HELENSVILLE TOWN BOARD ADMINISTRATION

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 September 1920, Page 3

HELENSVILLE TOWN BOARD ADMINISTRATION

TWO YEARS' WORK

[The following was issued in the form of a circular on Tuesday], Speaking at a public meeting of the electors held in the Foresters' Hall on Monday night, Mr Jas. Stewart, chairman of the outgoing Board and a candidate for re-election, said : — The Board now going out of office held 28 ordinary and special meetings at which the following was the attendance :— H. Aitkenhead ... 13 Jas. McLeod ... 18 W. Coutts ... ... 21 C. West 25 T. D. Johnson ... 26 ' H. Thompson ... 27 Jas. Stewart ... 27 At the last election, you will remember, we were actively engaged in friendly contest with the adjacent local bodies in raising funds for the Red Cross, which resulted in Helensville attaining the premier position and remitting £10,100 to the Auckland fund.

With the swiftness of light on the Red Cross efforts came the epidemic. Your Board immediately prepared for the position. Inhalation chambers were set up and the local hospital taken over temporarily. I am pleased to say we were the first in this respect to act, and about the first district to be clear. Many workers rendered excellent service. Helensville remitted £100 to the Auckland relief fund.

Fully three months passed before the Board got into its stride. Since then its activities have been considerably hampered through the enormous increase in the cost of materials, freights, wages, cartage, etc. In the face of all our difficulties, the roads and footpaths have been well maintained, much new work having been done, many footpaths having attention and being tarred which had been neglected for years. HELENSVILLE HOT SPRINGS The Board when going into office were without funds to carry on. £409 2s 8d was owing to the bank on an overdrawn account, it being the custom for the members to guarantee the account so as to carry on. After considerable agitation we succeeded in obtaining £300 from the Government towards liquidation of the debt. With careful management we have been able to transform the debt of £409 2s 8d to a credit of £52 Is 3d, which is the present position. Arrangements are in hand for the building of a new swimming pool with bath houses, etc., for the ladies, the sinking of more bores and better arrangements for the distribution of hot water. Plans and specifications for the work have been preparad by the Board. We have been successful in obtaining a grant of £1200 towards the object, which is estimated to cost £1500. We are now waiting authority for the other £300. It is the intention to push this work on immediately the necessary permits are available. Messrs Coates and Parr were in agreement with the Board and the moneys which, should form part of £3000 should be spent in development work, consisting of lighting and improvements to the grounds

FINANCE. On the 31st March, 1918, the Public Debt ot the Town District was owing on Debentures : — 1918 £ s. d. Water & Drainage Account 13167 17 6 The assets exceeded on General A/cs liability by ... 235 1 2 1920 £ s. d. The Public Debt owing on Debentures has been re-? duced to (water and drainageiA/c) 12,800 0 0 Kaipara Bridge Loan A/c" ... 1400 0 0 The assets exceed on General A/c liabilities by ... 310 6 6 RATING The Board has found it necessary to make the following adjustment in the collection of rates; Formerly the water and drainage rate was lp-^d in the £, which returned an amount in excess of what was wanted to pay interest and sinking fund. A credit balance on the interest amount was accumulated which in reality did not exist, the money being spent on road and 1 street maintenances. This rate was reduced and the general rate increased Hd. The alteration made no difference on the actual paj-meats by the ratepayers, but as the general rate carries a subsidy of 5s in the £

and the water and drainage does not, the Board's finances are improved by over £60 annually, and by the alterations the interest credits will gradually disappear. NEW WORKS The following new works were undertaken: — First Avenue. —Formation to Mrs Donovan's end. Metalling to Mrs Donovan's end. Tarring for first time of footpath. Fourth Avenue. —Metalling top portion. Porter's Crescent. — Metalling to complete right through. Garfield Road. —Tarring for the first time remainder of footpath. Awaroa Road —Tarring for first time of footpaths. Mill Road. — Tarring of first time of footpaths. Many footnaths tarred that have been neglected for years. PROPOSED NEW WORK Awaroa Road. —It is proposed to expend £200. £100 has been obtained at £ for £ to complete metalling this road. Ratawhiti Road. —It is proposed to expend £200. Application has been made to the Government for £100 on the £ for £ basis to complete metalling this road to the boundary. Mill Road. —It is proposed to expend £500. Application has been made to the Public ' Works Department for £250, £ for £, to widen the road from the butter factory to Kaipara bridge and raise low part near the bridge. WATER AND DRAINAGE This system was introduced when the speaker was chairman, 1910/12, and when completed the cost was £14,300, which included the purchase of 254 acres of land. Since then about £1500 has been paid off the debt and to-day's balance is in the vicinity of £12,800. Out of 36 independent town districts, and 32 of those that form part of counties, Helensville was the first town district that possessed a sewerage system and up to date only about 10 others have perfect systems installed.

