BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12549, 12 July 1905, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tho usual fortnightly meeting of the Wunganui Borough Council was held last evening. Present: His Worship,tKe Mayor (Mr. A. G. Bignell), and Crs. a S Bridae H. T. Johns, T. B. WilHanVs ? iff'Liffiton, B. W Green, T. P. Bell, and H Purser. Leavo of absence was granted to Ci. \IJNXJTES.—The minutes of the previous" meeting were read and confirm--6 FINANCE.— The Finance Committee reported as follows, as to meeting held on 10th July :_Present: The M»y----01 and Crs. Bridge, Liffiton and Williams. Your committee met on the above date. The- following - matters wero considered :-(l) Subsidy to Gar-i rison Band: We .^ve^consideigd the letter of the Garrison Band dated the 12th June, asking for a f£**%%£ current year. A sum of £30 w ass paceci by the Council on the estimates foi this veair in aid of tho Garrison Band. Before framing the estimates inquiries Sero made throughout the colony as to tho amounts paid by various local bodiei in aid of local bands. The replies indicate that the subsidy at present beine paid to the Garrison Band is as high as that paid in other towns, according to population We recommend that tho subsidy as fixed be paid for tho now current year. (2) Cemeteiy Trustees* account for work done, £yd 17s sd. We think the Reserves Committee should again look into the matter with a view of ascertaining the legal Position of the Coucil. (3) Two account* io" rent of bill board site have been referred to the clerk for inquiry. We recommend the fo^'^^o^ 0"11^^ payment: District fund £296 lls. 3d., gas works £081 2s. lid., gas works loan £101 18s. lid., sinking fund No. 2 £403 16s. 6d.; loan £11,500, £49 17s. Bd.; totaF, £1533 7s. 3d.—The report "'CORPORATION BATHS.-Thoßath, Committee reported as follows:—lour committee met on the above date (lUtn July), when there were present: Ihe Mayor, and Crs. Green, Battle, and Purser. We had under consideration tho question of opening the public baths during winter months. A deputation of members of the Swimming Club waited upon us iand stated that they were prepared to guarantee that ono hundred persons would use the bath if opened during winter months, at 2s. 6d. per head for the season. We recommend that if the members of the deputation will personally guarantee tha sale of one hundred tickets for the . season, the baths be opened' as required. "We also recommend that an estimate be prepared of the cost of fitting up four hot plunge baths with the necessary heating apparatus.—The report waa adopted. . WATER.—The Water Committee reported as follows:—Your committee met on the above date (10th July), when there were present: The Mayor and Crs. Bridge and Williams. (1) We had under consideration the report of Foreman of Works on the question of water meters. Also letters from Mr. Gibbons, and Messrs. Hunt and Martin, Criterion Boardinghouse, on the subject of their account for water, by meter for the period ending 30th June. Wo .recommend that the same allowances as formerly made be given to the applicants mentioned in z-espect of the half-year ending 30th June last. Also that fov the current year those who now have a water meter (except where a special agreement has been made) shall pay for extraordinary supply at' tho present rate of one shilling .per thousand gallons, but that an allowance shall be made equal to the value of water represented by one-fifth of the amount of general rate paid by the various consumers in respect of the rateable premises whereon th© water is consumed^ and that those consumers mentioned in the report of the Foreman- of Works, dated the 27th June, 1905, ias having no meter, have a meter put in, and the water be charged at the above-mentioned rate. This allowar<co to b^'made only when the "ordin'i"idW>" a^'^H a8 "extraordinary" ' pass tlu-oiifeb?jgr?jais. meter.—The ■' "" Mayor? explained <jn regard to tho recornmendatibns*o'f the!'commifcteo as to the terms upon which water should be supplied to those using-ex-traordinary supplies.—Cr. Bridge expressed tho opinion that this matter had not been brought before the Council. Ho said he could mention one or two cases in which persona had been using extraordinary supplies for many years, without paying one penny for it, in direct violation of the by-law.—Cr. Williams moved as an amendment to tho committee's recommendation, that tho charge should be 6d., instead of Is., per 1000 gallons. He thought they should encourage, and not handicap, industries; and he further said that the hotels wars largely used by the public, and the water was.consequently largely used for public convenience.—Cr. Liffiton admitted that there was a good deal of justico in what Cr. Williams had said, but suggested, in view of the importance of the matter, that the report should be held over until next meeting, in order that the Council could go more-'.carefully into the matter.—Crs. Battle and Johns concurred, iand on being put to the Council it was decided to hold over the report until next meeting.