BOROUGH COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 141, 19 May 1925, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

FIRST MEETING SINCE ELECTION

The first meeting of the Borough Council since the municipal elections was held last night, there being present: The Mayor (Mr F. J. Nathan) and Crs. Eliott, McLeavey, Fitzhcrbert, Canton, Graham, Hodgens and Oram. CORRESPONDENCE.

From the Terrace End Bowling Club making application for the remission of the general rate in respect of the club’s property, Terrace End. —Granted. From Mr Andrew' Guy stating that be was the owner of certain allotments which came within the new brick area and asking that, as the by-law in his opinion was ultra vires, unwarranted, and in restraint of trade, it should be removed so far as those sections were concerned. On behalf of Mrs Guy he stated that arrangements hod been made to erect a bridge over the Kawau cut and ho sought approval of plans submitted. It was also pointed out now the bridge would serve certain roads. —The matter was referred to the reserves committee.

From the Gorgo Domain Board making application for* a donation to assist the board in preserving the nativo bush in the domain. —Received.

From the Palmerston North Hospital Board forwarding a statement of eatimated_ receipts and payments for the financial year 1925-26, together with a statement showing the actual results for the past year. The levy on the borough this year was made up as follows: Capital expenditure, £69) 6s; maintenance levy. £2520 6s 8d; total contribution, £3214 12s 8d. —Received. From L. A. Abraham with reference to the money deposited to tar and sand the extension of Moerungi street, and asking when the council would be in a position to carry out the work. —The matter was held over. From the trustees, A. E. Clausen’s estate with reference to the construcion of a bridge over ho Kawau drain in Clausen street, and suggesting that the trustees be permitted to build the bridge with heart of totara or any other durable timber. —It was decided that the works could not be permitted. GAS MANAGER’S REPORT.

The gas manager (Mr G. W. Ilecley) reported inter alia as follows:—The gas consumed on street lamps, etc., totalled 54,000 cubic feet. There was a decrease of seven meters. During the month wo sold and fixed seven gas cookers and two wash coppers. The laving of the new 18-inch trunk main through the centre of the town, connecting up both ends, was completed on April 29th. The scheme is most successful, and since it has been in operation, it has more than fulfilled what was expected of it. The old gas holder in Short street was deflated on April 30th and ceased to function from that date. On Sunday last we connected in the final main in the Square to the 18-inch trunk main under the railway lines at the post office comer and arrangements have been made with the Railway Department to make the last two connections under the railway lines at Duke and Alexandra streets on the next two consecutive Sundays. The alterations to tho boiler flues at the gasworks have now been completed, and the second boiler inspected, the inspector expressing satisfaction with the work which now complies with all tho requirements of his department.—The report was adopted, the gas committee being instructed to report upon tho disposal of the old gas holder.

WORKS COMMITTEE. The works committee reported as follows:—That the borough carters wrote stating that the foreman of works expected them to work the full 8£ hours each day. Hitherto they were always allowed half an hour in going to and from their stables, and asked _ that they bo now granted twenty minutes’ grace. Tho committee resolved that the application be refused, and that the'matter be left in the hands of the borough overseer with power to act. A communication was received from the Ilokowhitu Ratepayers and Electors’ Association asking the council to asphalt the footway in Ruahine street (below Ferguson street) and to provide concrete kerbing and channelling in conjunction with the same footway; to extend this footway for a further distance of eleven chains; to dense and carry out a complete scheme of stormwater drainage in the Hokowhitu area; to extend the electric lighting system along Manawatu street from Pahiatua street towards Scandia street; to form and metal the roadway in College street extension to enable vehicular traffic to negotiate the road in safety; to form, metal, and asphalt the footway in Scandia street from the lagoon past the school to Pahiatua street: to grade and metal the roadway in Ruahine street (this tl work had been held ovor until the filling in of the sewerage works had settled down). It was resolved that a twelve foot path be constructed across Scandia street in front of Hokowlu'tu school, and that tho other matters mentioned in tho communication bo held over. Tho committee also reported that, in response to a request from the Plunket Society, it was resolved that a sum of £lO be provided for on tins year’s estimates. The Y.M.O.A. wrote requesting consideration of *ha annual donation towards the support of tho association, and a motion that £lO bo granted towards the funds was not agreed to. It was decided that tile Y.M.O.A. be granted a remission of rates equal to tho amount remitted last year, viz. £lO 4s 9d. A request was received from the Returned Soldiers’ Association asking that the rates on the Soldiers' Club property be remitted and the committee decided to recommend that a remission to the extent of £lO bo made this year. Mr VV. Park wrota requesting the construction of a twelvo foot footpath between Batt and Moerangi streets, the request being also signed by Messrs Keeling and Gaustad. The matter was held over. With further reference to the Hospital Board’s request of November 26th, 1924, that a footpath be constructed in Terrace street from the main entrance towards the medical superintendent’s residence, it was decided to inform the board that, the council regretted its inability to undertake the work this year. Mr A. Buclianui wro'o drawing attention to the application forwarded by Mrs K. M. Gardner nnd the Maori Endowment Trustees for permission to construct a blind street between sections 175 and 176. It was decided that the request be again deferred, pending tho matter being further considered by the works committee. A complaint was received of the condition of tho footpath, kerbing and water channelling between tho Square and Pitt street: also, that tho culvert at the intersection of Church and Pitt streets was not large enough to carry the stormwater which backs up ovor tho footpath. It was decided that no action be taken at present. With regard to the leasing of the lower portion of the museum building in Cuba streot, and the offers received, it was decided that tenders bo called for tho leasing of the lower portion of tho building, mid that tho parties bs notified accordingly. That the engineer be instructed to scarify Main street east on the eastern side from the post office to Duke street. The estimates for the current year were considered, nnd after being revised were recommended for adoption. It was decided that the following amounts bo included in this year’s expenditure:—Tnrring 'and sanding footways be increased by £SOO, making a total of £1500; scarifying Roy street, £150; and that the subsidy, of £3O to the Technical School be deleted from the estimates. —The report was adopted. ABATTOIR COMMITTEE.

