BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2695, 13 July 1923, Page 2

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The fortnightly meeting of tho Feilding Borough Council was held last night, tho Mayor (Mr J. S. Tingoy) presiding. Also, present were: Crs, J. Baltrop, W, W. Andrews, A. McCorkindale, D. Pryde, A. H. Sutton. V. G. Smith, P. Pagan; and H t Stewart. RENEWAL OF LOANS. When the Mayor referred to a recommendation of the Finance Committee regarding the renewal of two loans, falling duo in October next, for £33,400 and £4200 respectively, he expressed tho opinion that the existence of these loans to-day was either an example of lack of foresight on tho part of the earlier councillors, or duo to ad verso circumstances at the time they were negotiated, 20 years ago. The original loans were for £27,000 and £GOOO respectively,and so very little had been paid off, and it was doubftul whether an easy rate of interest could be obtained when the date of renewal arrived. If a reasonable interest, providing for a sinking fund had beer: provided when tho loans were arranged the Council world have been in a different position to day GENERAL MATTERS. Tho requests of the Feilding Beautitifying the small section at the entprovldo a portion of Johnson’s Park for the purpose of a nursery and to assist the Society in the matter of beautifying tho small section nat the entrance to too Borough, situated at the corner of West and South Streets, were referred to the Reserves Committee. Reference was made to tho case of B. Collins v. the Council, a claim in connection with tho erection of a concrete bridge at' the corner of Derby and Marlborough Streets, when the Mayor reported that the plaintiff was appealing on tho recent judgment. The caretaker at the reservoir reported that there had been a small leak discovered, but as far as had been ascertained at present, there was nothing alarming in this connection. It had been thought wise, however, to reduce the quantity of water in the reservoir to enable an inspection, and it, was thought that the matter could be attended to without any great troubles. The rat nuisance at the Dump in Derby Street was mentioned by Cr. Pagan-,' and the Mayor stated that the Council was purchasing a large quantity of rut poison to lay at tho dump, in order to try and keep down tho rodents. Out of six applications, Mr J. Whittaker was appointed the Borough dog tax collector and pound keeper. The finance committee's recommendations: (1) That the Council do not make a contribution to the Sir Arthur Pearson Fund and (2) that the Council was unable to grant further financial assistance to the Workers' Educational Association, were adopted. It was decided to place stone crates in the Makino Stream at Port Street in order to protect the footings of the bridge. , , , The Borough foreman reported to the Council that, the river protection work at Johnson’s Park had been completed. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. Tho Borough inspector reported as j follow: —During tho month the fol-, lowing permits were issued Building permits (totl value £2438), five; miscellaneous drainage permits, eleven; permits to open asphalt, footpaths, two. The following cases of infectious diseases have been reported: Diphtheria two, scarlet fever one. cerebro- spinal meningitis one. The water pressure has kept up high and steady during the above period. The •sewerage system has been fully taxec. during the recent wet weather and the septic tank has been overtaxed with flood wate*' REPORT ON BRIDGES. A report was read on the condition of the bridges in South, Denbigh and Derby-streets. That in Derby-street was reported to he in a precarious condition, while the other two were in need of minor refairs, but quite capable of continued use for some little time yet. This matter was discussed at some length, Cr. Smith suggesting that, in connection with the loan for road improvements, the Council should include sufficient to reconstruct the bridge s. Th 0 Mayor (Mr. Tingey) did not agree with this, but recognised that money should be raised to re-erect the Derby-street bridge in concrete and h e moved to the effect that a bridge, costing £2OOO, be built to replace the | present Derby-street structure. After further discussion, and as the Council appeared divided as to the claims of rh e particular bridges for replacement, li was decided to place two additional proposals before the ratepayers raise loans for a bridge ap Derby-street, and a bridge at Southstreet. The Council considered that this would give the ratepayers the opportunity of deciding whether to have two new bridges or only one, or none at all.