PAEROA BOROUGH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4879, 18 September 1925, Page 2

PAEROA BOROUGH.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council was held yesterday afternoon, His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) presiding oyer the following: Councillors E. Edwards, J. W. Silcock, G. P. de Castro, P. E. Brenan, F. E. Flatt, J. Pinder, H. J. Hare, and E. A. Porritt, and the town clerk (Mr W. C. Alexander), NON-CONSUMERS’ RATE. Mr H. Poland, M.P., forwarded a letter received from the Minister for Public Works acknowledging the resolutions carried by the council on the subject of the supply of electric energy to the borough, and particularly the question of the npn-consumers’ rate, and notifying that the resolutions had been duly noted, and would receive the careful consideration of the Government. A copy of the new Bill was also forwarded. The Mayor said that the new Bill did not provide for amendments, but merely consolidated the Act. Cr. Flatt said that so far as the Thames Valley Board was concerned he understood that the non-consum-ers’ rate would not be levied this year. He did not think that the proposed amendment reducing the rate to 5s tshould be lost sight of by the council. The Mayor stated that if opportunity offered he would look into the matter when in Wellington. SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION. The secretary for the Auckland district provincial court at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition wrote acknowledging the donation of £lO 10s and forwarding a notice in respect to the next meeting of the committee. In a further letter the secretary sought information concerning the cost of the proposed scenic views of the district, and the value at which specimens of .gold-bearing quartz, should be insured. Cr. Flatt intimated that he had received a quantity of quartz that required protection. He favoured the provision bf glass cases to hold the specimens, of which there were eight parcels. It was, resolved to refer the question to teh committee, with power to act. ANALYSIS OF WATER. . The Medical Officer of Health, Auckland, wrote with reference to the bacteriological examination of the borough water supply as follows: “I regret that in forwarding the result of the examination I failed to comment thereon. The result is quite satisfatcory, although it shows a slight evidence of contamination, probably of animal origin. It is, how 1 - ever not usually considered necessary to take any special action where B. coli are found in less than 100 c.c.”

Cr. de Castro said that the contamination was likely to increase with the advent of hot weather. He suggested that the reservoir should be inspected to ascertain the cause of tne reported contamination. I.t was resolved to take the matter up with the Ohinemuri County Council. POST OFFICE FENCE.

Mr H. Poland, M.P., wrote stating that he had placed the matters of fencing and the removal of earth at the new post office site before the authorities in .Wellington, and appended a reply which he had received from the Postmaster-General oh the matter. The following was ,the reply

“Regarding the desire of the Mayor of Paeroa and the local Chamber of Commerce that the brick and trellis fence proposed to be erected on portion of the Normanby Road frontage of the new post office building now being constructed at Paeroa be extended to include the frontage on which it is proposed to place a closeboarded fence, I beg to inform you that my department fe already committed to the expenditure of a very considerable sum in providing Paeroa with an up-to-date post office building. The cost of extending the .brick and trellis fence would be considerable, and, although the matter has been given full consideration, it is regretted the request of the local authorities cannot be granted.” The Mayor said it seemed unfortunate that the fence should be spoiled for the sake of the small additional cost. The matter was referred to His Worship to look into when in Wellington. LIBRARY SITE. The resident engineer of the Public Works Department advised that the removal of the spoil from the library site, Normanby Road, had been considered, and it was proposed to accept the council’s offier and remove the spoil at the department’s expense. Arrangements would be made to put the Work in hand immediately. The Mayor said that the position was very satisfactory, and the council agreed to thank the department for its assistance. ' NGAHINA WHARF TRUCKS. The Public Works Department wrote offering the council five trucks at the Ngahina wharf at £6 each. Cr. Silcock moved that the Public Works Department be asked to include the trucks in the schedule of wharf fittings. The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor and Cr. Silcock. RAILWAY WATER CHARGES. The architectural branch of the N.Z. Railways wrote in connection with water charges at the railway settlement, stating that it was the intention of the department to recommend to the Railway Board that the charges be added to the rental as from the date the cottages were occupied. The matter was referred to the town clerk for action. WATER SERVICE EXTENSION The Ohinemuri County Council advised .that C. Millar, Thames Road, whose property was situated within the county and just across the borough boundary, had made application for the water service to be extended to his property. If the council was willing to make the extension the county gave its permission to do

so and to collect and retain the water charges. : The Mayor intimated that the connection had been made. FOOTWAY ON RAILWAY BRIDGE. The Ohinemuri County Council wrote advising that a reply had been received friJin the Railway Department stating that a footway on the new railway bridge would cost about £260. The Borough, Council was asked for its co-operation in endeavouring to get the department to either permit the use. of the bridge itself, under safe-guarding conditions, or to submit a, proposition for a footbridge of such a nature that the two local bodies, together with the residents and land-owners concerned, might be able to accept. It was moved by Cr. Brenan, seconded by Cr. Edwards, “That this council give it>s utmost support to the County Council in endeavouring to get the Railway Depatrment to permit the use of the bridge itself, under safe-guarding conditions.”—Carried. TAXI CHARGES. The question of taxi charges within the borough was introduced by the Mayor, who moved: “That a sub-committee, comprising Crs. Edwards, Flatt, de Castro, and Porritt, be set up to go fully into the question of taxi fees with a view 1 to preparing a by-law dealing with same, and to report to the next meeting.” Seconded by Cr. Hare and carried. SEWERAGE CONNECTIONS. . In reply to Cr. Pinder the Mayor said that a definite stand would have to be taken to compel householders to connect up with the sewerage system. The matter was referred to the Health Committee, with power to act. JUNCTION ROAD. Cr- Pinder drew attention to the serious state of Junction Road, and pointed out that practically no footpath existed. He thought sufficient, metal to fill the worst of the holes; could be obtained from the old tramline. It was resolved to refer the matter to the foreman.