BOROUGH COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 352, 12 April 1911, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

- - MONTHLY MEETING. The final monthly meeting of Te Kuiti Borough Council for the current period was held on Monday night at the Council Chambers. Present: llis Worship the Mayor (Mr Jas. Boddie), and Councillors Hardy, Lusk, Stevens, Somerville, Young, King, and Julian. Footpath construction. —'lhe word "asphalt," in the motion referring to perimssion being given to Messrs liretn and Colebrook to lay the footpath opposite their store, subject to revision of levels at any future time, was altered to "concrete.' Subdivision of Te Kuiti 2B. —The Chief Surveyor of Lands wrote of this road scheme that if it was approved by the Council, all future schemes of town subdivision must conform to it before being approved by the depart merit. There was no intention of having the roads shown in the scheme made public roads, except by process of dedication by the owners on subdivision. The department would not approve of any departure from the scheme of roading, nor would the Registrar issue titles to the subdivision unless the roads were dedicated, and the Council, of course, would not accept dedication of roads unless satisfactorily formed and metalled. Crs Lusk and Hardy moved that the roading scheme be approved.—Carried. Matai Street.—Messrs Chilcott and Wash waited on the Council with reference to the formation of Matai street. Mr Chilcott said they were invited to sign a petition making a road to Mr Jordan's, but no plan was submitted, and they now found the road being made gave them no access, but was merely a rf private road to Mr Jordan's.

The Mayor said the Council did not j rush into the matter hurriedly. He j noticed the petition was dated Febru- j ary 9th, 1911, and was signed by Mr j Chilcott, amongst others. j Mr Chilcott: That plan was never i shown to us. It was rushed down to i us at half past six. j The Mayor: You have gone further. | You signed another petition giving | Mr Jordan authority to represent it to the Council. He waited on the Council j and the Council has done at your re- j quest what you now object to. j Naturally, you can understand having j a petition signed by all you people, the Council did its best for you. Apparently this is to be our tham-cs. According to the resolution of the committee, continued the Mayor, the formation was to be only 14 feet wide, j The Council acted on the petition hi | good faith, and now it was unsatis- j afctory. The Council would do its i liest for them, and it would be for ] tho Engineer to confer with the j Works Committee and examine into tho matter. i The Mayor and Cr Young moved . accordingly, and the resolution was carried. ' Hetet's Road Railway Crossing.The General Manager of Railways wrote objecting to the provision of this crossing, and suggesting the Council should acquire land at 125 ; miles (ii) chains, where the existing ; crossing was only 4 chains from the j proposed crossing.—The matter was \ referred to the Streets and Roads j Committee to report on. j Superannuation of Officers. The j Wellington Town Cleric asked for in- i formation, in order that an actuary j might draw up a scheme.—lt was ; decided to give the information asked | for. Te Kumi No. 12 Block.- The As- , sistant Under-Secretary of Public j Works forwarded a copy of a letter from various native owners objecting : , to this land being taken for a dump- ; ing ground for refuse and rubbish, on ! the grounds that an important kainga j is upon it; that they have lived there | a long time, and did not wish to re- j move, and that it would spread disease amongst them.—The Mayor said j a letter in reply would be sent, and j that the District Health Officer was j entirely with the Council in the , matter. : Impounded Ilorses. The I ound- ; keeper reported that impounded horses ; had been taken back by Dr Fullerton, j who refused to pay the fees.--It was j decided to receive the letter, and ; explain to the Poundkeeper that the j Council would assist him in any action j necessary. I Health Inspector's Salary.—The j District Health Officer wrote asking ; whether the Council was prepared, as j htherto, to contribute towards the j salary of the Inspector. The Hospital ; Board had taken over the inspection, i disinfection, etc.. of infectious di- j seases, but the Health Inspector sup- j ervised the general sanitation. A ) smaller sum would be equitable, and ; he suggested £lO a year. j The Mayor said those who knew , Inspector Bennett knew they had a very capable officer. and his work was such as never could be done effectively by a local man. It was decided to pay a subsidy of £lO per annum. Entrance to Infant School. -The Chairman of the School committee wrote asking whether it was the intention of the Council to form and complete Rora street in front of the school between the railway crossing and the river, a3 with the completion of the new infants' school a proper entrance would be necessary.-- 1 he matter was referred to the Works Commmittee for report. Bridge Across Drain.----The le Kuiti Timber Co.. wrote asking that, access be given to their «ectioiis in Princes and King sbvet-", 10 enable them to cart timber and machinery. It vi'as decided to reply that, the Council could not bridge the, dram, on the grounds that ir turmed a precedent, but would improve the ! footpath. ' Cul,|jf Scat.- .Mr -John Carr wrote i ufiVring to present a Heat, to the i Hi, rough, to lie lixed under the willow | tree ai the corner of the Esplanade i and Rata, street, ! Tiie May or aaid they would, be quite i 11istitied in accepting tho generous

