BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 7777, 25 August 1903, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Borough Council was held on Monday evening Present— The Mayor (Mr Robbins), and Crs. Mornssey, Brunette, Whittington, VUiittaker, McNiven, Sargeson, and McAneny. An apology was received from Cr. Hirst. LOAN. A resolution was passed providing for a special rate of 2d in the £ for interest and charges on loan of £1552 for street improvements. A similar resolution was passed in respect to loan of £3948 for drainage extension loan. RAILWAY TO MOUNTAIN. The Patea County Council wrote forwarding report of discussion at Council meeting regarding railway line to the mountain, and suggesting that as a survey was twing made it might not be advisable to have proposed meeting of delegates. A question not to be lost sight of was that of the local bodies interested combining to build a line in tire event of the matter not being pushed on to a successful issue by the Government. The Mayor said it had, at a conference of. delegates from local bodies, been decided to have a meeting with the members of Parliament for the district, but in view of the survey at present being made it was thought advisable at present not to have the meeting. His Worship said he had been informed that Wanganui would have to look to the mountain for their supply, and it might be taken that the whole of the district from Wanganui to New Plymouth was interested in the proposed line. It was estimated that the bodies would be saved £7000 per annum if metal could be got from the mountain, and the question was whether, in the event of the Government not building the line, the local bodies would raise a loan for the purpose of doing so. At present he suggested the better plan would be for the Council to agree to a meeting of delegates to consider the question. The Council could not, without further data, commit itself definitely to the project. Cr. Whittaker moved: That the Patea County Council be advised that the Council is prepared, to meet representatives of other local bodies to consider the question of the said local bodies combining to build a line in the event of the Government not carrying on the work. Seconded by Cr. Brunette, and carried. PATEA HARBOUR BOARD FORESHORE BILL. The Hawera County Council, in reply to a letter from the Mayor, forwarded a resolution passed at last meeting to the effect that it would, in regard to the Patea Harbour Board Foreshore Bill, do all in its power to conserve the interests of the Hawera local bodies. The Mayor said that the matter appeared to him to be so important that he had written to the County Council. He pointed out that the Board might at any time make the local bodies pay a royalty for stone and gravel removed from the beach. Further, a portion of the beach was used as a picnic ground, and there was also t the question of possible difficulty in regard to the drainage outflow if the Board secured, as proposed, the right to lease portions of the foreshore. He mored : That the Council ask to be heard before the Local Bills Committee on the subject of the bill. Cr. Brunette seconded. Cr. Sargeson said he thought the motion was a necessary one, and he was pleased with the action of the County Council. The motion was carried. PUBLIC WORKS. The Works Committee reported that after consideration of Mr Reynolds's recomendations, -tenders be called for the drainage extension works. His Worship said Mr Reynolds was away in Australia, and Mr Hall could not give an answer on the question of wells, which it was proposed should have been made by day labour. He suggested that tenders be called for works according to specifications, tbe question of wells to be considered later. The repqrt was. adopted. As to street improvements, the Mayor thought the best plan would be for the Borough Foreman to prepare conditions, so that tenders may be called for works on streets other than those which will be affected by the cutting up in connection with the drainage extension. A motion to that effect was carried. INTAKE. In committee the Council decided that repairs at the intake be commenced at once. The Council rose.