BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14088, 17 December 1907, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

PORT CHALMERS. The usual fortnightly meeting ci the Port Chalmers Dorough Couueil, hold last evening, was Rttendcd by Crs Tait, Cable, Morgan, Weir, Mawson, Powell, and Knewbtubb, apologies for iion*altendanco being received from Cra Fail aud Crawford. Owing to the unavoidable absence of the Mayor (Mr 3. Stevenson), Cr Tait was voted to the chair. Ilia Worship afterwards attended find took the chair. Commissioner Dinnic wrote stating tlvat m view of the appoinlmcut of an additional constable at Port Chalmers in June last, and also another at Portobello, it wus not (kernel necessary to make any further addition b the local force.—lteecivcd. Mr C. Drsitlitvaite, hon. secretary of the Otago Regatta Committee,. applied for permission to use the water office for official purposes in connection with the forthcoming regatta on Poxing Day.—C ranted.

The Finance Committee reported that the total receipts since last meeting amounted to X2IQ Ills -Id, and accounts amounting to .1125 13s 3d were received for paymeM It was further reported that 51 dogs hrd bce-i registered jn the borough, the fees amending to £25. Four dogs had besn destroyed, and the large number of young degs in the borough was commented upon. Mr A. M'Kcnzie had been very energetic in carrying out his duties in this direction, there being an increase of ]5 registrations over tho preceding year, and the committee reconmiojuted that lie be appointed collector for the ensui!:'; year at present remuneration. Mr Charles Rose having also given genera! satisfaction in the past as valuer, it was Tccommended that be be re-appointed for the year 1503, as before. The committee commented upon the large amount of rates outstanding, and Tecommendcd that the 10 per cent, penalty be enforced on all unpaid rales after January 27, 2005.—Adopted. The Works Committee reported that satisfactory wot]; had been done during the past fortnight. The drain from Oaotain Watson's property is lWng laid by the council's employees at the expense of the propertyowner. and the committee recommended that the drain leading through Mr June's pioperly be opened uo and put in order forthwith; also that the fire brigaoe be to have the indication boards for fire plug? placed in position to suit themselves *nd send in the account to the council. It was reeommendwl that the inspector be instructed to procure 50yds of metal for Bcach street, aud that several matters previrmlsv referred to be left over until after' the holidays, and that tenders bo called for lease of weighbridge.—Adopted.

Tho Water Committee reported thai fhe inspector lis<l recently Vi H' r rl flic reservoir and found everything in good order. Ho tlio application foi reduction i:i rates charged to (lie Khaw, Srvvil! CVi)np.i!iv at their export shed, the committee recommended that, the present cliai-go 1» reduced from £15 to £12 per annum, to t:i!te etteet from December S. Win. Tlio committee further recommended that the charge for special water supply to tho steamer Lady Roberts be fixed'at'£l9 per annum, to .talcc efTect from January ]. 1903. Reporting on the proposal to extend tho water mains in Beach street from Gardner and Co.'s ivorks to the export stores, ami from Ajux road to WioWiffe terrr.ee. the committee submitted an estimate of cost of samo (£lfi3 7'; 01), and strongly recommended tho carrying rmt of this work —Cr Morgan explained that the cotnniiUeo had under consideration a revision of .njl the present water charges, -and suggested that the rates

mentioned in the report lio adopted in ilic interim.—Oi Tail said that it would to necessary to extend (he- present mains in the direction oi lire new dock, and "hoped that the committee would mange ior carrying out the whole work sirjuJUr.ciusly. After some fenltory discussion, lha report was adopted, ' the la'ler clause biinj ieiciycd b.ici; tu lilo ; commit tec lur nirikc-r consideration, j sPKi.u. mooting coa alms's kki'out. | Cr Tait moved--'* Thai n copy of til.- proi positions from the Gas Comi.Jaiy and the { Dock Tniit lie supplied to each member [ r>{ Ihn conunittc.'. and thai of ! tlio wholo question oi iiijliting be left over j until after the boiidjy.-. M —This was ?c;oud::l by Cr Weir and earned.

On Ihe motion oi Cr Weir, it was dcea'cu lo call fenders ior cutting grass alcn« the streets tho present r.UfiT Ikiiir unable to cone with u'.l the wcrlt requiring ii.uurdiaie lion lit n.

