BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12784, 6 May 1914, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met last evening. Present:—Mr J. A. Nash (Mayor), Crs. Seifert, Armstrong, Broad, Jackson. Crabb, Nathan, Bennett, Woon. CORRESPONDENCE. From C. Eising, asking Council to assist in felling bush on Pahiatua side oi : waterworks reserve. —Council has no intention of felling bush, but is prepared to pay half cost of fence. From ratepayers of Millar street, asking for lamp and complaining that the footway is being used for driving stock—The former request was deferred until the estimates are being considered.

The Mayor's suggestion that a notice should be put up that stock should not be driven along the street was adopted. It was stated that the engineer would be asked to report upon stock routes.

From B. A. Moore, asking to have Pirie street put in order—Referred to Public Works Committee.

A cabman named H. Goffries appeared before the Council to answer a charge of leaving his cab unattended. After hearing his explanation it was decided to inform him that if a further complaint is received his license will be cancelled.

Messrs J. Jones, W. B. Ellis and W. Chapman waited on the Council and asked that the Ivawau drain be widened and deepened. They explained that the stop bank was getting broken down by cattle and the drain was gradually filling up. Without the drain it would be almost impossible for the settlers to live there. Twice last year the drain overflowed and did considerable damage to gardens, etc. The matter was left to the Mayor and Cr. Armstrong to report to the Council.

The following comparative statement of values and hospital levies was submitted to the Council:—

Kiwitea, value at 1014-15, £1,981,1(54; capital expenditure, Hospital and Old People 's Home, at 3s 2d, £.513 13s 2d; Hospital and Charitable Aid and Old People's Home maintenance, at 3s 10% d, £3SS 17s Bd. Pohangina, £1,154,430, £lB7 10s lid and £230 14s 2d. Kairanga, £2.934,078, £4G4 12s 7d and £562 9s 4d. Oroua, £1,990,812, £31(3 3s 2d and £3BB 18s 9d. Manawatu, £2,315,205, £36(5 lis 7d and £450 19s 7d. Feilding, £843,278, £133 10s 3d and £1(54 (is 9d. Foxton, £213,309, £33 15s 3d and £4l lis. Rongotea, £39,569, £5 17s 8d and £7 15s 6d. Totals, £13,608,129, £2154 2s 2d and £2641 lis sd. The returning officer reported that the gasworks loan had been carried. Cr. Bennett: "Very satisfactory." Cr. Crabb: "That's the first." Cr. Bennett: They are in the humour now. Cr. Nathan referred to Pitt street leading to the railway yard, which he stated was in a disgraceful state and that the Railway Department should be asked to attend to it at once. The question of re-numbering streets was considered. The Mayor explained that the idea was to commence at the end of a street Avith No. 1 and number it right through, also to have posts at the intersection of streets stating 1 to 50 etc., and onwards. Cr. Wood stated that it would be

desirable to have more notices indicating the names of streets. The Mayor suggested that they should have a notice put up at the Occidental corner "To the Esplanade" for the benefit of strangers.

Cr. Seifert said the Council should consider the question ot numbering all the houses.

It was resolved that the Council construct the footway on the North side of Grey street between Ward and Carroll streets by day labour and that the Town Clerk take steps to collect the amounts outstanding. The tender of Messrs Perrin and Needham of £27 3s was accepted for alterations to caretaker's cottage. Cr. Nathan moved that the street sweepers receive a living wage, and that instead of receiving 35s per week they be paid £2 2s—This was agreed to.

Cr. Nathan referred to the question of the formation of the road from Palmerston to Shannon via Longburn and that a traffic bridge be placed over the river at LoDgburn. Everyone recognised the importance of this matter and the distance would be considerably shortened. He moved that a conference be held to consider the

question. He considered that as this was election year the time wa9 most opportune to move in the matter. The Mayor referred to the previous movement in the matter. A deputation went to Wellington and all they got was the speeding up of the trains over the Longburn bridge. It was decided that the Mayor and Cr. Armstrong attend the conference on the matter.

PUBLIC WORKS,

The Public Works Committee met on April 24. '

Mr Harris, Edison's expert, waited on the committee with reference to the guarantees required in connection with the installation of a tramway system on the Edison storage batterv principle. The Mayor explained I bat the guarantees required were that the necessary cost woyld not exceed 10% d per car mile, and a speed limit.

Mr Harris said he was prepared to give a guarantee that the running cost would not exceed per car mile p: ovided he was allowed to operate tlie cars for 12 months. To ruu 100 miles as against Gisborne's 75 miles the additional cost would bo about AilOO each car. He was not prepared to give a guarantee such as required unlets specifications were prepared by him and he estimated the cost of preparing same at £3OO. After discussion a sub-committee consisting of the Mayor, Crs. Armstrong, Nathan and Seifert was appointed to meet Mr Harris on Monday, April 2<i to arrange preliminaries for an offer to the Council. On April 2(3 Mr Harris met the ! committee but was not prepared to make any offer, and with tne consent of the committee and Crs. Broad, Woon. Yoss, Jackson and Bennett, v.-ho were present the engineer was directed to supply Mr Karris with an outline of the tramway scheme, and arrangements were made to meet him on Monday afternoon, May 4 to consider any offer he might make. Mr Eden, representing an Electrical Company, submitted an outline of a scheme to instal self-propelled petrolelectric cars and it was resolved to allow him to put his offer in writing together with estimates. It was resolved that the Public Works Committee inspect the river-

j bed from which the supply of metal is obtained in company with the Eiver Board and engineer. That Crs. Armstrong and Voss represent the Council at the conference called by Wellington Chamber of Commerce^ That the engineer be allowed to give a report on waterworks to Feilding Borough Council and if he requires the use of time paid for by the Borough Council he be allowed leave of absence without salary. RESERVES COMMITTEE. ! It was resolved by the committee to inform the Acclimatisation Society that the offer to supply young trout will be favourably considered when the pond is cleaned out and that any surplus of duck eggs or ducklings will be given to the Society, j That one of the grounds be set aside i outside the oval for Saturday hockey and special matches can be played on the oval. 1 That trees be planted in the streets at a cost not to exceed £4O. I That the curator and the engineer be authorised to draw up plans and specifications for erection of a propagating house. v