BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4331, 17 October 1921, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council was held on Thursday, there being present: His Worship .'the Mayor (Mr P. E. Brenan), Crs; E. Edwards (deputyl-rnaypr),. W. Bain, (RevfF, McDonald, G. Lamb, A. White,, W. Marshall, F. E. Flatt, T. P. Vuglar, and the clerk, Mr P. 0. Furtey. SIGN POSTS. The Paeroa Chamber of Commerce wrote asking the council to put signposts at the corner of Normanby and Arney roads, to point the way to Thames and Waihi. The present sign-posts were in the right place, as they tended to bring the traffic down th,e main street. Cr. T. P. Vuglar supported the chamber’s request, stating that signposts at the Methodist, Church corner pointing the way to Te Aroha and Waihi would be useful to strangers. Cr. Edwards supported .the Mayor’s view. The Tatter moved that no action be taken. Cr. Vuglar moved an amendment .that the' sign-posts as requested by the Chamber be erected, Cr. White seconded. Cr. Marshall pointed out that it was equally desirable that any hew signposts should be erected to point the way to the Hauraki Plains. Cr. McDonald supported the request for new signs, especially to Hauraki Plains. Tlie amendment was defeated and .the resolution carried. “BOOSTING PAEROA." A request by the Chamber of Commerce that, the Council should cooperate with it in a campaign to "boost" Paeroa was 'endorsed. WATER POWER. Mr Jno. Hubbard asked permission for installing a Pelton wheel for power, with water from the Borough supply.

Cr. Marshall moved that the application be granted, subject to a. meter being put in,, the charge to be the same as that for a dairy company or other large consumer.

The Mayor pointed out that the charge would be £2O per annum until a meter was put in. Cr. Vuglar: I pay only £5 per annum to the Ohinemuri County Council for water for power.

The Clerk: A butcher’s sfiop pays £3 per annum. - Cr. Flatt: I think £2O is excessive : it would turn away other aspirants. A local firm pays £l5 per annum for a 3 h.p. motor, and this may be reduced to £l2, and yet you are asking for £2O for water. Cr. Marshall: But the water is primarily for domestic supply, and as we have only a 2in main we will have to be careful.

Cr, Flatt moved an amendment that the .water be supplied at £l2 per annum. He desired to encourage local industry. ’

The Mayor explained that if the meter reading later disclosed a lower supply than twenty pounds’ worth, there would be a rebate. The amendment was lost, and the motion then carried, AUCTIONEER’S LICENSE. An application for an auctioneer’s license by Mr Parker, of Messrs Parker and Marks, was granted. DOMAIN DRAIN. The Mayor said the drain at the northern end of the Domain was covered with a hawthorn hedge. He moved that the property owners should be instructed to cu;i the hedge, after which the Council would clean the drain, —Agreed to. Cr. Marshall said that there had been two or three times higher expenditure on drains this year than last. He moved t.hat the committee prepare an estimate of the. cost of cleaning all the drains. The health of .the public must be safeguarded. The Mayor thought it might be necessary to strike a small rate for -the work.—Report to be secured. Contractor H. Spinks wrote asking for final payment ofl the balance due for the construction of the septic tank, £llB6 3s. . Cr. Marshall moved that the Tetter be referred to the engineer, and that he be requested to deal with the matter in his discretion, safeguarding the interests of the Council, at the same time being fair to the contractor. Cr. Edwards seconded;, stating that the Council could not take upon its.elf the responsibility of making final payment. Cr. Flatt said he would like it to be included in 'the letter to the engineer that the contractor be not put to any unnecessary inconvenience. Cr. Edwards t If the engineer gives the final certificate the Council 1 can pay.

'A letter from the engineers (Messrs Gannon and Worley) recommended that £llOO should be paid, as there was only a Tittle plastering to be done on the tank.

The Mayor said the man had made a good job, but he had taken it too cheaply. But the Council had the right to retain 25 per cent, until the work .was completed. The contractor might be in an unfortunate position, but- it was wrong to say that he was "entitled” to final payment. Cr. Marshall’s resolution was carried. OBSTRUCTING CLIPPINGS. On the motion of Cr. Edwards it was decided 'to take steps to enforce the removal of debris and clippings on certain paths, one being at the racecourse. LIGHT ALL NIGHT. Gr. Flatt moved in the direction of having the electric light on all night, the Power Board to arrange for the turning of it off. PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION. The Mprrinsville Chamber of! Commerce asked for .the Council’s cooperation in the matter of .the proposed visit by a Parliamentary delegation to the Hauraki Plains.

Cr. E. Edwards said it was obvious that the Morrinsyille Chamber of Commerce was out for the trade of

the Plains, but Paeroa being the natural centre, it .was bound to gain by such a visit, whether the delegation came via Morrinsville or Thames.

Cr,. F. E. Flatt: We must see that they do come to Paeroa. — Decided to co-operate.