BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4576, 18 June 1923, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council was held on Thursday evening last. His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) presided. The following were present: Crs. P. E. Brenan, T. P. Vuglar, H. M. Shand, F. E. Flatt, W. Bain,, J. W. Silcock, E. Edwards,, G. P. Lamb,, and the Town Clerk, Mr W. C. Alexander. LOAN MONEY. The manager of the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand advised that the head office of his bank could not plaice a loan of £5OOO at 5% P el cert., as requested by the Council. The bank suggested that there was a possibility of lending that sum at 5% or 6 per. cent. It was recommended that the Council should apply to one of the Government lending departments. —Received. HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS. The secretary of the Thames Hospital Board advised that the contribution required for, the hospital from the Council was £3Bl Is Bd, which was payable by equal quarterly instalments, the first instalment falling due on June 30„ 1923.—Received. LOCAL OPTION. A letter was received from the Chamber of Commerce embodying a resolution that had been passed at its meeting held on May 22 in which it asked the Government when bringing down new licensing laws, to make provision for granting licenses co those towns situated in a norlicense area which had shown by a t threefifths majority at the last election their desire to have licenses; also to give effect to clause 1 of the recommendation in the report of the Licensing Committee. The chamber asked the Council for its support and assistance in furthering its objects. Cr. Brenan moved: “That this Council agrees to support, the Chamber of Commerce, and that it is favourable to municipal control in the event of restoration being granted.” Seconded by Cr. Vuglar and carried. 1 RAWHITIORA ROAD BLOCK. The question of affording reading facilities to those on the western side of the Rawhitiora block has been under consideration for some t ime by the Council,- and a ruling was obtained from the Judge of the Native Land Court. Cr. Brenan moved: “That this Council is desirous of keeping open the original road, it being a direct continuation of the Thames-Te Aroha road if at any time a bridge should be erected across the river at that point. The Council agreed, therefore, to allow the ruling of the Judge of the Native Land Court to determine the position, as it would have the effect of keeping the road open.” Seconded by His Worship the Mayor and carried. BUTCHER’S SHOP DRAINAGE. The senior inspector of the Department of Health replied to the Council’s inquiry with reference to drainage’of the new butcher’s shop, recently erected by Edwards and Co. (n Miller Avenue. The inspector recommended that a 4ft, E.W. drain should be installed to a concrete pit, then from the pit to the drain at the bottom pf the paddocks with field tiles. The drains were to be trapped and ventilated, and no solids to be allowed to pass through. Provision was to be made to bury all brine water. Mr Edwards also wrote saying that he agreed to carry out the suggestions as made by the Health Inspector. STREET CROSSING. •" W. Sing,, Te Aroha Road, Paeroa, applied for a crossing to his car; shed at his residence. —Granted, subject to the usual conditions. CORBETT STREET. A petition bearing six signatures was received from the residents on the left side of Corbett Street asking that the footpath should be at ance attended to. The Mayor said that this work would be undertaken as soon as possible, Provision had been made to carry put the work by the Works Committee. NIGHT-SOIL CONTRACT. The night-soil contractor requested that the road to the dump be repaired as it was almost, impossible to get a cart into the dump on account of the state of the road. The Mayor said that the contractor was having a bad time, and he was in need of help. Cr. Brenan said he thought that the Council would probably have to spend some money on repairing the rdad to the dump. He thought that the matter should be referred to the Mayor and chairman of the Health Committee for immediate attention. Seconded by Cr. Silcock and carried. WATER CONNECTION. Miss M. J. Dawber applied to have water connected to her property on Normanby Road. The writer also requested the Council to deepen the drain and fill in the frontage of the property. The water connection was granted, bu f the drains question was referred to the works committee. Permission was granted to remove earth from the clay bank near the band rotunda in Belmont Road for the filling in. MOORE STREET. Nurse A. Clymo wrote requesting that Moore Street be repaired opposite her nursing home so that motorcavs could turn at her gate. It was pointed out that it was impossible for them to do so now. The matter was referred to the foreman for an estimate. The work would be done provided Nur.se Clymo paid half the cost. QUARRY ROAD. Mrs M. Silcock, senr., advised that she intended erecting a crushing plant at the quarry,, and asked that the Council should repair the quarry road and bridge to enable the necessary machinery to be carted to the site. She was prepared to supply the metal for the road free if the Council would put the work in hand immediately.—Referred to the Works Committee, with power to act.

