BOROUGH COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 294, 14 September 1910, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting

The usual monthly meeting of Te Kuiti Borough Council was held on Monday night at the offices. Present —His Worship the Mayor (Mr James Bodide), in the chair, and Grs Hardy, Julian, Lusk, Stevens, Young, Somerville and King. Section for Borough Offices.—The Minister for Public Works wrote that he regretted he could not see his way to give an acre at cost price for borough purposes. Grs Somerville and Lusk moved that the Minister be again written to, asking him to reconsider his decision, pointing out the peculiar position the borough was in in having no reserves for public purposes, and asking if he cannot see his way to give a S-acre for builidng public offices on. —Caried. Section 17, Te Kuiti Township.— The Department of Lands wrote that the request that section 17 be vested in the borough as a borough reserve would be considered.—Received. On the same subject as the last Sir Joseph Ward had written Mr Jennings that a report wai being obtained. The disposition of a portion of the Public Works reserve to the council was a matter for the Minister of Public Works to consider. Noxious Weeds.—The Inspector of Noxious Weeds wrote notifying that the Esplanade and other places in the borough needed attention.—The matter was referred to the works committee with power to act. Rata Street.—Mr C. Reid wrote on behalf of various ratepayers that Rata street was impassable in parts. The Mayor said they were contemplating a heavy outlay on roads and streets at a not distant date, and he felt that it would be a waste of money to g" to any expense now. He sympathised with the residents —indeed, he had to go over the ground himself. Cr Young said eight or ten loads of metal would make the road passable temporarily. The matter was referred to the works committee for a full report.^ Subway Under Railway. —The Minister of Railways wrote that to put in a subway under the railway station would cost £IOOO more than the cost of an overhead bridge, and he could not see his way to sanction it. If, however, the council can see its way to bear the cost he would have the work done. —Received. Closing a Road.—The secretary of Te Kuiti Domain Board wrote requesting that the road on the north side of the domain grounds be closed and vested in the Domain Board. The Mayor said the closing of a road was a very difficult and expensive business, and no doubt some people would be found to object. The council would sympathise with the board. It had been discovered that on any day the Domain Board was empowered to make a charge for admission to the. grounds the public at large could enter and view the sports from the road. The Domain Board badly wanted any revenue it could get. The letter was referred to the streets and roads committee to carefully consider and report, suggesting some plan of action to the council. Nightsoil Depot.—The committee reported that it recommended the taking of a site, under the Public Works Act, at the earliest possible moment. Inspector Bennett was present, and in reply to the Mayor, said that if the septic tank was placed on the nightsoil and refuse reserve, it would simplify matters greatly. His experience was that the septic tank periodically silted up and had to be opened and however inoffensive it might actually be, residents imagined there was an odour. The Mayor did not like the idea oc placing the tank near the school. There was a difficulty in getting a site for a nightsoil depot, but steps must be taken to get one. Cr Somerville said the best place was down at the northern boundary of the borough between the river and the road. There was a natural hollow which would hold rubbish for a number of years. He moved "That steps be taken to acquire the land, either direct from the native owners, or under the Public Works Act, subject to the reports of Dr Makgill and the engineer as to the suitability of the site and as to whether the septic tank could also be placed there." He pointed out that there were areas in the borough that would not be connected with the sewerage system. The clerk said the engineer had stated there could be no objection to using the domain ground for the septic tank, and it would cost less than the Te Kumi site.

The Mayor understood the cost of laying the main sewer to the domain ground would be £7OO, and a further £7OO if carried on to the Te Kumi site. The matter was referred to the committee for a further report. Tank for Fire Prevention.—The committee reported that the cost was estimated at £125, and the idea was impracticable. Cr Young said if two or three inch mains were laid in several parts of the town to connect with the river, the fire engine could pump its water direct and it would be of use in fire prevention. It would coat perhaps £SO or £6O to provide. He was willing to jay pipes along Taupiri street experimentally and report at the next meeting. The matter was referred to the committee for their further report. Fire Bell.—The committee reported favouring the purchase of a firebell costing £lB 10s, and with a stand £2B 10s - The Mayor said that, although no provision had been made in the current year's estimates, yet it was a very serious matter and they were running a risk every day they were without it. Crs Somerville and King moved that a firebell be obtained and erected on a temporary stand. —Carried. Fire Brigade. —Cr Somerville said this was the most important matter in their report. He had attended the last

