BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 666, 9 September 1921, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY TV3EET3NI3U. The ordinary meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council was held on Monday night when there were present: The Mayor (Mr J. Routly), Crs. D. R. Hamilton, Geo. H. Armstrong, A P. Daysh, R. H. McGough, J. Patterson, F. J. Morrow, T. Brownlee,, the clerk (Mr J. F. Deane) and the foreman (Mr S. Clews). An apology for absence was received from Cr. Jas. Kennedy.

Electrical and Waterworks Report.

The Electrical and Waterworks Committee reported as follows:--Flat Rate for Electric Current.--Your committee has gone carefully into this question with the engineer, and be°s to make the following recommendation, viz:—That the present minimum charge for current suppueu through meter be raised to 5s bd tor the months of November to April inlusive,* and 5s 9d from May to October inclusive: and that the flat rate charge be increased to 6s bd per month from November to April, and 6s 6d from May to October inclusive. Temporary Water Supply for Manukau Road. —The estimated cost . ot making this service with Jin pipes is £lB6 6s. To lay the same extension in 4in cast iron main would cost £4bu. The report was adopted. East Street Bridge. In reply to the Council’s application for an additional overhead bridge at Pukekohe, the General Manager ol New Zealand Railways advised (as he did previously) that it was considered the present bridge would meet reouirements for some time to come. In View of this conclusion and ol the circumstances mentioned no good purpose would be served in prepanng plans and estimates for a new bridge at the present time. —Received. NSanukau Road Footpath. The ratepayers resident between Harris and Nelson Streets, on Manukau Road, wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the footpath which was a mud hole along this portion of the road, and requested it to be attended to.—lt was decided to reply stating that all the Council could do at’the present time was to keep the scoria track in order. Drainage Loan. , The State Advances Office advised that an Order-in-Council, prescribing the term for which the drainage portion (£16,000) of the loan of £84,000 may be raised to 3SV years had been gazetted. The office forwarded a form of preliminary application for an amount not exceeding £SOOO, to be duly completed, and same would be placed before the State Advances Board for consideration. The clerk stated the application form had oeen fillede in and returned.—Received. *> Wlain Trunk Express. In reply to the Council s representations to have the Main Trunk Express train stopped at Pukekohe daily, the Acting Minister of Railways (Hon. D. H. Guthrie), stated that the matter was receiving consideration, and he would again communicate with the Council on the matter. —Received. Harrington Avenue Request. The residents of _ Harrington Avenue drew the Councils attention to the condition of the footpaths on both sides of the street, and requested tF*'y be attended to.^ —It was reported’that the matter' had already been dealt with, and that the work would be put in hand.

Pathway Wanted.

Mr B. P. Hopkins made application for the construction of a pathway on to his property in East Street. — Referred to the Works Committee, with ; power to act. Turnstile Required. Mr F. Perkins, on behalf of the Advisory Committee of the Technical High School, waited on the Council relative to some work that was being done to provide .a right-of-way and a turn-stile between the Domain and the school property. He pointed out that his committee did not want a right-ofway along the school boundary, but required a turn-stile at the end of some fencing on the school property to allow’ pedestrians, including children attending the primary scThool, access to Harris Street. They did not want them to use the school grounds, but could use the Domain. —The Works Committee is to investigate. " , . During the discussion Mr Perkins stated that the School Board wanted ah the land they could get, and could not afford to give any land at all to provide an access to Harris Street. His committee were? unanimous on this point. Cr Hamilton said that when. the School Committee was negotiating for a Technical High School here they would have “licked our boots” to get anything at all. Now they turn round and are not prepared to assist the Council by giving a small strip, of land. They must remember that the public financed the purchase of the land for the school, and he questioned whether it was a fitting thing on the part of the committee to quibble over this strip of land. The Mayor pointed out that the Works Committee had given _ instructions to do the work in the interests of all concerned. The decision as slated above was arrived at. Queen Street Footpath. A denutation of four residents of Queen Street urged upon the Council the desirability of attending to the Queen Street footpath between King Street and the foot of the hid. They a !s,, drew the Council's attention to the culvert at the junction of Harris r,nd Queen Streets, which was continually broken, and which, sooner . or later would be the cause of a serious accident. With regard to the footpath, it was recognised by the Council as bein'/ a bad one, and it was pointed

out. that some time ago instructions were given to have it kerbed and. channelled to Cathcart's corner, but owing- to financial stringency the Works Committee recommended that no further kerb?no work be proceeded with until there was an easement in the position. In answer to Cr Armstrong, if there was any chance of having somethingdone to raise the path at a particular point, the Mayor said that there were many works of more importance than* kerbing and channelling, instancing the work on Beresford Street, Edinburgh Street, Belgium Street, and others. However, he gave notice to move at next meeting that the motion re kerbing and channelling be rescinded. He informed the deputation that if this was carried it would mean that* the matter would be attended to as soon as possible.

With regard to the culvert, the matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act.

Dust Nuisance.

In answer to the Mayor if anything had been done to combat the dust nuisance, the foreman (Mr S. Clews) said that he and Mr Wyatt had conferred on the subject and would bringdown a report for consideration at next meeting.

An Electric Lamp,

Cr. Armstrong reported that the Electrical Committee had arranged to have an electric lamp placed in Victoria Street in line with the row .of lamps Worn Helvetia Road to Albert Street, The committee’s action was approved.

The Subway Road.

In answer to Cr. Hamilton as to the progress of the subway road, the Mayor reported that the Council had entered into an agreement with Mr H. Dell, owner of a portion of the land required, to take it over in December. With regard to the other land required negotiations were in progrss.

Swimming Baths.

Cr. Armstrong was informed that the loan for constructing swimming; baths was included in the loan of £84,000.

Franklin Road.

In reply to the Council’s letter relative to * the Cape Hill Road connection, the Assistant Under Secretary of the Public Works Department intimated that although the road, if formed, would be a great convenience, it was not considered, owing to the financial conditions, the work could be classed as urgent. He advised the Council to apply for authority to do the work in January next. —Received.