BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4689, 23 April 1924, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

♦- -— MONTHLY MEETING. ' The monthly meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council was held on Thursday evening last, there being present : His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marsh >11). Crs. E. Edwards, J. W. Silcock, W. Bain, P. E. Brenan. G. P. Lamb, T. P. Vu' lar, and the town clerk, Mr W. C. Alexander. WATER SUPPLY’. Air R. 1. Roberts wrote complaining that the water supply at Puke end was in a dirty state. He stated that rust and fine gravel were passing tlcough the water taps, and spoiled honshold linen when being washed. The Mayor intimated that the foreman had been instructed to ins-tai a sludge cock. REPAIRS TO STREET. The Paeroa branch of the N.ZDairy Co., Ltd., wrote drawing attention to the holes in the stop-bank road between Le Manquais, Lamb's office and the railway crossing, and asking for repairs to be effected. The Mayor explained that the road in question would be torn ip presently by the Public Works Department in connection with the raising of tire railway bridge, and the crossing would Be closed. For that reason it was useless for the council to take any steps to improve the street in question. RIVER IMPROVEMENTS. The Hon. Minister for Public Works wrote acknowledging the representa - tions made by the council with reference to the YVaihou and Ohinemuri rixer improvements, stating that he would be pleased to discuss the matter of stop-banks for protection from floods with the engineers (. f hi.s department, and that the matter would be given every consideration. RAILWAY BRIDGE. The General Manager of Railways wrote acknowledging receipt of the letter relative to the raising of the railway bridge over the Ohinemuri River at Paeroa, and advising that the matter was receiving consideration DANGEROUS DRAIN. The secretary of the Paeroa branch of the Druids’ Lodge wrote requesting that the open drain fronting the Druids’ Hall, Bradley Street, should be filled in as it was considered to be dangerous to the public in its present state. An additional light in the street was also asked for. The Mayor said that, it was desir - able to fill in the drain, and much as the council wished to improve streets, it .was impossible to provide for filling in the drain and installing an extra light at the present time. He stated that there was a tendency on the part of the public to be a little unreasonable in ‘its demands from the council, and there was a lack of self-help. Referring to Bradley Street, the Mayor .stated that the ratepayers in that particular area were only contributing about 15s 6d per section to the general borough funds, and they could hardly expect city street conditions to prevail. DOMAIN DEBENTURES. Mr E. McNair, 23 Merivale Avenue, Epsom, Auckland, wrote advising that he was prepared to take op ten debentuies of £lOO each bearing interest at 5% per cent, at £96 each. The Mayor was authorised to complete negotiations with the writer. APPLICATION FOR LOAN. The manager of the Auckland Savings Bank wrote advising that tlie council's application for 1 loan of £lOOO had 'been declined bl’ th? trustees. NIGHT-SOIL CONTRACT. Tlie night-soil contractor wrote stating that now the council had purchased its own horse and dray i-would-not pay him .to keep two horses for the night-soil contract, and unless another dump could be secured where one horse could be uSed he would ? e compelled to terminate the contract. The matter was referred to the Health Committee, with a recommendation that every consideration should be -hown to the contractor. LADIES’ REST ROOM. Tlie Ohinemuri County Council advised that it was willing to accede to the reoues. for the me of the room formerly the social room of the fire brigade for the purposes of a ladies’ rest room, at a “peppercorn” rental, with the provision that tlie arrangc*ment should be terminable by the giving of six months’ notice, and the ncees-aiy alterations tc be made with the approval of the county engineer. The offer was accepted, and the matter wa.= left in the hands of the Mayor, Deputy-Mayor, and Finance ■Committee. SUBDIVISIONS. Mr E. W. Porritt forwarded a plan of subdivision of part of lots 58, 59, and 60 Block D., Ohinemuri township, and asked for the council’? approval of the subdivision.—Approved. A plan from Mr C. Kenny for the subdivision of sections 151 and 152. Block K Ohinemuri township, was also approved. - The plan submitted by Mr E. W. Porritt for the subdivision of sections in lot 5 to 32. Hararahi (Claremont estate) wa.s referred back with the information that the council did not approve of subdivisions in a residential area with a frontage of less than forty feet. CLOSING OF STREETS. The N.Z. Co-op. Dairying Co., Ltd., forwarded a plan relating tc the closing of portions of Johnston, Fraser, and Russell streets in connection witn the proposed erection of the maternity hospital in Paeroa, and asked that the seal of the council be affix'ed. STATION ROAD REPAIRS. Following on representations made by the Mayor the Public Works De partnient advised that it would contribute £5O towards tlie cost of repairing Station Road, which had been damaged by the department’s motor lorries. OVERHANGING TREES. Cr. Vuglar drew attention to the overhanging willows at both approaches to the Criterion bridge, and suggested that in the interests of the safety of the travelling public the trees should be trimmed,— Inspection to be madet

VISIT OF FLBET. The Mayor intimated that the council had in its possession a banner bearing the words “Paeroa Borough Council welcomes you” which was used ijn Queen Street, Auckland, id connection with decorations during the visit of the Prince of Wales, v and it was resolved to offer the banner for the same purpose for the forthcoming visit of the Royal Fleet to Auckland. PUBLIC CONVENIENCE. After some discussion it was decided to mstal a penny-in ithe-slot on the door of .the public convenience at the lire station. The Mayor said it was advisable to adopt that method to prevent abuse of the premises, and so that they could more easily be kept clean. OBSERVANCE OF BY-LAWS. His Worship commented on the nonobservance of some of the by-laws, and stated that sanitary matters, buildings, and such works were being carried on without reference to the council for the necessary permits, and without license fees being paid. He also drew attention to the fact that within the last month two streets had been closed to traffic and drivers of vehicles had deliberately used the footpaths, and had, in both instances, seriou ly broken the surface. He contended that in the past the council had shown a little too much consideration. and he was of the opinion: that the by-laws should be more strictly enforced in the' future. In support Crs. Lamb and Edwards said they thought that the requests of some of the public for the granting of building permits immediately af‘er application had been made was unreasonable. The building committee required a reasonable time to ga into tne applications. The town clerk was instructed to take action against offenders for any fu’-fher breaches of the bjy-law,s. and to use his discretion in the matter of granting building permits. TOWN’ CLERK PRAISED. ' Cr. Brenan commented on the‘fact that the town clerk had completed his annual balance and had the statement of accounts for the year ending March 31 ready for inspection by April 1. He considered that the town clerk should be congratulated on his good work, and thought that it was only prorer and fitting for the council to' recognise it. He moved that the council vote a bonus of £25 to Mr Alexander in recognition of the capable manner in which he had carried out his duties. The Mayor said he would be please l to second the j-esolution,-and referred briefly to the large amount of extra work that had been added to the town clerk’s duties, necessitating a great deal of night work, as well as the giving up of a number of week-ends, to keep the work from falling behind. The Mayor stated that he had fount Mr Alexander an obliging, conscientious, and efficient officer, and congratulated him on the splendid work done during the year, and especially in, connection .with the annual balance. Cr. Vuglar supported the two previous speakers, and remarked that the resolution before the meeting was on? he took pride in, because there was no opposition to it. On tlie resolution being carried Mr Alexander thanked the council for its appreciation of his services.