OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

Otaki Mail, Volume 27, 7 November 1919, Page 3

OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

MONTHLY MEESIHO.

The ordinary monthly, meeting of the Otaki Town Board was held last night. Present: Corns. Byron Brown (in the chair), W. Noble, J. Meads, P. Kikihana, H. Nicolson, and H. H. Ollivcr. * Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: — / From Captain Bassett, Are inspector, reporting on the town from a fire point of view, and suggesting improvements in certain cases. He reported the engine had recently done good work at firos at the Theatre and at Otaki Railway .—Received, it being agreed in respect to improvements required at one of the hotels the matter was one for the Licensing Bench. :'- , From H. Cockrell (secretary of C-taki Fire Brigade), thanking the Board for acceding to the request to pay the insurance premiums of members.-Rc

eeivcd. .. ~ . From W. H. Field, M.P., stating that tie collection of 'dog tax was to bo taken from the Maori Council and'restorca to the local body, a change which he had been striving for for years.— Kcceivcd, being deemed very, satisfactory. *"■- From W. H. Field, M.P., forwarding upplcmentary order paper containing Ms questin and the Minister's rep y en the sufjeet of restoring to the State Advance! Office the power to lend to local bodies for electric lighting purposes. Though the reply did not promise the desired amendment of the law at once, he was satisfied it would come at an early date. The Board could rely on his best and continuous efforts in that direction.—Received. The Chairman said, he had still endeavoured to secure the loan monejr*« Otaki, but found it impossible to do so at 5} percent. Other local bodies had been granted money, but only for essential work. He hoped, however, that some day the Government would grant thTiequited assistance, but at the rate it was going it would be after the demise of most of the Board's conimis-

Ei Fr C om Palmerston North Hospital Board, requesting the Board to pay its pro rata portion of the levy of per annum, for five years, arranged to H paid to the Hospital Board by the Horowhonua district.-Amount to bo placed on the paysheet. From Post and Telegraph Department, forwarding print lowing ?£ posed alterations to be rnade to the underground telephone system at Otnki. everything bein deemed satisfactory. _ . From Hcpera Ernera, claiming £4Sb 15s 4d for land taken for road-widening purposes at Otaki Eailway.-Befcrrcd to the Chairman, who will consult with the municipal solicitor on the matter, with a view to settlement. From Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, stating a meeting would be held at Palmerston North on the 6th to form a provincial expansion or development leaguo.-Kcccived too late for consideration. From Palmerston North Hospital Board, stating the hospital levy for the ye ar ended March 31st was due or. November Ist. It was desired that the amount (£3B 12.) be paid.-Placed on the paysheet. , Roadman's Report. The roadman (R. Webby) in his report desired the Board to close all roads 5aU heavy traffic for the summer months, especially against metal cartre The roads were in fair order at present, but he would trim Tasman Lad a's soon as possible. *£?* sired that the Board prevent stock S driven through the Board's area a£M 8 P.m, and asked that no stock be !iowcVto be taken through the main street. He had inserted pipes.atthe intersections of streets .and , had _ used the tar in hand for the V?W a *J*"* ing the weeds. He required two more barrels to finish the job. It was deemed inadvisable to take such stringent measures as suggested re stock, but at the same considered only a f air thing that J foe hy-law regulating the driv.ng of stock should be observed. L nrtt u\ The matter of metal being carted over the roads for contracts during the summer months was considered, and the roadman supported in his contention It was agreed he should confer witb the County Engineer on the. matter. It was also" decided to secure more tar and a quantity of weed destroyer. Engineer's Claim. A motion was tabled that a letter beforwarded to the municiparsolicitorfor advSe, asking if coram***ners_ were liable for the amount claimed by Mr Eeardon connection with lighting scheme, especially afte :s**" i n g the advice of a solicitor not to begin with the agreement. Tie motion found no~seconder, tne Chairman pointing out that coming doners had done their utmost,» to interests of ratepayers, and that aU possible information had been already gleaned from the municipal solicitor. Miscellaneous. Another motion was moved that a correct record be kept by the Clerk and plaTed upon the minutes of. each meeting as 2 the way each member voted on any matter. . This was seconded, but beyondjhis found no further support, it being pointed out that commissioners .cpuld have names recorded at any particular time by asking for such. ■ Exception was taken- to - unsightly buildings in the Board's area, while it Z stated some were erected without others had been erected TfiZTJZ etc to drawn to the disgracedecided to a*k the Horowhenua County Council to effect necessary improvejneats as soon as-possible. It wax agreed to allow ratepayer* to

cut grass on the roadsides if they so desired. | . Accounts. i Accounts amounting to- £lB9 7s 6d j were passed for payment as follows: — J, C. Better £4 2s 6d, Cement Pipe Co. £6O 4s 3d, B. Webby £l6 17s Cd, H. Knox £l3 10s, Clerk £l2 13s Id, N.Z. Eailwaya'fil 3s 7d, G. Gallagher £1 17s 6d, H. Cockrell 10s 3d, John Kirk 15s, Frank Penn £2 ss, Bills and Moore £4 2s 9d, Coal Tar Co. £8 6s Id, Hospital , Board £63. . .