NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81909, 21 December 1906, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Now "Plymouth Uorough Council mot on Thursday evenin'j". Present: The. Mayor (Mr I-]. Dorkrill) jiihl Crs. Browne, Montoaih, liellringer, ilsou, Parker, Collis, ilutchen, and Webster. JHIAIXAGK Applications from Mr P, C. Morton slr ,1. Grant and Messenger for facility for drainage from their properties were, referred to the drainage eoin- ' mittee.

With reference to a petition for the improvement of drainage in Courtenay •street east, Mr Kendall, borough en-

gineer, reported that he has tins matter in hand. Jn order that 3ns recommendations; jnight possiblly he planned to lit in with a future comprehensive -scheme for this part of the borough, he was collecting information for next meeting.

Cr. Wilson pointed out the danger oi the drainage loan money Iving frittered away if the Council listened to individual requests from ratepayers for drains, i'ather than attend to isolated residences the money should be expended where it would do most On his initiative a motion was carried that the drainage committee report as to the best method of utilising tiie money. A couple of streets previously marked on the "urgent' list will probably be taken in hand. HATES. "Messrs \V. »T. Shaw and Co. applied for a rebate of half the rates on ino properties owned by Colonel Collins. The house on the tit. Aubyn street property had been pulled down over twelve months ago, and the dwelling in iline street had been unoccupied .since ]\iay last.. Cr. Wilson contended that, these formal matters only wasted the time of the Council, whilst each letter of the kind published only brought in a, train of similar applications. It was decided to empower tlie Toft'u Clerk to deal with such matters. ■ LiJillAtttf DESIGNS.

-Hr liasil li. Hooper, A.R.1.15.A., architect, of Dune-din, wrote:—-"1 have to acknowledge yours o£ the lltli inst. with conditions of competition for public library. iam sorry i shall not be able to compete as (Tj No plan or leveli of site are given, making it. oi course utterly impossible for any but a local man to prepare a, plan; (-) no idea of the borough by-laws with regard to building are given; (3) a coiuplt-lu spcciiication is required, contrary to all modern competitions; (4) no tizes of rooms thought necessary arc mentioned; (a) no premiums ale offend; ((j) the designs ale to be judged by the members of the Council ana not by an independent mail of recognised architectural ability, as is always done now; (7) the time is not siillicicnl,"—l'hcru was no comment when the letter was read, aud the next business was proceeded with. JiUiOTiiiO LHJIITIiVU. J. J. Craig, contractors, of Auckland, took exception in the specification for extension of the electric lighting plant to the stipulation that "all instruments must be Johnson, aud I'hillijs' and Kelvin instruments." He did not think it was fair to the tenderers, and would undertake to provide instruments equally as good as -those stipulated by the Council's engineer. Ik? asked whether a tender dealing witli the instruments of other makers would be received by . the Council!

The engineer said that one make stipulated corresponded with the instruments now m use. in regard to the balance lie had named Kelvin's as being about the best for the purpose. At. tlie. same time, there eouhl be no objection to allowing a teuder for otner makes, as all the tenders would be considered on their merits. Cr. Alontcath moved to the ell'eci that Air Craig be allowed to submit au alternative, tender. Crs. d'arker and Collis thought this might be giving an undue advantage to one tenderer.

Cr. ileilringer was opposed to allowing any deviation from the original if it were to be modibed, let all ■-her pruhable Lenderei.kuow about ft before they submitted U'ci.r prices. {£ The letter Mas referred to llie electrical engineer to reply to as he considers advisable.

On the saiiie subject lir Oswald iiaes, eleclrical engineer and con tractor, of Sydney, asked if the Council would extend the time for receiving tenders by three weeks—The re ipicst v.'as reiused.

1 Inquiry was received from the Tara naki Petroleum Company, Limited, as to terms for supply],ig electric light to the petroleum works.—Ketormi lo !• l «« electric lighting committee. On behalf of the trustees, i\lr 0. F„ Wringer applied to have electric iigliting installed at the new I'rimi. lave McJiodisi Uliurch, Fituroy. lie mentioned Ilia I he had spoKen to several residents of l-'itzroy who were willing to become consumers if the electric light were procurable. As a borough ratepayer, iie urged oil the Council the advisablcness of extending the electric- light to Fitzrov, believing that a lucrative retuni'eomd be derived, iie said an impression prevailed that fiUroy was to jliave an opportunity oi procuring the electric light if 11, ere were any funds. (Jr. iitowno moved Ltiai'the writer I be informed that it is not the Conn- I ill's intention to extend to Fitzruy at j die present time. Cr. iiutchen seconded.

