TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 559, 16 April 1913, Page 5

TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The above council met on Monday evening last, when there were present —His Worship the Mayor (Mr E H. Hardy), Cre Lusk, Julian, Jones, Walsh, Tammadge, Lever, Graham and Somerville.

It was resolved that applications be called for the position of poundkeeper. Upon the advice of the Borough solicitor it was resolved that compensation be paid to Mrs Mabbett in regard to her section adjoining the Borough Council's property. Valuation Assessment Court. —lt was resolved that Mr F. Vercoe be asked to appear on behalf of the Borough Council at the next sitting of the Valuation Assessment Court. The town clerk of the Woodville Borough Council wrote asking the Te Kuiti Borough Council to support a resolution dealing with the taxation of motor cars and motor bicycles.— On the motion of Crs Somerville and Walsh it was decided that no action be taken.

Plumbing Work. The district health officer suggested that he should be authorised by the Borough Council to supervise all new plumbing work and to grant a certificate for work satisfactorily completed according to by-laws.—lt was resolved that this request be acceded to. A communication was received from the Mayor of Auckland requesting the council to subscribe to the H.M.S. New Zealand entertainment fund.—On the motion of the Mayor seconded by Cr Somerville it was resolved that the borough donate £5 to the fund.

An appeal was also made for contributions to the Girls' Friendly Society.—lt was resolved that an endeavour be made to give assistance as requested. Messrs Earl, Kent and Howarth wrote re right-of-way leading to Messrs Shields and Sanvig's properties through Mr Reid's property at the northern end of Rata street.—On the motion of Crs Walsh and Lusk the request was granted. Discussion took place re ground fenced in by the Railway Department. —lt was resolved that a letter be forwarded to the department in connection with this matter and that Crs Somerville and Graham, when in Wellington, interview the Minister. Resolved that £2O from the District fund be spent on Seddon street. Resolved that as a quarry on Mr Gadsby'H property was being taken by the borough under the Public Works Act, he be given the usual twenty-four hours' notice. Mr Gadsby's request that the quarry should be securely fenced, was granted. It was resolved that the electrical engineer's office be connected with the telephone. Resolved that Cr Julian be authorised to expend; the balnace of the £lO vote no the Domain ground. On the motion of Crs Jones and Walsh, it was reßolved that the health officer be asked to draft rules for the use of those making sanitary connections.

A vote of thanks was passed to Cr Luak for attending the conference held at Hamilton in connection with the Auckland Exhibition. Cr Lusk reported that, in his opinion, it would be wise to have a separate King Country court.

Before the meeting closed the Mayor thanked the council for the courtesy extended to him during his term of office, and stated that he had no regrets for the past and no fears for the future of the borough. He thought that under Mr Boddie's guidance bor ough affairs would be carried but in a businesslike and dignified manner. Crs Somerville, Julian, Walsh, and Graham spoke of the kindly consideration always shown by the Mayor, and their appreciation of his good services, and hoped he they would see him back at the table as a councillor. The Waiteti road tender was let to Mr L. Newport provided that the engineer is satisfied that the contractor has allowed for all work in full ac cordauce with the specifications. Balances. —District fund overdraft £794 8s 6d, Loan No 2. cr. £945 10s Bd, Loan No. 3 cr.£46 15s, Loan No. 4 cr. £2769 19s 4d, Electric Light account cr. £l3.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. I have to report on the works in progress as follows: — Rora Street.—lßJ chains of foundation work are now completed and awaiting metalling. The connection at the lower end, opposite the school, and the approach to the railway crossing, a length of four and a half chains, is completed with the exception of a little more blinding and rolling and rolling. Hill Street. —lOf chains of this road from Hetet street towards King street has had the foundation put down and spalls are on the road for the balance, a distance of four and three-quarter chains.

Duke street. Seven and a half chains of forming has been done and four and a half chains of foundation work is down.

Quarry.—Some difficulty has arisen in connection with the quarry belonging to the County Council. That body are afraid of the quantity of stone being taken out. This matter is dealt with in a report of the Works Committee called to deal with it.

Drainage. Six connections have been made to the sewerage system, and I anticipate a large number of further applications during the next few weeks.

Waiteti Road Metalling. Tenders have been called for this work and will be suDtnitted for consideration tonight. Kerbing and Channelling. Plans and specifications are prepared for this.oand tenders will be called immediately. Cost of SpaUing.— As instructed at last meeting I herewith submit the cost of obtaining spalls. The average cost including stripping in quarry, blasting, spalling and loading into drays as Is 7d per cubic yard. Carting amounts to an average of Is 9d per

cubic yard, and laying 3sd per cubic yard—a total laid on the road of 3s 7Jd par cubic yard. .