! meeting of the Fire Brigade and found i the members absolutely refusing to ! work with one another. The older members were unable to work with the saperintendent. The borough council should take over the brigade forthwith. Since the report wai prepared he had received the resignation of the present superintendent. The committee had tried to pour oil on troubled waters, but it was not a bit of good. He strongly urged the council to take the Fire Brigade over straight away. The Mayor said what could be done was to call s public meeting to elect a new Fire Brigade. The council could announce that it was taking over the property and equipment. A considerable amount of money had been spent on equipment, etc., and that, of course, was the property of the council. The recommendation of the committee was the only thing to adopt. Crs Somerville and Hardy moved that the council be recommended to take over the Fire Brigade and that the properties be under the control of the council. —Carried. Ward Street. —Cr Hardy referred to complaints he had received respecting riding and driving on the footpaths in Ward street, and moved that the clerk be instructed to have two boards placed on the east and west sides of the street, warning horse riders that they would be prosecutred. The clerk said Mr Baucke had promised to give him the names of persons trespassing and if he did so, they would be placed before the council for prosecutions under the "Public Works Act." The motion was carried. Rates Collectable. —Mr Hine (borough solicitor) furnished his legal opinion on this matter. The Mayor said the borough solicitor's opinion threw a slightly different light on the question. Uncollected rates to the amount of £lB2 had been taken over from the Waitomo County Council. Many people thought that they would probably not be able to collect the rate struck in the previous year as in their opinion it was struck illegally. According to the opinion just received the jurisdiction of the Waitomo County Council did not cease until the town council was elected and it followed that they were entitled to collect every penny of the rates. He mentioned that the opinion was arrived at largely through the efforts of the town clerk, in arguing the legal aspect of the question. On general principles, one local body held office until its successor was elected. He moved that the opinion of the borough solicitor be received, approved, and acted upon.—Carried. Stock Yards and Rora street. —The Mayor moved "That in view of the fact that the council has just framed by-laws prohibiting the driving of live stock along Rora street, which is the principal business street in the town, and the railway stock yards are situated in, and occupy a portion of that street, the general manager be asked to have the yards removed immediately, and also that he be requested to have the fence at present on the public street, removed back to the proper boundary." The Mayor said their action was the result of the practical refusal of the railway department to undertake the necessary works, at the railway station. In another month the borough by-laws would be in operation, and unless the stock yards were removed they would be stultifying themselves. He had seen the inspector of permanent way and told him the council would probably be dealing with the matter of the fence. Work had been suspended but resumed again by the department. Cr Julian said he saw two men at work and ordered them to knock off. They picked up their tools and walked away. He spoke to Inspector Fellowes about it too. Cr Lusk said that nearly two years ago he had thrashed out the matter with the department and it was admitted the council was in the right. He seconded the motion.

Cr Julian: Have we the power to move the fence?" Cr Lusk: Certainly. The Mayor: We believe so. Cr Julian: Then I move \va take steps to move the fence. The Mayor: You will notice my motion covers that point"., and I don't think it dignified on the part of a public body to deal with the matter in a discourteous way. We are taking this first and necessary step, and there will be no retreat. We are the custodians of the public for all time, and so Car as I am concerned I am prepared to go to the utmost extreme of the law in seeing that our rights are conserved. The motion was carried. Borough Rate.- -The council passed the resolution levying the borough rate. By-laws.—The Mayor said the bylaws committee had completed the bylaws and with the exception oC the sanitary by-laws all were in order. The borough solicitor would have to examine them, Crs King and Young moved that the by-laws be taken as read, and submitted to the borough solicitor for his approval. - -Carried. Outstanding Rates.—The clerk reported that £52 9s 6d had already been collected of the outstanding rates. Dog Collars and Registration.—The Mayor said that after they had got iheir dog collars they found that a large number of the dogs in the borough had already been registered by the county council. They would have to call upon the county to adjust the matter. Engineer's Report.—'The Mayor said he expected to get the consulting engineer's full report by the end of the week, and he would call a special meeting of the council to deal with it and probably with (he by-laws at the same time. Assessment Court.—A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Vercoe for his services as borough representative on the Assessment Court. Accounts.—The following aounts were passed for payment: Union Bank £1 Is 6d, H. J. Mussen £1 2s 6d, Public Works £1 17s 6d, Green and Colebrook, Ltd. £1 3s, Morgan 18s Gd, J. Mclndoe £3 10s 6d, fire brigade committee £9 Gs, Verrall and Lever

£4 8s lOd, Wilson and Horton 10s, "King County Chronicle" £l2 8s 6d, Fletcher lis 'id, Hattaway £2l 10s, Government printer Is Gd, Waitomo County Council 20s, Vercoe 21s, wages £45 7s 4d, G. McDonald £3 7s Gd, total £lO9 5s Sd.