PAEROA BOROUGH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5266, 23 April 1928, Page 2

PAEROA BOROUGH.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING.

ROUTINE BUSINESS.

The monthly meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council was held on Thursday night, the Mayor (.Mr W. Marshall) presiding over Crs. E. Edwards. J. W. Silcock, E. A. Porritt, J. Pinder, P. E. Brenan. F. E. Flatt, and the town clerk (Mr W. C. Alexander). REPAIRS TO FOOTPATHS. A letter was received from Mr J. P. Gamble printing out that the footpath fronting his premises in Normanby Roal lequired early attention, and he offered to contribute half the cost of carrying out the repair work. The Mayor remarked that if everyone was prepared to pay half the cost the council could do much good work. Cr. Porritt said he agreed with the offer, and consideied that something should be done. In commend’ng Mr Gamble on his offer Cr. Edwards said that the footpath from Blyth’s to the Bank of New Zealand required attention at once. The Mayor said if that length, was done the council must face the repairs to the whole of the. main street footpaths. Attention, was drawn by Cr. Porritt to the fact that the Commercial Hotel was contributing £4O a year in -I'cense fees, alone, and the footpaths fronting that property were urgently in need of tarring- and 1 sanding. Cr. Flatt thought that th e offer was a generous one, and he moved that the works committee be authorised to effect repairs to the extent of an expenditure of £6.

Cr. Brenan said that of late the footpaths had fallen into a state of disrepair through, no fault of the council’s. Much permanent .work had been done, and, as it was. of a lasting nature it meant a saving to ratepayers. He was not in. favour of the resolution in view of the fact that in the near future the whole of the footpaths would necessarily receive attention. The footpath was not in a worse condition than several other footpaths.

This v’ew was shared by Cr. Porritt,’ who said that in view of the attention to be given to main footpaths later on, he thought Mr Gamble Would be good-natured by paying for liis portion of the footpath While others received the benefit. After further discussion it was decided to give the matter early attention. OPENING UP OF DRAIN. Permission to redig a ftUed-in drain in, Bush Street was sought by Mr R. , J. McKee, who pointeef out that some years ago he had dug the. drain at his own expense, b'ut it had since become silted up. Permission was granted, and the( council recorded its appreciation of his work.

Air McKee also asked for attention, to be paid to Buchanan Street, which had a clay surface and was impassable to motor-cars in winter. He requested that the roadway be metalled from Bush Street to Buchanan Street, and pointed out tha he had recently cut the grass and improved the footpaths fronting h : .s. properties. The Mayor said that if the council metalled the road it would be quite reasonable. The two houses were among the few in the borough which did not have a metalled access. It was resolved to refer the matter to tlie works compiittee for its favourable consideration as the exigencies of the service permitted. Cr. Edwards said he hoped that some relief would be given, before the winter set in. RYE LANE FOOTPATH. A letter was received from Mr G. Lucas stating that the footpath at the corner of Rye Lune and Seymour Street was badly overgrown with grass and asking that it receive attention. He also pointejd out that there was a. large tree in the adjoining property which shut out the sun from his residence and shaded the street light, making the area very dark and gloomy.

It was resolverl to give instructions for the portion of the tree overhanging the footpath to be cut back.

Cr. Edwards said that the request for the cleaning of jthei footpath was a reasonable one. The matter was referred to the works committee for considerat’on when the estimates were, being prepared for necessary jvork on footpaths. DRAIN AND FOOTPATH. Mr E. Powell wrote stating that Jie footpath at the corner of Belmont Road add Hughendon Street was in. a serious state of disrepair. He, also pointed out that the’ drain was blocked. and asked that attention be given to these two matjters. It was decided to advise that the matter would receive, attention as the exigencies of the services permitted. TOWN PLANNING MAPS. The Director of Town-planning, Department of Internal Affairs, for. warded a statement giving particulars of the system of notation to be adopted for illustrating the particulars to be shown on town-planning maps as set out in the regulations. It was decided to forward a copy of the circular to the surveyor (Mr T. W. Kenny) who was handling the matter for the council. BOROUGH VALUATION. The Vaiuar-G.en.eral wrote advising that application for new valuations undei; section 50 of the Valuation of Land Act. 1908, .had been lodged! prior to March 31. 1928, in respect to the assessments shell Oil Company of ‘New Zealand, Ltd., and W. Perston. it was also pointed out that new valuation had been made of Momonatui and Opatito, No. 2, Block Xll. Waihou Survey district, area of 5 aci.es, 3 roods,. 7.2 perches, the capital value beng £ll5O, and unimproved value, being £llOO. Tile Mayor said that he thought that the practice of re-valuation for individuals was entirley wrong. The council could only receive the letter. Cr. Brenan said that so far as the, project in which he wa,s interested was concerned, on one side of the fence the valuation was £2o'. while on the other side it was £3OO an acre,-

Individuals were entitled to ascertain their position l . In moving that the lettqr be received, the Mayor said it was a wrong principle for the, ratepayers to be able to obtain a re-valuation of their properties, while the borough council had no say ip tlie matter. The posit'on was inequitable for the rest of the ratepayers.

PETROL STORAGE TANK.

The Pae-roa postmaster (Mr A- Pellow) wrote advising that his department had no objection to the granting of permission to instal a petrol tank in Normanby Road. The Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, also wrote in connection with the subject, and advised that it was necessary for the company to forward three cop’es of plans showing the position of the tank relative to the footpath and street, and as soon as those were to hand the proposal would receive further consideration. —Received. OVERHANGING HEDGE.

Attention was drawn by Cr. Pinder to the overhanging hedge fronting the A. and P. Society’s property in Station Road.

Cr. Edwards said that the property was being leased, but there hat} been a legal difficulty which had' held the matter up, However, he would give an undertaking to see that the hedge was trimmed back forthwith.