PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 617, 18 March 1921, Page 5

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

B| ORDINARY MEETING. ■ The ordinary meeting of the FukeBkohe Borough- Council was held on Wednesday evening, when there were piesent:—The Mayor (Mr C. K. Lawrie), and Crs. G. H. Armstrong, R. Bilkey, J. H. Keith, D. R. Hamilton, JL'P. Daysh, R. H. McGough, J. Patterson P. J. Morrow, the clerk (Mr F. Deane), the engineer (Mr D. Wt-McArthur), electrical engineer (Mr V.f yatt) and the foreman (Mr 3. Clews). Use of Domain. The Pukekohe Football Club was granted the use of the Domain for football purposes at the same fee as last season, viz.. £2..10s per ground. Overhead Bridge. With reference to the representations made by the Mayor to the Minister of Railways regarding proposed alterations to the railway overhead bridge at East Street, the General Manager, New Zealand Railways (Mr R. W. McVilly) intimated that the work could proceed until a telegraph pole in the vicinity had been removed. He understood that the shifting of the pole was contingent upon the removal of electric power wires belonging to the Council. —The electrical engineer pointed out that the pole was in the way for widening the present bridge. A higher T>°le was required but it could not be obtained.—Cr. Hamilton suggested waiting to the Minister of Railways pointing out that a new bridge was required. The letter under consideration misrepresented the position. He ■moved accordingly and the motion was carried. A copy of the letter from the General Manager is to be forwarded, to the lion, the Minister of Railways. Proposed Sub-division. The solicitors of the estate of the late Mr. J. J. Graham advised in connection with the proposed sub-divi-sion of property, that the trustees would agree to linking up with Hall Street provided the Council did not ask the trustees to contribute towards the cost of the formation of the new road which would be parallel to Harris Street, and that Council make the necessary arrangements with* the owner or owners of the small pieces of land actually fronting Hall and extending from the upperend of the Graham property, regarding the dedication of such part or parts of that land as is or are required for the continuation cf the new’ road" up to Hall Street.—On the. motion of Crs. Keith and Bilkey, it w'as decided not to accept dedication of the road until it was properly constructed. hut the Council would assist to facilitate arrangements as far as adjoining property owners were concerned. The Finance Committee w r as instructed to wait on the property owners regarding arrangements and to report at next meeting. Municipal improvement Loan. The Deputy Superintendent of the State Adclvances intimated that the Minister of Finance had, in terms of section 33 of the Finance Act, 1920, given his consent to the raising of the balance of the municipal improvement loan of £841,000 at a rate of interest not exceeding 512 per cent. —Received. , Technical School Advisory Conimitttee The manual and technical branch of the Education Department asked the Council to appoint one member on the Advisory Committee to be set up ’in connection with the Pukekohe Technical High School, to help in the management of the affairs of the school until July next.' —Cr. Patterson was appointed to represent the Council. Franklin Road. It was decided to call tenders for the work on Franklin Road, the proposed stock route. The engineer was instructed to prepare specifications. It was pointed out that £3OO of the grant of £SOO was available for the w ork, a Pukekohe Courthouse. The Mayor reported having comn>i>jdoy.ted with the Justice Departand the Prime Minister concerning the ejection of a courthouse in Pukes■ :v (the reply to which had appeared in the Times) and his action vns c.o-nfjimed. The Mayor was commended. on the action he has taken in correction with the mattei. A Promise. The Mayor reported that the dis-tnc-t engineer and district traffic -manager of the New Zealand rail wavs had visited Pukekohe and he voted on tfr-m with a view of securing a supp.i • of scoria for of the formed roads. He stated that the traffic manager had promised to do Ids best to secure 500 or 600 wards ..f scoria for the purpose, and imp it ffyftiild be forwarded as early <•. - possible.

Dangerous Culvert... ,a i • Cr. Bilkey drew the foreman’s attention to the culvert near the Recreation (ground which was in a very dangerous condition.—Foreman to attend to it. A Budget of Questions. In answer to Cr. Patterson, the chairman of the Works Committee /(Cr. A. P. Daysh) stated that the A. and P. Society had been granted the use of the borough engine at the usual fee of £3 3s. Cr. Patterson also asked why it was that scoria had been placed on the road leading to the show ground, and patching done when other roads in the borough used to a greater extent, badly needed attention. Cr. Daysh said that the work had been authorised and was carried out. It was necessary that patching should be done. It would have been a good advertisement for the borough to allow’ between ip,ooo and 12,000 people to use a road full of holes, and a clay road especially if it had have been a wet day. The' road was very dangerous and he considered the work was essential. “Who authorised the letting of the roller to the Racing Club?” was the next question by Cr. Patterson, and how* many days had it been on the racecourse, and how much had been paid for the hire of it? Cr. Daysh said that the roller was needed and if the Racing Club had to w r ait for a Council meeting work would have been retarded. He interviewed the Mayor and Councillors, except Crs. Patterson and Bilkey, and all were quite agreeable that the Racing Club could have the use of the (roller. It had been on the racecourse for 3 }-2 days but so far the club had paid nothing for its use. Only that day he received an account for £lO 10s from the Council. The Works Committee’s action in hiring the roller was confirmed.

“ I would like to know how much the Show Society pays as a license fee to congregate people inside the show grounds,” asked the same questioner. When Chautauqua came here they paid a fee and he maintained that the A, and P. Society should do likewise.

Cr. Hamilton: Do churches pay license fees?

Cr. Patterson: No. They are places of worship. Cr. Hamilton: So is the show 7 ground (/Laughter). Cr. Patterson: Oh, no! Oh, no! Quite different.

It was pointed out that the A. and P. Society was exempt under, the A, and P. Society’s Act. The matter was referred to the Legal Committee to go into and report on at next meeting. Bund Rotunda. On the motion of Cr. Armstrong the cleirk was instructed to write the Ohmemuri County Council to ascertain the cost of the band rotu :da situated at Karangahake. Park Tennis Courts. Cr. Patterson reported that tennisplayers used the Roulst.on Park tennis courts on Sundays. He urged that a notice be erected prohibiting the practice. A Councillor: No, they ought to go fishing. Referred to Works Committee. Domain Drain. In answer to Cr. Armstrong, who urged the Domain drain be piped and filled in. the engineer (Mr D. W. McArthur) reported that the cost of pipes alone was £l4O. It was pointed out that the financial position would not allow of the work'being done at* present. Application Granted. The Franklin Racing Club was granted the use of the engine on race day at the usual fee. The pay sheet, amounting to £1492 Ids 2d, was passed for payment. Of this amount £412 is for interest and £133 Hospital Board levy. The district fund account showed a debit balance of £723 18s 6d.