MORNINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13078, 14 September 1904, Page 3

MORNINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hie ordinary meeting of the Momington Borough Council, held last evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr J. P. Simon), and Crs Anderson, Henderson, LeCren, Garside, liirt, Dickson, Hope, and Clark. An apology for non-attendance was received from Cr Xico), whose absence was due to a bereavement. At tho Muyor's suggestion the council rose and pasicd a silent voto of condolence with Cr Nicol.

CORHESPOKBKXCE. John G. Dick wrote returning thanks for his appointment as inspector of tramway works and stating that he was ready to talw up bis duties v.-hen required.—Received. Andrew Napier wrote claiming £G damages for an accident sustained by him.—Works Committee to report. It. Fleming wrote drawing attention to tho state of Brunei street, wlucli was almost impassable.— Referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. A lengthy letter from E. S. Jlantz regarding a num'jer oi matters which the writer considered required remedying was referred to tho Works Committee. (A copy ol the letter was handed to our reporter.)

■The Paymaster-general wrote stating that the sum of £46 17s Gd, being subsidy under " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1903," " The Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act, 1885," and " The Appropriation Act, 1903," had beon remitted to the credit of the district fund account.—Referred to tho Finance Committee.

John O'Connell, jun., wrote stating that ho had bought the land, part of which was used by tho council as a depot, and ho wanted tho council to discontinue the depositing of nigliteoil there.—Referred to the General Committee.

Mrs Gillies, Willianisburgh, wrote complaining of the state of the road in front of her property, and stating that she was unable to get out and in with safety.—Referred to the Works Committee, with pofter to act. The Town Clerk, Dunedin, wrote stating that tho Mayor had informed him that the effect of tho Waipori Bill, as it stood at present, was to allow tho company to como into the city and suburbs on such terms and conditions as .might be agreed upon between tho company and each local authority, provided that if the council deemed such terms and conditions unreasonable it might refer same lor final settlement to tho Board of Control—i.e., tho Governor-in-Conncil or his nominee.—Tho clerk to reply that the council agreed to tho conditions.

A. Slater wrote stating that Hawthorn road was at present in an unsatisfactory state. The writer stated that in front of Miss Esson's property there was a projection on the footpath, over which his mother had fallen last week, The storm water from the road fronting hi? porperty (lowed in at the gate, thero being no channel—Referred to tho "Works Committee, with power to act. Henry S. Crawford and 21 other ratepayers and residents of the district of Maryliill and Balaclava wrote asking the council to make the terminus of the proposed extension tran> way line at the junction of Elgin road and Lindsay road, instead of at the junction of Elgin road and Clydo avenue as at present proposed. The petitioners stated that there wero large tracts of land in Maryliill, Balaclava, and Rockyside which; Owing to their distance from town ar.d insufficient means of communication with town,, had not been fully settled upon, and should the tram terminus be brought to the top of the rise in Elgin road, as suggested, tho gain in .revenue in the boVough rates would be enormous. There was also the matter of increased tramway revenue to be considered should the trams be brought sufficiently near to make it worth whilo for the Maryliill, Kockyside, Balaclava, and even Cavcrsham residents to patronise the cars. The main roads from Mornington to Caversham, Rockyside, and Green Island branched oil at the top of tho hill, and |t would be a decided advantage to all the residents to havo iv tramway terminus brought as near as possible to the junction of the three routes. The distance from the_ Clyde avenue terminus to the terminus asked for was not more than 300 yards, and tho increased amount of land it would tap would more than compensate for tho short extra distance run. Should the terminus be fixed at Clyde avenue there would be no decided benefit to Maryhill or Balaclava, as this terminus would stilt be as remote as that on the present extension line, and very little nearer than the present Caversham terminus. At present many Maryhill residents preferred to take the "Caversnani cars, whereas if the line were, to enter their district they would unhesitatingly patronise tho JTornington route. As at present arranged the terminus was to he placed at the junction of Clyde avenue and Elgin road—a place that make a very insignificant and unpopular terminus. For a few extra pounds the line could be taken to the top of the hill, which, on account of the commanding view, would mako a very popular terminus.—ln the course of the disoussion which followed the majority of the councillors expressed the opinion that tho line should be taken to the top of the hill at Balaclava instead of stopping at the present proposed terminus, but the question was raised as to whether funds would permit the council to carry out the work at present.—Cr Garsido ,stated that the ratepayers interested were willing to guarantee two years' interest on the money necessary to carry, out the extension asked for.—lt was eventually lesolved, on the

motion of Cr LeCien, that the TraraW and Finance Committees meet tlie petitioners and discuss the matter of ways and means.

