BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 180, 10 July 1900, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Borough Council met on Monday. Pi esent: His Worship the Mayor (Mi. E. Dockrill), Ois, Brooking, Glow, Lealand, Collis, Avery, Oattley, Stobr, and Ward. The Gas Company notified their acceptance of the Council's terms for lighting and cleaning tbe Borough lamps. Mr. Knight wrote complaining of the insanitary condition of the river Tuning by his premises in Devon-street, Or. Cattley said the matter had bet n investigated, but there was no ground for the complaint. A letter was read from Messrs. D. • Berry and Webster, on behalf of the Committee formed re removal of Post Office, that they had been informed by the membi-r for the district that the Government were willing to erect , new Post, Telegraph, and Customs Offices on the Borough B.eserve at the . junction of King, Egmonu and Ariki . streets, provided the Council would • agree to exchange this site for land of 'an equal value within the district. The writers therefore requested that , steps would be taken to effect the ex- > change as early as possible. The Mayor stated that tho resolution ' passed re the Harbour site, and also ' that passed by the Council, had been '■ transmitted to the Government and i acknowledged, and the question was whether the Government should not ; now approach the Council. . \ On the motion of Cr. Collis, it was ! decided to inform the Committee tha' : the Council was awaiting a reply from the Government. [ An application from the Taiianaki : News Co. for supply of water for motivt . power at their new premises was » acceded to; the charge to be assessed ; in the usual way. A discussion on water motors ensued The question of accident insurance) ; was discussed.—The Mayor pointed out \ th t in the past the Council had been l insuring its employees for the whole ; twenty-four hours, and it was suggested 1 that the insurance should be confined ' to the period the men were actually in the Council's employ. His Worship ■ moved that the question be referred to ■ the Works Committee, with power to J effec: an insurance after getting quotations from each of the three accident . insurance companies, the insurance to [ be confined to the Council's liability.—| Motion carried. . 1 The Sanitary'lnspector reported that the sanitary condition of tho town was satisfactory, with the exception of a ! house and grounds in Victoria Road; that the slaughter-house was clean, and that the number of cattle slaughtered there the month was 30 large ,;anl 150 small,—The rej.ort was re- ! ceived. 1 The Acting-Turnrock reported on the work done during the month. The Town Clerk stated that ho had ' given the Turncock instructions to report rill extraordinary servicos, A discussion took p ace as to tho ■ Turncock effecting repairs on private property, notwithstanding thtt it was understood he was not to do so.—Cr. Collis pointed out that if he started ' doing even small repairs of that kind '. it would.lead to friction. Or. Clow agreed with Cr, Colli J . Cr. Brooking thought that often small leaks could be stopped by the turncock and a great waste saved, i Cr. Ward said that even if a small charge were made it would often save i a big leakage if the Turncock were allowed to repair it. ; Or. Collis again protested against the ' Turncock doing pluoabing on private I property. The Mayor: That is quite understood. Cr. Collis : But ho does it! Cr. Brooking: Can Or, Oollis siy . whore? Cr, Collis : Then I call for a definition cf tho items mentionod in the . report. The Town Clerk explained that in the case of repairs at Messrs. Goldwater's the damage had been caused . by the borough workmen. I I The report was then received. < The Watt rwoiks Engineer reported that the pump 3 and machinery were in good working order, but that the belts required cutting and splicing, and he suggested that two new belts should bo ob'uinod as a reserve supply, as Iha old belts in stock might prove of little use, fie also asked for some now pump leathers, He had been uniblo to reduce the hours of pumping, and had been obliged to employ assistance for six hours en two days. Ou the avorage not mure than from three to three and a half inches of water was put into the reservoir during tbe day, and the drop at night was very heavy, though fiuctui ing. Ho reported tha nice to be in >. dirty condition, and advised that six . ; i( n1 e sent down toc'.em it out. The .•iil and suction pipjs alio required .■iouiing i'.ti'-l the corrosion lemoved. 'i.'.-ifi hours of pumping each week from A! T V 11 f,h to June 29th wi-ro:- 73, 81, /,;, 74, 71, 70i, 77j, Cs^.— I'bo l-.porr

The Cemetery iJomuiitV,.:o ivouinaiended;—That the s.ixtou be iufonuflii that he is under tho direction •i the Town Clerk, and that the instruction sent by tho Town Clerk that iro do" complaked oi' be kept tied up ... us not to annoy persons visiting the ,'nr.iitsry is oudoi't't'd. by tbis Oom-.ui'-'ap, and that if the dog is retained hi must bo chained up.—Tho report '■,';tM adopted.

