted. * The By-laws Committee recommended the appointment of Cecil Pamant to be a traffic inspector for the Borough to enforce the provisions of the Borough Bylaw an dthe Motor Vehicles Act. —Agreed to. Cr. Hobbs broug-ht up the matter of assisting the Hutt Band to line their band room. Sir A. Roberts moved that the matter be left with the Mayor and the chairman of the Works Committee to deal with. Cr. Mitchell seconded.—Carried. In reply to Cr. Mcßain, the chairman of the Works Committee stated a letter had been received from Mr Leighton in regard to footpaths but it had not yet been dealt with by the Works Committee. A report would be ready for next meeting. • The MayoT referred with pleasure to the support being accorded the Free Ambulance service. He mentioned that for 8 months of the year donations had amounted to £2892/14/5. The service was run in a most efficient manner and was serving a useful purpose. From the ! Hutt borough there had been 320 cases, and for the district 4022. The cost worked out about 11/- per head of the eases treated. ,