New Additional Storage. —The present Board has brought to a successful issue the raising of £5000 for additional water supply, the money has been arranged for and Mr H. M. Wilson, the Board's engineer, has the working scheme well forward and the supply should be available for the summer 1921-22.

Dam. —The present dam has recently been cleaned out and the whole system is in good working order.

Fencing Catchment Area. —A considerable quantity of material for the Catchment area is on the ground. The Waitemata County Council has been most difficult to deal with. Barricades which the Board erected to prevent cattle polluting the stream, were knocked down and burnt. The assistance of the Health Department is now being obtained and we see a way to enforce our demands and end a most unsatisfactory position.

GOOD ROADS To and from Helensville. During the past two years a movement is afoot to prepare for better national roads. The Board has taken the necessary steps to be represented and gave evidence before the Commission sitting in Auckland and Helensville. A conference will shortly be held at Maungaturoto to decide on the route, thence from Maungaturoto to Auckland. It is of the utmost importance that Helensville be a connecting town for both north and south.

ELECTRIC LIGHT The Board has carried to a successful issue the poll for the raising of £7000 for electric light and power. Permission from the Government to raise money has been obtained. Application for the money has been m*ade to the Public Trust Office and we are now waiting their decision.

The Board has the authority to contract with property owners and instal the light in their dwellings on a cash or instalment basis,

RAILWAY SERVICE During the war period the express railway service was discontinued. Acting on the advice of the Hon. J. G. Coates, the chairman arranged for a conference of all northern local bodies in Auckland. He also held meetings in support at Waimauku, Kaukapakapa and Wellsford—^the outcome was that the express services were reinstated and the other times of arrival and departure of trains were adjusted to a more convenient huur. The delays occasioned by shunting at Henderson was also cut out and the stopping at suburban stations avoided. The Board has taken up the agitation of a more direct railway route to Auckland, known as the fqreshqre route. Thjs if adopted would mean a passenger

service of under 60 minutes to Auckland. Local bodies north of Helensville are supDprting the agitation and offering financial support* Petitions in support are being prepared. CONCRETE BROADS. The Board has under consideration concreting the main road from the Railway Station gates to Kaipara Bridge. Information has been obtained from the Public Works Department as to the Board's standing to make "traffic passing over this road contribute to the cost. The Government has since set up a Commission to report on a permanent road Auckland to Helensville. It is now advisable to wait the report of the Commission as to what portion the Commission recommends the Government should pay. RIVER IMPROVEMENTS The Board had under consideration a petition from this and other local bodies to the Government, asking that the river be" deepened and the two bends hear Helensville be cut through. Use and time has shown that once deepened the river never silts up. In all parts of the world rivers and harbours have been deepened right up to the-town. PUBLIC MATERNITY HOSPITAL The Government has under consideration a new Public Health Bill, which makes promise for the assistance to maternity hospitals. A considerable amount of detail work has been done by the Board towards the accomplishment of this object, namely, a public maternity hospital for Helensville. RECREATION GROUNDS At the request of the various sports bodies, the Board has under consideration the purchase for the town of a sports and recreation grounds. It is intended at a later date to submit the proposal to a poll of ratepayers. BOROUGH Parakai and Te Pua, so far not being in sympathy with the movement, nothing in this direction has been sttempted. With the coming of the electric light, a more favourable time is expected. FIRE STATION The Board's finances have so far not permitted of anything in this direction being done Had we a population of 1000 people (which could be brought about by the formation of a borough) we could form a Fire Board. The Government would contribute up to £50, the insurance companies and the ratepayers the balance equally. Members of the outgoing Board are favourable to the purchase of a Ford truck on which to assemble all the gear ready for any emergency. HELENSVILLE CEMETERY The cemetery during the Board's office has had considerable attention, the outlying land has been fenced and cleaned up and is ready for ploughing and grassing. Fo far all attempts to get the Waitemata County Council to contribute have failed. PUBLIC LIBRARY Mr John Sproston, librarian, having resigned, Mrs Carleton was appointed librarian and the appointment is giving every satisfaction. A good supply of books is available and the library is entitled to much better support by the public than what it receives. REPATRIATION (Returned Soldiers) As an outcome of the efforts of the chairman a branch committee was appointed for Helensville district and is dealing with applications from as far south as Waimauku and as far north as Maungaturoto. Twenty-eight applications of a value of £4720 have been granted and 12 are now under consideration.

A short meeting of the Helenaville Domain Board was held on Thursday evening last, September 9th. The caretaker reported that the grounds were being improved anc} got in order for the coming season. The takings for August amounted to £35 19s 9d. Bores had been tested by Rev. Bridge and Mr Cooper, and fresh pegs for prospective new bores put down. It was decided to improve sanitation arrangements in the ground