BOROUGH COUNCILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18355, 22 March 1923, Page 9

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

NEWMARKET.

The Newmarket Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor, Mr. S. Donaldson, presiding. There were also present: Messrs. A. Seccombe, T. J'. Watts. F. J. O'Meara, J. E. Smerdon, A. Kent, N. Kelleway, EL J. Cooper, and P. S. Boone. The --foreman of works reported that work at the corner of Manukau and Remuera Roads had been completed in accordance with the plans ordered by the engineer. The piece of land at the corner, which was given by the Railway Department, had made a great difference to the locality. The St. John Ambulance Association was granted permission to hold a street collection in Newmarket on April 13. A donation of £6 6s was made td the funds of the association.

BIRKENHEAD. The Birkenhead Borough Council met last evening. There were present the Mayor, Mr. A. Hadfield, and Messrs. A. Bartlett, A. • Turner, L. R. L. Moller, and E. C. Walton. The Valuer-General wrote, in reply to the council's protest against the charge of - £111 15s tor the borough's proportion of the cost of the revaluation last year, that in the circumstances the charge was reasonable. The Mayor said the council could do nothing but pay the amount. *'." * On the application of the Northcote District School Committee, water charges to the Birkenhead side school, amounting to £16 7s 4d, were remitted. The council deferred consideration of a request that the council assist in beautifying the Birkenhead School environs by laying down the footpath in front in permanent formation for five chains, the Improvement Committee contemplating the expenditure of £50 on a rockery. The foreman of works intimated that two separate length,'} of bituminous road were being laid down to demonstrate the efficacy and suitability of this method of treating roads. The extension of the water service to the wharf was authorised The Mayor was authorised to arrange for a combined service for Anzac Day. It was decided to decline Mr. A. G. Jarrett's request to accept dedication of a road in Island Bay, unless the council's specifications were complied with. Action is to be taken in respect to all overhanging hedges after one week.

TAKAPUNA. The Takapuna Borough Council met last evening. There were present: The Mayor, Mr. A. M. s Gould, and Messrs. J. 'W. Williamson. T. Arthur, F. W. Suckling, A. F. Grant, A. H. Wilkic, J. Collins and A. F. Clark. An important amendment of the building by-laws was recommended by the Legal and Finance Committee—namely, that with respect to lock-up shops in the borough, a frontage of not less than 15ft. ' to a public street be required, with a depth of not less than lOOftf. The committee proposed, however, that the council should reserve the right to dispense with full compliance in cases of proved hardship. Questions being raised as to the matter of sanitation in reference to shoip buildings erected under the proposed system, the recommendation was referred back to the committee for further consideration. A question having arisen as to the determination of high-water mark in respect of disputes over the removal of sand from the harbour' frontage, where permission is alleged to have been given by property owners opposite whose sections the sand was taken, it was ordered that the Legal and Finance Committee should report as to the 'measures necessary to prevent encroachments upon the foreshore. •- . A financial statement presented by the Mayor showed that the revenue for the 11 months ended February 28 amounted to £25,420, and the expenditure £21,753, and that ' there, was every prospect that on March 31 there would be rather more than £3000 to carry forward into next financial year. The amount of general and other rates outstanding on March 21 was shown to be £4225. The immediate issue of summonses for the recovery of the arrears of rates accruing from past years was ordered. ■; It was resolved, on the recommendation of the Parks Committee, to allocate £100 for the next financial year for parks purposes, to supplement the £40 unexpended grant in hand, and that during next year £60 be spent on Kitchener •Park and £60 on Williamson Square. It was reported that six building permits had been applied for within the last three weeks, in respect of works estimated to cost £3807.