BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14516, 30 January 1918, Page 10

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Borough Council met last night, I when the Mayor (Mr W. G. Sherratt) presided, the following Councillors being present: H. Miller, G. Brown, O. B. Oman. H. Mill. J. Wauchop, J Mouat, G. Munns, and F. K- Ball. A. R. Harris and Go. wrote in refer once to the account of £45 4s covering increased freight charges on account of contract, 106 and enclosed certificate ni a prominent* accountant to the correctness of the account. — The Mayor said the matter came before the Council some time ago, and the Council asked for copy of snipping receipts. — It was decided to thank the senders ior the letter, but the Council did not think that sufficient. The Post and Telegraph Department advised that all the material for the - erection of slot telephone machines had arrived in Gisborne, but the shortage of labor was so acute as to hinder the completion of the work.' It is hoped to have them all erected during the next fortnight. — Received. Department to be thanked. ■ . Tlie Kairanga County Council forward^ «>d the following resolution passed bf that body, which was as follows*: That in the opinion of this Council on account of the bad state of the roa'ds throughout New Zealand and the ever-increasing traffic the Government be asked to reduce railway freights on cement, tar, aind bitumen to local bodies for use in road-making, bridges, etc., to the same Tate as coal, or at least to one-half of the present tariff. The council in so moving admits that now i s perhaps not the right time to ask for concessions, but considers the making of permanent roads would be a national benefit and would in time mean a great reduction of the ever-increasing loan demands and the continual applications for subsidies or «rants. 'therefore would ask the Government to give this their fullest con-sideration£-The Mayor moved the endorsement of the resolution with the word "metal 1 ' added'.— This was seconded by Cr. Oman and carried. Joseph Whitaker, aged 77 years, applied for a remission of rates as his only means of income was the old age pension. He had resided in this town for 26 years.— -It was decided to remit the The Cook County Council wrote to the Borough Council informing them that a committee had been set up to go into the question of a contribution towards the cost of Lytton road.—Left oyer till further is heard from Cook County Council. . The Public Trust Ofhce asked for a copy of a resolution appointing the Public Trustee Sinking Fund commissioner of the Derby' street bridge loan of £4000.— Decided to furnish necessary information. _ , , Messrs. A. and T. Burt forwarded debit ncrte for £417 18s Hot extra freight on 452 pipes shipped from Australia. The shippers stated that when the vessel was partly loaded the Collector of Customs stopped the vessel s clearance at Newcastle pending permission ot the Director of Munitions. The shipnine company claimed £108 for demuraee of the vessel, but the matter was settled at the.*um of £56 and the pipes loaded inlo the vessel.— lt was decided to inform the writers that the council could not see its way clear to make SU Tl»e Pa GSrne Racing' Club requested the Council that business premises be asked to close at noon on Saturday, February 7, instead of 1 p.m., the usual hour.— Granted on the motion of the Mavor, seconded by Cr. Oman. . The Mayor, reporting upon the work of a committee meeting held on inst.. stated:—' Shift engineer : Nine applications wete received for .the position, and it was decided that Mr. W. H. Arnold, of Haitaitai, be appointed. m Generator contract : The question ot penalty for overtime on this contract received' careful consideration, and it was agreed to recommend "that the Council impose a penalty of £200," this being the amount that Messrs J.iu?nbull and Jones were above the lowest tender. Their guarantee to deliver to time ' 'xihs ;' considered to be worth the extra amount when tenders were let. The Council was greatly inconvenienced and suffered severe loss by the non-delivery of plant to time. . ' Supply of electric current to hospital : Your committee have requested the eng.neer to submit a report on this question. * Te Hapara merger : The Mayor and Councillor Mouat were appointed to seal and sign the Te Hapara merger financial adjustment agreement. Tramways:' The niatter of filling 'the position of manager,' rendered vacant by the resignation oi Mr. Cross, was under review, when it was resolved in the meantime not to fill the position as the proposition did not warrant such an expenditure, the engineer being asked to control the department. The borough engineer, Mr. A. Slinger, in the course of his report, stated: The construction Of 1 the Derby street bridge was commenced on the 14th irtst. The usual street cleaning, watering, and maintenance have been carried out. The tramway extension work in Gladstone ioad is now completed. Formation and gravelling Aberdeen road by Botanical gardens is also completed, also the paths and approaches to the Cheeseman road and Esplanade foot bridge. The main west-end drain from the Waikanae creek to Gladstone road is now being cleaned out. This will deal with the complaint as stated in Mr. J. R. Reynolds' ietter to the Council dated January 3rd. Electrical department : Cable erected in various arts of the borough 20.04 chains and four house connections. Water Department: The usual repairs have been made to the service in various places. Amount of water through Venturi meter 4,910,000 gallons. House to house inspections have been made in "Vogel, Fitzherbert, Stafford, Stout, Ormond,, Clifford, McLean, Whitaker, and Ormond streets. All notices served have been complied with. The treasurer's statement showed : Temporary loans deposit ac, cr., £15,151 ; quarry lime ac., cr., £3119 17s 2dV district ac, dr. M £17,152 0s 3d. j General : The number of employees of the Council was' 73, and their wages for; the pttst fortnight amounted to £525 10s 7d r distributed as follows i General account, £455 7s Id; loan account—Sewerage and water, £36 16s Id; tramways, £19 18s 2d ; storm water drainage, £\Z 9s 3d— £525 10s 7d. The various reports were adopted.