BOROUGH COUNCIL

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 391, 30 August 1911, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL

A meeting of the To Kuiti Borough Council was held last, night at the Council Chambers. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr James Boddie) and Crs Forsyth, Young. Hardy, Julian, Tammadge, Sims and Findloy. Ciapham Gas Messrs Ciapham withdrew their offer to instal a plant Received.

Electrical E.xrpet. -- Mr Cbenery Suggate offered his .services.—Referred to Lighting Committee. Footpath Formation. • Messrs St. Hill and Walker asked for a footpath in King street a'ong section S block 'l2. Mr G. L. Otway wrote asking for the drain opposite sections 7!\ and 11 King street, to be filled in.--The letters were received, and it was decided to call for tenders to have the work done.

Closing of Native Cemetery. A deputation consisting of Messrs J. Iletet and Pepene Eketone and Geo. Hetet waited on the Council. —Mr Eketone explained that the cemetery was not a public burial ground, but only a private family burial ground. —Cr Hardy said he was to make the motion on behalf of Cr Lusk, who was absent, but if the Council thought: tit he would withdraw it.—The Mayor moved that Cr Hardy be permitted to withdraw his motion, and this was carried. —The Mayor said he iiad never heard any Councillor except Cr Lusk advance any reasons why the cemetery should be closed, and as he understood it was a private grourd, and further, that in spite of any proceedings the Council might take, the ground could still be used by private persons interested, he thought no good purpose would be served by going any further in the matter.—This was generally agreed to by the Council and the deputation withdrew satisfied. Water Area agreement. —It was decided to have the agreement with Messrs Gillanders and Weir signed by two Councillors.

Trespass by Fowls.—Mr J. A. Johnston complained that Mr John Carr was allowing his fowls to do damage on his property in Rora street, and although he had complained to Mr Carr, no effort had been made by him to confine them. He hoped relief could be obtained from the by-lawn. —Cr Sims said that trespass could be remedied by wringing their necks.

--The Clerk said the bye-law? provided that fowls had to be confined to the owners' property, if a nuisance to neighbours. It was decided to write complainant th..t the remedy was in his own hand?.

Conveniences for Native Gathering. —Mr Pepene Eketone wrote for permission to erect conveniences. The application was granted, subject to the approval of Health Department.

Drain in Duke Street and Ngatia Street. A number of owners of property petitioned the Council to put in a drain, so that the sections might be made fit to build on.—lt was decided to include the drain in the George street contract. Leave for Taking Oiay.--Messrs Jones and Hudson applied for permission to remove clay from the Council's cutting in Carroll Street to gain access to their section. Permission was granted, pleasure being expressed at the starting of a brick-making industry in Te Kuiti.

Removing Earth.—Mr T. R. Capp applied for permission to remove earth to give an entrance to his section in Rimu street. —Received, and permission given.

. Water for Railway Department.— The General Manager wrote that they could not take the supply, as it was too dear.—-Received.

Tent Dwellers.—Strong complaints were lodged by two residents as to the habits of tent dwellers along the river bank, the writers alleging that the sanitation was disgusting and the drunken orgies a disgrace to the town, while river bathing was indulged in without sufficient dress being worn. —lt was decided to give the offenders 14 days' notice to quit.

Building permit. —Mr John Canagain asked for a building permit for his section 20, Rimu street, and stated in his letter that he had not been building, but merely put in a few posts to fix the levels. -A complaint had been lodged that piles were being put in for the new house.—The matter was referred to the Building Inspector and left in his hands. Works Committee Report. The Works Committee reported, recommending that no footbridge be made at Sheridan street; that W. Brown be notified when applications are called for a road-roller driver; that the footpath be formed in Tawa street to give access to section 16 and 18, Te Kuiti Village settlement; that an arbitration clause be inserted in all contracts; that all works be carried out by contract; that the Rata street specifications be approved; that the Tawhana street contract be approved, subject to the culvert at King street being altered to 6 feet wide and 4 feet deep; that Hattaway and FitzpatricU's cartiiig tender be accepted; that W. A. Cantlon be paid 40 per cent, of dog fees collected; that the Mangaorino road be formed and metalled as far as the broken metal will permit; that a contract be prepared for a footpath in King street; that the culvert near Cowper's on the Esplanade be extended and the footpath made over the part; and that applications be invited for a surfaceman at a salary of 9g per day.- -Discussion rose over the Sheridan street footbridge, the general feeling being that with the metalled road now being made on the otliar side of the river, although it was a little further round by the King street bridge, residents' difficulties had been largely relieved. —The report was adopted.

