MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 8 May 1925, Page 7

MOTUEKA

BOitution ’ fcOuN&ij Meeting

At Ihe monthly Meeting of the 1 Borough Council; held on Tuesday even- | ing; the following councillors Were present: The Mayer (Mr J. A. MeGlashen), Crs. E. S. Wnitti M. Staples; 11. ! Aikins, J; A: Smith; A. E. Fry and J. j G. . Buves. . . j Before proceeding with ihe business i of the evening-, the Mayer moved that-! a letter of sympathy he forwarded to I tile Prime Minister, Mrs Massey and family, expressing the hope that. Air i Massey would have it speedy recovery j and the Wish. Unit lie would lie long j spared to this country: Alter the new council had been sWovn j in, too cemetery and domain minutes j were read and confirmed.

Cr (Staples reported that the Works’ Committee had met, representatives of the Croquet Club and it was’arranged for the latter to lay down their courts on it back portion of the Domain. Cr Wratt drew attention to a see-sIW out of order, at the Domain, and moved dmt the foreman be' instructed to attend to this mutter; seconded by the Mayor.

Accounts amounting to £955 15s lOd (General £455 8s Id, Electric £SOO 7s 9,1) were passed for payment, leaving an overdraft, at* the bank of £1982 10s 3d. Other accounts were: . Electric Loan Account, fixed deposit £l5O, current £286: total, less £loo.sinking fund payment, £336; .Domain a/c at T. 0./ S.B. £l9 13s 3d ; cemetery a/c at l’.U. S.B. £lB 12s 9d, Corrospumknce wils jwolyimi from Department of Internal Affairs, acknowledging the notification of the election of Daniel Willis Talbot as Mayor of the Borough of Motnc.ka. Minister of Public \Vorks, in reply to a question re a supposed local meeting in connection with the Motueka River erosion, it, was stated that it, was not the. poliev of the Department to disclose the source from which its information was received.

Nelson Hospital Board, giving notice of the. estimated expenditure and income for. the year ending 31st March 1926; and stating that the Board propones, after deducting from the £17,644 the sum of £9OBO receivable from the Government by way of subsidy, to apportion the balance among the contributing local authorities in proportion to tho capital rateable value of each, Mo-t-ueka’s portion being maintenance £272, capital £96, total levy £368. Public Works’ Department, forwarding a copy of a warrant, published in Gazette No. 24, apportioning the. costs of a commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the maintenance of portion of the Rocks or Main Road in the Citv of Nelson and the town district. of Tiihunanui, in terms of the Public Works’ Act 1908.

The foregoing letters were received. Public Works’ Department (protection of delta connected system) approving of the installation of the ground detector, provided an audible signal, e.g. electric boll or buzzer is installed to operate, when the insulation of the circuit is t* fault. Resolved (Mayor and Cr Wratt) that this letter be referred to the electrical engineer. Resolved that Crs Wratt, Smith and Erv be appointed to sign cheques. The electrical engineer (Mr J. Heath) reported for month ending April 30th, 1925. Particulars of No. 1 unit— Units generated 5.084; coal consumption 10 tons: coal per unit 4.465 lbs; hours run 221 35 mins. ; peak load 46 k.w. at- 7.35 p.m. Friday 24th; mean load factor 66 per cent. ; c<.l, 8 gallons. No. 2 unit—Units generated 70; hours run 10 15 mins.; benzine, 8 gallons; kerosene 17 gallons; oil, 2 gallons; total units 5.154. Five new consumers were connected to the line .the additional connected load totalling 4.3 k.w. Four street lights were renewed and two new standards erected in College Street. Three poles were replaced to give additional height to the services; and the Lerminating poles in Queen Victoria Street stayed back. The transformer earths were tested for resistance and particulars sent to the Public Works’ Department as specified by the Public Works' Act. On the 9th inst. owing to the breaking of a spring the power failed at 9.5 p.m. and service was resumed at 3.35 p.m. The street lights were cut. out at 11.30 and switched on again at 11.40 p.m. on the 26th inst., at the request of the harbourmaster, owing to their interference with the Harbour beacons and shipping. The morning run was started at 5.30 a.m. on the 4th inst. —Report received. Arising out of the report it was moved (Cr Wratt and the Mayor) that the morning run of the electric light plant commence at 5.30. The foreman (Mr R. Alexander) reported that High (Street north from M. Staples to the bridge has been dressed with srit water mud and gravel tnd rolled in and holes have been patched to Poole Street. Blinding lias been graded on-.to the road from Whakarewa Street to King Edward Street. Victoria end King .Edward Streets have been patched and.-stones broken -at the junction of Greenwood and High Streets. Ditches in Vosper and Foarori Streets and watertables in High Street have been cleaned.—-Report received. Cr Atkins asked the foreman why the road lending to the Motueka Bridge had not been graded.

