TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 626, 10 December 1913, Page 5

TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Te Kuiti Borough Council was held on Monday evening. There were present- his Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Boddie). Grs Matthew, Graham, Mabbett, Sorr.ervillr, Walsh, Mostyn Jones, Martin, and M. J. Jones. Leave of absence was graned to Cr Howarth. Tawa Street Connection. —Mr E. M. Donaldson wrote enclosing plan and specification and schedule of quantities for the connection between Rimu street and Tawa street—The Mayor said the money for this work had been provided and the fee simple of the land had been acquired by those interested. Valuable work had been done by Mr Donaldson and everything to facilitate the completion of the connection should be done by the Council.—Resolved that the matter be referred to the Works Committee with power to act. Mangaorino Road Loan.—A letter wsa read from Messrs Broadfoot and Finlay, solicitors to the Waitomo County Council, intimating that as the form of agreement signed by the borough in connection with the Mangaorino loan was not in accordance with the terms agreed upon the County Council refused to execute the agreement and would collect the special rate within the borough.—The Mayor

said the position could not have been jnderstood otherwise there would have been no contention over the document. The borough agreed to pay £ls to the county unconditionally and made an extremely good bargain by doing so. He was one of those who entered into the original agreement and was satisfied with it. He suggested the matter be referred to t.ie Legal and Finance Committee with a view to having the original agreement carried out. A Neglected Road. —Mr T. Porter wrote with respect to the road past his property and requested that it be completed properly during the summer and the footpath formed. He also suggested an electric lamp should be placed at the east corner of the bowl ing green.—Cr Walsh supported the application, which was referred to the Works Committee to report and, with respect to the footpath to act. Hikaka Street. V. Kirk wrote drawing attention to the damage tc drains and suggesting that something be done.—Cr Matthew said a little attention at present would save a great deal in future, and suggested all the open drains should be similarly treated. —The foreman said the matter was dealt with in his report. King Street. H. Vause wrote stating it was impossible to - get material to his residence in course of erection, and requesting that repairs should be made. —Referred to •Works Committee. Ngatai Street.—R. L. Birch wrote concerning Ngatai and George street. —Referred to Works Committee. Ratepayer's Association. —A letter was received from the secretary of the Ratepayers' and Citizens' Association, expressing regret at a resolution passed by the council and requesting that specific instances should be furnished when the. actions of the association could be classed as intolerable impertinence." Resolved that the letter lie on the table.—Cr Walsh in speaking to the motion said the association represented three or four individuals*. They were like the three tailors of Tooley street, and should not be noticed by the council. Stone Crusher. Cr Walsh requested information concerning the alterations recently effected to the crusher; whether they were satisfactory, what amount was being turned out, and what it was costing.—The foreman stated the alterations had made considerable improvement and the machine was turning out about 40 yards a day under disadvantageous conditions. The metal was being put on the road at a cost of 63 per yard. Mr Dix stated when the motor power was installed the plant would do considerably better.—The Mayor said the delay in getting the permanent engine installed at the power house had hampered the work at the crusher, hut the council could not afford to hold up crushing operations. The season was advancing and they had to get as much metal ag possible during the summer.

Sanitary Reserve. —Three tenders | were received for the grazing on the | sanitary reserve. The dairy factory ] tender of £ls per annum was accepted. Borough Saleysrds. Cr Mostyn Jones drew attention to the desirability of establishing municipal saleyards. He suggested information on the subject should be obtained from places where such yards had been established, and also from the auctioneering firms with a view to action. —A°cornmittee consisting of Crs Matthew, Somervilie, Martin and Jones was appointed to go into the matter and report. FOREMAN'S REPORT. General: During the month the general routine work in connection with the borough has been carried out. Several footpaths have been attended to owing to washouts occurring through the excessive rain lately. The foot bridge facing the old quarry became dangerouß, and has been rebuilt. There was also a washout in King street, this also has been repaired. Watertables: Owing to the wet season these have got very bad all over the borough. It is generally the rule to leave these until the approach of winter, but owing to so much rain, there has been a considerable amount of damage done to the roads. There are at present a gang of men on them, and I propose to have the whole of the watertables in the borough cleaned out. Storm Water Ditches: These ditches are at present in a very bad condition all over the borough, being completely blocked up with undergrowth causing the water to back up, and doing damage to sections and footpaths. I should like the council's opinion of having the whole lot cleaned out after the water tables have been completed. Breastwork, Kora street: During the heavy floods lately a portion oi this was washed

away. This has been fenced and made safe. I might mention tfaiat there are several places in the breastwork that are not safe and liable to slip any time. Kerb and Channelling: During ! the month 12 chains of kerb and chanI nelling has been completed in Rora I street, namely, from Burley's corner Ito Green and Colebrook's. Total esI penditure on same —Cament £l7 Is 3d, gravel £4 10s, labour £ll4 Is 6d, total £33 5s 9d. Sheridan Street Storm Water Drainage: To ease the water tables in carrying off the storm water a 9in drain was laid up Sheridan street from the river, a distance of 10 chains, then two Gin branches were laid in Rors street, one from Sheridan street running west, and one from King street running west a distance of five chains. At the head of each branch an intercepting sump is being placed to guard against any possible chance of flooding the main street. Total expenditure to date on same—£3o. Rora Street Formation: Formation of this street is being carried on and should be completed at an early date. Owing to the weather the supp'y of gravel has been somewhat less than usual, but should the weather keep fine a plentiful supply will be available. When taking levels I found the present crown of the road was too high, this is

