BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 15 August 1911, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr J. Masters) and Councillors Paget, Songster, McAllister, Ward, Hoaly, Morison, Lawson, and King. Legal Ativlco, Mr. W. G. Bassett, Wanganui, wrote, asking about the legal position of streets in Stratford Extension.—,Cr. Paget moved that Mr. Bassett be informed that if ho desires to know the legal position ho should consult a solicitor, as the Council did not supply legal advice.—Cr. Morison objected to tne motion—lie thought it was silly.—Cr. King seconded, — Tho motion was lost, only Crs. Paget and King voting for it.—Cr. Healy thought Mr. Bassett, as a ratepayer, deserved some consideration.—The Major said Mr Bassett knew as much about the matter as the Council did—he was merely looking for legal ad-vice.—lt-was finally decided that Mr Bassett bo written to advising him to consult a solicitor. A Serious Mistake.

Mr. Newton King wrote that at an auction salo of leases of municipal reserves section 751 was knocked down to Mr. .H. W. Climie, Hawera, but that Mr. Climie had since written stating that ho had advised tho Council that he did not desire to take up tho lease.—Under date July 21st ho wrote to the Town Clerk asking that tho lease be cancelled, as he had made a mistake in the amount ho had bid for tho lease, offering £l2 instead of £3.—The Mayor said Mr. Climie had informed him that he had bid as he did under the impression that he was paying £1 10s per quarter instead of per annum.—Cr. Paget moved that the matter be referred to the Borough He did not sec that anybody should bo favoured.—Cr. King seconded.—On the Mayor’s suggestion, Cr. Paget altered liis motion to read that Mr. Climie bo informed that his request could' not ho granted, and this was carried. Advice “Received.”

• The general manager of the Government hire Insurance Office wrote: 1 notice from the newspaper account that the operations of the lire brigade after their arrival at the scene of Mrs. Greig’s fire were delayed for something like a quarter of an hour because of difficulty in finding itho water plugs, which are stated to have been buried in one case under two inches of metal and grass, and in another case under one inch of metal, if tiie above accounts are correct the condition of the plugs was not as satisfactory as it should have been, and it may safely be said that had the plugs been clear the loss would not nave been as heavy as it was. in the interests, therefore, not only •;f tliis Department, but of all ’ the property-owners in the Borough, I hope that your Council will take the very earliest steps to clear and to keep clear any pings which may now oo covered up, and, which, if left in their present state, may result in heavy fire losses, which should only occur in towns without if water supply.—Received. Committee Reports. The sub-committee appointed for the purpose recommended that the Stratford Dairy Factory ho charged lid por thousand gallons for water.— Adopted. Tub Library Committee reported:— for-the better notification to the public cf the whereabouts of the readingroom, wo beg to recommend that the words “Reading Room” ho painted on the two windows of the room facing Broadway.—Adopted. The Fire Brigade Committee reported :—We recommend that a boot allowance of five shillings por annum bo made to each member of the brigade, the allowance to bo paid only to those members who have served not loss than six months; that six complete working uniforms bo procured; that the electric light ho installed in the bathroom.—Adopted. The Works Committee reported:— Wo recommend (1) that Mr. Davis’s request for a load of gravel bo granted ; (2) that in future the charge for gravel from the Council’s pits be as under: Stripped Is 6d per yard, unstripped Is por yard. Only maintenance work has boon undertaken during the month, and it is not anticipated that any new work will bo required during the ensuing month.— Adopted. v The Abattoir. Committee reported: —We recommend (1) that the abattoir manager has been authorised to have the boiler covered with asbestos, the cost not to exceed £1 10s; (2) that No. 2 paddock can be stumped, ploughed, harrowed, and sown in turnips, and a bridge suitable for stock placed across the creek at a cost of £23; (3) that an iron ladder, to give access to tanks, bo procured for the abattoir, a suitable ladder being obtainable for £2 14s.—Adopted. The Town Hall Committee reported:—Regarding seating accommodation for the Municipal Chambers, the Town Clerk has been instructed to obtain quotations for three dozen strong chairs. We recommend that the West Company’s application for reduction cf rent of Town Hall ho acceded to, and that for tho future £1 1C35 por night lio charged, in view of ti*o fact that they provide their own light and that the* hall is being rented regularly one night in eacli week. Your committee have no recommendation to make re further seating accommodation at tho Town Hall. Re bill-post-ing: Mr. Wickham explains that on tho occasion of the visit of tho Royal llawaiians the heavy rain had washed the play-hills off tho hoards, and ho had no more to replace them.— Adopted. Tho Reserves Committee reported: —Wo beg to report that the leases of the shops occupied by Mrs. Brown and Mr. Watson fall in on December 31st next. We recommend that tho shops be offered to the present tenants until June 30th, 1912, the date tho leases of the adjoining shops fall duo, at a rental of £2 os and £1 10s por week, respectively, and failing the acceptance of this offer by either of tho tenants that both leases he put up for auction at once. Wo also recommend that the following reserves, the leases of which expire on December 31st, bo'offered for lease on tho Glasgow lease system by public auction for a period" of twenty-one years, with a right of renewal for a further twenty-one years at the upset rental s/'t opposite each reserve; —Section 2 of 587, 1 acre 23 perches, £lO per annum ; sections 884-5 and 952-3, 1 acre, £7; section 822, 1 rood, £s.—Adopted. Officers’ Reports. The Borough Inspector reported During tho month I impounded 2o head of cattle. _ Three persons were convicted for driving vehicles without lights, and one for keeping two dogs without licouse. I cautioned three men for riding bicycles on the footpath and one for riding a bicycle without a light. I have also cautioned a number of people in Broadway for neglecting to keep the spouts on their premises in repair.—Adopted. ‘ , . Tho Borough. Inspector reported in