Engineer's Report.—ln view of the strictures thai have been passed both in the Council and in the press on the breastwork at the east end of Rora street, I feel it incumbent on me to report to you on this work, Riving a short resume of what occurred prior to the present work being inaugurated. You will remember that it was originally intended to cut through the tongue of land .immediately opposite the breastwork, erect a deflector to

lead the water into th« new cut through the above mentioned tongue of land, and then (ill up the old river ! bed to Ta feet wider than the old read. I Prior, however, to (be present work ' being started in March last :i visit was paid by the then Works Committer to the other side of the rm, )•. ami on, my ; pointing out what a very mueh better site in every w:iy for diverting their river. though more expensive, was one almost parallel to the. street forming 'be extension of the Esplanade on the eastern side of section "P." The Committee, I think 1 :un right in say ing, unanimously agreed with me. Further it was, subsequently ascertained, prior to the present work beitie. inaugurated, that the Railway opim the ground right up to the water's edge at the new widened portion. facts oomhim d with the oncertainty of what, the requirements, in a position such as this, in a town like ; Te Kuili may be within (Iv no. ( few year led nie !n design the present, manner of retaining the earth, whuh, if in a few years is found of sufficient width, could be far-en tip with, a per tnanent wall of concrete e-r limestone masonry at one third the cost of what an ordinary retaining wall cnuid have been built to retain the earth without, the intervention of fascines and hand laid limestone. Complaint has. 1 believe been made about the tincveniicss of the foot] ath, but what: can be expected of an eighteen foot filling during the first few months, and it has. been purposely left by me to settle during this winter, I had measured up months ago the amount o> outside kerbing necessary to bring' the level up to an even grade after most of the subsidence would have taken place. Had an ordinary retaining wall been erected, the subsidence would have taken place just the same. I think some members of the Council could picture what, would have been the state of this corner on e'e of the arterial roads into Kuifi, had they waited to acquire the Maori land on the opposite side of the river under the P üblic Works Act, with the Railway Department having fenced the road off leaving a width of under IP fret, for the traffic both vehicular and pedestrian, and on top of this (he laying of the water main, which would probably have been hung up. The cost of piping and sheathing with filling at present width would have cost .L'nfiO and with concrete retaining wall ,'JIMO. .imTO was allocated to the work and .i'.'b"),", spent ■ so that over £2OO of the amount, re- | mains for any improvemenst which i time, may prove to be necessary.- i

The report was received. Cy Forsyth held that if would have been cheaper in the long run to have had a timber breastwork.

Cr Julian said he had .always stuck out for a deviation, and if that were done it would be a less expense than the present structure.

The Mayor said after careful deliberation the Council had entrusted the work to the Engineer. Cr \ ouug had said the Engineer had been instructed by Hie Works Commifiee. The question seemed to he one of the opinion of (lie Engineer ami an individual Councillor. Surely they should have confidence in their Engineer. lie certainly bore out the statement of the Engineer that the Railway Department claimed the whole of the road, a matter of 40 feet. Cr Forsyth said it was not a matter of engineering, but a matter of fact. A plan had been produced which was not a plan and it was not to bo expected that, any man could see into the Engineer's brain.

Cr Tammage said a penny wise pound foolish policy had been pursued. If the land had been secured under (he Public Works Act. a very valuable piece of land could have been obtained for the borough.

The Mayor said that was exactly his idea hut, the cost of leveling up would have been more than the land was worth.

Night-soil Reserve. The Mayor said the only place available for depositing soil was tho pound reserve, and complaints had been made by adjoining owners. He did not know what they could do. He had promised to bring the matter up. He merely made his report so that Council .and public might; know the difficulties before them, and unless they had a proper site he did not know what they would do. The Mayor mentioned that the clearing of the willows in (he Mangapu had enabled that wafer to get away very much bettor and possibly the clearing of the Managokewa would have a like effect,, Cr Finlay said the natives were making a great; point, of the flooding, and he moved that Pr MakgiM be written to and invited to v;s'd. Te M:iP at, the earliest possible moment.so thai tho matter could be explained,- -Tne motion was carried.

Library, Reading Room and Council Chambers.—Messrs Jones and .Limes. architects, waited on the Council with reference to plans for the above, which they submitted to the Council. —After the architects retired a ballot was taken and the voting being exactly equal—l votes each way—the press representative drew one of (wo papers from a hat and Mr Jones' name being on it, he was appointed architect and his plan accepted, subject to variation by the Works Committee.