I Cr C'ablo drew attention 'o the dangerous , state cf the zig-zag in JJel'vnc terrace, and suggested that the AVorks Committee give the matter prompt attention. IOMI'LIUKNTAKY. Cr Tait proi>o°cd that the council I'djour:-. till .Taniwrv 13. lift;, lla Ftr/'.-.ue C 'mmiUcc to have power to nr.y w?ges and urgent ! in the interim. Tiw mover also extci.dcd felicitou? greetings to the Mavov. rounrillors. and the pre? 3, and the Mavo> briefly acknowledged the good wi'hcs ex- . :;>d by the speaker, the official re^!i'.!i-n being adopted. NOUTIT-KAST VATjTJKY. A -fleeting of the X.K. Vallc-y ijovouph Council held last evening, was attended V.v the Mayor (Mr I. Grton). Crs Crwnhell. Harvev, Ev;m°, Itowatt. Macandrew. .Uobcri?o:; Ibbinson, Dotting, and Howlisoit. COP.nBSi ; OSnKKCK. Tne District Health Inspector wrote instructing that premises where a tuberculoids patient had died should lx> thoroughly disinfected. Tho District Health Officer al=o wrote a&king the council to have underneath ventilation provided for a house on the Main road.—Received; first matU'r at- ! tended to and second nutter referred to th-? Genera' Cominit'ee. The Minister of Marine wrole acknowled?. ing receipt of the council's thanks for amendment of the Local Holies Loans Act-, with pr.rticuler reference- to the water supply.— R&v'eivoib The Inspector of Police wrote stating .that tho request foi additional police assistance in the borough would be considered by the Department.—Received. 'Hie Chief Inspector of Factories wrote asking that the necessary steps be taken to have a working day in each week t tod far the closing of shops at 1 p.m.—Received. The Drainage Board wrote, re layiug of Monier pipes across Douglas terraco and High street, that it was not responsible for road culverts, but without assuming any responsibility offered the council the pipe?, so that tho council might carry out ihe work.—Offer accoptcd with thanks. A letter from A. W. Dremner, of tfo City Corporation, was read directing attention to the state of disrepair of the borough lamps.— The Mayor said the letter revealed the fact, that they had boen complaining of tho quality of gas. and of their lamplighters, when the fault really lay with tho lamps themselves, wliich in i'ome cases were not a-n> better thau a number of old kerosene tias. It was a most extraordinary thing that tney had to go to the City Council for a report of tho condition of their own lamps.—lt was resolved that the borough inspector bo instructed to report on tho condition of the torough lamps, and that the letter be referred to the General Committee. A number of communications and complaints in regard io roads, etc., were receised and dealt with in the ordinary way. WATER SITPJA*. Downic Stewart and Payre. solicitors t-n the ljorough. wrote, ur.dor date loth init., stating that several arose on the question v/liether the bcrough can Isga-ly contract to supply with water a delinod area in the borough. It might bs rcascnaoly argued, the solicitors stated, that where a defined area is Tawl only thoso Vn\hk to lw rated can claim the supply of water; but, on. the othc.y hand, a-:t indicates that occupiers within 100 yards of the water main coji comncl the borough to supply water to them. The position anight then arise that the rate would lw over a defined area, while those beyond ihe area rated, if within lGi) vards of tho main, could compel supply, suid would jiot arise if the adjoining occupiers within the 109 yards who might in turn demand supply. This consideration however, would not arise if tho adjoining occupiers were above the possible level of supply. It would, therefore, seem necessary to ascertain whether the defined area proposed to bo supplied comprises all that portion of ihe borough which is within the level of supply, or whether, on the other hand, there are adjoining occupiers who aro wifhin tho possible level cf supply, but who are not in tho area proposed to bo supplied. The solicitors wrote in referonci to the power of the borough to levy a water rate on tho defined are?., that complication might aruo with the auditor in connection with tie points raised, and they asked to bo supplied ; with additional information.—Tho Mayor, tuid Crs Evans nnd Mowut expressed disappointment at the continual logi".l difficulties that were bom? met with in regard to tl\e water supply—The Mayor said lie was becoming thoroughly disgusted with the whole matter.' What the cor.ncil vi;hed to know whether t.hey could cr -could not supply water to those who were on levels where it could bo supplied.—Crs Evans and Mow&t spoko in a similar strain, and it was resolved that the special deputation, formerly appointed, with tho addition of Crs Harvey and Mowat, again wait on tho solicitors in 1 regard to the matter.

GEXr.IIM,. It was resolved tliat the dog tax for the " : <!>e (ride of Mr .T. Moir Ik? accepted for supply o; collars.— Or Howlisoil, in this connection, suggested that the dog tax should l>e fixed it Ms per dog. and Cr Evans moved, but there was no seconder, that tlia do-.; tax hi fiwl at Ids. It was agreed, on tho motion of Cr Campbell, that tho council take the necessary stops to declare Gordon street a nublic street, provided that the owner deposits fte necessary £2 for the erection of u feucc. Oil the motion of Cr Mo-.vnt, it was decided that the borough ofiices be closod from Docombsr 21 until January 8 for the Christinas ;ind Xow Year vacation.

On tlie motion of Cr Itobiuson, it wa c resolved to appoint a ranger at a s.ahiv of per month to inipoinul strayins; horses, the appointment to 1m made by the Mavor and tenvn clerlr. JIPOM3. The Inspector reported that the death rato for the past month was the lowest on record—viz., .23 per 1000. He also repoitcd that the prevention of drainage in Robinson street, Gordon, Rowing into a private street would obviate a nuisance..—The report was received, and il was resolved that residents '-olifioil not to discharge drainage into the street referred to.

The Mayor and Town Clerl; reported, after inspection of the property of the Dominican nuns, that Father Coffey's application for exemption of four acres from rutin" be acceded to.—Approved. " ° 'J he Engineer's reuort reviewed the council's action in regard to Duncan's subenvision, and stated that in order to °ivo effect to the instruction that Olsdstone road ba preserved to a width of hlft it mil bo necessary to build ano-Jier wall outside the present one. The engineer recommended that a concave boulder channel b? ccnstruc.tcd acrc?s the road to interest the water flowfrom a spring and from Mr ,lohn :. r VT 3 '; ro ff r '. v ' "Iso that six yards o and t.iree yard-: nf screenings h?

spread r.j a-s to give Mr Kerr an approach lo I Ms newly-creeled residznec. Messra Millier and others having debited the cMimaled I in!f cost of concrete channelling in j iidwajd c .t roc-fj from (he Main road to ihn J bruise, l'lr.ns and s r . K ;fl-„iior.? for !!,„ work were submitted io the rou;icil kv approval and improvements to Betting rdaci to the I u;i»'.iuiit of Xo wc;e re:onimend?d.—Approved. j