WANGANUI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13338, 29 March 1911, Page 6

WANGANUI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The .regular. fortnightly meeting of the Wanganui Borough Council was held last evening. Present—ll is Worship the Mayor, Crs. E. N. Liffiton, J. Calver, A. S. Burgess, C. W. Poyntcr. J. F. Holloway, G. Spriggens, A. Robinson, J. Williams.

BALANCES.—The following balances were reported District fund, cr., .£5Bl 2s ad; tomporarv loans, dr., .£11,895 Is sd; 412,00 a gas'loan, cr., 42 10s lid; 415.000 gas loan, cr., £1147 8s lid; 411,500 street loan, dr., 41104 Is lOd; 429.000 loan, dr., 41048 2s 7d: Aramoho loan, dr., 4178 4s Id; St. Johu’e loan, dr., 4351 I2s 9d; tramway loan, dr., 425 12-i 3d. ■ Committee Reports. FINANCE.—The Finance Committee recommended the passing for payment of accounts totalling 42113 Is 7d.—Adopted. GAS.—Following was the report of the Gas Committee, dated 27th March:—Rc price of gas for power pnrpor.es: The Committee recommend that the following rates be charged for gas for power pur poses after Ist April next, viz.:—so,(loo!t and over per month, 50 per cent, and 15 per cent, off present gross charge, or 4; 3d net; 25,000 ft to 50,000 ft per month, 50 per cent, and 10 per cent, oil' present gross charge, or 4s Gd net; under 25,000 ft per month, 50 per cent, and 5 per cent, off present gross charge, or 4s 9d net. Accounts for coal wharf: Wc recommend that the following amended accounts be passed for payment:—AVanganni Harbour Board, 41108 15s Id; Engineer C. H. Howarth, 455 8s 9d. Agreement re' coal conveyors: Wo recommend the Council to execute the deed of agreement snbmitfed by, and to be entered into with, the >V-v.-Zealand Railway Department.—Adopted. TRAMWAYS.—Following was the report of the Tramway Committee, dated 27th March: —Tenders for power-house plant: Wc have agreed to extend the, time for closing lenders until 12th June. Car equipment and car bodies: The Engineer has been instructed to obtain quotations for supply of mime. Breach of tramway by-laws: The Committee has directed i'c Engineer to lay information against person using a worker’s ticket at a tone other than that permitted. Re Gnyt.n Street Crossing; The Committee recommend that the Council abandon the i.ro poaal to construct an overhead road <ud tramway bridge over the railway -ine at Guyton Street, as the Railway Depubment cannot lower its line sufficiently ie meet the borough’s requirements without interfering with the present crossing at Ingcstre Street. AYe recommend that the original proposal be adopted, i.e., to deviate by way of Hatrick Street, crossing the line by a bridge to be erected for the tramway only, and thence back to Guyton Street through a portion of the vacant land adjoining the Cemetery.--Adopted. AVORKS.—Following was the report o', the Works Committee, dated 27th Maveli • —Rc Air A. Hatrick’s application or drainage: The Committee recommend this work to be carried out, and that the vj -k of forming the roadway connecting jirassey Street with Krull Street, as previously agreed to, he put in hand and paid for out of-the St. John’s Hill portion of the 429,000 loan. Re Spier Street: That the Council approve of the plan of subdivision of land in Spier Street, and that a resolution be passed exempting this street fromutho provisions of section 117 of the Public AA’orks Act, 1908. Sun blind: That Mr Ivaganski be informed, in reply to his application for permission to erect a sun blind in front of his premises that lie must comply with the borough by-laws.— Adopted. OPERA HOUSE. —Following was the report of the Opera House Committee, dated 27th March;—Rc roofing stage <-n trance; Wc recommend that the Engnuer • prepare specifications for same, and that ' tenders be invited for the erection of t u o structure.—Adopted.

