BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18443, 29 March 1922, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Wanganui Borough Council met, (last evohing: Present: The Mayor (Mr T. B. Williams), and Crs. Halligan, Green, Sharpe, Burgess, Silk, Luxford, Oakley Browne, Reardon and Gohns. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Re Mrs Neame’s Bell Street Property.—The Committee wish to report having conferred with Mrs Neame on tne matter of the Council acquiring her property in Bell Street, under tne provisions of the agreement, and now propose that Mr A. G. Bignell be asked to act as the Council’s arbitrator in determining the value of the property in question. Napier Borough Council re interest on Loan Credit Balances.— Your Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to the suggestion that the law should be amended so as to require the banks to allow a set off against district fund overdrafts, the amount of any loan money at credit with the bank. Re Exemption from Rating.—The Committee lias considered the opinions given by the Borough Solicitor on the claims for exemption under the Rating Act. He advises that the following are rateable, ana the Uommitee therefore recommend that he be directed to recover the amounts: Girts’ College site, .bast, (Lots 1,2 ana 3) £54 7/10; Hostel site, Helmore Street, £22 2/li, Harbour Board Office, and land adjoining, £4l 13/2. He also advises that tne undermentioned properities.are exempt, and the committee therefore recommends that tno amounts be written off: Part School site, Lot 5, Keepa Street. £1 7/9, hostel premises, Technical College, £22 2/11; part school site, Liverpool Street, £2 6/3; Jubilee Home, £2l 0/10.

Catholic Properties.—The committee is advised that the information .equired by the Borough Solicitor to enable him to give an opinion as to the rateability of these properties can be obtained from Mr C. P. Skerritt, and have given instructions that Mr Treadwell be advised accordingly.

Presentation of Accounts to Committees.—We recommend that all accounts for goods supplied to the Council be rendered by the 7th of each month, and that such accounts be presented to the respective committees for examination on dates to >e arranged before the 17th of each month. Officers at Conferences.—We recommend that Inspector Fear’s expenses, up to £5, be voted on the occasion of his attending the Inspectors’ Conference at Chrltetehurch; also that the expenses of the Borough Engineer in attending the reent Engineers’ Conference at Wellington. be voted to him. The votes referred to above are not to be regarded az an established precedent. WORKS COMMITTEE. Re Employees’ Superannuation.— The Committee has decided to invite the employees to send a. delegation to interview this Committee on the question. FINANCE AND TRAMWAY. Re Motor Chassis for Tramways. The Committee recommend -the Council to purchase the motor chassis offered by Mr Merewether for the sum of £625, as outlined in specifications and recommended by the engineer. WORKS COMMITTEE. Re Ridgway Street Extension.— The engineer is going into the question of cost of carrying out this work, and will report to the Committee as soon as possible. Re Projecting Signboards. The Committee recommends that the engineer’s report on this matter be adopted with the following alterations: That signs do not project more than one foot over footpath; That sub-clause (3) permitting an area of six square feet be deleted. Re Widening Great North-West Road.. —We recommend that a retaining wall be built at the cutting as recommended by the engineer.

House in Brick Area, Aramoho.— The Committee have accepted Mr Comrie’s explanation regarding this matter. SARJEANT GALLERY COMMITTEE. Report by Mr and Mrs Neame.— The Committee present the report by Mr and Mrs Neame, dealing with the purchase of works of art for the gallery, and recommend that they be thanked for the great interest they have taken in securing pictures, and also for their report. Re-arranging Pictures.—With a view to making the Gallery attractive for Easter, the Committee recommend that the pictures be rearranged, and that the posters and a number of etchings and water colours procured by Mr and Mrs Neame be exhibited; that the re-arranging and hanging be carried out under the direction of Mr and Mrs Neame who have kindly consented to undertake this. War Cartoons.—We recommend that these be now removed, and, if possible, that the frames be used for other pictures. Bust of the late Mr Sarjeant.— The Committee report that Mrs Neame has very kindly presented a bust of the late Mr Sarjeant to the Gallery, and arrangements are now being made to have this placed in a suitable position. Re Repairing Vestibule.—We recommend that authority be given to repair the plaster in the entrance to the Gallery, the work to be carried out by the Borough staff. RESERVES COMITTEE. Applications for Cook’s Gardens.— The Committee report having granted the use of Cook’s Gardens for the following dates:—Amateur Athletic Association. Bth April; Technical College, 7th April; Wanganui Cricket Association, Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Hockey Association.—We recommend that the Association be informed that they may have the use of Cook’s Gardens for the hockey season on the same conditions as before. Fire Brigade Hall.—The Committee has decided that the Wanganui Scottish Society be informed that they may have the use of this hall on the first Saturday night in each

month, provided that in the event of any one else wishing to rent the hall every Saturday, another night be selected. The terms of letting to be at the rental already decided on, viz., £2 per night, including gas tor lighting, with 10/ per hour extra after midnight. Caretaker For Fire Brigade Hall. —We recommend that applications be invited for a married couple to act and perform duties of caretaker and reside on the premises, conditions to be drawn up by the Town Clerk. We also recommend that the hall be advertised as available for letting for dances, etc., Recreation Grounds, Wanganui Rugby’Union ’s Lease.—The Committee recommend that the Borough Solicitor be instructed to prepare the lease in conformity with the recommendations of the Council. Opera House Bookings.—that Mr Pickford be asked if it will be possible for the Wanganui Competitions Society to have the eight days as required by them in October. German Guns.—We recommend that the engineer be instructed to have the two guns cleaned and painted .jmd placed in front of the Museum. GAS AND WORKS COMMITTEES. Licenses for Oil Stores. The Committee recommend that the licenses be renewed for twelve months, provided that the companies carry out the requirements of the Inspector ot Explosives at once; that a sub-committee be appointed consisting of Crs. Halligan, Burgess, and Luxford to suggest a site or sites where oil stores can be erected; that the present licensees be informed of the site where they will be expected, to have stores’ erected in time for the 1923-1924 renewals; further that tne Companies be advised that the Council is prepared to cancel their present lease and enter into a long lease ot the site selected. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr D. Jones waited upon the Council and complained ot the bad state of the Bpringvale Road, describing it as a “slough of despond.”—The matter was referred to the Works Committee.

A request from Mr E. H. Poynter, Durie Hill Garden Suburb, for water and drainage, was referred to the Works Committee.