BOROUGH COUNCIL

Northern Advocate, 26 August 1913, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

The fortnightly meeting of the .Whangarei Borough Council was held last night. Cr. J. S. Dent (Deputy Mayor) presiding. There were also present Crs. D. McLean, L. T. Pickmere, R. H. Harrison, F. Cutforth, J. E. Holmes. BALANCE-SHEET TAGS. The Controller and Auditor-Gene-ral wrote as follows —" In reply to your letter of the 14th inst. I have the honour to observe that all the items enumerated are properly chargeable under section 101 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, and only so chargeable and are therefore correctly shown in your balancesheet. Section 12 of the Exhibitions Act, 1910, referred to by you, applies only to cases where work has been performed by the local authority itself, and does not authorise the handing over of money for expenditure by other people, nor has the council any right to exceed the powers conferred by statute even for such a purpose as entertaining his Majesty's representative—such excess should' in equity be met by those who undertook the entertainment." Cr. Pickmere said that the money was voted to a more capable body to expend. The difficulty couK be overcome by rescinding the motion and asking the Exhibition Committee to stipulate the purpose to which the money is to be devoted, and vote it for that purpose only. The whole question, he said, was a legal quibble. The letter was received. DEDICATION. Mr. J. Marshall, through the council's solicitor, informed the council that he was unwilling to fill in a strip of land adjoining Rust Lane, and asked the council to accept dedication under Section 117 of the Public Works Act, 1908. He maintained that under this section there was no power conferred on the council to compel him to do the work asked by the council.

Referred to the Legal Committee for report. SUBDIVISION. Mr. R. S. Finch, surveyor, forwarded plan of the proposed subdivision of the Elgin Estate, which was being cut up by Mr. J. E. McLeod. He asked that the plan be approved.—Plan approved. A BOARDING-HOUSE LICENSE. Mrs. E. Matthews wrote objecting to the council's action in declining to grant a license to a boarding-house in Walton Street, of which she was proprietress. She had evidence to prove that the building was kept very clean and orderly. She promised to prevent a recurrence of the nuisance complained of. She made grave accusations against persons who had recently boarded in the house, and with whom she had had a recent court case. Resolved that the Health Officer be asked to visit the premises and report. NEGLIGENCE. Mr. James Aylward wrote that owing to the negligence of some householders he thought of discontinuing - the cartage of rubbish from Mairtown to the tip. Resolved that the writer be informed that if he has any complaint to make he should forward it to the Inspector' of Nuisances.

! RUST LANE. Mr. E. O. Weaver, on behalf of the I residents, waited on the council and asked that repairs be effected in Rust i Lane. He considered the principal cause of the damage was the carting of heavy metal from the quarry. The condition of the road was a menace to public health. The road was now in such a filthy condition as to make it practically impassable, and dangerous. Resolved that the matter be referred to the borough solicitor with a view to ascertaining whether the council can prevent, extraordinary traffic on the road, and if it does not prejudice the council's claim that repairs be effected. DILAPIDATED SECTIONS. Reference was made by Cr. J. E. Holmes to the dilapidated condition of unoccupied sections at the junction of Cameron and Walton streets, and those oposite the "Advocate" building. It was resolved to ask the Works Committee to take action with a view to having the sections made more sightly. MANDER'S PARK. It was resolved that the Park Committee be authorised to expend up to £ 5 for the purpose of planting shrubs and erecting a protecting fence round Mander's Park, and that the work be done by the borough employees. LEGAL COMMITTEE. The Legal Committee reported as follows: — 1. That the committee approve of the sub-divisions of Messrs. Jackson and Wilson's properties in Kauika Road, and the council supply the Registrar of Deeds with a declaration that public money has been spent on the road up to the northern boundary of the section 69, Woodhill sub-division. 2. That a copy of the opinion of Messrs. Carruth and Kirker re. the County Council's liability in connection with the repairs to Brewery Bridge advising that the council can claim a reasonable share, be forwarded to the County Council with a request that they allow their engineer to fix what is a reasonable share. The report was adopted. TOWN HALL. The Town Hall Committee made the follbwing recommendations, which were adopted— 1. That the supper room be hired for meetings, etc., at the following rates — Evening not exceeding two hours per night 7 6 Each additional hour 2 6 Term of nights not exceeding Uvo hours 5 0 Day time, 5s for first three hours, Is an hour for each additional hour. 2. That the charge for use of the main hall when no charge is made for admission be £3 10s per night. 3. That the charge for rehearsals be made by arrangement. This concluded the business.