BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4663, 18 February 1924, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. A meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council was held on Thursday evening, His Worship the Mayor (Mr WMarshall) presiding over Crs. E. Edwards., P. E. Brenan, J. W. Silcock, W. Bain, G. P. Lamb, H. M. Shand, and the town clerk (Mr W. C. Alexander). DRAINAGE LOAN RATE. Mr E. W. Porritt wrote us follows: “I am instructed *by Mr G. Buchanan and Mrs A. Buchanan to apply for a refund of the drainage loan rates paid by them on Huruhuru and Te Puru-o-te-Tangi blocks. When the loan proposal was submitted Mr P. E. Brenan, the Mayor, and Mr J. L. Hanna, borough solicitor, interviewed Mr Buchanan and arranged that if he withdrew the objection by himself and Mrs A. Buchanan to the inclusion of the land in the rating area the rate would not be collected, and in accordance with this arrangement the objections were withdrawn. Subsequently the rates were demanded, and Mr Buchanan was then informed that they would have to be paid, as theie was no power for the council not to collect them, but that after payment the amounts would be refunded, and the rates were therefore paid. It is in accordance with this arrangement that the refund is now applied for.” Cr. Brenan said that the letter was in connetcion with the 1920 loan proposals, and as far as he rememberel the statements contained in the letter were' not in accordance with facts. The letter was referred to Cr. Brenan to enable him to go into the matter with the borough solicitor and submit a report. AORANGI ROAD. Mr G. Buchanan wrote stating that he was prepared to sign the agreement and plans for the closing of the present Aorangi Road pn the following conditions : "That the Borough Council make an agreement with the writer as follows: The Borough Council to declare a . drain reserve of the southern boundary of the present Aorangi Road from Thames Road to the western boundary of Aorangi Road A 4 B.; The Borough Council to agree to form a drain 6ft top, 3ft bottom, and 4ft deep from outfall drain on the western side of Thames Road tp the boundary of Aorangi A 4 B before the end of April, 1924'; the Borough Council to agree to clean out to its original dimensions the said drain cnce every year during the months of March and April ; that the owners of section A 4 D and A 4 B shall not be liable for the formation, upkeep, or maintenance of the said drain, but shall have the perpetual right to drain into it. The Mayor said that the position disclosed by the letter was a great surprise to him. He could hardly think that Mr Buchanan’s letter represented his final wor,d in the matter. as he (the Mayor) had taken the matter 'up in the first place at the request of Mr Buchanan, and had spent a great deal of time on it. During the whole of the negotiations no conditions had been mentioned by Mr Buchanan. The Mayor said that in view of the past negotiations and facts the position was extraordinary, and as matters now stood, delay, and probably serious consequences, might arise in connection with the railway 'settlement. He moved that the matter be referred to the Mayor, deputymayor. and chairman of the finance committee, with power to act. Seconded by Cr.. Bain. nl reply to Cr. Silcock the Mayor said that, throughout the negotiations Mr Cassrels had been public spirited. The complications that had arisen had never been contemplated. HOSPITAL SITE. Mr E. W. Porritt notified the Council that by order of the Court, pn the application of the Ohinemuri Hospital Institution Fund Trustees, sections 3-8 and 1-2 Block 111, Paeroa, and 9-10 and 31-32 Block 11, Paeroa, were now vested in the Thames Hospital Board as a site for a maternity home and casualty ward, and that the vesting order would shortly be published in the N.Z. Gazette. Cr. Brenan said it was a pleasure to hear such news. HOSPITAL TRUST FUND. The Thames Hospital Board secretary wrote asking that the necessary steps should be taken to have the money and land handed over to the Board, so as to expedite- natters in connection with the hospital for Paeroa. The matter was left to the borough solicitor for immediate attention. SEWERAGE CONNECTIONS. A letter was received asking tp have the main drainage pipe moved to a more suitable position on the Methodist Parsonage section. It was stated that the lead was at a level with the section, and it was not possible to drain efficiently from the house. The suggestion was to move the main tb a lower position.—Referred to the works committee, with power to act. The secretary of Lodge Ohinemuri wrote with reference to a notice received to connect the building to the sewerage system. Tire letter stated that when the building had been erected a septic tank had been installed, the effluent pipe of which connected wtih the main storm-water drain. As the building was used at at a maximum of one evening a week it was asked if the present arrangements would suffice. The request was granted, but at the same time it was not to be taken as a precedent. WATER SUPPLY. The Ohinemuri County Council engineer wrote drawing attention to the wastage of water going on at certain troughs within the borough, and pointing out that this should be stopped at once, failing which the county council would take action.

The Mayor stated that he had inspected the borough in company with the engineer and had found that there was a fair amount of wastage going on, but he believed that the defects had been remedied. There had been an enormous consumption of water during the week-end, and the Council had been forced to take drastic action early in the week, but the position was now very much improved.

Cr. Brenan said it appeared to him that the ratepayers were compulsorily having the water supply restricted, whereas at the butter factory, he uih derstood, the wastage was considerable, and he ventured to say that the wastage caused by leaking taps was not one-thousandth part as great as that the factory. The Mayor said he had realised this point, and had already instructed the turncock to advise the factory man ager that unless the water for use in the factory was reduced to a minimum the Council would have to instal a meter. Continuing, the Mayor said there was no need to fear a serious shortage of water provided that care was exercised, but it was a ciime in summer-time to waste water. RAILWAY COTTAGES. A letter was received from ’-he architectural branch, N.Z. Railway?, expressing thanks for the piomptani satisfatcory way in which matters concerning the proposal to build railway workers’ cottages had teen dealwith, and notifying that arrangements were well in hand and it was hoped to be in a position to commence building operation's in Paeroa at an eaily date. POST OFFICE. The secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, wrote under date JanuaiJ 8, 1924 as follows :— “In reference to the new post office building proposed to be erected at Paeroa, I beg .to inform you that the plans of the building are not yet completed, as it was only two days ago that a draft plan prepared by'the Government architect was available. For your information I may say that a little difficulty is being met with in laying out the building on the site to the best advantage. It is proposed to place the building back a sufficient distance, with .an elevation facing the apex of the triangle formed by the boundaries of the section. This will enable an area in. front of the building to be made available for grassing, and it is intended later on to offer your Council the use of this plot on condition that the plot is maintained by your Council. The Department f s anxious that the erection of the building should be proceeded with, and we will do all we can to have the work expedited.” SEWERS UNDER RAILWAY. The N.Z. Railways district engineer forwarded a memorandum of extension of deed grant No. 13919, which covered the laying of sewers under the railway line, and asked that the document should be executed. It was decided to attach the Borough Seal, to be signed by the Mayor, Crs. Edwards and Brenan, and the town clerk. ADVERTISING AUCKLAND. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce wrote soliciting a donation towards a fund of £lOOO which it was endeavouring to raise for the purpose of advertising Auckland at the British Empire Exhibition. It was decided to reply that thj Council had no money available. AMBULANCE STRETCHER. Or. Brenan reported that the Thames Hospital Board was prepare ! to place stretchers in various parts pf its area, and he suggested that the Council should make application for a stretcher to be placed ia the fire brigade station under the care of the borough foreman.—Agreed to.