PETONE AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10207, 18 February 1919, Page 2

PETONE AFFAIRS

MEETING OP THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Petene Borough Council was held last evening, the Mayor (Mr J. W. McEwan) presiding. There were also present: Councillors Brocklebank, Cliurcli.liou.se, Lyle, McKenzie, Jones, Tovey, Newland, Cox, and McDougall. The application of Mrs L. Shelton tor a. second-hand dealer’s license was granted, the police report being considered satisfactory. Mr A. Adams, who asked for an extension of time to effect repairs to his dwelling which were ordered by tho district health officer, was granted fourteen days. o On applying, a similar period was granted to Mr F. N. R. Meadows, in which to carry out repairs to premises in Bay street, which had also been ordered by the district health officer. The Coal Trade- Committee wrote explaining that the reason coal had not been delivered to the council out of a recent shipment was due to an oversight on the part of a shipping clerk. Tho librarian was authorised to spend the sum of JS2 2s on the purchase of books from the estate of the late Councillor Poster. A communication, was received from the Acting-Prime Minister stating that every endeavour was being made for the improvement of the conditions under which the troops were being repatriated. The Mayor was appointed to represent the council at the Town-Planning Conference, to be held shortly. Two residents of Korokoro complained that a neighbour polluted tbe water by keeping a pig farm on the property through which a stream ran, and which was used as drinking water. The inspector was instructed to inquire into the matter. The licensee of the recreation ground applied for the cancelling of the lease, as it was not possible for him to graze sheep on the enclosure on account of dogs* worrying them. The cancelling of the lease_ was granted. A petition wah received signed by over thirty residents pointing out the acuteness of the housing problem and the large areas which had lain idle for many years past without being built upon. Councillor McKenzie, referring to this matter, said that workers’ dwellings should he standardised and built cheaply of concrete which was procurable from the Hutt river if certain restrictions were removed. He proposed a motion asking the Government to take off doty from the material used for workers’ dwellings, and take over the business of the Hutt River Board in order that people might have river shingle free of monopoly for building purposes. The motion was carried. The borough engineer reported that the job of tarring Jackson street bad been completed. Tie patching and cleaning up of streets had been continued. The piles for the sea wall will be ready for driving in a few weeks. The inspector reported that during the month 195 visits of general inspection were made. Out of 81 premises inspected, 33 had no baths, 13 had no tubs, seven had no bath, sink or tubs, two had tubs only, four had sinks, and all but three were connected with the drainage. 4 Sanitary connections to seven premises had been made to the borough sewerage system, seven pedestals being installed' together with all fittings. During the day of the trotting races two extra men were put on. to regulate the traffic in the narrow portion of Jackson street between Victoria street and' the post office, and who also assisted in taking the time of motorists to see if they exceeded the speed limit.