i offer, and his mot ion to that eiiect, seconded by Cr Lusk way carried. Te KuiLi No. I2L!, No. 10. IMr Hugh R. Macdonald wrote (without pre judice) that although only recently acquiring this section he won lei be a loser by several hundred pounds it' the Council took it, as he had always considered it a valuable section. He offered the land at i'oSs. —The letter was referred to the Finance Corni mittee with power to negotiate with the owner, whoever he might he. Bowling and Tennis Clubs.—The j President of Te Kuiti Buwling and . Croquet Club wrote asking permission j to take certain portions of the road reserves adjoining the club's grounds for the purpose of enabling the Tennis Club to utilise the grounds jointly with the club, on the understanding i that the reserve so taken should be I handed back to the Borough at any | time when demanded, on due notice I being eiven. —Permission was granted, j subject to the Council's right to rej take possession if required at any j time. ( Tawa Street Culvert. —Mr S. M. Kelso wrote asking that a culvert be put in across the street opposite his section. The Engineer said no culvert was required for their purposes, it was too high up. The Mayor said it was a legal road, though unformed, before Mr Kelso bought his section. The Council could do nothing. The matter was referred to the Engineer, with instructions to have the nuisance remedied. Fire Brigade Equipment. The Secretary wrote asking the Council to supply six ladders, boots for firemen, balance of uniforms, hatchets, belts and spanners. The Brigade also submitted a plan for the proposed fire station.—The letter was recieved, and the matter of the equipment was referred to the incoming Council.

Elizabeth Street.—Mr W. C. Handley wrote asking the Council to form the road or put in two culverts to give access to his section.- —The matter was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act.

Queen Street.—lt was decided to refer an application for an improved access to the Works Committee, with power to act.

Tenders for Pipe Line and Filling. —Mr H. Rothery's tenders at £770, £2BO and £4BO were accepted. No carting contract was accepted, the atter being left over.

Deputation to Auckland. —Cr Lusk reported that he had seen the Comissioner of Lands re the scheme of roading, which had already been dealt with. The other matter was the road up to the proposed reservoir. The Commissioner had no funds for the purpose. The speaker showed his urgent reasons why the road should be made, and the Commissioner promised that if he was satisfied of its urgency he would have the work done. Re the mater of the connection with the Awaroa road and the Borough, he had seen Mr Wilson, who promised to do all he could. (The Mayor said this matter was now practically settled.) Mr Bowler, when spoken to re acquiring sections for Borough offices, had shown him that all the sections had been cut up in a peculiar manner. Mr Bowler said he had the power to sell, but wished to consult the owner before doing so, and if she did not object, he was agreeable. Cr Lusk said the owner would refuse to sell, on sentimental grounds. The Mayor said these sections were probably the mdst suitable for their purpose, and the only way seemed to take them under the Public Works Act.

Cr Lusk'a report was received. — The matter of deciding what portions of the land should be taken under the Public Works Act was left with the Mayor and Crs Lusk and Stevens to instruct the Borough Solicitor on. Breaches of By-laws.—The Clerk reported that six large draught horses were turned louse on Saturday night on the main street, and action should be taken. Also a number of curtains and lamps had been put up on Rora street without authority. Boxes were frequently left on the street, and rubbish thrown out. On Saturday night an individual raced on horseback down Rora street at 25 miles an hour.

The Mayor said people would have to understand they were not living in "no-man's land," and would have to comply with ordinary civilised conditions. —It was decided to prosecute any future breaches of the by-laws.

Crown Lands. —A deputation consisting of Crs Lusk and King and the Mayor was appointed to wait on the Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Rora Street Footpath.—The Mayor said he had spoken to many of the shopkeepers on Rora street, and they generally welcomed the idea of widening the footpath. He moved that the footpath be extended six feet, increasing it from 12 to 18 feet in width, from Alexandra street to the Esplanade. There was no doubt the improvement would be valued in years to come.

The Engineer said the curbing should be laid at once, if the motion was carried, and all future buildings would have to conform with their verandahs. —The motion was carried. The Mayor and Cr King moved that the footpath on the west side of Rora street, where the present buildings were being erected, should be l'l feet. -Carried. (.inlanders' Drain.-•-Cr Hardy and Lush moved that Air UiliancJern be ottered A'-)o towards the work of draining the matter being left in the hands of the Kngineer to arrange. Lighting.--Cr Hardy said he proposed to go to Waipukurau on his way to Wellington, and would report on his return. There appeared to be a consensus of opinion that petrol lighting was right. The Mayor said they wanted the very best light, when it comes. Cr i Hardy's visit to Waipukurau would be : interesting.