—A deputation representing the Wanganui Licensed.Victuallers' Association waited upon the Council in regard to this matter. Speaking on behalf of tho deputation, Mr. L. Cohen said he was convinced that the by-laws dealing with the charge for water would not "hold water." He stated that in tho case of Mr, Faber, of the Rutland Hotel, tho water bill for . the year amounted to no less than £76 135., in addition to which his rates totalled £97 10s., making a total of £191 65., as Mr. Faber's payment for the general municipal conveniences which ho enjoyed, and for the "extraordinary" use of water which was used in his hotel whenever the water was fit for use. He contended that there was nothing in the by-laws to justify the charge, and he further asserted that the Council had no power, under the by-laws, to make any ' allowances. He said it was the unanimous opinion of the gentlemen he represented that the Borough rate of 2s. 2d. was sufficient to cover all ordinary municipal necessities, including the water supply.. The charge specifically levied upon one section of the community was, in the opinion of the g-entlemen ho represented, inequitable and harsh. They were disappointed that there should be any charge at all mado for water, but if a charge was *" necessary they desired that it should be mado under a fair and equitable system. He submitted that the imposition of Is. per 1000 gallons could not bo supported under the existing bylaws, and, in no spirit of hostility and with no wish to be disrespectful to the Council, he said ho had advised the gentlemen he represented that they need not pay it.—The Mayor said the Council wo aid carefully consider the matter, but he expressed the opinion that a charge for extraordinary conbumption would continue to be made, even though the by-laws had to be altered. Ho said that where the water was used for profit-making a charge ought to be mado for it.—Mr. HopeGibbons, supplementing Mr. Cohen's remarks, said the hotelkeepers paid a considerable amount for water through tho medium of their rates. He instanced the case of the Rutland Hotel. —The Mayor said tho Rutland Hotel was one of the places which had paid nothing for water.—Mr. Gibbons said •ho was speaking of the amount now charged.—Mr. Faber said the Rutland

had paid something for water last year. —Tho Mayor said tho amount paid was so little as not to be worth mentioning. However, ho assured the deputation that tho matter brought before them won Id bo seriously considered. suburb:] lighting bill— Messrs. C Mackay and J. Jones, representing tho Mataongaonga Road Board, waited upon tho Council to ask the Council to consent to a modification of tho suburban aiSa as defined in tho Bill. The area desired by the Board included Eastown, Sedgebrook, and all pi:aces likely to utilise the gas service.—On the motion of the Mayor, tho request of tho deputation was acceded to. SCHOOL GROUNDS.—A deputation representing the Wanganui School Committee waited on the Council to request tho Council to assist the Committee [ financially towards the improvement of tho school grounds. The Chairman (Mi 1; W. Bruce) conveyed the wishes of the School Committee to the Council, and explained at length the work required to be done in accordance with tho suggestions made by the Borough Gardener. He stated that the total expenditure for improvements at both tho High School and the Queen's Park School, was £140, towards which the Committee required the sum of £80 over and above the revenue they had in view. Unless tha Council could see its way to assist the committee, the work would have to be done in patches and would extend over a considerable number of years.—Mr. G. Spriggens and tho Rev. A. Dewdney spoke in support of the application.—The Mayor said ho had no doubt the Council would bo pleased to assist the committee, if possible, but there were difficulties in the way. Tho Council would, however, give tho matter its serious consideration.—Mr. J. G. Browne ; speaking for th 9 committee, suggested that probably it' the Council could not see its way to grant the whole amount required it might possibly be able to spread its grant over a year or two. —The committee then withdrew.—On the motion of tho Mayor, the portion of the report dealing with Baths was referred to the Baths Committee, and that portion referring to a request for financial assistance was referred to the Finance Committee. HAWKER'S LICENSE.—A letter was received from Police Inspector Kiely intimating that the officers of the local foi-eo had been instructed to call upon all hawkers to produce their licenses. OPERA HOUSE.—A letter from Mr. C. Stubbs, Opera House electrician, asking the Council to make a small grant to tho switchboard operator, was > referred to the Opera House Committee. .

INSANITARY PREMISES—Letter from Health Officer drawing the Council's attention to the insanitary condition of one of the Council's houses, at tho foot of St. John's Hill.—Referred to Reservei Committee. GAS.—A letter was received from Mi*. H. D. Bates and other residents of St. John's Hill, regretting their inability to accept the terms proposed by the Council for supplying gas to that suburb.—Letter received. PLUMBERS' LICENSES.—A report from the Inspector, dealing with a prosecution under the sanitary by-laws, was read.—Cr. Bridge moved that the attention of tho Inspector be drawn to clause S of the by-law, providing for th<» endorsement of license.—Several councillors considered that as the case in question Avas the first under the bylaw, and as the offender had been punished, it was not desirable to proceed further. The case, it was understood, had been a sufficient lesson for those concerned.—After a brief ■ discussion, tho motion was put and lost. COLONIAL OIL COMPANY—It was resolved to notify the Colonial Oil Company that the Council cannot see its way to modify conditions of lease held by tho company from the Council. COOPER AND CO.—Messrs. Cooper and Co. wrote asking for permission to erect a signboard, and also for a reduction in the price of gas used by them in connection with their' business as tailors.—Application re signboard referred to Foreman of Works; applica^ tion for reduction in price of gas refused. RAINFALL—Mr. H. Mason wrote stating that a rain gauge is kept at Piriuka by himself, and offering to supply tho Council with particulars of rainfall there whenever the fall was exceptionally heavy. Mr. Mason pointed out that a s©vei*e flood (of some year or more ago) was preceded by a day's rain of between three and fou rinches at Piriaka.—lt was decided to thank Mr. Mason for his kind offer, which should prove of service to townspeople.