PAEROA BOROUGH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4832, 20 May 1925, Page 2

PAEROA BOROUGH.

MEETING OF NEW COUNCIL. Tlie first meeting of the newlyelected Paeroa Borough Council was held on Monday evening, His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) presiding over the following: Cns. P. E. Brenan, F. E. Flatt, E. Edwards, J. W. Silcock, H. Hare, J; Pinder, E. A. Porritt, G. P. de Castro, and the town clerk W. C. Alexander). There were also a number of ratepayers present, including two ex-councillors. THE LATE PRIME MINISTER. A telegram was received from Mrs Massey and family acknowledging with sincere thanks the council’s resolution of ■sympathy in the illness of the late Prime Minister. Telegrams were also received from Sii Francis Bell and the Hon, R. I Bollard advising the funeral arrangements and instructions for closing. WOOD STREET FOOTPATH. The Paeroa District High School Committee wrote drawing attention to >',n state of disrepair of the Wood S'reet footpath and requesting that it lie formed up and metalled. Cr. de'Castro said he Tne.v that the paths required attention, and there were 400 or 500 children using the street several times a day. Cr. Brenan contended that the street was in no worse condition than many other footpaths in the borough. The matter was referred to the wciks committee, with power to act. TE AROHA ROAD FOOTPATH. W. Sing, wrote requesting that tlie footpath on Te Aroha Road receive attention before the winter set in. CLOSING OF STREETS. The Under-Secretary. Public Works Department, advised that so long as the council was satisfied that the portion of street when closed could be Legally disposed of, the areas would be vested in the council. Separate titles would be prepared to enable the council to transfer 1 acre 23 perches to the Thames Hospital Board and i acre 30 perches to the N.Z. Co-op. Da’ry Co., Ltd. The Mayor said that, ps the letters indicated, everything was nearing completion, and he believed satisfactorily. The proceedings had been lengthy and difficult. WATER CONNECTION.

F. Battson applied for permission to nv'.ke. a water service connection from Prince? Street to the new post office site. As a two-inch service was required he was prepared to supply ail piping and valves. The same applicant pought perniission for a water service connection to a cottage in course of erection in Andrews Street. NGAHINA WHARF. The Ohinemuri County Council wrote acknowledging receipt of the report on tlie Ngahina wharf and congratulating the council upon having arranged the somewhat difficult matter on the basis of trims so satisfactory to the ratepayers of both the borough and the county. In answer to Cr. Brenan the Mayor said lie believed that the county had agreed to lay water to the wharf, but he had not been adHseid officially. The town clerk was instructed to ascertain the position. LOAN MONEY. Mr E. W. Porritt forwarded four draft debentures of £bOO each for a teim of ten years, with coupon attached and draft mortgage of hypothecation to the Bank of New Zealand, i’i connection with the water reticulation loan. A draft for 20 debentures of £lOO- - a term of 36 years, together with the necessary documents, was also forwarded in connection with the house sewerage connections loan. A telegram from the Minister for Finance authorising the payment cf interest not exceeding 6% per cent, on the two loans was received.

Replying to Cr. Edwards thei Mayor said that the printing of the debentures was being done in Wellington.

QUALITY OF METAL.

In reply to the council’s complain’, th-'t the portion of the metal begng used in the construction of Taylor’s Avenue was of inferior quality the district engineer, NZ. Railways, advised that the matter was being inquired into. The Mayor said that a good deal : f controversy had taken place over the metal, and after consideration by the department and the quarry company a compromise was arrived at which ho believed, would be satisfactory to the council, and a good, solid road would be made. NATIVE RESERVE, A letter was for,w,aided through Mr H. Poland, M.P., from the Minister for Lands declining the council’s request to have Rawhitiroa A 3 and B2 B Blocks vested in the council. The Minister pointed out that the land in question had already involved the Government in an amount approacning £5OO, as it had been ruled that the Native Lands Settlement account must be recouped up to the present-day value of the land the most he could do was to confirm the offer to dispose of the land for the sum of £230. Cr. Flatt suggested that the Minrsttr be again approached and asked to have sufficient money placed on the forthcoming Estimates. Cr. Brenan agreed, and recommended the help and co-iperation of the member for the district. The matter was referred to the Mayor and Crs. Brenan and Porritt, witn power to act. COLLECTION OF RATES. A request was made by the Ohinemurj County Council that the borough should include the amount ci rats for the Paeroa Domain and Waiho.u River Bridge special rating argas in its ordinary yearly rate demands in future, and that the money so collected should be paid over to the county, less all reasonable charges for cost of collecting. By such ar, arrangement a vast amount of work