BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4468, 18 September 1922, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

THE SEPTEMBER MEETING. At a meeting of the above council held on Thursday last. His Worship the Mayor, Mr P. E. Brenan presided over a full attendance of members with the exception of Crs. Leach and Lamb, from whom apologies were accepted. HEALTH INSPECTOR. The Medica.l Officer pf Healthy Wellington, wrote to the Council asking that body to increase its contributions towards the salary of the health inspector by a further £35. After some discussion the Council came to the conclusion that in view of the extra .work entailed by the sewerage scheme the request was a very reasonable one. To appoint an inspector for the borough would cost the ratepayers at least £3OO per annum, and it was decided to contribute a furthei £35, which makes the total £7O, being the council’s share of the health inspector’s salary, THAMES HARBOUR BILL. With regard to the above Bill Mr Poland, M.P., was asked to strenuously oppose same in the Borough Council’s interests. SIR A. PEARSON MEMORIAL FUND. A circular was received from Mr Clut’ha Mackenzie, M.P., appealing for funds in connection with the above fund. The Council agreed that owing to their straitened finances they were unable to make a donation to this fund. AUCTIONEER'S LICENSE. An application for the transfer of an auctioneer’s license- from W. H. Parker, Waihi, to H. A. Marks, Paeroa, was granted in conformity with the Act. PETITION RE FOOTPATHS. A petition from the residents of Princes and Queen streets with reference to the broken state of the footpaths in that locality was received, and the Council resolved that a reply be sent pointing out. the damage done was incidental ,to the drainage operations, and that the Council was unable to take any steps to repair the paths until the present drainage contract is quite completed, when the matter will receive attention. APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEES. Cr. Silcock was appointed to the Health, Domain, and Band committees in lieu of Cr. McDonald (resigned). Cr. Edwards was appointed chairman of the Health Committee vice Cr. McDonald (resigned). FIRE PLUGS. Cr. Bain reported that the boards affixed did not dearly show the position of the fire plugs in the borough. —Resolved that the matter of erecting efficient notices at each fire plug in the borough be referred to the works foreman for his immediate attention. The work to be carried out under His Worship the Mayor’s direction. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES. Considerable discussion took place as to the necessity of erecting a public urinal, and a committee comprising the Mayor, Crs. Edwards and Marshall was set up to bring down a report as to the ways and means. RAILWAY BRIDGE. Cr. Silcock drew the Council’s attention to the fact that no cattle-stops had been provided by the Railway Department on tlhg approaches to the railway bridge.—His Worship the Mayor said he would undertake to interview the Inspector of Permanent Ways iji regard to the matter. WORKS! COMMITTEE’S REPORT. During the month the staff completed most Pf the work suggested to be done, which was contained in the toi.emau’s August report. Metal Supplies.—The Kawngahake quarry is now working again, and supplies have started to come to hand. Whitmore’s Drain.—The cleaning of that portion of the drain from Puke Road to the river, which was let by contract has now been completed. No reply has been received from Charlesworth concerning the cleaning of the upper portion, of the drain from Puke Road to Coronation and Hill streets.

FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. During the montihi the receipts have totalled £1025 19s 2d and expenditure £143 15s Id. Including the attached accounts, which your committee recommends- for. payment, the district fund account will show a credit balance pf £1094 Is. During the montn £3OOO out of tlie £5OOO for sewerage purposes has been received from the State Advances Office. This has-en-abled your committee to refund to the district fund account from, the loan account the sum of £378 2s 7d, which had been advanced to meet Joan expenditure pending the arrival of loan moneys. ' The subsidy on the general rate collected to June 30, 1922, amounting to £lB7 10s, has also come to hand during the month. Re the ranger’s application for an increase in wages. After careful consideration and examination of the attached statement your committee is of the opinion that the ranging of the borough does not warrant an increase. Your committee, however, considers that the wages paid to Mr Pennell as sanitary inspector are rather low, and recommends that the inspector’s wages be increased to 15s per week instead of 10s per week, as heretofore. There is now considerably more work in connection with this position than formerly. Railway Water Charges—After considering the charges fixed by other boroughs in the district your committee is Of the opinion that the present charge of 9d per 1000 gallons is fair and reasonable, and at present does not recommend any alteration. FOREMAN’S REPORT. During the past month the staff have been engaged in the usual maintenance work, together with the cleaning of drains and water-tables. f have had the stone wall in Rye Lane built, and the footpath in Kennedy Street has been formed. Screenings will be spread on this path, as soon as they come to hand. The patn in Miller Avenue has been chipped, and the path in Tower’s Street has received similar attention. The path from Hall Street tp King Street has

also been chipped. I have had a few loads pf sp.awls carted' to Arthur Street to fill in the holes, which are bad in some places. Bush Street has been reformed, and I hope to be able to spread screenings thereon very shortly. The William Street footpath to Corbett Street is nearly completed. I have had metal spread on the worst places on the Waihi Road, and am ntiw isimilarly treating Station Road. During the month I made'a new gate for the Domain entrance in Hall Street, and tightened the fence wires to King Street. Owing to the jveather I did pot complete all the work mentioned ih my last report. The uncompleted portion will be done during the ensuing month together with the repairing of the Arney Street path. The water supply is in fairly good order. Two new connections have been made during the month. DOMAIN BOARD. At. a meeting of the Domain Board held on the 14th inst. the chairman, Mr. F. E. Flatt, reported that the bowling green would be ready for play by Saturday, 23rd inst. An application was received from, the Bowling Club requesting the Domain Board, to erect a tool-shed for the green superintendent to store tools, instead of using one room in the bowling club's pavilion for that purpose as i-s done at present. The matter was considered, with the result that the board will authorise the expenditure of not more than £lO towards erecting a 9ft x 7ft tool-shed of corrugated iron without a floor adjacent to the domain urinal,, the board undertaking to prbvide the material if the bowling club will erect the shed. Tennis Courts. ■With reference to the sunken places in the asphalt tennis courts the committee was empowered to effect the necessary repairs. , Primrose Hill. In connection with the lease of Primrose Hill for. grazing purposes the Board agreed, after considerable discussion, on the motion of Cr. Marshall, seconded by Cr. Edwards, that provided Mr J. Walls is prepared to sign a lease, such lease to stipulate that the rent be paid quarterly in advance, the lease to be executed by the Board, and if the lease be not completed, that fresh arrangements be made. Mr Flatt moved as an amendment, ■seconded by Mr Brenan, that the meeting disapprove of arrangements being made, and that .tenders be invited for the leasing of Primrose Hill with the same conditions as previously with the deletion of the portion requiring the lessee tp keep down noxious weeds, gorse, etc., and that in lieu thereof a clause be added that the Domain Board wpuld keep down noxious weeds, etc., and that, the lessee provide a water trough and ball cock if he considers it necessary, ■the Board to supply water and connections with the trough free. The rent to be paid quarterly in advance. The amendment was lost. On Mr Marshall’s proposal being put, it was carried, Mr Flatt recording his vote against the proposal.