BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Northern Advocate, 6 December 1910, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening in the Council Chamber, when there were •present:—His Worship the Mayor (Mr T. H. Steadman), Councillors Wilson, McLeod, Harrison, Chadwin, Dent, Reyburn, and Mr H. W. Briggs, acting Town Clerk. ROAD ROLLER AND SACRIFIER. Messrs E. Porter and Co. forward tenders for a 10 h.p. Ruston Proctor convertible traction engine and road roller at £695 landed in Whangarei, and for a three-tyne scarifier at £101 18s, or a two-tyned machine at £86 18s. —Received. THE BALANCE SHEET. The balance sheet of -the Borough Council was returned by the AuditorGeneral, having been duly certified as correct. Mr Steadman said that about twenty -copies would have to be printed, and Mt was agreed to call for tenders for the printing. ' REBATE OF LICENSING FEE. Mr W. J. Taylor, occupier of the "Club" billiard saloon in Cameron Street, wrote asking for a rebate on his license fee of £2, as he contended that he was paying an annual fee, whei-eas the saloon would only have heen open six months when he would "become liable for another fee. Cr. Dent said he thought that it was unfair to charge him the full amount, and on Cr. Chadwin's motion, seconded by Cr. Dent, it was agreed,to refund half the amount. THE FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE. The County Council forwarded notice of the proposed meeting of the Borough and County Councils and the Kamo Town Board to discuss the question of maintaining the Kamo main road. f Cr. McLeod proposed that the Borough Council t should meet the other parties on the date appointed. Mr Steadman pointed out that the Borough Council would only be liable for the maintenance of the road within their boundaries. THE EARLY BIRD. Mr M. B. Herrold wrote offering his services as architect for the proposed Town Hall. —Received. DRAINAGE AND THE RAILWAY. A letter was forwsrded from the Chief Engineer's office of the Railway Department enclosing the Council's deed of grant of right to lay sewage pipes on the railway line at Whangarei, with an agreement covering additional easements. —Received. BOROUGH RUBBISH-TIP. Mr W. Richards, rubbish contractor for the Borough, wrote stating that the road to Johnson'- place had become so cut up by his carting over it that he could hardly manage to get up to the tip head. He therefore requested that the Council permit him to use some other place as a rubbish tip. On Cr. Reyburn's motion it was decided that if the contractor could find another suitable rubbish tip, he was at liberty to utilise it, but the Council would accept no responsibility in the matter. WALTON STREET BRIDGE. Alex. Monro wrote calling attention to the disrepair into which the Wsl ton Street bridge had fallen, and instancing two narrow escapes from accidents which he hid witnessed. A long olscussioa feigned on tho stability of the structure, the general trend of the discussion being in favor of entire reconstruction of the bridge. The Inspector, Mr King, said that the whole bridge was a wreck and that there was not a single sound stick of timber in it. In answer to a suggestion that temporary repairs should be effected, The Mayor pointed out that so long as no renovation was undertaken, the Council was not responsible for auy accidents which might arise, but if they attempted any renairs they would "become liable for any claims arising from accidents. Cr McLeod maintained that the cost of repairs to the bridge would be in the vicinity of £80. A suggestion to obtain a qualified engineer to confer with the inspector as to the best course to be adopted was rejected, and it was finally agreed, on Cr. Chadwin's motion, to instruct Mr Kinp to obtain from the Public Works Department plans and specifications, with estimated cost, of a suitable concrete bridge, of a suitable length and thirty feet wide. It was further decided to advertise in the papers that the bridge v/ould be closed at an early date for the purpose of building a new one to replace the present structure. WHANGAREI POUND SITE. j Mr Carruth wrote forwarding a let- ; ter from the Prime Minister stating: his inability to include the exchange of the pound sites (mutually agreed upon between the Borough Council j and James Jackson, nearly five years ago) in the Reserves Disposal Enabling Bill, as the Pound Site was not a reserve within the meaning of the "Public Reserves and Domain Act, 1908." If the Borough Council were unable to exchange the land by conveyance, the Council would need to J bring in a local bill dealing with the j matter next session. tfThe matter was referred to th 3 iegal Committee for investigation. j GRAVEL IN DOCTOR'S CREEK. | The secretary of the Harbor Board i wrote acknowledging a letter referring to the danger of removing gravel: from Doctor's Creek o;t account of in ■ terfering with drainage pipes. The i Harbor Board had deferred consideration of this matter until it had received a report of the condition of the creek referred to.—Received.