In reply Mr Alexander stated that this work was under consideration and would bo commenced in CSc near future. v On the motion of Crs. Smith and Boyes the honorarium for the Mayor elect was fixed, as before, at £SO per annum. Cr Wratt intimated that the annual meeting of the Band Committee would take place on Thursday and reminded the Council that at present they were unrepresented Resolved (Crs Smith and Wratt) that Cr Staples he appointed to attend the meeting. The Mayor stated that the Band’s balance sheeet on Thursday would show a substantial crodit (approximately £3O). The Council had contributed only about £lO towards the upkeep of the Band and the members had bought their own uniforms. The Rand pcssiluy bad not turned out as often as il might have done, but they had done tfTeir best. Cr Smith remarked that the public iiad seen very little indeed of the Band, and he would make it his business to see if more enthusiasm could not be worked up. The Mayor reminded the councillor that the Council were trustees of the instruments and if the Council and ratepayers were not satisfied, it was for them to take action. . Cr Fry speaking from the point of view of an old bandsmen stated that he was led to believe that members of the old hand were more or less debarred from joining the new hand. The Mayor said that this was not the case. It was a municipal hand and any bandsman was welcome to join. After further discussion of an animated nature, the matter was shelved for tile present. Secretary D." C. Wilkinson of the fire brigade waited upon the Council and explained,that the. Brigade had not. received sufficient money for its upkeep. Oevr a period of six years, the Brigade members had drawn from their own fund to the tune of £59, which morally they were not,entitled to do. Whether the members would ask the Council to re-emburse them he was not prepared to say. The Brigade had never asked

for anything but absolute essentials. On nnc occasion for instance,, the Council iiatl fil'd> allow"'! the Brigade 200 feet, of iiose." witch (li« ; liiid asked for 300 feet. Mr Wiiliinsoft sautl that he felt certain that ill 6 Blig&vle tvhuljl hfcvfc it* come to 11 1 0 Council tor further c'xf>eTfdit lire in the near future. They w'fsr« pleased with the new engine. I ht* l>ngade had had one mishap at the cominhilcoitKdft through inexperience. but that would i/6'fc hilppen again. A resolution hail Lech passed hv the Brigade that tlie engine miist not be take ft out unless three firemen were present. I lie apeaker askd the Council fop guidance in this matter If a capable citizen was allowed to take tin 1 plant- out. who was to be respoiisihie for its safety the Brigade or Coliiieil? to conclusion, Mr, Wilkinson thanked the Mayor for the many services he had rendered to the Brigade. In reply the Mayor stated that he thought the Council, at all times uac. given the Brigade a square deal. With reference to tire, hose, the Council was not a bank, and they had to make 200 feet do when possibly 300 feet- was required : a tiling of this sort was quite, likelv to occur again. Regarding the three men resolution, personally he thought it was not right, and was habio to cause avoidable destruction of property. Each and every fireman should bo trained to drive the. engine. The Mayor said whatever he had done for tile Brigade was only his duty to the Borough. Cr Smith, an old fireman, stated that he. would like to see every fireman able to drive, and the first to arrive at the station could take (lie engine cut. Mr Wilkinson complained that- the Brigade subsidy had not been paid for 16 months.

It was pointed out to him that no account had been received from the Brigade, hut as soon as this came to hand the money would he paid. Cr Wratt drew attention to fact that the period fixed at the Bank on the £l5O (Electric Loan Ale.) had now expired and moved that it be renewed, for a further twelve months. Seconded bv Cr. Smith.

Before concluding the meeting the Mayor reminded the, councillors that the Mayor elect (Mr D. W. Talbot) would ho sworn in at the Council Chambers on Wednesday at noon.