TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 462, 4 May 1912, Page 3

TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MAYORAL INSTALLATION. A meeting of the Borough Council was held at Te Kuiti on Wednesday night, when the newly-elected Mayor, Mr E. H. Hardy, was duly installed in office. After Mr Hardy had made the customary declaration, Cr Lusk said he was glad to welcome the new Mayor to office. He had every confidence that the Mayor would receive every support from the Council, and that he would have not only a pleasant but a successful term. Mr Hardy had been a member of the Council from its inception, and had done highly useful work. He had much pleasure in extending a welcome to him. Cr Julian also expressed pleasure at being able to welcome the new Mayor. He trusted his road throughout would be level and smooth.

Cr Young, in extending a welcome, said he had every confidence the Council would work amicably and in the best spirit for the good of the town. The new Mayor was taking office with a strenuous time ahead. The heat and burden of the day would require to be borne by the new Council. There were large wurks ahead in the shape of the lighting scheme and reading. In respect to roads the Council had £IO,OOO to work on. Of that amount £4500 had been expended, leaving a balance of £3500 with the crusher. There was yet £7OO to be expended in formation work leaving an amount of £2BOO. This would leave about 500 chains at £6 per chain. It was manifest they would again have to go to the ratepayers in order to do the work ahead with any degree of satisfaction. A large amount of work would be necessary on Rora street and it was an urgent matter. He was sure the new Mayor was the right man in the right place, and it afforded him great pleasure to welcome Mr Hardy to the Mayoral chair. Cr Tammadge expressed similar sentiments and'extended a hearty welcome to the Mayor.

His Worship, in reply, expressed his thanks for the sympathy and good will extended to him. He was fully aware of the responsibility attaching to the position of Mayor of Te Kuiti, and would always strive to uphold thfl honour and dignity of the place. Te Kuiti was well known as an advancing town and its public requirements were growing. No business could be carried out without capital and raising capital meant the payment of interest. This was produced by rates and had to be faced. Personally, he. was one of the largest ratepayers and did not intend to spare himself in his endeavour to adV-Sflpe the place- They should try aritnfccomplis'u as much as had been done by the past administration and that was saying a good dea'l. He again thanked the Councillors for their cordial expressions. SPECIAL MEETING. The special meeting for the purpose of confirming the by-law 3 was held, the Mayor presiding. The confirming motion was duly passed, tne by-law to come into force on May 9th. A resolution was also passed ordering the by-law to be printed as read.

Endowments and Reserves. The Mayor stated he had been endeavouring to put matters in train with a view to the Borough being able to obtain certain lands for endowments and reserves. Jlc had been in touch with Messrs John Hetet, Pepene Eketone and others, and was pleased to announce that Mr Hetet had signified his willingness to set aside an area of three acres, in a suitable position, as a Hospital Reserve. There was also a prospect of being able to obtain a considerable area from the Government as a special endowment for the town. If matters proceeded as he hopel and anticipated they would shortly be able to come to a satisfactory arrangement in the matter. The new Prime Minister was anxious to help in the matter and he (the Mayor) would be glad to proceed to Wellington as soon as there was a prospect of completing arrangements. He had recently been to Rotorua and had been able to acquire some information which should be. of great assistance to the Council in working out the electric lighting scheme.

The Councillors expressed their approval of the Mayor'.4 actions and passed a resolution thanking him for his efforts and leaving the various matters mentioned in his hands to deal with.

King Street Bridge. —A letter was read from the engineer stating that it would be. necessary to re-deck the bridge in order to make it safe to carry the crusher. Cr Julian said he lelt strongly on this subject. The matter of putting the bridge in a fit state had been left in the hands of the engineer and there was no necessity for him to write to the Council regarding the matter. There had been a great deal too much delay already and there was no need for the engineer to beat time in this fashion. He moved that the engineer be written to drawing attention to the fact that he had already been authorised to do the work which the Council hoped would have been done promptly, and that the Council protest against the deliberate delay which had taken place. Cr Tammadge seconded the motion, Cr Young in speaking to the motion said one of the most important works in view was the placing of the crusher on the site. The Council was subject to adverse criticism over the delay and it was monstrous tha.t the matter should be hung up as it had been.

Metal Binns. —On the motion of Grs Young and Finlay the clerk was instructed to write to the contractors for the metal binns informing them that the time limit to the contract for the erection of the binns would be adhered to.

Councillor's Resignation.—Cr Sims wrote tendering his resignation as a Councillor, and expressing thanks for the courtesy and consideration which had been extended to him on the Council. — On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Julian, Cr Sims' resignation was accepted with regret, arid a minute be placed on the books recording the Council's appreciation of the excellent work performed by Cr Sims. Awakino Road. —<in the motion of Cr Lusk seconded by Cr Julian, it was decided to place a few loads of gravel on the Awakino roaJ. in places where the metal was wearing 'through. Hill Street Mains. —On the motion of Crs Julian and Finlay, it was decided that no tender for laying the mains in Hill street be accepted, the matter to be left in the hands of thy Works Committee with pow«r to act.

Ngntni Street —lt was resolved on the motion of Crs Juiian and Finlay that no tender for the Ngatai street work be accepted. The River Road. —The 3tate of the road aiong the river bank between Rata street and the Mangaorina road was referred to by Cr Julian who said he had recommended that work, which had been done with the spoil from the quarry site. It waa in a very bad state and he suggested that the filling should be paved with spauls and metalled. It was a case of making the best of a bad job and he would like to see it done. —It was resolved that the work be done and that Cr Julian be requested to supervise it. An Appreciation.—Cr Young said he thought the Council should take the opportunity of placing on record the Council's appreciation of the valuable services which had been performed by the late Mayor (Mr Boddie) on behalf of the Borough. He paid a high tribute to Mr Boddie for his affotrs in promoting the welfare of the Borough, and said he felt sure they all wpre grateful in being privileged to have the services uf such an able leader. He moved that the Council place on record its high appreciation of Mr Boddie's services and its regret at his loss from the Council. The motion which was seconded by tha Mayor and supported by the Councillors, was passed unanimously. Leaks in Water Mains.—A letter was read from th 9 engineer referring to the leaks in the water mains and stating that the same were not due tu faulty work before or during the laying. The full force of the water had been turned on under conditions which 1 would in many cases have wrecked similar works. —Cr Julian said he understood similar trouble had been experienced with the same sort of pipes at Otahuhu. He suggested the clerk should be instructed to write to the Otahuhu Board and get the opinion of that body as to the cause of the trouble in that place.—The clerk was instructed accordingly. Drainage Works —On the motion of Crs Lusk and Young it was decided to hand over the pipe applied for by Mr Spencer. On the suggestion of the Mayor it was resolved that a book be kept at the Council's office for the purpose of recording complaints or suggestions by the public or Councillors and that the foreman be requested to attend daily and insDect the book. •