OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 6 August 1920, Page 2

OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. ' * i The ordinary monthly meeting of J the above Board was held last night. Present: Commissioners J. P. Brandon (chairman). J. Meads, P. Kikihana, H. ' H. Olliver, K. M. D ’Ath, 11. Nicolson, 1 and AY. Noble. Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: Prom H. Cockrell, secretary of the Otaki Fire Brigade, applying for the grant as provided in the estimates, together with the yearly fee to lhe.Fire Brigades’ Association (£3) and insurance premium (£2), in all £3O. —Decided to grant the request, to be donated as funds permit. From P.AV. Department. Wellington, staling fhat a Government engineer’s services could not be utilised for advising the Board on the best methods of drainage, water supply, and lighting | for tlie town. —Received. From Tudor Atkinson, forwarding £4 -Is 7d for rates, which was paid under protest, as he believed he had I sold all his Otaki land. —Information supplied to the eflect that his name was still ou the rate roll. From D. J. Keardun declining to accept' the Board's proposal of payment of 11 per cent In lieu of 2?, per cent under his contract fur the electric lighting scheme. If the Board desired he would accept 21 per cent now. viz., £250. and agree to tlic contract being > cancelled, or would accept the £250 ami 1 agree to carry out the work of install ! ing light at some future period, either 1 by means of energy generated by the j Board’s plant or by power supplied : from Mangahao and when the work • was done he to be entitled to the bal 1 ance of 21 per cent as provided by the I contract. In any case he wished lu» • account passed for payment. —It was. | decided to point out that only £220, j and not £250, was owing, the amount ' being 21 per cent on the estimate,-ami ' to ask Air Reardon to accept payment at the rate of £2O per month till paid off. From secretary L’almcrston North Hospital Board, asking for early payment of account so that the Govern ment: subsidy could 1 claimed.I’laccd on the pav-sheet. From AY. H. Field. M.i*.. in response to a letter from the Board, stating he would do his best to secure u grant foist reel improvement, etc. Air Field i also enclosed a form for a worker’s I dwelling.—The Chairman said there - would be no difficulty in securing | money for the dwelling provided the Board supplied necessary information, and it was decided to secure a Government plan for the purpose, if possible, it being deemed advisable to build. From Beerc and Seddon, offering to prepare a plan of tile town district for £lo.—lt was considered advisable to ascertain if the firm were agreeable to make a plan of the proposed borough area for the above sum, but after farther discussion it was agreed that as the Board’s term was nearly over, not to saddle the incoming Board with the' expense. From Town Clerk (Lower ilutt) str - ing his efforts to collect Native ratei had not been satisfactory. He considered there was little to gain in ol> taining judgments, but instead he had liens registered against the lands, which prevented any dealings with the lands until such liens were satisfied. — Received. From the A’aluation Department, stating that a revision would not be made till it was seen whether or not Otaki was constituted a borough.Received. Ratepayers’ Association Requests. Captain Bax, representing the Ratepayers’ Association, waited on the Board and asked for culverts to be put in at all crossings on Aliil road, and i virus prevent residents with carts dswn- | aging the footpaths.—To be attended I to when timber was available. He further requested that the | borough proposal be pushed on as c j peditiotwly as possible.—lt was pointed i out that this; matter the Board had j been trying to expedite for some tin--. ; arid thus save two elections. The Mio j istcr had been written to, and it j hoped that the election would be de I laved, as there was no possible chaaetj of an election in September- —the ; month set apart for it. It was also as ked by the Assoeiaj Con’s representative that a brick area be proclaimed in the business portion of the town.—While sympathising with lhe move it was thought best to lea ve i the matter to the incoming Board. Captain Bax also asked for a list of defaulting ratepayers from 1914.—Decided to point out that the Association had access to the Board’s rate-book. Attention was drawn to the dangerous state of the water-table from the post office to Air Tews ’ residence.— To be piped as soon as possible. ■ The bad state of the road at the goods shed wnj also referred to, but this matter, the Chairman pointed out. was already being attended to. On behalf of the Best Ee.-ort Com- ’ mittee. Captain Bax asked for the use of the grader for levelling purposes.— Granted, while the roadman offered to work it on his half-holidnv. General Business. Decided to ask Air Field to mattpersona! application not written one*, when making requests-to Ministers for grants, etc. The saiaosiy inspector reported ! everything satisfactory. me roadman’s report, was also received. He reported” •hv-' arrival oi pipes for the Hirer Bani road, and GiU-eos had left the employ of the Hoard owing ts the -jnsatiefaetorj■’age'. lb- asked if mrtjir. should no? be *axed, The Uiutilla drains were in.e. state and nc-ede-d jleaning while sand and wire had ; taken from Taaiaws road. He saySested that motor cycliiti be a-V..st ~ Sj use. silencers. Decided, to write to the Mission •

trustees and ask them to take action re cleaning of drains, out. it was resolved to take no action re motor cyclists. In connection with wire and sand taken it was decided to place tlie matter in the hands of the police. A motion to remit rates on the Raukawa property was lost for the want of a seconder. It was pointed out that, a license fee of £l, in addition to the rates, should be imposed. It was moved as a recommendation to the incoming Board to cut the corner off tlie Board’s section at Aotaki street, and thus make the place safer. Com. Kikihaua w;wited to know why the roadman had been taken off Mill road where work was necessary.—He was assured by the roadman that he had been taken off and put ou to Jubilee road, where work was more necessary. It was pointed out that Air Oag wished to alter liis agreement re the offices, and desired that the. Board pay rates as weir as £1 per week.—This the • Board declined to agree to. ! The ranger waited on the Board and complained of a horse being rescued from him.—Decided to warn the culprit, it being generally agreed that the ranger should be protected, lie also complained of a cow being - grazed on Anzac road. —Enquiries to be made. Attention was again drawn to overhanging trees on Duuslon street, and it was decided to give the matter attention. In view, of the approaching election, and busy time generally, it was agreed to retain the services of the assistant clerk for the time being. Accounts. Accounts amounting to £225 tis Id were passed for payment. They were as follows:—AY. H. Field £lO, John Gillens £l3 15s, Treasury £l2 0s sd, R. Webby i'lli J7s (id, Henry Knox £ll lis, Clerk £IJ Jls Jld, £7 10s, G. Gallagher £1 J7s ti-. 1. Minister of Justice 7s fid, Matenga Baker £J, Hadfield Knocks £2 3s 0,1, Bills and Moore £3 3s (id, M. Hobbs £l. 10s, A. Smith £ti, H. H. Vann Is (id, C. T. Tranter 'Js (id. E. Granfield £lO, N.Z. Insurance Co. £(i (is 10d. Palmerston Hospital Board £<i3 3s, WairaI'tipa Co-op. Association £l.l 2s 2d, Peter Oag £5 (is Si, “Otaki Mail” US 10s !'d. C. H. Williams 10», Harold Cockrell £(i Is Id. —F '!!_!! L l