BIRKENHEAD BOROUGH COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15174, 13 December 1912, Page 5

BIRKENHEAD BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Birkenhead Borough Council met last night. Present: Messrs. Wm. Wallace (Mayor), J. Maginness, J. W. Court, C. E. Campbell, F. M. King, Bog. Shepherd, Jas. P. McPhail, and Ihos. Church. The Mayor reported that as the result of inquiries instituted, there was every likelihood of a telephone exchange being established at Birkenhead before long, the telegraph engineer stating, that the yearly rental to subscribers would be £5 to £6, according to distance. Mr. Alex. Haire was re-appoin(,ed dog registrar and cattle ranger for the ensuing year. The sanitary inspector's report was received, disclosing satisfactory throughout tho boroughConditional upon tho residents contributing tho sum of £10, it was resolved to form and shell. the footpath in Tramway Road, the distance being 23 chains. A letter was received from the Board of Education declining to call a householders' meeting sooner than April next for tho purpose of considering tho question of providing a school cach for .Birkenhead and Northcote, in lieu of the present school for the two districts, The Mayor said the Board appeared to ho acting in a most inconsistent manner in dealing with tho School Committee's desires. The Board had closed the Chapelstreet school in against tho wish of the School Committee, and hero was another case where the Board refused to give effect to the wishes of the Northcoto School Committee and tho Birkenhead and Northcoto Councils to deal with this question without further delay. The chairman of the Board (Mr. G. J. Garland) had quite recently semiofficially stated to several members of tho Council and the chairman of the School Committee that it was the intention of the Board to grant an infant school at Birkenhead in tho Foresters' Hall. When ho (Mr. Wallace) read tho Board's reply, he felt that the Council should convene a meeting of residents, to express their indignation at the Board's action. Tho School Committee felt that tho matter was being shelved from time to time, and) this course had the effect of unsettling the teachers, and also the residents of tho district. Mr. J. W. Court said a householders' meeting was a most unsatisfactory way of dealing., with the situation. The question should be decided upon its merits, and not be dependent upon which side could cram the school first. On the motion of Mr. C. E. Campbell, seconded "by Mr. Thos. Church, a deputation, consisting of the Mayor, and Messrs. J, Maginness and J. W. Court-, was appointed to wait upon the Education Board next week, in order to again urge the views of the Council.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed for January 16.