MATAMATA TOWN BOARD.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 95, 15 August 1918, Page 3

MATAMATA TOWN BOARD.

August Meetirsg. The monthly meeting of the Matainata Town board was held on Monday evening, Mr J. Price presiding, Messrs E. C. Banks, J. F. Vosper, J. Pohlen and W. .A. Gordon were also present. Prior to the ordinary meeting a special meeting was held for the purpose of confirming the resolution striking a general rate of one v. penny and a-half-penny in the £ on the rateable value; and a special rate of five sixteenths of a penny for special metal loan. ELECTORS ROLL. The electors roll was purged of the names of persons deceased or left the town area. TREE-PLANTING. In response to the board’s invitation several letters were received bearing on the matter of tree-planting and trees likely to be suitable to Matamata. Mr J. F. Vosper said he was greatly in favor of beautifying the town by planting trees. They would also serve to catch much dust. The chairman said that he was in favor of shrubs as against trees. The roots of the latter would probably break up any footpaths put down and also interfere with drainage. Mr Banks doubted if roots would tap deep enough in the local soil, i It was decided to write to various borough councils asking for their experiences in the matter of tree-planting, and also to thank the writers of the letter's for information forwarded. THE POLICE. The Minister for Lands, stated that be had forwarded the representations made by the chairman of the board, in connection with the removal of the district ‘police headquarters from Putaruru to Matamata, to the Minister for Justice. The latter stated that he had asked for a report from the Commissioner of Police, and would reply to the representations later. SANITARY MATTERS. The chair mam reported that the sanitary committee had met, but had had difficulty in finding a place suitable for night deposits. One site had been picked on but the owner of the land had put what lie considered an exorbitant price on it. It was eminently suitable in many ways. It gave the most fall—6ft —of any property from the township. Mr Vosper considered the price exorbitant; there was a lot of the land broken, and would not be worth the money for very many years. Mr Gordon strongly advocated going on withthe matter. It washigh time a service was installed Mr Banks thought it better to 'leave the question .to the next hoard, who could again approach the owner. While on the question, the chairmam said he would like to get the Chief Public Health officer’s opinion on the site, and also ask him to make a thorough inspection of the town. The latter was absolutely necessary in view of the diphtheria cases in ♦he area. It was decided on Mr Banks’ motion to again approach the proprietress of the property asking her to reduce the price of the land* and also to adopt the chairaan’s suggestion re the health officer. Mr Gordon suggested that a loan proposal be put to the electors, asking for authority to raise about £IOOO for the purchase of site, and various material required in connection with the sanitary scheme. It was decided to hold a special meeting on Monday next to further discussrthe proposal. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The chairman reported that he had engaged two men for road work, but had knocked them off on the previous Saturday, owing to shortage of funds. Several bad holes had been filled and much work done in connection with water tables and culverts. The chairman was authorised to approach the county council asking for the use of the grader, when next in Matamata, for work on the main streets.