Waterworks. —A number of water services have been put in, and several leaks in the mains repaired. A commencement will be made during the next week or so with the extension of the water mains along the Te Kumi road to the Maori pah.

Expenditure. —The expenditure on wages and carting for the period March 3rd to April 12th, inclusive, has been as follows: —Rora street £323 13s 9d, Hill street £7l 3s 9d, Duke street £2Ol 2s 7d, Ward street £ls 17s sd, District fund £3l 7s 7d. Surface Drainage. Plans and specifications for surface water drainage in King street and Sheridan street will be prepared during the week, and I would ask authority to call for tenders for the carrying out of the work. —S. B. DODGE, Borough Engineer.

WORKS, WATER, AND DRAINAGE COMMITTEE. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Lusk (chairman), and Graham. Te Kumi Quarry,—The Borough Engineer having reported verbally that the Waitomo County Council had requested him to cease taking metal from this quarry, as the amount which the borough were taking at the present time was too big a drain on the quarry, the committee resolved to make the following recommendation to the council:—"That the council immediately proceed to take under 'The Public Works Act, 1908,' a piece of land adjoining the Te Kumi quarry for the purpose of a Boroueh quarry reserve, and that the engineer be authorised to arrange with Mr A. W. Cheal to prepare a survey plan of the piece of land required, and further that the town clerk be instructed to request the Borough solicitor to prepare the necessary papers and documents, etc., in connection with the matter." Asphalte Plant.—lt was resolved to recommend to the council: "That the Borough engineer be authorised tu order the following material and machines: Asphalts making machine and plant, road sweeper, tar spreading machine, plough and scoop at a cost of £l2 10s." The report was confirmed.

FINANCE, LEGAL AND ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE. Present Cra Somerville (chairman),Walsh and Jones. Assistant Electrical Engineer. A communication was submitted from Mr Crooked intimating that Mr A. S. Champtaloup will be unable to take up the position of assistant electircal engineer.—The committee report having instructed*the town clerk to inform Mr H. P. Rhodes of Auckland, that be will be appointed to the position of at a meeting of the council to be held on April 14th, 1913. The town clerk submitted a reply to his letter to Mr Rhodes stating that he will not be able to take up the duties until May 9th, 1913. Under the circumstances the'committee authorised Mr Bartley, electrical engineer, to engage a wireman at Is 4d per hour to assist him in wiring up connections to private premises, until such time as Mr Rhodes arrives to take up his duties.

Defence Department.—An application was received from Captain Burgess for the erection of a street lamp opposite the recreation grounds, which would materially assist the territorials in their drills in the evenings on dark nights. —lt was resolved to recommend that a lamp be placed opposite the recreation grounds for the benefit of the Defence Department. Telephones.—The electrical engineer made application for a telephone to be installed in the power station, and the borough, engineer and town clerk applied for a telephone connection to their respective residences. —The town clerk was instructed to interview the postmaster and obtain information from him with regard to the installation of a private party wire for the council which would connect up all these premises by switches, including the offices, and to report to the meeting of the council. Fire Station.—lt was resolved to recommend that the Fire Brigade Station be connected with the sewerage system; and that the question of installing electric light in the building be left in the hands of the chairman of the Fire Prevention and Sanitation Committee and Mr Bartley, with power to act. Loan £27,000. The town clerk was instructed to renew the council's application to the New Zealand State- j guaranteed Advances Office for the 10 per cent, additional on this loan. Requisition on Rating on Unimproved Value.—The committee beg to report having examined the requisition siened by ratepayers demanding that a poll be taken upon the proposal to adopt the system of rating on the basis of the unimproved value, which was submitted to a meeting of the council held on March 10th, 1913, and referred to the committee with authority to take such *teps as are necessary under the Act, and we find that out of the 68 signatures upon such requisition, only 49 are actual ratepayers withing the meaning of section 37 sub-section 1 of "The Rating Act, 1908," which stipulates that the requisition must bear at least 15 per cent, of the ratepayers' signatures upon the full number on the Government Valuation Roll. The number on the roll of this borough totals 400, which would thus require 60 bona-fide signatures. The committee therefore have no alternative but to report that the requisition is out of order, and cannot be considered any further by

the council. Financial. —It was resolved to recommend that the council's annual contribution towards the district health officer's salary be increased £5 per annum. —Accounts amounting to £352 173 Id were p-s3ed for payment. —An account amounting to £2l 10s from A. and G. Price, Ltd., for a 24in Pelton wheel was referred to the Works Committee. The repja adopted.