RETURN OF DEPOSIT. J. Hubbard asked that as the Council had failed to supply water tp his engineering works for. power purposes, he should be refunded the £2 paid some time ago as a deposit. Cr. Edwards moved that the deposit be returned. Seconded by Cr. Silcock and carried. APPLICATION FOR CROSSING. J. Bertelsen wrote enclosing a cheque for rates due, and asked that a crossing should be constructed across the big drain to his property in Rye Lane. He also asked for repairs to the footpath past his property near the Esplanade.—Referred to the Works Committee. DRAIN CONNECTION. The manager for F. Battson, Paeroa, applied for permission to connect a system of drains to the sewer in George Street, at the residence of Mr E. Martin, and asked that a Buchan trap be put down by the Council.—Granted. “A REGULAR QUAGMIRE.” C. P. Topliss wrote and asked that the Council supply a gravelled entrance to his residence in Hill Street. He said that during the recent unpropitious weather a regular quagmire had been formed. It was decided that the application should be dealt with as a street, crossing. The matter would ithen be carried out if Mr Topliss would bear half the cost. DRESSING SHED. The Paeroa Rugby Union applied to the Council asking that there be a dressing shed erected in the domain. It was pointed out by the union that such a building was urgently needed as the available accommodation was inadequate. The union offered to donate £5 towards the erection of a dressing shed. After discussion the Mayor moved: “That the Council recognises the need for the accommodation asked for, and intended making provision for same, together with a public convenience in connection with the proposed new fire station. Unfortunately, owing to objections to the site of the fire station by a resident the malttec is held up for the present, and the Council regrets that it cannot make separate special provision, but will hold the offer over for later consideration.” In seconding the resolution Cr. Brenan said that the Domain Board was quite prepared to allow the Union the use of the bowling and tennis pavilions in which to change on Saturdays, provided the Union would undertake to protect the property. ~’tCr. Silcock said that the Council’s position had been explained to the Union. That body had accepted the explanation, and was prepared to wait until the Council could move in the matter. TARRING FOOTPATHS. The Beautifying Society wrote asking the Council to tar and sand the footpaths laid off by the Society in the railway station plot and the small path in the Methodist Church ground which constituted a short cut across the corner. It was pointed out that both paths were greatly used by the public, and the Society would oe glad if the Council could see its way to undertake the work and lessen the cost of maintenance of the paths in the present state. . It. was decided i(o assist the society as soon as funds permitted.. VICTORIA SQUARE. The same society also asked the Council for permission to enclose a triangle in Victoria Square for planting purposes extending from the Ohinemuri Club outwards. If permission was granted it would be necessary to move the waterntrpugh from the present site to the apex of the triangle.—Referred to the Works Committee for a repont. ' REMISSION OF RATES. Mrs L. E. McCaskill wrote asking the Council to for,ego its rates as compensation for an outfall drain that passed through a section on Primrose Hill. It was stated that the drain occupied 20ft of the section, thus lessening the chances of selling the land. It was decided to advise the writer that in view of the fact, that the Council was rating on Government valuations, and the drain complained of had been in existence many years prior to the last valuation, the disability of the land had no doubt been taken into account by the valuer. The Council regretted its inability to agree to granting any remission of rates on the said land. MANUAL SCHOOL. A letter was received from the Paeroa District High School Committee asking for the Council’s co-operation in conjunction with other local bodies and committees in the district in urging upon the Minister, of Education the necessity for the immediate provision of proper means of obtaining manual and technical education for the pupils of the Paeroa district school and of those in the surrounding districts by the erection of the necessary buildings in Paeroa. The disabilities, the children suffered in being required to travel long railway journeys to get this education and the strenuous efforts made by the committee to have the evil remedied were brought under the notice of the Council, The letter went on, to state that in the interests of the healtn and safety of the children the committee had refused to allow the children to undergo the fortnightly journey, which, owing to the unsatisfactory railway time-table, would have caused the children to arrive at the station at an unreasonable hour in the evening in all kinds of weather. This meant that at present the children were not getting a portion of their education that was their just, right. The Mayor said it was a great pity that the committee had been forced to take those steps owing to the Education Board not having made proper provision. He moved the following resolution: “The Council wishes to record its sincere regret that a difficulty has arisen between the Education Department and the Paeroa School Committee in reference to manual training, the effect of which