regard to tho statement made at last meeting of tho Council that ho had objected to ashes being buried in tho Borough, that the ratepayer must have misunderstood Lis remarks. He had never said there was a nuisance in burying ashes, but ho bad asked people'when there were piles of tins and general refuse to put them m boxes and have them carted away.Deceived.

Tho Caretaker at tho Cemetery reported ;—On Sunday, August 13th, a person drove up to the Cemetery and nitched his horse to tlie picket fence. On being informed that the Conned objected to bis action, tho driver of tho vehicle used obscene and insulting language, do help mo in, my duties, J would like the Council to place a notice board at the Cemetery forbidding the hitching of horses to the Cemetery fence. —Cr. Ward moved that a board be erected warning people against tying horses to tho leuce. —This was lost, and on the-motion of Cr. Paget the report was referred to clio Works Committee. Tho manager of the abattoir reported :—T'no following stock wen c slaughtered during the month;—s3 cows, 20 heifers, 20 oxen, 1 calf, 220 sheep, 25 pigs. Fifty-five tripes were prepared. Tne foes for the month totalled £4O Is 6d, all of which has been collected and paid to tho Town Clerk. Twenty-two head of stock were condemned, as follows:—Cows :-8 wholly, 3 partially; oxen, 2 partially ; pigs, i wholly, 2 partially; sheep, i wholly. The abattoir fences, drains, machinery, plant, and buildings are in good order. 'The contract with Mr. G. Perrett for firewood at £1 per cord has been completed, 42 cords having been delivered. The water tanks have boon cleaned out. A slight leakage is showing, probably from a coupling which can be put right. I have much pleasure in reporting that the slaughterman carries out ins duties in a capable and satisfactory manner. Major \oung, veterinary supervisor lor the province, visited the abattoir during tho month.—Adopted. Regarding culverts the Overseer reported as follows : —The following culverts are not large enough to carry oft’ storm water during heavy downpours:—One on Opunake Road, a few chains west of Mr. Petrie’s residence ; two N in Regan Street, at its juncture with Swansea Road and Sylvia Street, respectively; two in Cordelia Street, at its juncture with Rosalind Street and FalstMF Street; two in Broadway North, one at its juncture with Pembroke Road and one at Scytou Street. The latter culvert could bo eased considerably by diverting the water into the watercourse near Messrs. Masters and Sou’s bulk store. —It was decided to ask the Overseer to attend to all tho culverts. Tiie Overseer reported :—The junctions of tho . following streets have been shingled:—Juliet Street at its juncture with Cloton Road; Orlando Street and Regan Street'; Juliet Street and Pembroke Road. A quantity of shingle has been stacked in Fenton and Juliet Streets, Metal patching has been done on Ferton Street, ‘ Swansea Road, Broadway, Flint Road, Corddlia Street, and Opunake Road. Metal has bean raked in on Warwick, Pembroke, and Flint roads. Watertables in Broadway have had the necessary attention during the month. A 38ft ■ culvert has been inserted in Hamlet Street at its junction with Olivia Street. The work of preventing storm water entering Mr. Spence’s property, Miranda Street, lias been carried out. The following footpatiis have been repaired :—Romeo Street West, Fenton Street East, Portia Street South, and Regan Street from borough boundary to Swansea Road. The tanks at the abattoir have been cleaned oiit. All fire-plugs in the Borough have been inspected and are in first-class order. Three water services have been put in during tho month. The top of the sewerage manhole on tho railway reserve collapsed on July 21st, but vyas fixed up on.the following day. Tho firebell tower has been taken down, with the reason for which you arc fully conversant.—Adopted. General.