Tho abattoir committee made tho following recommendations: —That the manager be authorised to erect a new chimney in the boiling down works, and a new steam pipe lino from tho destructor to the new works, at an estimated cost of £2OO. — Adopted. BOROUGH RESERVES

The borough curator (Mr P. Black) reported as follows:—Regarding the request of the Northern Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club for an extension of their playing area, the land available for such extension is sufficient for one croquet lawn only; If another run of tennis courts is granted the football hold will have to be abandoned. An item of £4O has been provisionully placed on the estimates for the purpose of erecting a fence on the North street side of rhe park—connecting with

the fences of the bowling green area and that of tho High School hostel grounds—and for planting an area or strip of land 2C feet wide immediately inside tho proposed fence. Two of the football grounds have been put in good order for soccer. Tho tennis, croquet and bowling greens have been top-dressed for the season. There is a proposal by the Takaro Club to have their playing area extended and if this is done an area on the eastern side of ills drain will have to be taken in and this will necessitate a foot-bridge across the drain. Repair to fences round Takaro Park will have to ho attended to during the present financial year and for this work an item of £SO has been placed on the estimates.

Fitzhcrbert Street Bowling Club. —The lawns here have also been top-dressed, etc., for the season. Last Beason it will bo remembered two asphalt tennis courts were laid down at these grounds. These courts now require to bo top-dros3ed with sand and tar but no allocation has l>een placed on tho estimates for this work. Sports ground: Fences round the cycle track require a certain amount of repairs and the item of £SO for sundries will be sufficient for this as well ns the other small outlays for the present year. Esplanade: Victoria Drive will have to be dressed with bitumen before the end of the financial year; the other tarred paths will also require attention and for this work £l3O is provided. Papaeoia Park: It is not proposed that any expenditure, other than maintenance, be made on this ground during the present year. Street trees: Most of the large trees in the streets will have to be pruned during tho coining winter, as many of them aro encroaching on the electric' and telephone wires. _ Motors: These have given excellent service and have been the means of very materially reducing working expenses—chiefly through their aid wo have been able to carry on with ono niun on North street and Fitzherbert street bowling greens respectively. The reserves committee reported:—That, with regard to the application from St! Andrew’s Football Club for a ten years’ lease of five acres of tho borough reserve, it was decided to request the secretary to wait upon the chairman and supply further particulars; that with regard to the Manawatu Amateur Athletio Club’s request that the 10 per cent, payable in respect of the gross gate receipts in connection with their recent athletio meeting bo not charged, the committee regrets that the request cannot bo granted; that, with further reference to the request from the Northern Bowling Club that they be granted the use of an additional area for croquet greens and tennis courts, it was decided to inform the club that the committee was prepared to lease a further area for croquet, provided they agreod to pay the total cost of preparation and yearly maintenance, tho estimated cost of preparation being £lO5, and annual maintenance £3O; with regard to grass and asphalt tennis courts, it was further decided that, on receipt of a definite application from the club, the matter would be further considered; that the curator be authorised to undertake the work of pruning the street trees during tho coining winter; that tho unoccupied area of Takaro Park be let to the general department for this season’s cropping.— Adopted.

LIBRARIAN'S REPORT. The librarian (Mr F. W. Christian) reported, inter alia, that the cost of books' purchased during March was £34 14s 3d and the number of books added 163, while 193 periodicals and magazines were supplied. The number of books purchased in April was 137 and the cost £42 3s 9d, while 172 magazines and periodicals were supplied. The report gave the following additional figures ior March: —Number of new members enrolled, 45; withdrawals, 41; total number at end of * month. 838; amount received for subscriptions, £25 13s 3d; sales, 16s 8d; extra books, £5 2s 6d; total, £3l 12s sd. Report for April: Number of new members enrolled, 38; withdrawals, 34; total number at end of month, 842; amount received for subscriptions, £77 6s 9d ; sales, 19s 7d ; extra books, £3 11s 9d; total, £Bl 18s 4d. During the financial year past, 1704 new r books have been added. Since I took over duties at end of 1923. 2056 have been placed on our shelves up to April Ist, 1925. There has been a steady increase in demand for books of travel, exploration and biography, and works of general literature. A number of old damaged books were sold cheaply—62l realising a sum of £5 2s 6d. Money received for extra books taken has proved a careful source of additional revenue. The. twelve weeks from January Ist to March 31st of this year produced £l3 6s 9d, an average of £1 2s per week, showing an additional circulation of 1063 books. I would once more lay stress on tho fact that we keep steadily before us in view the need of a new library building. The committee recommended: That the present subscriptions be altered and increased as follows: —Ratepayers, 10s per year; 5s 6d per half year; 3s per quarter. Non-ratepayers, 12s 6d per year; 6s 6d per half year; 3s 6d per quarter. That applications be called for the position of second assistant at a salary of £1 10s per week ; that in future tho reading room of the library close nightly at 9 o’clock instead of 9.30 as at present.—The report was adopted with the exception of tho last recommendation which was referred back. GENERAL.

Mr Giorgi and several ratepayers waited on the council with a request that the sewerage system be extended along Kuiranga road for four or five chains. The Mayor said that tho work would be considered in the general scheme of sewerage extension.

The poundkeeper reported that during the month 55 head of stock was impounded, fees received totalling £4.