TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 525, 11 December 1912, Page 5

TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Te Kuiti Borough Council waa held on Monday evening. There were present his Worship the Mayor (Cr E. H. Hardy), and Cr3 Julian, Somervilie, Lusk, Tammadge and Walsh Leave of absence was granted to Cr Jones. Cr Floyd's resignation was received and accepted with regret. Outstanding Ratta. —On the motion of Crs Walsh and Somerville it was resolved that the clerk be instructed to place all outstanding rates, licenses and fees in the hands of the borough solicitor, with instructions to sue defaulters forthwitn. Sanitary Site.—The borough solicitor reported that the compensation assessed by the Native Land Court amounted to £27 10? per acre. —The clerk was instructed to pay the natives the sum of £2Bl 18s in settlement of the claim. Water Connection With Te Kumi Pah. Messrs Earl, Kent and Howarth wrote requesting that the borough water be laid on to the Te Kumi pahas per argeement. —The engineer was instructed to have the mains laid at once. Julian's Sub-division. Messrs Broadfoot and Finlay wrote on behalf of Mr A. Julian applying for the consent of the Borough Council to a proposed sub-division of section 12, block 19, Te Kuiti, plans of which were submitted. —The council resolved that the matter be referred to the Legal and Finance Committee to report on same, and pending a revision of the by-laws dealing with i minimum areas.

Backblocks Association. —The Waitomo County Council wrote requesting the borough to state where, in their opinion, the next meeting of the association should be held and asking for remits to be forwarded before the end of December. The clerk was instructed to apply for copies of all remits already received so that same might be considered by the council at its next meeting. The opinion of the meeting wag that the next meeting of the association should be held at Kawhia. Swing Gate.—Mr W. Cantlon asked permission to erect a swing gate across South and John streets. —Resolved that the necessary permission be granted conditionally upon the council reserving the right to revoke same at any time. Slip in Rata Street. —Mr J. A. Johnston wrote re slip on road in Rata street. —Engineer 'instructed to attend to same. Footpath in Alexandra Street.— Mr Dooley requested the council to attend to the footpath in tront of his section in Alexandra street. The engineer was instructed to attend to same. Ngatai Street.—The engineer was instructed to attend to this street at once. Fire Brigade.—The Fire Brigade forwarded a request for brigade ap pliances. —Referred to the Fire Prevention Committee. Municipal Band. —The secretary of the Municipal Band forwarded an application for the council's annual subsidy of £3O. —The treasurer was instructed to pay same. Station' Gate. —In reply to a request made by the Borough Council for a gate in fence at the north-eastern end of the station yard, the district engineer replied stating he had given instructions for the gate to be erected as asked for. The notice of motion by Cr Somerville that the motion to acquire 20 acres of land for recreation ground be rescinded, was not carried. Water Tables and Drains. —It was resolved on the motion of Crs Julian and Luak that the engineer be instructed to put men on the work of cleaning out all water tables and drains throughout the Borough. vVater Supply to Railway Station — On the motion of Cr Lusk and the Mayor, it was resolved that the Borough offer to supply the Railway Department with water at the rate of 6d per 1000 gallons. Resolved that Cr Somerville be appointed a member of the Legal and Finance Committee. Cr Lusk gave notice of motion to muve at the next meeting of the Council that "with regard to the bylaw as to limit of building areas, this Council do now insert in the said bylaw, before the printing and legalising thereof, that the Council shall have power in all cases where the road frontages are small ana the area behind large, to grant permission in their discretion, to allow building where lesser frontage is available, but a larger area thfcn a fifth of an acre. Referred to the Legal and Finance Committtee,

TREASURERS' REPORT. Loans. I duly received from Messrs Bunny and Ayson, through the Bank of New Zeaalnd, on November 16th, 1912, the whole of the £IBSO Municipal Buildings and Fire Station loan, and a first instalment of £IOOO on the £7035 Electric Lighting loan, also a second instalment of £IOOO upon this loan on December 9th, 1912. Loan No. 3. £IBSO. —I have transferred a sura of £1204 from this loan to the District Fund account, this being the actual amount which the council had previously expended out of the District Fund account in anticipation of the receipt of this loan money. There now remains to the credit of this loan account a balance of £643, and as there are no outstanding liabilities against the amount with the exception of the payment of the first year's interest, it is for the cpmmitee to state what shall be done with the money in hand. I might here mention that the Municipal Building will very shortly require to be wired throughout in readiness for the vinstallation of the electric light; and the proper ventilation of

wuuld consider it advisable to fence oft" the whole of the section right through to Taupiri street after the completion of the power station. Loan No. 4. £7o3s.—With regard to the Electric Lighting loan, I have transferred a yum of £33 to the District Fund account, this being the amount which had been previously expended out of the Dislricii Fund account in anticipation Ol the loan. The sum of £340 has been paid to Mr W. Fullerton, upon the certificate of the consulting engineer, on account of his contract for tna erection of tha power station; also a sum of £159 to Mr a. I. Crockes, on account of his professional fee; leaving a credit balance at the bank of £1453, and a sum of £5035 yet to draw from Messrs Bunny and Ayson. Loan No. 2, £27,275. There is at date a balance of £1663 to the credit of this loan. In accordance with instructions received I have made formal application to the New Zealand State - Guaranteed Advances Office for a further advance of an additional sum of 10 per cent, upon the amount of the loan, and I expect to receive a reply to my communication in the course of a few days. District Fund Account.—The overdraft at date stands at £1282. Current Rates.—Last year the rate demands were sent out in the month of November but this year they have been considerably delayed owing to my having to wait delivery of a revised Valuation Roll from the ValuerGeneral to enable me to compile my rate book, which work I am engaged upon at the present time and hope to have all the demands out before the end of this month.'

Outstanding Rates.—l would respectfully draw the committee's attention to the accompanying list of outstanding rates amounting to £215, some of which date as far back as the year 1909. All these defaulters have now received a copy of the attached "final notice" requesting them to discharge their liability to the council before the 10th December, 1912. Since despatching such notices a few payments of rates have been made, but not -nearly as many as I had anticipated 1 would be pleased to receive definite instructions from the council W'th reference to the collection of all rates remaining outstanding after the 10th inst Licenses.- -I have experienced considerable difficulty in collecting billiard room, hall, lodging houses, dangerous goods, carts, and other sundry annual licenses, and would be pleased to receive instructions from tns committee upon the matter.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. Thirteen chains of metalling has been put do-vn on the Te Kumi road, and is now being blinded. When sufficient blinding has been put on the whole will be rolied and consolidated. The metalling of the portion from the bridge to the borough boundary will be carried out from the Te Kumi road quarry as soon as metal can be procured tnere. Holes have been filled in on the Manaorino road, Matai street and Jennings street near the quarry. A coramancement has been made with the metalling of King street west, and when completed will give access to' Hill street. Ward street will next be undertaken, the work in Hill street can than be carried on from both ends. King street bridge is now re-decked and will be completed in a few days. The work has been delayed owing to the carpenters employed leaving,and through not having quite sufficient timber for the hand-railing. General maintenance work has been carried out and several water connections made. The expenditure during the month has been as follows:—Te Kumi road £64 9s sd, Tawa street £2l 2s lid, Matai street £4 12s, Mangaorino road £l6 19s 4d, Jennings street £9 6s Sd, King street west £3?. 14s lid, general maintenance £2 19s Id, King street bridge £ls ss, water connections, watering streets, etc. £ls lis 9d. The proposed sub-division of section 15, block 19, Te Kuiti town, is in order and can be appruved. —<S. B. DODGE, Engineer.