Tlio Town Clerk, Christchurch, acknowledged the Mayor’s expression of sympathy in the death of Mr. T. E. 'fay lor.

Messrs. Smart Bros, applied for permits for two of their employees—one their foreman and the other an employee of over ten years’ standing. —The request was granted subject to the Overseer’s approval. On the motion of Cr. King, seconded by Cr. Sangster, it was decided that the selling of leases of municipal reserves Go divided among the four auctioneering firms in the town. Eight ratepayers requested that a footpath bo formed and gravelled on the south side of Romeo Street from Broadway to Juliet Street.—Referred to the Works Committee to report.

Mr. A. Spenco wrote stating that the right-of-way between his premises and those occupied by Mr. Lowers was being obstructed by Mr. Lowers placing goods in front of it.—On the motion of the Mayor it was decided that Mr. Lowers be requested to keep the right-of-way clear. Cr. Ward moved in accordance with notice: That the adoption of that part of the Fire Brigade Committee’s report of June 12th, giving Ins Worship the Mayor power to employ men to watch fires should he consider it necessary, bo rescinded.—Cr. Ward said this matter had been the bone of contention between the hands and committee.—The motion was carried.

The monthly statement of receipts and expenditure showed that at duly 11th the debit balance was £3058 7s 2d, and that the month's expenditure was £947 15s (id. The receipts during the month totalled £BBO Bs, leaving a debit balance of £3626 4s 8d at August 11th.

Mr. J. 11. Mackay, on behalf of Mr George Hall, asked the Council to take over the street recently put through Mr. Hall’s property in Mountain Hoad North.—Decided to take the necessary steps to make a special order taking over the street on thb Overseer reporting favourably. The County Clerk forwarded the following excerpt from the last report of the County Engineer:—“The outlet to bite culvert on the Council’s premises lias been cleared as far as Dossiblo, but the chief trouble lies, as in the past, on the eastern side of tiie railway line, whore the fall is not sufficient to carry away the water.”— The Overseer said the’ drain was now in good order. Messrs. W. A. McLaren and Co., Christchurch, forwarded details of a road roller they have in stock, for which they expressed their readiness to take a* small deposit, the balance of purchase money to be paid in annual instalments.—Received.

In regard to the accident to the lirebel 1 tower it was decided that both the driver of the lorry and of the County Council’s traction engine lie proceeded against for breaches of bylaws.

The Superintendent of the StateGuaranteed Advances Office forwarded a copy of the opinion of the Crown Law Office to the effect that a loan could not bo raised for the purchase of a road roller, and askefi for a remittance, of a guinea for the opinion. —Received.

The Secretary of the Taylor .Memorial Fund wrote asking the Council’s co-operation in gathering Innas. _Cr McAllister moved that a public meeting be called to consider what should l,e“ done in connection with the matter.—Seconded by Cr. King and carried. The following motion, notice of which had been given by Cr. Paget was carried:—That the resolution of May Bth sotting up a committee to deal with the use ot the I own Hall for Sunday concerts bo amended to read: “bo'set up to grant or refuse the usd of the Town Hall on Sundays for meetings or other purposes.”