BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4563, 14 May 1923, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MEETING OF NEW COUNCIL. The first meeting of the new Borough Council was held in the Borough Chambers, on Thursday. His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) presided over the following councillors: T. P. Vuglar, H. M. Shand, G. P. Lamb, F. E. Flatt, P. E. Brenan, W. Bain, J. W. Silcock, E. Edwards, and the Town Clerk, Mr W, C. Alexander. , SEWERAGE LOAN. The Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, advised that he had conferred with the State Advances Office, and had to report that owing to the demands at present being made on that department it regretted its inability to grant a loan exceeding £5OOO to any local body in any one financial year. During the last two. years £22,000 had been paid to the Council by the State Advances Office. —Received. OFFER OF FINANCE Jas. Payne, Ltd., wrote advising that they were prepared to lend the Council £4500 at 6 per cent. This letter was in reply to one sent, from the council to the firm’ asking if they ; were prepared to lend money, and at. what rate of interest. The letter was received. CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES*. The secretary of the Municipal Association of New Zealand anvised that’ all local bodies affiliated to the Municipal Association were asked to send their remits for the conference of • delegates, to be held in July, as soon as possible,! so that they should appear on the main order-paper.—Laid on the table for one month. ? ' EXTERMINATION OF RATS. The Department of Health, Auckland, wrote advising that, in view of the serious outbreak of. plague in India it was necessary that all measures should be taken for. the extermination of rats. —Referred to the. Health Committee. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The Inspector of Stock (Mr J. P. Findlay) wrote in answer to the - Council’s complaint concerning the ions weeds in the borough. Mr'Findlay pointed out that he had a very large -area to cover as an inspector, and he could not afford the time' necessary to keep a complete check on the owners ajid occupiers of land on which noxious weeds were increasing. He stated that he was doing all he" could under the circumstances, and suggested that the Council should assist by appointing its own inspector. Cr. Brenan said he was opposed ;o the appointment, of a noxious, weed Inspector, as the Government Inspectors were expected to carry out the terms of the Noxious Weeds Act. They also., carried more weight when it came to enforcing the law. USE OF. BOROUGH CHAMBERS. The secretary of the Paeroa District High school Committee sought - the permission of the Council for the free use of the Council Chambers for the purpose of holding committee meetings on the second Saturday in every month. —Granted. HOLIDAY LEAVE. The domain superintendent applied . for ten days’ annual leave as from June I.—Referred to the chairman of the Domain Committee. CORBETT STREET SECTION. W. H. Lipsham applied to rent a section in Corbett Street lately held by T. H. Palensky. The rental was „ sixpence a week.—Granted. REQUEST FOR DRAINAGE.' W. J. Charlesworth, 'Coronation Road; asked the Council to deepen the drain about three feet, and .widen ; the outlet drain from Puke Road at , Mrs Whitmore’s house to the river, and to lower the pipes across the road. It was stated that the over - flow of the surface water, a,s well as sewerage, passed over this section. The writer said 'he was prepared to provide the requisite- drainage through his own property to cope with the overflow if the Council would attend to-the main drainage. Mr Charlesworth, who attended the meeting; said that he had asked the Council 12 months ago to attend to this matter. He said that he had lost over four tons of hay during the last rainfall. He contended that the level of the drains was not low enough. He asked for speedy relief from the menace. If the Council were prepared to improve matters he would do what he could to assist in deepening the drains. " Cr. Silcock said he knew the locality, and there was no doubt that the drainage was totally insufficient. Mr Charlesworth was correct in saying . his property was receiving the drainage from other propenties, and he thought that assistacne should oe given. Cr. Brenan said that the drain was. under dual control, and he Considered that the Ohinemuri County Council should be asked to contribute at least one-third of the cost. Mr Charlesworth was certainly entitled to some satisfactory relief. After due consideration it was decided to confer with the county officials and see what, arrangements ■ could be made, the matter being referred to the Works Committee. RAILWAY FOOTPATH. A petition, signed by 21 residents of Hill Street, asked for a new footpath to the town or, as an alternative, that' the present footpath along the railway, line should be satisfactorily repaired. The petition was presented by Mr H; E. Butjer. His Worship said that an estimate had been prepared for bringing the footpath up to a permanent, level and to cover the path with screenings. The estimated cost was £l2O. - Cr. Flatt said that as the lease of the ground on which the footpath now lay expired in June, the matter would then have f.o be considered, and he was in favour of the work being carried out straight away. Mr Butler said he thought that possibly some of the private property owners might assist to a small extent by contributing a. few pounds. Cr. Flatt said that he did not feel disposed to ask all the- residents to contribute to the cost. They were entitled to a footpath as ratepayers. /

