BOROUGH MATTERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 3 June 1919, Page 4

BOROUGH MATTERS.

MEETING OF GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. A meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council was held on Monday evening, the Mayor, Mr. C, 11. Burgess, presiding. There were also present: Councillors J. -Clarke, J. W. Harden F. J. Hill, W. F. Short, W. A. Collis. A. S. Brookcr, R. L. Parkin, and V. Griffiths. STRAYING STOCK. Mr. O. Johnson, secretary of the Fitzroy Ratepayers’ Association, wrote asking the conned to take stops to prevent stock straying about the streets of the suburb.—Mr. R. Day, inspector, reporting in connection with the matter, said he was of opinion that very few wandering stock escaped the poundkeeper (27 animals had been impounded at .Fitzroy since May 1). Residents could assist very materially by ringing up tho pound-keeper when they noticed wandering stock, and also by holding cattle that wore trespassing until tho arrival of tho official.—Copy of Mr. Day's letter will be forwarded to tho association. OVERHANG ING TREES. Mr. R. Day reported in connection with Councillor Collis’ complaint re overhanging trees, and stated that both Ids assistant and himself were doing their best to overtake the many and varied duties, and were constantly at work,, from 6.30 in the morning until 11 o’clock at night. He rarely had more than one night per week at his own fireside. One of their difficulties in getting their notices complied t.i’h was tho .labour -incMion, it being almost impossible to get n man to do a small job of any description whether it he repairing n drain, cutting a hedge, nr cleaning up a yard. The complaint raised another question which was most irritating. An inspector could not he expected to see everything, but if councillors would mention these small matters to the inspectors the matter could he attended to at once, or it may he found that it was already receiving attention. Such procedure would tend to very much smoother working. It had been his practice to have trees and hedges trimmed so that people could pass along with umbrellas in comfort, and not to insist that trees should be hacked into regardless of their beauty or height. A reasonable interpretation of tho by-law had been enforced, and anyone going about tho streets must be struck w'th the manner in which trees and hedges were, cut hack. He- ventured to say that outside the notices now current ten others could not reasonably bo served in the whole borough. If on the other hand it, was decided that, trees must be cat back to lino regardless of height then a great many beautiful trees would be. mutilated. Councillor Collis adhered to hi? statement and said that in several places, which ho named, people should be culled upon to cut back hedges and other growth which was overhanging the footpaths and creating a danger to pedestrian traffic. Mr. Day, who was present, said that in several of the cases mentioned by Councillor Collis, notices had been served. His Worship pointed out that some 12 nion l.hs ago it was intimated to property owners that all hedges must bo cut back/ to the fence line, and it was obvious that unless this was done very soon there were many hedges in tho borough that would bo ruined altogether there would bo so much to cut away. BUS TIME-TABLE- AND FARES. Tho question of revising tho bus timetable and fares was relerrod to tho Tramways and Electric Light Committee to report upon after conferring with representatives of Wo-stown and Vogeltown. Mr. R. H. Bartley, electrical engineer and manager, submitted a report- embodying returns of the electric bus up to May 31. This showed that tho bus had run 4623 miles (Vogeltown (2382, Wes town 2241), that the passengers carried numbered 16336 (Vogeltown 0102, West own 10,234). Tho total fares received amounted to £205 (Vogeltown £73, Westown £132). PUBLIC HEALTH. MATTERS. It was decided to approach tho Pub- , lie Health Department asking whether in view of Section 28 of tho Public Health Amendment Act, 1918, it was prepared to favourably consider; (1) That the chief sanitary inspector of the Now Plymouth Borough Council be given a direct appointment from the department as an inspector under the Public Health Act, 1908, and should bo empowered to deal with all matters respecting public health within the boundaries of the borough, and bo vested with such further powers in regard to public health, including powers in regard to public health, including powers under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. 1908, is the Health Department shall deem necessary; (2) that the Now Plymouth Borough Council shall undertake within the boundaries of) the borough all duties contemplated by sub-sections a, b, c, d. i and k, of Section 13 of tho Public Health Act; (3) that the Taranaki Hospital Board, under tho provisions of Section 94 of the .Public Health Act, shall contribute to the council such proportion of the chief sanitary inspector’s salary as shall ho arranged. GENERAL. Mr. M. O. Butcher wrote asking if it was tho council’s intention to form and gravel Ballanco Street, Vogeltown, whilst teams were working np that way. Ho understood that the work was provided for in tho £42,000 loan.—-The borough engineer was authorised to spend £IOO, the amount allocated. The borough engineer was also authorised to submit an estimate of putting the following streets in order, including metalling Wliore required:—George Street, Rawhiti Street, and Hou Street, Councillor Clarko remarking that ho supposed Vogeltown residents would not give the council any peace until these little streets were attended to. The borough engineer was authorised to continue repairs to Devon Street between Liardet Street to the Waiwakalho Bridge provided that when a further £SOO has been expended further authority he obtained. A number of Fitzroy residents petitioned the council to remove the pound to a more retired site.—Referred to the .Streets Sub-Committee. x