OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 3 April 1920, Page 3

OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Thursday night. Present: Commissioners J. P. Brandon (chairman), W. Noble, B. Jr. D'Ath, P. Rikihana, J. Meads, and H. Xieolson. Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with us undcr: : — From Department of Labour, stating, in regard to the weekly half-holiday, that the Act provided that the day determined by tiie poll when appointed by the Minister shall be the statutory closing day as from the Ist of June following the gazetting of the appointment.—Pointed out thai nothing could be done relative to changing the half-

holiday till September, ■ From Palmcrston North llospila Hoard, asking for the Hoard's valttn tion so that it could get out its annua! estimates.— Replied that the European (valuation *as £170,322, Native £21.720, total £192,042. From Horowhenua County Council. suggesting a conference of local body ■ ioprcscntatives to deal with the Mob.rahao hydro-electric scheme, and asking Hie Board to eleel delegate... to meet. 0)1 April *.-Uh.—Chairman and Com. Nicolson appointed to attend. Mani'apoui'i C'rcelt. Tho engineer of the Horowhenua County Council' wrote staling his ' Council was agreeable to the Hoard ! Bol«B necessary cleaning to the Mangapouri creek.- Received. The lender of John Gittens for cleaninglhe creek at 2s per chain was accepted. This was the only tender. Town Lighting. • o. ,1. Rcardoit wrote asking if the Board had received any information hOutivo to the raising of the loan tor feloßtrie lighting. The writer stated he could not understand the money difhfulty, as tonus were being raised m Various Erections lo ptov.de pnblK i •,,., (li'il-i was one. or me utilities, while OUihi >■•'• fow plueen that had no loan indebtedsent that nothing so far Lad been done, as money was not avail-

I Tllc of belter hghtmg facilities for Ike town for the winter ,i ■ ...1,-in..l'll and commismontlis) was adMinctci. «u . ii,. f-.i ,Hired more ignis tinners evnernll\ r.i\out'.u nn c Ling installed. It. was agreed that the town was poorly lighted. A rise asked for by the lamplighter was held m hbeyancc. , It was decided thai Coins. Mcolson. Meads and D'Ath be i. eomm.ttee to jeporton the number of lights needed together with locality. Hoy to report to a meeting to be held on the loth inst. The Prince's Visit. p \ letter was read from Deportment > M Internal Affairs, slating that the ■ Prince of Wales would arrive al Otaki ' on Mondav. May 3rd, and stay for ten ' minutes. The train arrangements lor Jho tour were also enclosed. ,' This ami other similar- correspondent wa* held over and will be considered ar a-special meeting oi the 'Board. \ Fmm the Hon. Tahn Rhodes, m.l.tary scerctarv to the Governor-General, for-

warding the correct heading for the artfl;ws of welcome to His Koyal Highntss the Prince of Wale, tv read as follows t-'M lis Royal Highness Ldwavd Alherl Christian George Ant hew Patrick David, Prince ofXVa.es Earl of Chester in the Pecwgo ot the •United Kingdom. Duck of Cornwall in H,o Peerage of England. Duke of Kol-hcasy. .Karl of Carvick, and Baron of Renfrew in the Peerage o- Scotland. Lord Of the Lies, and Croat cu. ,t ~f Seotl-md ICG.. 0.M.M.G.. steward ol ch-01 uui '• M.C," etc.. etc.—Received.

A Eangiuru Request. ? \ liison. A. W. Broadway, 11. Knox, n. Dunn. L W. Pepper. E. Hopkins, H Mead M. C. Fisher, K. V. Clclend, Gr«cc Brainley and A. A, Laudall, ratepavers of RaugUmi. wrote asking that • the roads ITe open at Kangiuru between •tie hours of S a.m. and 5 p.m. « *•»« 'pointed out thai .here was much iCCd On the roads, and Mock in charge of ' persons would do good. ! Permission given for one month, the ■ Urea to be from the racecourse gate to the bridge near Hopkins. Roadman's Report.