HENRY STREET DEDICATION. Messrs Killen and Wilscn forwarded the dedication of Henry Street for the Council's acceptance and approval. The Mayor proposed that the matter be deferred until the special meeting—Carried. A NEW ROAD SWEEPER. Messr Booth, McDonald and Co. forwarded a catalogue of road-sweepers. Cr. Chadwin, seconded by Cr. Dent, moved that the Council procure a sweeper with attachment for second horse if needed. —Carried. POUNDKEEPER'S REPORT. During last month 47 head of cattle and horses were impounded; two head of cattle being unclaimed were sold. The poundage fees realised £11 3s 3d. The poundkceper asked that some repairs be made to the fences at the pound paddock, as he experienced great difficulty in retaining cattle in the pound. Cr. Dent moved that' the poundkeeper be instructed to put the fence in order. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR'S REPORT. During the month seven drivers" licenses were issued at 2s 6d each, additional vehicle licenses were granted to the amount of -.£4 2s 6d, and one license to sell milk was issued at 2/6, making a total of £5 2s 6d, for the month. THE 'BUSES AGAIN. The Traffic Inspector drew attention to the fact that an unlicensed 'bus had conveyed passengers from the Show and that fares had been collected. He thought that it was unjust, and, in defence of local licensees, he intended to make a case at next Court sessions.—The report was adopted. The Inspector had received two complaints from persons who had been charged double fares on Show day, and he solicited the Council's advice as to whether he should take legal proceedings in similar cases in future. The Mayor held that, according to the by-laws the fare chargeable was that from Whangarei to Kamo, and it was only by an act of courtesy that passengers were allowed to pay less for conveyance to intermediate points, and he held that the proprietors were legally justified, if they so desired, to compel passengers to pay the full fare irrespective of distance travelled. Consequently, on Cr. Dent's motion, it. was decided that no action be taken. A DEFECTIVE DRAIN. Mr C. T. Baker drew attention to a defective drain which caused annoyance to his tenants and the general public. Mr Moore had inspected the drain and had reported good cause for complaint. j The matter was leferred to the building inspector for adjustment. WATERWORKS ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr T. J. Medland forwarded his monthly report showing that five service connections had been laid; six building permits issued, and the usual cleaning and scouring of the headworks, reservoir and mains had been attended to. He drew attention to the fact that owing to delay in shipment the stock of meters had run short, but that they would arrive in Whangarei during this week and the wafer supply would consequently be cut off on the 10th inst from all those who had failed to comply with the notice. He recommended that a service connection be laid along Manse Street to Mr S. Conaghan's house as, although it invloved an expense of £11 2s it was probable that other properties along the street would connect with this pipe later en.—This was _,__rG6(i to TARRED FOOTPATHS PREFERABLE. In discussing the Overseer's report Cr. McLeod expressed his conviction that it would be cheaper to tar the footpaths than to be continually cleaning them. NEW FOOTPATHS. The plans for the new footpaths in Walton and Bank Streets were laid on the table. These included the kerbing and channelling of footpaths from the Railway Station to the whari and from Dr. Baxter's corner to the Anglican Church. Mr King computed the cost at £4 lis Id per chain, but if the whole work were done in concrete the cost would be cheaper. Cr. Chadwin moved, seconded by Cr Peyburn, that tenders be called for and the work put in hand in the near futi're; the contract to be executed in concrete throughout.—Carried. NORFOLK STREET PIPES. The Mayor moved, in regard to the fixing of the pipes in Norfolk Street that Mr Coburn be engaged to assist Mr King in laying the pipes.—Carried. TENDERS FOR TOOL SHED. It was decided that Mr Lovatt's Lender of £28 9s be accepted. HARRISON'S MILL. Cr.. Harrison admitted that the mill enci-oached on the surveyed road and suggested that as a remedy the road be deviated. The matter was left in the hands of the Streets Committee. STRIKING OF RATES. The Mayor gave notice of motion to strike the new rates at a special meeting to be convened on the 23rd inst. LOAN PROPOSALS. Cr. Harrison asked what was being done in regard to the loan proposals. The Mayor replied that he was inquiring as to the legality of borrowing on the prospective rates, which will come into force on March 31st next, or whether it would be necessary to vote on the present rate. He stated that he had his own opinion on the subject, but he wanted to be sure. He pointed out that the drainage rate of 9-16 of a penny would be less on The new valuation.

THE WOODHILL ESTATE. Cr. McLeod drew attention to the offer of the Borough Council of the bush portion of the Woodhill estate, which offer he contended had been neglected. The Mayor maintained that the matter had been settled by the Council expressing its inability to avail itself of the offer. Mr Harrison interpolated that it was useless talking about purchasing new property without first securing a loan. Cr. Wilson said that, apart from being a member of the family affected, he strongly urged the Council to secure the property at the extremely cheap price asked, as there was enough blue metal in the hills to supply the needs of th 3 Borough for a great many years to come. The matter Avas deferred for discussion at the special meeting.