BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16547, 23 September 1919, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ADJOURNED MEETING. An adjourned meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council was held at the Municipal Olfices on Monday evening, the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) presiding. There were also present: Councillors F. J. Hill, W. F. Short, W. A. Collis, A, S. iirookor, R. L. Parkin; J. W. Hayden, J. ClarKe, ,V. Griffiths. ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIMBER'. Copy of a letter addressed to, the borough inspector by the borough engineer in reference vo certain timbers to be used in rebuilding a cottage in Devon Street, and which it was alleged were infested witli worm was read. The borough engineer therefore requested that the matter receive the attention of the inspector, and that he settle all doubts as to allowing its use as .neighbours were very much concerned over the matter, Tlie inspector reported that the condition laid down re tiro house was that oil timber having any sign of,bore was to be removed, aiifl this was being done by the builder. He had kept the place under supervision and was confident that no boro timber was being used. With regard to some correspondence in the press containing such terms as dilapidated, unhygienic, and other highflown adjectives they were altogether beside the mark. The roorgs were of good size, high olf the ground, and particularly clean, and would bo when finished quite as good as any house of its size in New Plymouth. For a person to see a house such as this was with scrim and paper loose and windows out and to call it unhygienic was, to put it mildly, nonsense. Councillor Griffiths said he had seen the place and was satisfied that there was no reason for complaint. Any house being removed would look dilapidated when the work was only partially done. WESTERN PARK. Mr. J. D. Sole, president of the Westown Progressive Association, acting on the suggestion made by the Mayor when a deputation waited on the council a week ago with reference to, the control of Western Park, wrote that the idea of the residents was that control be handed over to a committee of seven, which would ho responsible to the council; that power bo given to the committee to appoint sub-commit-tees for carrying out various works, the council to have representation on the committee. Briefly they were asking to be put on the same footing as the Kawaroa Park Committee. The Mayor moved that the council affirm the principle and that the matter be referred to the Reserves Committee to arrange details. Councillor Parkin seconded and the motion was carried. PREPARING FOR CAMPERS. Mr. Day (inspector) suggested that now the camping season was approaching the camp reserve at Moturoa be cleaned up, tracks cut and some sites pegged off. The town clerk recommended that Inspector Day be authorised to peg off say a dozen sites now and from time to time to peg off such further sites as might be 'required. The recommendation was approved subject to satisfactory arrangements being made in regard to sanitary conditions. STREET WORKS. The borough engineer submitted revised estimates of the cost of renewing and tar-sealing Ariki, King and Queen Streets, also alternative estimates for tarred macadam and an asphalt carpet. The Mayor said he had asked the borough engineer to prepare fresh estimates and the question now arose as to, whether the council should make these streets, which were in the centre of the town and carried a great deal of motor traffic, of a more permanent character. If the council adopted his recommendation it would be to do the more permanent work, the additional cost of which would be £548. Councillors Griffiths and Parkin agreed with the Mayor’s views, and on their motion it was resolved to lay down tar macadam the full width of the roadways in King and Ariki Streets and for a width of 18 feet in Queen Streets, the sides to be tarsealcd. VANDALISM AT THE CEMETERY. Mr. R. Bennoch (sexton) reported that a grave plot and headstone at the cemetery had been damaged during, last week, presumably by children, as adults he thought would have respect for the names of the three deceased soldiers appearing on the stone. Too many children, he added, were allowed in the cemetery on their own. During a discussion which ensued reference was made to the numerous pomplaints which had been made lately of vandalism at the cemetery, and,on the motion of Councillors Collis and Clarke it was decided to enforce the by-law, which was to the effect that no child under the ago of 12 years not under the control of some competent person shall have the right to enter or make use of the cemetery for any purpose whatever. It was further decided to seek the assistance of the police in discovering • offenders and also to i'oport the particular case referred to by the sexton to the police for investigation.

SOLDIERS’ HOMES. The Palmerston North Borough Council asked for the council’s support of the following resolution:—That tho Government be recommended when making grants to returned soldiers for tho purpose of enabling them to purchase homes that such grants shall only be given on condition that the money is utilised in tho establishment of new homes and not for the acquisition of dwellings already in existence. It was considered that if this resolution was given effect to it would considerably relievo the present shortage pf houses. _ It was further stated that in many instances returned soldiers were paying extortionate prices for house properties, some of which were not in the best of condition, and present occupiers who had no protection wore being turned out and finding themselves without accommodation. Tho Mavor said it might bo desirable to urge tho Government to adopt the suggestion as fsjr as possible, but be did not think grants should be made only conditional upon new homes being built. If the suggestion was partially acted upon it would help to some extent to got over the present housing problem. Councillor Collis said that if it was true extortionate prices were being paid by the soldiers for houses then the Government was to blame as its valuers had to report on the properties before tho loans were authorised. Councillor Clark© said no extortion-,

ate prices were being paid by soldiers for houses in New Plymouth. The fact was that the Government found it cheaper to buy houses than to build them. Councillor GrifSths said that if the soldiers had to depend on building new houses at presen? prices many of them would never get a home. The letter was received. GENERAL. A letter from Mr. W. H. Moyes re a new rubbish tip was referred to the borough engineer and inspector, Mr. S.'A. Whitehead wrote asking that an inch water main be laid to a section on which he proposed to build at Frankley Road.—The borough engineer estimated the cost at £99 7s 6d. —The Mayor mentioned that there was a balance of loan money amounting to £2OO to the credit of Frankley Road for water extensions, and it was decided to carry out the work. Acting on the suggestion of Messrs. Roy and Nicholson, the council decided to delay the actual commencement of the erection of public conveniences in Brougham Street until the intended application for an injunction had been heard by the Supreme Court at the December sessions. A suggestion from-Mr. P. W. Froth ey that the council take the necessary steps to close portion of Holdsworthy Road and offer him the freehold at a moderate figure, he guaran- ' teeing to defray ali expenses incurred thereby, was negatived on the recommendation of the Streets Sub-commit-tee. It was pointed out that there were legal difficulties in the way of carrying out Mr. Frethey’s suggestion. A request from Mr. W. J. Sheppard for permission to move a house at Fitzroy to another section was declined, on the recommendation of the inspector. The Fitzroy Ratepayers’ Association wrote that the footpath in the vicinity of the tramway shelter shed at Fitzroy be asphalted.—The borough engineer reported that the cost would be £5 10s It was decided to put the work in hand.