TURUA TOWN BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4543, 23 March 1923, Page 4

TURUA TOWN BOARD.

GENERAL MEETING. A meeting of the Turua Town Board was held on Wednesday last. Mr C. Ansford, the deputy chairman, presided, and there were present commissioners A. P.. Gardiner, F. Olsen, J. Mules, J. T. Davies, and the clerk (Mr J. E. Green). Mr C. Scott, was granted leave of absence. CORRESPONDENCE. The manager, Tirohia Quarries, Ltd., wrote stating that they had no facilities for loading metal to punts, so they could not supply metal at present.—Received. The Hauraki Plains County Council wrote stating that the .Council had agreed to appoint a ranger, as suggested by the Town Board, and asked for the name of the man recommended. —The clerk reported having supplied the information required. The Auditor-General forwarded an account for £5, being the Board’s share of the expenses in connection with the adjustment with the Hauraki Plains County Council. The Hauraki Plains County Council wrote granting the Board the use of bridge timber from Mill Creek for the purpose of making a footbridge. The manager, Thames Quarries, Ltd., wrote stating that they could not at present supply metal.—Received. The Hauraki Plains County Council wrote approving of tfie roading scheme, subject to additional metal, as recommended by the county engineer. It was decided that the clerk ask the county engineer to meet the committee of the Board and,discuss the scheme. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN. Mr C. Ansford moved tnat Mr J. Mules be appointed chairman,- —Seconded by Mr Davies. Mr Olsen proposed Mr Ansford, who declined owing to ill-health necessitating his absence in the near future. On Mr Ansford’s motion being put to the meeting it wak carried unani-J mously. Mr Mules then took the chair. VACANCY ON BOARD. it was resolved that the clerk take the necessary steps to fill tne vacancy on the Board caused by the resignation of Mr J. A. Bennett, ROAD LOAN. Mr Gardiner moved that the whole of the Board be a committee to deal with the road loan, so as tp do away with the delay caused ,by waiting till the .regular meetings of the Board. — Seconded by Mr Ansford and carried. MILL CREEK FOOT-BRIDGE. Mr Gardiner offered to draw ap plans and specifications for the proposed footbridge over Mill Creek. STREET LIGHTING. Mr Gardiner moved: “That the Thames Valley Power Board be instructed to install ten 200 c.p. street lights where directed within the Turua Town Board district in accordance with their quotations of costs, and that this Board levy a special lighting rate of 1-3 of a penny in the £ on the capital value of the .Turua Town district to defray tbe cast of such installation and charges for current consumed; such special lighting rate to ibe levied as from April 1, 1923.”

;Mr Gardiner said the cost of ten 200 c.p. lights would tye £47 10b- This would be cheaper than getting six 100 c.p. lamps, as by getting ten lights the time switch would not have to be paid for. Mr Olsen moved as an amendment that the scheme be deferred until the roading scheme was done.—-><Mi; Ansford seconded. Mr Gardiner said that the lights would be paid, for by a special loan, and lights were a necessity. \ Mr J. T. IDavies said he supported the motion. '■ Mr AnsfO/i’d said the Board was very much in the dark in regard to the lighting question, and. he would like to see what the rates on the roading scheme were before cwnmitting themselves. Mr Davies said that Ngatea, a place half the size of Turua, had a lighting scheme. Mr Ga rdiner said that 1 as far. as Turufl raLes were'' concerned they were very rauch lower than thpse of other town, boards. M’r Ansford said he was opposed to the striking of another rate, as noth’ ing was known of what the roading s» cheme would cost. Mr Olsen suggested that money would be better spent on footpaths than on lights. Mr Davies said that Mr Bagnall had said he was very pleased to , hear of the Board talking of a lighting scheme. He supported a rate, though it would hit them hard. If the Board could not see its way to go in for the electric lighting scheme perhaps other schemes could be gone into. ” Mr Gardiner pointed out that the lights would be of very great benefit, as there was no protection from drains beside the bridges. He considered ■the bridges of the county -were the most dangerous in the country. Mr Mules and Mr Ansford spoke in opposition to the lighting scheme, as they thought the rates would be .more than the ratepayers could stand. ' As there was no seconder to iMr Gardiner’s motion the amendment was put to the meeting and carried by twd votes to one, Mr Ansford and Mr Olsen voting fol-, the amendment and Mr Gardiner against it. The clerk read a statement pfl rates showing that the sum of £lBl 19s 6d had been collected, and that £35 was still outstanding. RAETES. Much discussion, ensued as to the best method of coDecting rates. The clerk read a portion of the Act providing that the Board could make a rebate on rates ’ collected within 30 days of being struck. ’A subsidy of 25 per cent, could be claimed for all rates paid before June.