MAORI HILL BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13941, 28 June 1907, Page 6

MAORI HILL BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Maori Hill Borough Council, held last night, was attended by the Mayor (Mr S. N. Brown), Crs Passmore, Duncan, Clark, Harbour, Pilkington, Ncilson, Maxwell, and Booth. A letter from, the Colonial Secretary's Office was read inquiring whether the three members of the local Pire Board were elected during May, as required by " The Fire Brigades Act, 1906," and intimating that it was not expedient that members appointed should meet until all the boards had been elected.—The Mayor explained that there was a probability of nothing being done by the newly-elected Fire Boards until further legislation on the subject was brought beiore Parliament, Magnus Robertson wrote notifying that he had removed posts from water-table in Loith Valley in accordance with the request of tho council; also forwarding sketch plan of the land he proposed to sell to the council for' £10—Consideration deferred until next meeting, as the Works Committee was not yet in possession of all the information it required as to the land. The Town Clerk. Dunedin, wrote offering on behalf of the city £35 in full settlement of all claims for restoration of roads in connection with reticulation and supply of water to the borough, the work to be carried out by the Maori Hill Council.—Received. The Secretary of the Treasury wrote intimating that the loan of £'500 was available for expenditure on the formation of a street in the borough, and would be paid on application.—lleceivcd; application to be made forthwith. Tho Secretary of tho Labourers' Union intimated by circular that at tho next sitting of tho Arbitration Court application would be made to amend tho award by increasing the pay of pick and shovel men to Is per day.—Received. Tho Finance Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to £142 14s 7d. 'l'he bank overdraft waß stated to be £371 19s B(l—Adopted. To Works Commihltee's report, proposing various works, was held over until next meeting. The Inspector reported on work done during the month.—Adopted. STREET-WIDENING. The Mayor moved that tho town olork bo authorised to take the necessary steps and give the required notices for the purpose oi taking a poll of tlie ratepayers of South Word on the proposal to raise a loan of £1500 for tho purpose of widening and improving the portions of Reigh street forming tho frontage to allotments 1 to 13, inclusive, township of AVilliamstown, and allotments 8a to 11a, inclusive, township of St. Leonards on the Hill, to be seourcd by a special rate on the rateable property in the said ward. In supporting the motion, tho Mayor said he recognised that the matter ww most important, but W-Approached it alter great deliberation. That their main thoroughfares neoded widening was (he opinion of the property-owners consulted, who had promised to" render every assistance to the project. His idea was that the widening should be to tho extent of 10ft. As their borough was one of tha most pegressive in the district, the narrowness of their Main street was an abomination. It was a great misfortune that their borough had be«u laid out with such narrow stroots, but happily tbty were in the position that only two or three buildings materially interfered with the street widening, and those would not bj costly to remove. I? theiT streets wero to ba ividened, tho present was the time to undertake tho work, for if delayed propertyowners might change their minds and bo building up to the street line. Another ospeot ol the question was that the time would come when Maori Hill woiud be merged into Greater Dunedin, and then the opportunity they had at presunt of street widening would be lost. He had the greatest confidence that tho members of tho council were sufficiently broad-minded to give their approval to tho schome, for there was no siieh thing as their borough standing still. He thought the ratepayers at St. Leonards on the Hill were also entitled to have their streets and footpaths formed and improved. Cr Passmore seconded the motion. Ci Duncan pointed out that the Main road was of unequal width, and might require more than 10ft to make it uniform. The Mayor said that several dotails would liavo to be considered in ron"ection with the proposal. Ilia objcot in his motion was to get an affirmation that tho streetwidening was desirable. Cr_Clnrk said tho motion had his sympathy, but he would like more information belore it was passed. He understood that a committee had been appointed formerly to interview property-owners interested and ascertain tho _ terms on which they would sell their land. He thought &uoh arrangements shou'.d be definitely made before they started to raise a loan. He would also uke to know how the estimated cost of £15130 had been arrived at, and what rate it woultl be necessary to levy to pay interest and provide a sinking fund. They had also to consider whether 10ft would be enough land to take. The Mayor explained that they lud some data that could not be discussed in open council, and would suggest that they go into committee to deal more fully with the proposal. His desire in submitting liis motion in open council was that the proposal might gain publicity, and ' ratepayers be made acquainted with their street-widening scheme. Subsequently the council went into committee to deal with the question. A notice of motion by Cr Maxwell to rescind a rewlutior passed last Fobruary, calling on cartain property-owners to remove all encroachments and obstructions on roadlines fronting their properties, was withdrawn, the Mayor pointing out to the mover that as ho was personally interested he could not, according to tho Municipal Corporations Act, move in the matter. Cr Neilson submitted a motion to rescind « resolution that A'orth and West Wards contribute wholly to the cost of two lamps situated along the To™ Belt.—The motion was lost after a brief discussion as to tho equity of the resolution already passed. NOTICE O? MOTION. Cr Duncan to move—" That in future all applications for interference by this council in matters of road encroachment or road obstruction be declined until the person making the application shall supply to tho council a statement of the evidence in support of the application, and particulars of the position l of tho titles affected, and the council be guaranteed against any expen.'e of investigation of titles by the council's saJkito? „ wl .M); mam. survey,