OTAKI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, 10 February 1922, Page 2

OTAKI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. j, " The monthly meeting of the Otaki j ( Borough Council was held last night. Present: His -Worship the Mayor (Mr , J. P. Brandon), ■ Crs. H. Cockrell, H. , Taylor, C. Kilsby, K. Carkeek, A. W. , Broadway. An apology for absence was received from Cr. Bills. . Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dean with as follows: — ■ Prom Minister of Public Health enclosing a circular letter asking the Council to renew its efforts to poison and trap rats during the next four ! weeks. He considered apathy would | be disastrous as next mouth eoauneneI ec: the plague season. —Received. Prom U. !•'. Almore, secretary to Otaki Tennis Club, thanking the Council for the good work done in respect to topdressing the courts, and also for the interest displayed. The members, he said, were highly pleased with the work done.—Received. Prom S. Norgrove, secretary to Otaki Public Library, asking for a grant of *..'), which was placed on last year's estimates. —To be paid. Prom Vv. L-'. i'ogden, asking for necessary work on Lupin road. —To be attended to. cProm Paiaparaumu Athletic Club, asking that a public holiday be observed on the occasion of the visit of the . [springbok athletes, and enclosing com•ptimeatary tickets. —The Mayor considered the application reasonal.de, especially as the assistance of Paraparauuiii would shortly bo needed at a niardi gras. He moved that residents be asked to observe a half-holiday. Cr. Broadway seconded. —Carried. Prom Miss Baxter, complaining of a fowl run adjacent to her premises being a nuisance, and stating the yard was badly situate and vciy objectionable. —To be attended to. Prom Otaki State School, asking that the Council allow its workmen to-top-dress the asphalt adjacent to the school buildings as it possessed the necessary gear. The committee would pay for material and labor.—Cr . Broadway thought the matter one that should be • attended to, and moved accordingly.— ' Seconded by Cr. Kilsby and-carried. Prom Valuation Department. Mating ' it was agreeable to make a reduction of Pi per cent, for the revision of,tke valuation Toll. —Received. From R. J. Stavclcy, asking permission to remove buildings from Lupin Road. —Held over owing to a dispute I between the Clerk and Mr Staveley. > From T. Bwensson (lamplighter) stat- - ing that while he received less than 5s ! thl per lamp another person was receivI ing 7s which lie thought unfair. Ho I hoped the Council would allow liim 7s I per lamp.—Price to remain as it is, al- - though Cr. Taylor suggested a rise during the winter months. I From Gonville Town Board, stating ! it did not know the cost of a life-sav-ing reel, and referringNhe Council to Mr D. .1. Reardon, captain of the Cas- > tlecliff Surf Bathers' Club.—Decided - to ascertain further particulars with a view of placing a reel on the Otaki beach. Reports. The Works' Committee met on Mondav Present: Councillor- Kilsby (Chairman), and Broadway. The foreman V report was read and discussed. 1 The matter of purchase of tar-boiler 1 was entertained, and cutting back oi fc trees as suggested is to be attended to. ' The Town Clerk reported that the

actual costs upon street work as previously laid out by Council would be below "the estimated cost, that the present street tariff could be taken off tarwork during the dry weather, while to allow for this additional labour should be put on to carry out the work in Rangiuru and station end. Councillor Kilsby moved, and Councillor Broadway seconded, that the Town Clerk make arrangements for labour, and that the details re Rangiuru be arranged with Cr. Broadway, the details re station end be made with Cr. Kilsby. It was also decided to inspect Kirk "street with a view to small improvement being carried out there. As directed a general clean-up within the Borough had been carried out. The time taken was longer than estimated due to owners of carts failing to keep up to their arrangements with the foreman.

