Borough Council.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11733, 10 September 1902, Page 2

Borough Council.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening. Present: Crs. Liffiton, Richardson, Caiman, Manson, May, Bell, Bignell, Perrett, Griffiths, Williams, and Bridge. In the absence of the Mayor, Cr. Bridge was voted to the chair. Minutes. —The minutes of the previous, meeting were read and confirmed. Bank Book.—The bank book showed a debit of £1368 2s sd, against £715 2s Id at last meeting. The Late Mr Laird. —Cr. Bridge said that before proceeding with the business of the meeting, he thought the Council should place on record its regret at the death of Mr James Laird, who had passed away a few days previously. Cr. Bridge referred to the long and valuable servioas rendered to the Borough by the deceased gentleman, and moved "That this Council desires i> plaae on record its sense o c. the long and valuable public service rendered by the late Mr Jame.s Laird, and to convey to Mrs Laird and the members of the family the sincere sympathy of th-> Council."—The motion was seconded by Cr. Littiton, who paid a high tribute to the sterling character and public, worth of the late Mr Laird. ■ —'The motion was carried, unanimously. Tha Name of the Town.—A letter* was read from the Chamber of Commerce covering the following resolution : "That in the opinion of this Chamber a change in the spelling of 'Wanganui' to 'Whanganui' would be inadvisable, amd detrimental to the town and district."—Letter received. Town Bridge.—Letter from Harbour Board, enclosing resolution passed at last Friday's meeting of the Board (already published) ; letter received.—A letter was read by tha Town Clerk, written to the Public Works Department, in which the attention of the department was drawn to the discrepancies in the report of the Government engineer and the plans, as to the condition of the piers of the bridge. The consideration of the matter was postponed, pending receipt of reply from the department. A Complaint.—Letter from Mr P. Lundius, Crown Lands Ranger, drawing the attention of the Council to the fact that carts and other vehicles are a allowed to cross and travel over the survey standards in Cook's Gardens, and requesting Council to instruct its officials to see that the practice is discontinued. Driving Across Footpaths.—Cr. Bell, in accordance with notice given at last meet- ■ ing, moved "That a bve-l'aw be passed (if j one does not already exist) making it conbI pulsory for drivers of vehicles, or riders, to lead their horses by the head across any footpath :in the borough when passing through any right-of-way." Cr. Bell spoke in support of tne motion, urging its adoption in the interests' of the citizens and with the object of protecting pedestrians.— The motion was seconded by Cr. Manson. ! —O. Horsley opposed the motion. There was already a bye-law precluding people from driving or riding: across a footpath at a pace faster than a walk. Those who i knew anything about horses knew that there was more danger in leading a horse than in driving it. The man in the vehicle had the best control of a horse. To his i mind there was a danger of the Council passing too much of this kind of legislation. i —On being put the motion was lost on the voices. Public Health Department.—The Dis- ! trict Health Officer (Dr. Valintine) forwarded a copy of Inspector Kendall's report for the last four months, and in connection therewith stated that he would submit a monthly report to the Council. Attention was particularly drawn to the Inspector's remarks on ruinous buildings in the; borough, recommending that they should be either renovated or pulled down. The Health Officer referred to the satisfactory arrangements made by the local authorities for the isolation of infectious cases. Dr. Valintine further suggested, in re house refuse, that the erection of a destructor would be of considerable benefit to the BorougK.—The matter was held over until next meeting. Report oi Dust Committee.—The following report was presented: The committee met, all members being present, and dc-cided to recommend the Council to continue economically watering (from the Lakes) the Avenue from Ingestre Street to Ta-npo <^uay, and a few chains of each cross street. The committee desire to point out that to do this amount of watering for 100 days during the summer will take one and a half million gallons of water, equal to three days' supply, and as in their opinion the saving of this quantity will not obviate the probable necessity of pumping this .summer1, it would be unnecessarily expensive to have two pumping stations, one at the "'vev and one at the lake. The committee will in October again consider the question, and suggest that they be appointed a special Street Watering Committee for this summer. The committee are plieased to report that proper tar and asphalt mixing plant are well in hand, and that a start with asphalting the Avenue is to be commenced almost- immediately. The committee recommend that Mr Gilmour be given an extra man and a large dust cart, so as to endeavour to cape with the borse-droppinj* nuisance. The committee further recommend that, subject to the Avenue, part of Taupo Quay, and Ridgway Street residents being willing to contribute from a minimum of sixpence to a maximum of a shilling per week, according to the size of frontage, tLe paths, channelling, and side streets of tLe^e parts of the town be swept, starting '.'■ daylight each morning and finishing about 8.30 a.m., and that shopkeepers who sweep the dust and rubbish of their shops across the footpath* into the channelling ba prosecuted; -also that shopkeepers in the Avenue abstain from sweeping the footpaths in front of their premises from the date the Council takes the work in hand ; that the Inspector of Police be requested not to enforce the bye-law in reference to ; temporary calico or canvas verandah screens . during the continuance of the scarcity of • water for street watering; that the In- ' spector's attention be called to the new bye- ' law preventing expectorating on the foot- ' paths, and that the hope be expressed that ; he will make an examrnle of those detected ' in this filthy habit. —On the motion of the ' chairman the rervort was adopted. Foreman of Works. —The report of the "I Foreman of Works was read and received. • Lamp.—lt was resolved that the Fore- } man of Works be instructed to have a lamp erected ab or^near the centre of Mathieson J Street as soon as possible. \ Baths Custodian.—The matter of the J appointment of a custodian for the public baths was referred to the Baths. Commit- -* tee, to report at next meeting. c The ordinary accounts were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned. c