BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143762, 10 April 1912, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

.MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Now Plymouth Borough Council was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday night. There were present; Councillors H. J. Gilbert, J. C. Morey, J. T. Mannix, J. Clarke, W. Amhnrv, J. G. Hartnell, E. H. Jackson. J. Kibby, T. Buxton. OPCNAKE RAILWAY ROUTE. Mr. A. H. Guy, chairman of tho ICapouga Town Hoard, wrote inviting tho Mayor to attend a complimentary social to be tendered to the Premier ill Xvapunga on rriday evening. Jin pointed out that the occasion would bo taken to bring before the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie the claims ol Stratford as the junction of the Opnnake railway. A number of Stratford people would be present, and tho Town Board would like to see New Plymouth represented if possible. An iuvitation had been extended to Mr. Okcy, M.P., and tho chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. A lengthy discussion took place concerning the route of tho proposed railway, and eventually It was proposed by Councillor Ambury, and seconded pro forma by Councillor Mannix, that tho letter he referred to the Mayor to uso his own discretion in the matter. An amendment was proposed by Councillor Gilbert to the oifect that tho Mayor be requested to attend tho meeting at Kapionga and submit to tho council any information gained at such meeting. The amendment was carried, and became the substantive motion.

Councillor Clarke then proposed that his Worship be requested to attend the meeting, with a direction to advocate the coast route railway Rom Opunako to New Plymouth, and to oppose the junction of' the proposed railway from Opunako to the main line at any point south of Ettham. Councillor Jackson seconded, and this was carried. NOTICES OF MOTION. WATER CHARGES. In accordance with notice of motion, tho .Mayor moved; 'That in view of the. fact that tho whole of the borough water supply at present available is inquired for the reticulation of the extended area of tho borough, tho council resolves; (1) That no further connections bo made to the water mains outside tho borough boundaries. (2) That three months’ notice he given to all consumers outside the borough boundaries terminating the present agreement for water supply, (3) That after tho expiration of tho three months’ notice above referred to, the charge for water outside the borough for domestic purposes he 2,s 8d in the £1 on the annual value of the property to which water is supplied, the supply to bo for domestic purposes only, and no extraordinary supplies to he permitted, and that the By-laws Committee ho directed to take immediate steps to have the by-law amended accordingly. Councillor Buttimoro seconded. Councillor Gilbert thought that instead of increasing tho charges the St. Aubyn people should bo compelled to provide meters at their own cost and be charged so much per thousand gallons. Councillor Jackson was afraid the motion would penalise certain residents outside tho borough who were among those petitioning to come within tho borough, but who had been cut out by the commission. The object of the motion was to penalise St. Aubyn only, and he would therefore prefer to see the resolution altered to that effect. Councillor. Morey regretted that the St. Aubyn residents had decided against the Greater New Plymouth scheme considered it rather hard lines if they were to bo penalised as suggested. Councillor Hartnell favoured the resolution. He had property in the suburbs, and tho resolution would affect him, hut ho felt he had not interested himself in the poll as he should have done, and had to suffer. Even at the proposed charges the people would be getting water at a very cheap rate. After further discussion the motion was carried. EXTRAORDINARY TRAFFIC. Councillor Mannix, in accordance with notice of motion, moved : That the borough solicitors bo instructed to immediately frame by-lawa dealing with .extraordinary traffic, including a charge of Is per cubic yard for metal carted over the borough streets. This was seconded and carried. Councillor Gilbert voted against the motion.

ELECTRIC LIGHT CHARGES. Councillor Clarke then moved: That as from May 1 next the charges far electric lighting and heating bo as follow: Lighting inside the borough, 9d, with a discount of 3d. Outside the borough, 9d, with a discount of Id. Heating inside the borough, 4d, with a discount of 2d. Outside the borough. 4d, with a discount of Id. . , This was also carried, Councillor Gilbert alone opposing the resolution. GENERAL. As recommended by The Town Clerk, the salary of the typiste in the JTown Clerk’s office was fixed at £65 per annum. , , , The question of. tho employment of surfacemen in tho new area added to the borough was referred to the borough engineer with power to act. Tho application of the electrical onI'ineer for increase in salary was referred to tho Electric Light Committee to report. As recommended by the borough engineer, the tender of H. Ward and Co. for oils, etc., was accepted. The application of Messrs._ G. B. Kyngdon and others for kerbing and channelling in Lemon Street was referral to the borough engineeer to report to tho Works Committee. A letter from the sexton re rubbish placed on a grave plot was referred to the Reserves Committee. The borough engineer was authorised to underpin tho eastern end of the eastern wing wall on tho northern side of tho Powderham Street bridge. Tho electrical engineer reported that advice was to hand that thirty 26ft. poles had been shipped by the Wimmora, and should bo to hand by the end of tho week, thus enabling all authorised extensions to bo completed and houses that are ready connected. The electrical engineer estimated the cost of extension of the power house buildings at £550. This amount included'steel joists, rails, and channel steel. It was decided that except in matters of urgency no letters bo read at the council’s meetings which have not been received prior to the Thursday before the council meeting. Tho reports of the various committee and also the officers’ reports were dealt with.