DEVONPORT COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15549, 5 March 1914, Page 4

DEVONPORT COUNCIL.

OFFER OF A LOAN. The Devonport Borough ', Council met on Tuesday evening. There were present: The Mayor (Mr. W. Handley) and Messrs. D. W. McLean, J. C, Webster, J. K. Harty, J. Henderson, P. W. McCallum, A. Nixon, W. Lloyd, and A. G. Quartley. A letter was received from Mr. J. M. Steele, submitting for the council's consideration the offer of a loan of £41,200 for 20 years at 5 per cent., and request- ' ing to know the best rate of interest the council would be prepared to pay if unable -to entertain the present offer. It was decided to decline the offer, as it -was specified in the council's loan proposals ; : that the borough should not pay more - than 4£ per cent, interest for money borrowed. The North Shore Aquatic and Advance- \ ment Association wrote directing the at- 'j tention of the council to the unsatisfac- J tory state of affairs governing the gridiron J| attached to the municipal skids at Queen's M Parade. The matter was referred to the -S Streets and Works Committee. I A communication was received from the \ 'Auckland Harbour Board stating that the ferry accommodation on the Auckland ?| wharves was-quite adequate, and that the question of the traffic was one for the 1 Devonport Ferry Company to deal with, K It was decided to refer the letter to the ? Devonport Ferry Company. ; -,;', Mr. McCallum, a member of the coun- ?'i cil, wrote stating that he did not recog- ¥ nise any liability in connection with, the ■■ installation of the sewage system in Vic- .• toria Park. He invited the local authority to take steps to. have a test case brought against him at an early date. The letter was referred to the borough solicitor. After discussion the council -decided to donate the sum of £3 3s towards the "annual picnic of the Auckland and Suburban . Local Bodies' Labourers' Industrial Union of Workers, which is to be held on Saturday on the Takapuna racecourse. The engineer reported that the work of levelling the football ground was in progress. Advantage was being taken of the dry state of the ground to push on with the filling. The extra ground would not be available for football this winter. Members of the council expressed surprise at the fact that the ground might not be ready for the approaching season. In connection with the motor-car fares the following scale of charges was recommended by the Streets and Works Committee : —Area A, 6d per head, with a minimum charge of 2s; area B, 9d per head, with a minimum charge of 3s; children under 12 years of age half fare. Charge for the first hour: Any number, not exceeding five persons, 12s 6d: for everv succeeding quarter of an hour, or fraction thereof, 3s. After 8 p.m. a fare and a-half may be charged. The council adopted the committee's recommendation.