The Works Oommittee'n report reuominemled;—XW ttw Otemw m

jii l . Ukatiertou re his request; that the arrangement made by the Foreman for filling ream's place for six months be approved, and that no permanent appointment be made at present; that the Taeakaki News Company be 1 allowed to remove their motor service to Ourrie-street, and that the plans of I alterations be approved ; that the CounIcil accede to the'request of tho Kail[way Department to lay water on to Morley-street, the Council laying, as usual, to the boundary ; that tho application of Messrs. J), and A. Shuttleworth re tarring footpath be granted ; that the question of the Council having control as to the drainage of sewage matter, etc., into streams flowing through the borough, by the occupiers of abutting properties, be brought before the Municipal Conference. The Committee further reported that the following tenders were received fori repairing and fitting up the street lamps:—J. Abbott, jun., £29 and £lO additional tor painting; J. Abbott, £i!o and £[o additional for painting; Smart Bros., .£43 and £8 for painting; that the tender of J. Abbott, senr., be accepted; that the Turncock be paid £2 5s per week, he to give his whole time to the duties, to work 48 hours per week, to commence from the Ist August; that the Engineer's report be received. The Committee also reported that the following tenders had been received for the alterations and additions to the Town Hall:—H. Wallath, £l'9s; G. Cliff, £185; Boon Bros., £lB3 18s. They recommended that the tender of Boon Bros, be accepted. In reply to Cr. Ward, the Chairman of the Works Committee said that if the Turncock worked more than 48 hours per week he would be entitled to overtime. It might happen that one day he would only be working six hours and the next day ten. The Mayor said he was absent fiom the Committee when the wages of the Turncock were fixed, and if he had been there he would have suggested that the wages should be £2 10s without overtime. Cr. Ward moved that the wages of the Turncock be £2 10s per week anil overtime. He pointed out that the man was tied down to be on the spot. The Mayor moved, and Mr. Stohv seconded, that the wages be £2 10s and no overtime. Cr. Collis thought the Council wertaking an uuusual course and should be careful. He thought the proposal in the report was fair. The Mayor pointed out that tho rise in wages was about 5s a wee .. Cr. Ward withdrew his amendment in favour of that moved by the Mayor. Cr. Lealand thought that at £2 10s the Council would be getting their work done at a cheap rate. The motion to increase the wages to £2 10s was agreed to. Cr. Avery drew attention to the fact that the tender of Mr. J. Abbott, jnr., was £1 lower than that of Mr. Abuott, sonr. The Mayor explained that the Committee considered that as the difference was so small, and they thought it possible that owing to the shortness of time in which the work had to be done and the necessity for a largo staff being engaged, it would be better to entrust it to Mr. Abbott, sonr. The report was adopted. Tho Finance Committee recommended that tho action of the Borough Solicitor and Town Clerk in arranging matters for paying oil'the £29,000, and exchange, etc., be approved. The question of the new loan was raised, when tho Mayor stited that. a though the Auckland Council had raised tho greater part of their loan at £4 per cent,, other similar bodies with equally good security had failed. He thought that now the tide of the war was turning there would be a possibility of the loan being raised at the rate fixed by the Council, and that it was more than likely it would bo easier raised in the colony than in England. The loan would be advertised for in due course. The Health Committee reported tha' -if ter reading Dr. Home's reports they endorsed his reoommendations, and recommended that the Council carry the samo into effect; that the certificate* condemning the buildings enumerate ; therein and siguei by Drs. Letth.un and Home ba sent by the Town Clerk to the Borough Solicitor, and that he consult the Bjrough Solicitor as to the drafting of the proper form of revolution to bo adopted by the Council; that, the Ohairimn impact certain buildings mentiono 1 and report to the Council meeting on Monday ; that the report of tiia madical officer on the operators' room at the Post Office be I tent to the Postmaster-General.

A Inter report was presented eta'ing that the Borough Solicitor was iu attendance at their last-, m letins?; tint upon reading the cert-ificat( s of two duly qualified medical practitioners (Drs. Lsatham and Home) that tho buildings are iu a condition unfit fur occupation and dangerous to pu'dic health, notice be given to the respective owners -thereof to pull down tha same within the poriod of 30 days after tho service of tho notices, that is to say to tho ro:p3Ctivo owners of thii following buildings:—Building occupied by James O'Nriil, caretaker of tho Government Buildings at New Plymouth, situated on land owned by Her Majesty the Queen, and abutting on Silver-street, New Ply mouth; building occupied by the Sergeant of Police of New Plymouth, used as police cells for the reception of arrested persons, situated on land owned by Her M»jesty the Quoeo, and abutting on Silver-street; building occupied by Ah Long as a dwellinglioiisi, situated on section No. —, Town of New Plymouth, and abutting on Gaine-street; building occupied by William Henry Sarton as a dwollinghouse, situated on part section No. pait 906, Town of Now' Plymouth, and abutting on Ourriu Lane; buildin.' occupied by H-iiiry Williams as » ■i.v.'liiug-houst.', si uited on Hi'Otiou N<>. 20-iii, Town if New Plymouth, and abutting on Devon-street East; buildtug occupied by J .mes Halt as a dwelling house and i'ruiterei's shop, and by P, Stekr as a dwelling-bouse and bootmaker's shop, such buildings being utuated on part of section No. 054, Town of New Plymouth, and abutting on Devon-streot; West; building occupied by Henry Snumonds, fi. j .huiongnr, as a o>> lliug-houw, and situated on J: $m gf the mm (Wtiwi Po« m { Xwalj

<>f New Plymouth, and abu<'i„ g on D.'Von-81-.rnen W.-st.

The Council w nt into committee to consider tJio repjrts. , 0n , res , u , min 6> the reports were adopted. The necessary steps will be taken to carry out the resolution. The Mayor, referring to the Auckland plague case and the disease amongst rats at Dtmedin and els - where, thought that every effort shou'd bo used to destroy rats, a>.d that the oiler of the Council for the free distribution of a preparation for that purpose should be taken advantage of. The Reserves Committee lecommended that, in accordance with the request of Mr. C. F. Kundle, the agreement for a lease to him of section 2337, New Plymouth, be rescinded, and that the deposit paid by him be forfeited.— The roport was adopted. On the question of passing the accounts, Or. Stohr drew attention to the impossibility of checking certain of the accounts by the foreman's diary, and the Town Clerk was directed to draw the foreman's attention to the matter. The accounts, amounting to .£44 7s 4d, were then passed. Several small matters relating to drains,' lamps, paths, etc,, were mentioned by councillors. The question of dealing with sewage was also discussed. It was decided to request the Mayor of Petone to represent the Council at the Municipal Conference. The Council rose. - ■ »