.< K. Webby ("roadman) reported that all roads were in good, order, and that the contractor was making good P ro-IgTC-s with metalling. The metal delivered wan satisfactory. lie reported tuat notices put on the Uangiuru bridge bad been destroyed, and that he had not been able to do asphalting on ac- ■ Count Of tar being unobtainable. He • asked power to prosecute persons who rode horses on the newly-tarred walks. Be reported that the work of asphalt- ■' jn S had cost £23 Ps, made up as fot- ■ lows:—Seven barrels of tar at 63 per gallon. £7 10? (id; v. ages. £9 is 3d; metal at 15s per yard (21 yards). £6 6s. « Decided to ask the foreman to mention th& worst offenders who rode on ' the footpaths, with a view to prosecution, and. to endeavour to ascertain the jiaioes of persons who tore notices from •Hie Bangiuru bridge.

Office Accommodation. J P. One (Levin) wrote offering the ; filEtes oceupied by Mr Atmore (solici- ' Sor) for a term of three years at £1 per rreek. clear of rates, or agreeing to sell Pe property at £BOO. Th<? Chairman reporte;J that he and Com. Nicolson hud inspected the buildIn* and found it suitable. There were . go* only good rooms, but a line strongjoom. , ~ T I H . Bfltird resolved to leave the buildings on the terms stared above. iva the Chairman and Com:. Olliver ami Nieol-.ou were empowered to arLuge for matter* of. detail in counecI tlorvith the new office % Th t Ranger. iiili auacil and complained of stoel fumed on tJse road«.

and in view of this he asked permission to take Court proceedings. Among the animals, he stated, was a stallion, the owner of which he had warned. It had proved difficult for him in somo cases to catch the stock, and he was watched by the owners, who took advantage of him at every opportunity. It was agreed that there, were many offenders, and with a view to stopping their illegal practice Gallagher was given permission to sue the worst ones. A Nuisance.

It was pointed out by the Chairman that a nuisance which proved a menace to public health, had been located at .Hannah's buildings, where water, refuse, etc., from Jive shops drained inte one small cesspit. The health officers' attention has been drawn to the fact, and the nuisance had been somewhat alleviated. The Chairman was authorised to see that necessary improvements were effected. » Borough Proposal.

Coins. D'Ath, Nicolson and Rikihana were appointed a committee to define most suitable boundaries for proposed borough, to give number of houses, and the rateable value. Clerk's Salary. The matter of raising the clerk's salary was discussed in committee. It was decided to increase it to £l5O per annum, to take, effect from April Ist, and that the Chairman be authorised to engage temporary clerical assistance at j a salary not exceeding £1 per week for j three months. j Light, Water and Drainage. j It was agreed that in view of the altered conditions of the money market I and' cost of obtaining plans re the J scheme for supplying Otaki with dec- j trie lighting, water, and drainage, the J reports already submitted by Messrs A. J. Patcrson and D. J. Reardou be forwarded to the Public Works Department,, and that they be asked lo allow uno of their engineers lo visit Otaki and advise the Board as to the most expeditious and satisfactory means whereby the benefits of drainage, water and light could be'secured for Otaki. Reports. 11 was decided that the building in- I ■.jiectov furnish the Town Clerk each fi

Monday morning by 10 o'clock with a I report on buildings inspected by him I during the previous week, and that the 1 sanitary inspector furnish a similar re- | nort on places inspected, and that it bo tin' duty of the inspector to make regular periodical inspections of each properly within the. Board's district.

it. was also agreed that the roadman furnish the clerk with a. wages sheet each week for each employee under his supervision, giving particulars of the work on which each was employed during the previous week, and that ho also furnish a report giving the nature of the work, material used, and expenditure incurred. Train Service. W. 11. Field, MP., wrote enclosing a copy Of a letter received from the Minister of Railways in respect to the running of an early morning train from Otaki to Wellington. With respect to the crane he had the assuranceof the Minister that Otaki would receive a crane as soon us one was constructed. The letter from the Minister was to the effect that the passenger business v.as nor sufficient to justify the expenturo that would be involved. A train service as suggested would cost approximately £12,000 per annum, and :n view of this he regretted the request could not be acceded to.—Referred to a ;special meeting. Accounts. The following accounts were passed for pavment:—R. Webby £lti 17s 6d. 11. Knox £l4 17s, Clerk £l2 3s lid, G. Gallagher SOs, W. Dwyer £3 6s, Ross Webby £7 lis. H. Knocks £l, W. Thompson £-t Ids. Palmcrston North Borough Council £S 12s. "Otaki Mail" £7 17s; total. €7B 7s ">d.