is that the Paeroa ana aisinct caudren are being deprived of manual and technical education. We heartily endorse the committee’s claim to have provision made for this training in our own town, so that the district may have adequate provision as well as the borpugh. We strongly urge the Education Department to provide at once for this need, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Hon. the Minister for Education.” Seconded by Cr. Edwards and carried. USE OF CHAMBERS. An application was received frp lll . the Business Men’s Association asking the Council to allow it the use.'rf the chambers for the purpose of holding monthly meetings. After some discussion it was decided that the Council could no: agree to any arrangement to grant the permanent use of the chambers, as the practice would seriously interfere with its committee work. If application was made for any particular night the Council would favourably consider same. . . footpath sweeping. The local District High School Committee wrote drawing the attention of the Council to the practice of many shopkeepers in the Paeroa main streets in shaking mats and sweeping footpaths during the time that hundreds of children were using the streets on their way to school, thereby creating a danger, and a nuisance contrary to the best interests of public health. The Council was asked to enforce the by-law governing the matter. On the motion of Cr. Flatt it was decided that provision should be made for that particular nuisance in the by-laws which were in the course of being framed. In the meantime the inspector should be asked to notify shopkeepers that the nuisance must be minimised. Seconded by Cr. Silcock and carried. EATING HOUSES. A circular was received from the Medical Officer pf Health, Auckland, enclosing regulations with reference to tlje registration of eating houses by local authorities. The matter was held over meantime. BOROUGH RANGER. An application for an increase; of salary was received from J. Pennell, borough ranger. He advised that his duties as ranger, necessitated him keeping two horses. His duties had been added to owing to increase of population in the borough and the hight cost of horse feed and shoeing rendered his present wages totally inadequate to enable him to carry out his duties satisfactorily. Cr. Silcock moved: “That the ranger be informed that there were a large number of complaints coming to hand concerning wandering cattle. If a noticeable improvement can be made in this matter the Council will consider his application in a month’s time.” Seconded by Cr. Brenan and carried. DOMAIN GATE. Cr. Silcock reported that the gravel provided some time ago had not yet been put at the main entrance to the Domain. A’ large crowd was expected on the following Saturday, and he asked that the entrance should be gravelled before then. The Mayor said he would have the matter attended to at once. ; BUILDING PERMITS. W. Fleming and Son applied for a permit to renovate the interior of the business premises occupied by them in Princes Permission was given the Paeroa Brewery Co. to carry out additions and renovations to the brewery. J. W. Ryan was granted a permit to erect a 4-room"ed residence in Willoughby Street for Miss Cock. E. E. Morgan’s application for a permit to et;ect a motor shed on his property was granted. v LOAN MONEY, Cr. Flatt moved the following resolution : “That the Finance Committee be authorised to procure £ll,OOO at a rate of interest not exceeding 5% per cent., the money to be allocated as follows: Sewerage £6000,> Domain improvements £lOOO, footnaths and roads £4000.” SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting to consider the by-laws and make necessary amendments is to be called for June 26 at 7.30 P-m. INSTALMENT OF SEWERS. The Mayor said that he Lad received several complaints from ratepayers as to the connecting up of the sewerage scheme. There appeared to be some trouble in getting people tip connect up owing to the cost. He had taken the matter up with Mr Simpson, the local manager for Battson, plumber. The Mayor said that Mr Simpson had estimated that to assist people to overcome financial difficulties in connecting up with the sewerage scheme his firm was prepared to undertake the work and to offer cial terms to those who required it. Mr Simpson was prepared to submit his estimates for .this class of work to the Mayor for his approval. Thus the Council could see (hat Battspn’s offer was a very considerate one, and should no doubt help people who required financial help when connecting up with the scheme. Mr Simpson had advised that his firm was prepared to submit the full details of work done and material supplied to householders in connection with the linking up with the sewerage scheme, and if His Worship considered that he could prove that Battson’s charges were excessive in any way the firm would donate £lO to any charitable institution to be named by the Mayor.