RESERVES.—Following was the report of the Reserves Committee, dated 16th March:—Re M. 11. Hamilton’s lease: Wn recommend that Mr Hamilton be informed that if he is agreeable to let his lease lapse, the Council is willing to allow him to do so. Re groundsman for Cook's Gardens; That Mr Condor be appointed permanently as from the date of taking up his duties temporarily, on the same conditions previously adopted. Re training on Cook’s Gardens: That the police be requested to take action against any person scantily clad training on Cook’s Gardens, and that the present offenders’ permit to train bo cancelled. Re allocation of grounds for winter games: That the Hockey Association be allowed the use of Cook’s Gardens for Thursday and -Saturday matches, the. Council reserving the right to let the ground if required on 10 days during the winter season, the fee to be .€25 for the season as agreed, but should a charge bo made for admission to the stauds/the Council to receive 20 per cent, on the takings thereat in addition. That the Rugby Union be granted the use of Cook’s Gardens on two of the 10 days above referred to, in consideration of the payment of Tl3 as offered, subject to the addition of 20 per cent, on stand takings. That the remaining eight days be let if required at the usual terms, viz., 20 per cent, on takings at stands and gates; with a miiiiimuin of £o. Tint the Association footballers bo granted the use of Victoria and Laird’s Park to practice on, during the pleasure of the Council, and that the Northern League be granted the use of the reserve in front of the Drill Hall o:* similar conditions.—Adopted. General Business. BILLIARD LICENSES,—Mr G. Greener applied for a renewal of his billiard-room license.—Mr C. H. Hunt applied for a transfer to himself of Mr D. Urquhart jun.’s license.—Both granted, the Mayor and Town Clerk being authorised to grant renewals of other licenses as applications are made. RATES. —The Public Trustee applied for a refund of £1 6 S Bd, rates on the top floor of the Rutland Hotel, which had never been let—Referred to the Fiuiuce Committee VIRGINIA PARK.—The secretary r,f the St. John’s branch of the Beautifying Society applied to have the new ornamental gates placed in position.—Resolved to erect the gates. SALARY.—Mr S. Tucker, borough gardener, applied for a rise in salary.—Resolved to consider the matter when framing the estimates. SUPERANNUATION.—A circular was received from the Wellington City Council, asking for certain information relating to the local bodies’ superannuation scheme. —Referred to the Finance Committee. ABBATOIRS.—Messrs G. Sherman and Sons forwarded a complaint re want of attention at the public abbatoirs, the firm having been put to great inconvenience owing to ,certain information re nonkilling of stock not having been Sent when it should have been, —Resolved to ask the Freezing Company for an explanation. ZOO.—Mr J. J. Boyd wrote that, as he was building a Zoo at Auckland, he could not carry on the Aramoho Zoo. He offered it to tho Council for ,£IO,OOO, flaying that if the offer were not accepted ho would remove it to Auckland. —Resolved to reply that the Council has no intention of purchasing tho Zoo. t

NEW BRIDGE.—’The Harbour Board forwarded'formal consent to the • rtortion of the proposed new bridge.— Received. TOWAT, BREDOE.— Mr \VL S.-Shoi-t wrote notifying tliat the Bridge Coinihission would sit :it the Council Chambers on Tuesday, May 2nd, at 1JJ.30 a.m.— Received.

BANDS.—The City Baud wrote stating that Mr Boyd had not yet approached them r% playing at the Zoo. The band objected to playing there, as it would be playing for Mr' Boyd's personal gain, and establishing a precedent in that direction. The band suggested municipal concerts at Aramoho or CasUeelifV, where the public would have to pay nothing but their train fares. The band forwarded a list of 22 concerts, 19 of them free-, played during the year. The letter was referred to the Opera House Committee.—The Garrison Band forwarded a list of free concerts given by it during the year. 'Phis letter was also referred to the Opera House Committee.—A denutation from the Garrison and City Bands waited on the Council with reference to playing at the Zoo, They stated their objection to doing so. for much the same reasons as staled in the City Band’s letter. The request was referred to the Opera House Committee. SOUVENIR, —The Chronicle Company wrote that it would he turning out a pictorial souvenir at Coronation time, which would contain a groat deal of information about Wanganui, and be a valuable advertisement. A circulation of 5000 was guaranteed. and the company ashed the Council to take an additional 2000 at a cost of t'loo. so that they could be placed on board ships and distributed in London.— Referred lo the Finance Committee. COMPENSATION.—The Drivers’ Union lormally notified intention of one of its members, a borough employee, to apply for c'linneosutiou for 111'- loss of a finger. LABOURERS’ AWARD,—The General Labourers' Union forwarded copies of the, agreement betwceen the Council and the Union, which is to have the force of an award for three yoais. The Union thanked th? Council for the consideration and courtesy shown during the negotiations.—The Mayor and Town Clerk were authorised to complete the agreement. SPIER STREET.—A formal resolution was passed, exempting Spier Street, Aranioho, from the River Bank Road to Barrack Street, from the provisions of section 117 of the Public Works Act, 1908. — 1t was also resolved to ask the Railway Department to put down a level crossing in this street. COAL CONVEYOR,—The Mayor and Town Clerk were authorised to seal the agreement with the Railway Department relating to the joint'use by the Department and the Council of tli.-* coal conveyor at the new coal wharf. ELECTORS’ LIST.—The Mayor and Crs Spriggens and Robinson were authorised to sign ths supplementary district electors’ list. TRAMWAYS. The tender of the A.M.P. Society was accepted for the new tramway loan of 435,000.—The Miller Hardwood Company’s tender (5s Gd each) was accepted for sleepers.