Cr Vuglar said that he considered it would be only providing ? short cut for many of the residents. There were already reasonably good footpaths in that locality. Cr. Bain said he thought that the request was a reasonable one, and the expenditure incurred would he fully justified. ,Gr. Shand thought the matter should be carefully considered before anything was done. (Jr. Brenan said he was anxious to see. the work done, but it came under the heading of, new works, and-the carrying out of new works at the present time was against the policy of the After further discussion it was decided to authorise the construction cf the. footpath, provided the residents in that locality were prepared to find £2O; RAROA ROAD. Mr E. W. Porritt asked the Council to metal Raroa .Road, the length of • which was 14% chains.- It was pointed out by Mr Porritt that there was a sum of ,80 to credit in the borough funds out of which the work teould be done? The writer stated that he had already metalled six chains, and blinded it with gravel from the Extraction Work but the night-soil cart had put the metal out of sight. The* road was now impassable in wet - weather. The Council was asked to expedite the- work on the i pad, as it was required for access. Cr. Brenan said he felt that Mr Porritt wp3 entitled-to some consideration as early, as possible. The Council was holding which amount represented the difference of compensation paid in the exchange of roads. The matter was referred to the Works Committee for a report. INSURANCE RATES. The council of the Fire Underwriters’ Association asked if the fire fighting, appliances had been improved and brought up to date. The informawas necessary to the association in view of the fact that the general .> scheme of classification of towns would shortly be given effect to.—Re-‘ ferred to chairman of the Fire Committee.. MUNICIPAL HANDBOOK. The Government Statistician, wrote asking to be supplied with up4oidate information concerning the borough affairs for inclusion in the Municipal - Handbook for 1924.—Referred to the Town; Clerk. BUILDING PERMITSR? I. Roberts applied for permission to inclose a 6ft space for a porch at. the rear of W. H. Blakeway’s residence, Wood street—Granted. E. Edwards applied for a permit to - build a butcher's shop in Miller Avenue at, an estimated cost of £9O. Referred to the Building Committee. The Health Inspector is also to be asked to report on the question of satisfactory- drainage. ■ SEPTIC TANK. ’ W. J/ Simpson applied for permission to instal a septic, tank and connections ait, the residence of Mrs. McCaskill, Primrose Hill. The applica- ' tion was endorsed by the Health Inspector.—Granted. BANK ACCOUNTS. The Finance Committee, together with the Mayor and Town Clerk, was atuhdrised to operation the bank ac- - counts of the Council. - . ARREARS OF RATES. The; Mayor said that there was a sum of nearly £I4OO outstanding for rates. It'was decided that the Town Cler.< should be instructed to give a further 14 days’ notice, and in cases of no response summonses to recover the rates ishoudl be. served without exception. The finance committee was authorised to suspend action in circumstances, where it was considered advisable. . WATER RATES. ■ It was decided that the Town Clerk should be instructed to publicly notify all consumers that all water charges must, ;be paid. within seven days >r the water would be cut off. STRAYING STOCK, / Cr. Silcock-drew the Council’s attention to the number of. straying ' .stock that were allowed tp wander, especially at night. He suggested - that the Town Clerk should- be instructed to interview the poundkeeper and ask him to take the necessary steps to allay the evil. The number of complaints about wandering stock in the borough was becoming more numerous, and it was time something was done. SPECIAL MEETING. . ’A special meeting of the Council is to be called for June 14 to consider the question of by-law x s and to declare noxious weeds. ' 1 TARRING FOOTPATH. . Cr. Bain asked if the Council would tar and sand the footpath from Crosby’s Hotel to Station Road. He contended that it would add materially to the work'already done by the Beautifying Society. The Mayor said that the matter ; would be considered by the Works Committee at a later 7 date. TOUR OF BOROUGH. The Works Committee decided to make a tour of the borough on Thurs- ? day next, with .the idea of ascertaining the work that had to be done and to classify such works. EXPENSES OF DELEGATION. Cr. Silcock asked if the. Council was prepared to contribute anythin.? towards defraying the cost of the delegation which recently toured the district opposing the Thames Harbour Loan. He said that other public bodies had offered financial assistance, and he would like to see the Council do what it could in the matter. ", Cr. Brenan thought, that the Finance-Committee should be authorised to pay a sum pro rata to other local bodies up to an amount not ex- / ceeding £lo.—Carried. NEW FIRE STATION. ■ The tender of Hayward Bros for the erection of a new fire station within ‘ one month was accepted. The price was £374, 10s. SHOWER BATH. Cr Silcock suggested that the .. council should instal.a shower bam

at the’new fire station. If this was done it would prove a decided boon, and fill a long-felt want. He felt sure that footballers and athletes generally would greatly appreciate the Council’s action. It was pointed out that the cost would not be very heavy if the shower was fitted up as the station was being built. Several councillors supported the idea, and after some discussion ;t was decided that one shower bath should be installed for the use of the public. BY-LAWS. The tender of W. D. Nicholas, Ltd., for the printing of the by-laws for the Council was accepted. PUBLIC CONVENIENCE. On the motion of Cr. Silcock it was decided to erect a public urinal at the new fire station in the Domain. COMMITTEES ELECTED. The following committees were elected on the motion of the Mayor : — Finance.—Crs. Brenan (chairman), Flatt, and Edwards. Works.—Crs. Lamb (chairman). Bain, and Vuglar. Building.-r-Crs. Edwards (chairman), Lamb, and Brenan. Fire.—Crs. Flatt (chairman), Brenan, and Bain. Health. —Crs. Lamb (chairman), Silcock, and Shand. Domain.—Crs. Silcock (chairman), Vuglar, and Shand. The Mayor was a>n ex officio member on each committee. The Mayor was elected to represent the borough on the Drainage Reference Board.