HEPDRTS. The Finance Committee reported that the balances of the various accounts were as follow :-District I' nnd account (debit), *3138 13s'lid; loan account,: works (credit), £2978 15s 9d; tramways loan account (credit), -73S 9s lid; tramways-revenue account (credit), £2474 r 8s Id. Tho .committee f recommended that general accounts amounting to £396 12s 4d and tramway accounts amounting to £234 lis 3d be passed for payment. The committee also recommended that employees of the council be paid fortnightly' and in cash; that -a list of owners who have .not paid thejr rates be placed in . the liaflds of Messrs Bathgate and Wcodhouse to sue for.collcction or recover by selling-the land; that JJr Brown's letter be referred to a comnniteß o£ the counci.; that the council donate £2 f-3 to 'he tunas or the Mornir.u'ton Brass Band; and that ill 8s 2:1 be paid to tho Greater Diurtdiu Committee.—Adopted. ■ Tho Tramways Committee reporfea Jhat tne tender of Frederick Charles Ferry for tkr , con ~ struction of the Elgin road extension accepted, tho price bsing £2175. The cob.'; raitteo recommended that the sum. of £2 be . charged for the running of a special car on August 12, and that the men be paid double for the time they were employed; that half a ton of 2in x Sin bolts be ordered from' Messrs Briscoe and Co. as per.their tender; that the manager call for tenders" for tlio puichaso of old tramway rope and second-hand rails; that the borough engineer and the tramway engineer proceed at once with the survey and levels of the extension line, and in the event of the former not being available another engineer be employed to do the worlcj that tho tenders of Messrs Rutherford, Bateman, and Schoiield for the cartage of screenings for the new tramways bo accepted; that 4000 gal of tar be procured; that Mr Dick be appointed inspector of works in connection with the work of tramway buildings and construction at a salary of £3 per week; that Mr M. H. H. Moss's offer for old rails bo accepted; that the town clerk bo instructed to notify _ tho Ga3 Company to bj prepared to shift its mains on tlie line of tramway route; that Mr Roberts bo written to with reference to his account, and that he bo offered 5 per cent, on tho amount expended on works under his supervision.—Adopted. The General Committeo recommended that tho name of Mr E. 8. Mantz be reinstated cn the First Ward district electors' list in accordance with his application made on August S, and aiso that fresh tenders bo called, for tho sanitary contract, the present otto expiring on December 31, 1901, the committee to be empowered to draft the necessary conditions for the consideration of tho council.—Adopted.^ 'The Water and Lighting Committee reported having waited on tho Water Committee of the City Council in accordance with the latter's invitation. During the discussion it was suggested that the borough should have a n»P drawn showing tho reticulation required, also statistics as to population and revenue, so that the City Council would be in a position to suggest or consider any scheme that might be mentioned in tho future. Tho city water engineer further informed the committco that he believed ho could supply Mornitigton With water in nine months.—Adopted. Tho Works : Committee recommended that Messrs Lambourno and Nicolson bo advised that the council intended to givo the matter of permanent levels, its serious consideration 'and to have'tho streets fixed accordingly; that ft portion of Mnryhill terrace from Viekery placo downwards bet piped; that a crossing be put in at Mr Randall's property in Napier street;' that a footpath be constructed at Mr Stevens's property in Elgin road and coated i with screenings; that a rough footpath Willi screenings be formed in Elgin road between Buchanan street and Argyle street; that n footpath with an asphalt kerb be formed on the south side of Argyle street; that.ft footpath with concrete kerb and channel bo formed on the opposite side; that Itenfrcw street be formed to a uniform grade, but not to its permanent level, with a rough footpath on cue side; that a footpath be formed on the south side of Buchanan street; that a rough footpath with asphalt be formed in Gordon street and brought out tho wholo length of the street; that a narrow footpath in asphalt (2ft wide) bo constructed on tho side of tho follow-J ing strectfi: —St. Ana's road (from Neidpath road to Milton street), Spring Hill road, Milton street, Cooper street, aud Hill street, tho rate-payers fronting the footpath to be charged half cost; that Messrs Campbell and Upton, Hill street, be notified to connect their drains with the concrete channel; that a conr.reto channel be costrucfed on tho north side of Crosby street from gully to Randall avenue; that tho engineer form the top part of lilghi avenuo and the footpath .fronting Mrs Risk's) that tho letter from tho town clerk, Dunedin, re footpath through Jubileo park he referred to the petitioners; that tho council do not subscribe to tho cost of metalling Queen's drive;