BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4506, 20 December 1922, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above council was field in the Borough Council. Chambers last evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mt P. E. Brenan), and Crs. Edwards, Bain, Silcock, Lamb, Marshall. Flatt, Vugilar, and the tpwn clerk, Mr P. C. Furley. An apology for absence was tendered on behalf of Cr. Leach 1 . - LEASE OF BOROUGH OFFICE. Messi’s E. N. Miller and Son, solicitors, Thames, wrote suggesting that if the Council was not prepared to pay the rates and wished the offices connected up with the sewerage scheme they would be reluctantly compelled to raise the rent, of the offices to 22s 6d a week. It was decided to inform Messrs Miller and Soil that the Council considered the present rental of £1 a week a very fair rental, and that it could hot. see its way clear to approve of .an increase, as suggested. NEW POST OFFICE. A letter was received from the Prime Minister acknowledging t’ne Council’s letter of appreciation for placing £5OOO on the Estimates fo'r tlie purpose of building a new post office, and in view of the urgent necessity (for improved postal, accommodation he. promised to confer with the Post-master-General with, 'reference to same and would advice the Council as soon as possible. The letter was received, and it was decided that a request be forwarded to the Postmaster General asking him to use his best endeavours to expedite the spending of the £soo'o on the proposed new post office building in Paeroa. EXCHANGE OF ROADS.

Mr Pprritt made application on behalf of G. Buchanan* asking the Council for a road to be opened from Onflow Street through the municipal reserve number 4. The applicatipn was referred to a special committee, consisting of the Mayor, and Crs. Edwards and Marshall, with power to act, and further particulars to be obtained.

HEALTH INSPECTOR’S! SALARY, The Department of Health wrote agreeing to the Council paying £34 per .anniim to Mareji. 31, 1923, being contribution towards the salary of the health inspector. With regard to life payment of £35 per annum from July 1, 1922, it was pointed out that this was a special arrangement with regard to. the work in connectiojn with the sewerage scheme. —Received. The Piako county clerk, Te Aroha, wrote asking the Council to advise the amount paid by the Borough Council towards the health inspector’s salary, and also the number of visits made to Paeroa, for disinfecting purposes Ifcr each quarter du'ring the past 12 months. The town clerk was instructed to supply the information asked for. WATER CONNECTIONS.

An application was received from A. Bridge to have water laid on to the property occupied, by him in Coronation Street. —Granted, subject to compliance with the water by-laws. An application from T. Alcock for water to be laid on to his house in Andrews Street was also granted, subject to compliance witih; the by-laws. A letter from, A. Duff, of Thames Road complained that the water main which served his house was too small to cnablp them to get water continuously.—Referred to the woi’ks committee, with power to act., F. M. STRANGE TESTIMONIAL. ■ The Ohinemuri County clerk wrote advising that subscription lists for the above would-close on the 30th. inst., and asked that lists subscriptions be returned as-soon .as sibleSEPTIC TANK OUTLET. Cr. Silcock reported that a sandbank was forming in the river at the outlet of the septic tank, and he suggested that the Council should' use their best, endeavours with the Public Works Department, and that the Minister for tliat Department be written to, requesting that a dredge be secured to clear the river, especially at this outlet, as the drainage system was in danger of being blocked. On the motion of the Mayor it was decided that the Works Committee visit the septic tank and adjacent sites immediately after the New Year. RESIGNATION. The resignation o,f Mr P. C. Furley as town clerk was received, he having been appointed town clerk to the Birkenhead Borough Council. Mr Furley stated that he wished to take up his duties on January 20, .1923. . In moving the acceptance of the resignation His Worsliip the Mayor

said he did so witjhi muclt regret. He referred to Mr Furley as being a ve-'y efficient town clerk, energetic and satisfactory in every way, not only in the discharge of his municipal duties, but in the manner in which he had always ccme 'readily forward and lent assistance to any movement for the benefit ol the public. His Worship said that outsiders bad commentel very favourably oh the administration generally of the Council, and the courteous consideration shown them by the town clerk, and whilst very much regretting Mr Furley’s departure he wished him every success and prosperity in his new sphere at Birkenhead. Cr. Marshall said that as chairman of the Finance Committee he would like to fully endorse the remarks of His Worship, and added that he had been closely associated with Mr Furley and had always found his work efficiently done and thoroughly up-to-date, and he felt sure that when the Council had appointed Mr Furley to the position of town clerk their selection had been a wise one, and credit had been brought to the Council in consequence. Cr. Marshall said that he, too, regretted Mr Furley’s departure, and joined with the Mayor in wishing him all success and prosperity. It was decided to immediately call applications for the position of town clerk, such applications to close on January 9, 19'23, at 4.30 p.m., and that t'he conditions of appointment and salary be the same as were 'ruling at present. ~