Cr. Montcath Suggested that the I motion should read mat the Council J "is not prepared" to make the exten- ' r fMibly, when the wvik view was complete*, it would I- -ui sible to exfenu at least port' *e posway lo i'ltwoyv .011 of tlie

Lr. UrowitQ tcraiion, the verbal alCi', .lleilriiigv tiou cam,; »■ . thought that opposi Cr. IJi>v ..itn very bad grace lrom ■"'V-tV ..ne, who Had been liberally ti l " a by the Council in regard to e \ ogeltown extension. i'itzroy would be a. far niure prolitable line than \'ogeltown. Cr. Browne said lie laid 110 objection to the matter being considered later if there were any funds. Cr. MoiiLeatli said the committee were hopeful of haring a credit bal-, ance when the present work authorised was completed, but at present did not care about heing saddled .with any further liability, The motion was fussed, .WATJiU CHAUUiiS, In reply to a yuery, the Wellington City Council replied that its charges for water were:—Motivo power, (id per 1000 gallons; hydraulic lift, tld per 1000. The eh.arg<; for water used in building and plastering was lixed at the J'att! of Ud per 1000 bricks for each building tinder construction. The (marge for motive power and hydraulic lifts are at present identical with those in Wellington. The Council decided to leave the charge an open question for the future, each application being dealt with 011 its merits.

Ml- ,S. ltichards asked that a water trough Jje placed at liis property, Avenue road, for the use of twelve head of ca'.ttle. lie undertook to pay the annual fee and to conform to the h.v-law.s in till respects.—On O. Coil's' motion, . Hie. question of reaming ing tile eliar. '{es for water troughs, with suitable .restrictions as to the number uf sto el; to lie watered for a slated sum, w lis referred to the by-' laws committee • 31r liichanls' application is defem id in the meantime.

AVOUKS COSIMTTTUIJ. On (li<! reeomm, filiation of (lie works (Mimwiltei-, it \v;i; 5 reaolral: That Air Kelly he •fitintcMl j i one-inch water si>rY i' (; to liis j)roj j r tv in Hill lor street ;

that Air ,1. c. -gc's application for i'e|>air,s to foot pat) 1 in llevon street west lie referred '-.o the favourable consideration of next year's Estimates committee; that (he ' foreman be an thorised lo repair ( he asphalt footpaths anil to re-tar the tarred footpaths where necessary i Hint Mr I'atcs J be inform,',! lhat if h 5 builds on the site mentioned in his application (he walls must be in brie 'v i>nt if the Imildiug is erected :10ft from the present building the outsit le Avails may be of iron. ttIiXEHAL,. Messrs Coleman and St I] b builders, were given permission to ejiflose portion of the footpath in Eowderhani street during the* erection Messrs iUaekuy, Logan and Gildw W' 3 warehouse. jj. !

An employee of tho Council asked for a month's in advance.—TT<; will linformed tho Council lias no power 1o sue]) nil implication.

ft was decide;!: That tin* Council's engineer he instructed to take the no eessary steps to construct the pipeline i'rom tlie pipe-head to the power-

house, in connection with the extension of plant; also to prepare plans and proceed ■with the work of alterations to the power-house. Oil Messrs Malone, Anderson and

Johnstone's application, the Council consented to the transfer of lot 10, section 1, ami lot 11, subsection 14, section J, block .% Ngaire S.])., from Mr James Jackson to Mr T. Lyford in tho terms of the sub lease between them. Tho consideration was j£7 per acre.

In connection with the Western Park exchange, the Mayor and Cr. Wilson were authorised to sign the transfer on behalf of the Council. The sum of £3OO, as equality of exchange, and Xli 13s expenses, is to be paid to the School Commissioners for their .sections. The Western Park .Board is to refund to the Council the sum of ;C23 towards the purchase money, and £8 i)s IM costs on the Local Jiill, also undertaking not to make any application to the Council for reimbursement of any rent paid or to be paid by them, to the Commissioners.

After providing for the deficiency on the old loan, repaying the amount spent on Kgmont street and providing for ;CiuG worth of work in Young .street, I'itxroy, and Vogeftown, there is only a balance of £47 os Sd left out of the £IOOO waterworks loan. it having been mentioned to Mr Colli* by a visitor that one of tho Conn cil's reserves at Toko was becoming overrun with ox-eye daisy, through the neglect of the tenant, tlie reserves committee will make inquiries, and were empowered to act.