PAEROA BOROUGH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5217, 16 December 1927, Page 2

PAEROA BOROUGH.

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL.

ROUTINE BUSINESS.

The last meeting this year of the Paeroa Borough Council was held last night, His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) presiding over Crs. P. E. Brenan, E. Edwards, F. E. Flatt, H. J. Hare, J. W. Silcock, E. A. Porritt, J. Pinder, W. Turner, and Mr . W. C. Alexander (town clerk).

REMOVAL OF POLE. The Thames Valley Ppwer Board wrote advising that it had been necessary to remove a lamp and pole near the Criterion Bridge, and it ivas desired to know if the council wished to have the lamp re-erected. It would also be necessary to readjust the quarterly charges.

It was decided to have the lamp affixed on the pole which had been erectod near the iew turn into Fraser Street. It would be a temporary arrangement, and the position would have to be reviewed when the traffic bridge was completed DRAINAGE SOUGHT. Mrs Rihitoto Mataia wrote asking for permission to drain waste water from a house at the intersection of the old and new Te Aroha Roads into one of the drains in the pld Te Aroha Road. The draining was very unsatisfactory owing to the fact that there was no sewerage system available in the locality.

The mayor said he took it that it meant draining into the newly deepened drain.

After a brief discussion the matter was referred to the health committee with power to act.

VALUATION OF BOROUGH.

The Valuer-General wrote advising that it had not been possible to meet all the requests from local bodies to revise the valuation roles, but selection had been made where the need w.as greatest. For the present year the schedule of work was a heavy one, and it was to be regretted that the department could not undertake a revision of Paeroa this year. The council’s application would come up for consideration when the schedule for 1928 was being drawn up.

The mayor said it looked as if the council could do nothing other than to impress upon the Valuer-General that the council desired the valuation to be done before the end of the financial year. On Cr. Edwards remarking that he .had reason to think the work would be done fairly soon, the letter was receive! REVALUATION OF SECTION.

The Minister in charge. Valuation Department (Hon. A. D. McLeod) wrote with reference to the revaluation of section 20, Paeroa, and pointed out that although the property and the new, theatre were in the same locality they were not on the same footing, the latter being in the, main. street and the former in a side street having a dead end. The view of the department was that the property was not an attractive one. The Minister advised that with reference the rental, furniture and fittings of/'

cons’derable value were included and the lessor paid half of all outgoings. Section 12 of the Valuation of Land Act was intended to meet cases where altering circumstances had appreciated or depreciated values, but he did not regard it as applicable to such a case. The Mayor’s representations as to the operation of section 50 of the Act were noted. That section bad been used by some ratepayers to gain an undue advantage, but no satisfactory remedy for that weakness had been found. To repeal the section altogether would lead to cases of individual hardship.

The Mayor said it could hardly be said that the Minister’s facts were reliable. For instance, Wharf Street was scarcely a dead-ehd. In the opinion of Cr. Turner the department was only shelving the matter. Cr. Flatt, in moving that the letter be received, said there was no doubt that the Act required repealing or amending. - LOAN MONEYS. l]he Public Trustee and the Bank of N.Z. forwarded details in connection with the deed varying terms of debentures in connection with the street improvement loan of £3950. CONTRIBUTION TO BRIDGE. The resident engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa, wrote advising that the head office was again inquiring when the contribution towards the cost of the Criterion bridge over the Ohinemuri River at Paeroa might be expected. He understood that the council was obtaining the necessary funds, but as the appropriation for the erection of the bridge was considerably overdrawn it was desirable that the council should meet its obligation. Providing the money was forthcoming there was no reason to delay the work on the structure. . The Mayor said that the local postmaster had received instructions from the Public Trustee to pay over the amount. The money would be lifted on Friday and paid to the public account.

On the resolution of the Mayor it was agreed to express appreciation and thanks to the Public Works Department for the latitude allowed the council.

The Public Trustee forwarded one debenture of £lBOO and relative coupons in respect to the Criterion bridge loan.