being lowered, and should when completed give the road a fine ;appearnace. Total expenditure to date on same—26!yds metal £33 6s 3d, 140?-yds shingle £35 3s 9d, labour £52 17a 2d, total £l2l 7s 2d. Quarrying, Te Kumi: Crushing with the steam roller is still proceeding at Te Kumi quarry. As soon as the motor is in stalled at the quarry I propose to bring the roller into Rora street to get it consolidated so 33 to go on with the asphalting of the road as soon as possible. Mixing Asphalt: Mixing asphalt for footpaths has been carried on the whole of the month. There is now sufficient macadam mixed (o complete Rora street from Sutton's corner to the river. Total asphalt mixed to date 27-syds. Total expenditure on same—Shingle £7S 15s, tar £6S 15s, labour £6B 15s Gd, total £216 2s 6d. Sewers: These are being carefully attended to and at present are in a good condition. The present lamp hole covers in Rora street are not very satisfactory, they are made of concrete and will not look well when the road is finished. I would like the council's opinion of procuring enough cast iron lamp hole covers for Rora street as the present ones are not satisfactory. Bylaws: Seeing the amount of damage that has been done to the concrete kerb and channel in Rora street. lam going to ask the council to allow me to strictly enforce the by-law dealing with horses crossing the footpaths. If this is not put a stop to a considerable amount of damage will still be done. I might also mention about the way shopkeepers sweep their rubbish on to the footoaths, which is contrary to the bylaws.—Thomas Dix, Bvrough Foreman. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT. I beg to submit the following as ray report for the month ending December Bth, 1913: Applications for Supply: Ten more have been registered, and seven have been connected to the supply mains, making a total of 169 registered, and 151 connected to the mains. Net Work- The supply during the past month has been subjected to many interruptions caused principally by the boisterous weather, but no time has been lost in clearing faults and maintaining the supply. The consulting engineer was communicated with to this effect, ar.d made a general inspection of the lines, on 3rd inst., and will be making his report to the council direct. Engine: The permanent engine haß bean delivered at the power station, and is now in course of erection. Recommendation: That the disposal of storm water from the power station, crid the draining in connection with the gas producer, be put in hand as soon as possible. —R. H- Bartley, Engineer.

FINANCE AND LEGAL COMMITTEE. The following recommendations by the Finance and Legal Committee were adopted:—Dam Contract: That the payment of £IOO be made to Mr L. G. P. Spencer on account of his dam contract, subject to the chairman of the Works Committee certifying that the material aa specified on the site, and the account in order. Davis and Porteous: That Messrs Davis and Porteous' account, amounting to £52 7s Gd for supplying plan of the permanent levels of the borough, be paid subject to the Works Committee first approving of the plans completed. Rates on Section 5 Block 6, Te Kuiti Township, Roll No. 514: That Mr E. V. Warmington's application for a remission of half the year's rate 3 on this property, for the rating period 1913-14, be granted under the terms of section tf4 sub-section B of the "Rating A :t, 1908," he claiming exemption owing to the shops and rooms being unoccupied for a period of over six months during the year. Mr Darbyshire's Water Rate and Connection Fee: That the whole question of dispute in this matter together with all the papers dealing with the questions at issue, be referred to the borough solicitor for legal opinion. Town Clerk's Salary: That the town clerk's salary be increased by £25 per annum, for the financial year 1913 14. WORKS, WATER AND DRAINAGE COMMITTEE. The following recommendations were adopted :—That these two applications for water connections to the properties of H. Vause and T. Wells be dealt with under the terms of clause 4 of the borough waterworks by-laws; that the clerk be authorised to order 30 chains of 4in cast iron pipes with the necessary fittings and lead wool, from the Miramar Borough Council, provided that the pipeß are new and guaranteed; the formation and metalling of Travers' road having now been completed to the borough foreman's satisfaction, that Mr R. B.

Travers' deposit of £SO be returned him through Mr T\ (. Jordan, who is hia authorise bg..;:t; that applications be invited for a tier!; of works for the dam contract; through the medium of the King Country Chronicle and the New Zealand Herald, at a salary of £4 per week payable fortnightly, the conditions of appointment to be drawn up by the chairman and the town clerk; that the borough foreman be instructed to obtain quotations for trie supply and delivery of a 50 to 70 cwt. hand road roller; that the question of fixing a culvert in Nettie street be held over until such time as definite information has been received from the Lands and Survey Department whether this road is dedicated; that the borough foreman be instructed to prepare an estimate of ths cost of lengthening the present outlet of the Seddon street drain taking out the existing pipes and replacing with 2ft pipes, jr as an alternative substituting half concrete pipes; that the clerk be instructed to reply to Mr E. Bine's letter dated the 10th November. 1913, intimating that the council expects the road of Winger and Smith's sub-divißion carried out and completed in strict accordance with the specification and conditions stipulated in the council's letter to Mr Hine dated the 18th October, 1913.