BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 93, 12 February 1947, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

FEBRUARY MEETING OF f COUNCIL NEW PUMPING UNIT His Worship the Mayor (Mr B. S. Barry) presided at the February meeting of the Whakatane Borough Council held last Monday evening. Present Crs S. S. Shapley, A. J. Canning, H. G. Warren, C. Good, L. R. Spring, W. Sullivan, R. Morpeth. The Town Clerk (Mr L. Lovelock), Electrical Engineer (Mr F. W. Lysaght) and Borough Foreman (Mr W. S. Henderson) were also in attendance. In the course of his report, the Electrical Engineer stated that the pumping plant was in a'bad.state. The No. 1 pump (original) was now 25 years old and was practically -done. He urgently suggested that .prices be obtained for a new pump —a duplicate of the last one obtained so that all spares might be interchangeable. The Mayor asked if such a unit could be included in the major -scheme the council had in view at the present time. The Engineer agreed, pointing out that even if ordered-at once, it was •doubtful whether the pump would -arrive inside of 12 months. It was absolutely essential to build up plant which would meet the swiftly growing demand from new houses and businesses throughout the Borough. The • Council decided to authorise quotations at once. F New Post Office Replying to a recent communication, the Minister of Works advised that the new Whakatane Post Office was definitely included in the schedule of urgent works for consideration in forming the 1947-48 •construction budget.

Enlarging on the subject, the Mayor stated that a visit to the town had been made by Mr R. Butcher :from the office of the Commissioner of Works. With Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., they had inspected the building. It was agreed that the new building should be given the highest priority. In order to relieve the present position Mr Butcher had agreed to send up a prefabricated hut to be erected in the Post Office yard for the purpose of paying out pensions. This would relieve the .congestion in the office on payment ■days, Even should an early start be made on the new building, said His Worship, he doubted whether it would be completed within three years. War Memorials A letter from the Department of Internal Affairs again set out the ; details of War Memorials for which 'Government subsidies were sought. The information precipitated a dis- - -cussion as to what the townspeople would favour. In this regard, Cr Warren pointing out that all the • country centres were bent on having their own War Memorials, thus leaving the town population to subscribe to its own.

The Mayor intimated that he would be prepared to call a further meeting in the near future and place any new information before it. Street Collection Days The Secretary of the High School Y.F.C. (B. Mundy) sought permission to hold a copper trail in the Borough on March 21. The object was to arise funds for a memorial to the 2500 club members who made the supreme sacrifice during the war and which would take the form of two hostel wings at the Lincoln and Massey Colleges for short term students. Granted. Two other applications 'Merchant Navy.Day' (July. 25) and 'United Orphanges Appeal' (October 24) were also granted. * Unsatisfactory Water Sample • The Health Department drew attention to the unsatisfactory nature ■of a water sample taken from the Borough mains. The Council was urged to ensure that the Ghlorating plant was in proper working order. The Electrical Engineer stated that on the day in question the chlorinating plant was not operating owing to a burnt out switch.