PARNELL BOROUGH COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7403, 11 August 1885, Page 3

PARNELL BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The regular fortnightly meeting of the Parnell Borough Council was held last evening. Present : Captain D. H. McKenzie (Mayor), Messrs. Mnllins, McCabe, Mclotyre, Gay, Ireland, Clarke, Whitley, and Kidd. The minutes were confirmed, and headings of correspondence forwarded since last meeting of the Council were sub* nutted.

Asphalt.—Mr. John Grace asked permission to have the footpath in front of hi* place, Manukau-road, asphalted, in accordance with the rules of the Council.—The application was deferred, in order that the other residents might be consulted aa to whether they would contribute to the cost of asphalting.

A Quagmire.—Mr. Etheridge asked to have a load of gravel placed in a quagmire opposite Dr. Campbell's residence.—lt was agreed that the Foreman of Works be instructed to attend to the request. STANWELL-STRKfT, — Mr. P. Comiskey wrote, that as the Council had not yet taken over Stanwell-street, he would hold them uncommitted when the matter of taking over the street came before them.—Letter re* ceived.

Brighton Drainage.—Mr. Geo. Smith, Brighton, wrote asking what he was to do with his drainage, as he could not drain into the main drain. A private drain had been made by Mr. Smith and Mr. E. Hudson, but it had been dammed by Mr. King, through whose property the drain went. —Mr. Smith made an explanation of the position, and the matter was referred to the Streets Committee.

Scoria Pits, Etc.—A letter from the Public Works Department to Mr. F. J. Moss, M.H.R., in reference to a letter from the Town Clerk, Parnell, asking the Government; to assist the borough by allowing one or more of the scoria pits to be re-opened for the use of the local bodies, or by giving the borough a grant of road metal from the Stockade, was received, stating that neither of these matters could be dealt with by the department. The requests had been referred to the proper departments. In this connection the Hon. Mr. Ballanoe, Minister of Lands, wrote that in consequence of the indiscriminate working of gravel pits at Mount Eden, the Government had placed them under the control of the Mount Eden Highway Board, which body had now the arrangement of the pits.—The letters were received.

Private Streets.Mr. James Mason asked leave to lay out a 40 feet road through his property, Kempthorn's estate. Referred to the Streets Committee. — Mr. Clarke strongly objected to any road being less than 66 feet.—Mr. Mason explained that it was impossible to make the road wider, as he could not buy the property at both sides. He tried, but the owners would not sell.

St. George's Bat Road.—William Kinsey wrote re the drainage and the state of the footpath in the lower part of St. George's Bay, caused by carting across it and persona riding over it. —The Overseer of Works was instructed to make the footpath passable, and estimate the damage caused by Mr. Green ; and that Mr. Kinsey be informed that, if information can be obtained, proceedings will be taken against persona riding on the footpath. Municipal Building Site.—ln reference to the question of the right-of-way between the Parnell School site and the Borough Council site, from Alpha-road to Manukauroad, Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond gave their opinion that there was no power to grant a portion of the site for the purposes of a road or a footway. If, however, the Council thought fit to do so, it would hare to be clearly understood that the way was only open temporarily, and the Council should exercise its authority over it, either by erecting a turnstile or closing the way for a day in each year. They considered that it would eventually lead to embarrassment.— A lengthy petition had been received against closing the pathway which led between the Council Offioe and the Public School. It set forth that it had been in existence for many years, and was a great public convenience.-* Mr. Ireland moved that the prayer of the petition be not granted.—Mr. Clarke moved that the path be left open and turnstiles be erected. It was a great public convenience. —Mr. Whitney seconded the amendment.— Four voted for the amendment and three against. The Mayor gave his vote with the minority, but gave his casting vote to defer it to a fuller meeting of the Council. Ayknpk-hoad.—A petition was received from the residents in Avenue-road stating that, having heard the Council was about to thin out the trees on the Avenue-road, they requested to have a voice in the matter, and that above all the selection of trees to be destroyed should be made by a competent authority.—The matter was discussed at some length.—Mr. Kidd pointed out that those signing the petition owned no land where the trees were. He did, and held that the trees were a nuisance, and kept the road in a sloppy state, and would be deleterious to any houses built there.—Mr. Gay said many of those who had signed the petition, Mr. Walker and others, had asked him to bring the matter before the Council in order to have the trees thinned out. He did so, and the result was that tenders had been called.—The petition was received, and tenders were opened, and the whole matter was then referred to a committee to consult with the residents.

Accounts.—The statement of accounts brought up by the Finance Committee was passed, and the accounts ordered for payment.

Streets Committer.—The report of thia committee on certain matters referred to them was read and adopted. Manckau-road Encroachment.—Messrs. Boylan and Lundon's report re alleged encroachment of Dr. Shortland's new buildings on Manukau-road, was read. A report froto the special committee on the subject, the particulars of which have already been published, was also read.The Mayor explained that the fence at Bishop's Court side had been moved back three feet, and the people on the opposite side of the street thought apparently they could follow it, but he held a different opinion.—The report of the special committee was adopted, providing for a footpath ten feet wide.