The weed convolvos was making

serious inroad with the tows. This . should be declared a noxious weed un'der the Municipal Co-op. Act. Owners; of land (where such is growing) can then be compelled to clear it. The board at the pound was in bad order and the canva* should either be replaced or a new board painted. Ac" ng on inatrusc eni from the Mayor bathing sheds have been erected. Owing to limited funds and that nothing was placed on the estimates for this work, the placing of them within an inelosure (with division fences) could, not be considered at present. They Trill, however, prove a great advantage for this season aiM more may bo done next. The charge for use of same has been fised at 2d. each person.

j The rates do not continue to come in as quickly as desired. The prevailing opinion is that rates are not due unril (March 31st. The law allows a Cotua- | cil to sue for same after giving 14 days, notice by advertisement. The weather so far has not been too favourable for taT work, and to get through the amount laid out this must now have preference of all other work in fine weather. A good week was also lost during thg "clean-np" of the town. An interview- was arranged during the month between Messrs Xieoll and Son. and the Mayor, with Councillor Kilsby, who will explain fully to the Council. Since the meeting Councillor Kilsby, along with myself, have closely examined the stream for another in* take site. Drawings are attached to stow why it is proposed to adhere to tha «&» originally chosen bnt"proyisi«a

is made to go up stream about 25 chains if found necessary. Mr Beere, of Messrs Beere and Seddon, has been- engaged to prepare a survey of the land it is proposed to purchase. , T have started to lay off a number of , new plots in the Methodist section of the cemetery, but further progress cannet be made until new pegs arrive. Mr Pole has undertaken to supply these at an early date. Health Inspector's Report. In reporting to your Council for tho month of January, I am pleased to state the freedom gf the Borough from infectious disease, as no case as in the previous month has been notified. The general clean-up within the Borough will no doubt have an educational value ou residents in not harbouring so much refuse, the accumulation of years. Such refuse, and garbage is of no commercial value and should never be allowed to the extent to which I evidenced in passing through your streets — seeing the piles of bric-a-brac waiting on the road-sides for transit, which your Council was good enough to have carted free of cost to the rubbish depot. I would suggest to your Council giving publicity to the fact that owners or occupiers of property wishing to iastal septic tanks should deposit block plans of the drainage under ills septic tank system, to be approved or rejected if local conditions are not suitable. In view of your drainage scheme it is in- : advisable to grant permits for installations, as those people will afterwards refuse to fall in with the Borough scheme. In installing septic tanks tho ' suitability of the ground, the disposal ■ of the affluent, and the water supply ' are considerations which the applicant 'never takes into account. Wo inspect all such installations and the plumbing

after work completed. The evasions in improving the conditions of Blights' hall can now be overcome since thV place was sold, so the present owner will have an opportunity of setting the place in order as regards the sauita*y conveniences. On my next visit to Otaki 1 shall go into the matter fully, so that your Council may know exactly what are the requirements. —(Signed), MORGAN O'BRIEN, Inspector. Ranger's Report. For January month I impounded 20 head of stock and released 10, total for the month 30 head. The sign board at the pound is in pieces and a new one is needed without delay. I also ask the pound-keeper to get full .names of owners of impounded stock so there will be no dispute.—T. SWENSSON. Rang-

Finance Committee Meeting. Tho Finance Committee met ou Tuesday. Present: Councillors Cockrell. Bills. Taylor. On the motion of Councillors Cockrell and Bills the Council wfcre recommended to pay the reduced account £'.»2 2s claimed by the Valuation Department. Tho Committee recommend that, the £5 placed on the estimates be paid to Librarv Committee.

The Town Clerk gave a comparison of receipt dog tax compared with previous year, the totals being £l2 12s ending December, 1921, £33 ending PJ2'J. The Committee recommend that the license for house and sports doge be 10s each. It is also recommended that applications be called for the position of 'log registrar to close Friday, February -17th.

The Committee considered the Rau-

kawa rate.-, farrears and current) and decided that as this land and buildings were used under Maori custom the same should be free from rates and recommend that arrears amounting to £2l 8s

od, along with current rates amounting to £S 12s 2d, bo struck off. The Town Clerk reported that orer £IOOO of this year's rates had not been paid. The Committee recimnend that 14 days ntiee be given by advertisement as required by law, all rates not paid by February 28th to be sued for. The accounts were considered and presented for payment, excepting the tratount for advertising bathing sheds at the beach. This was referred to Council. Domain Committee. A meeting of the Domain Committee was held on February 7th. Present: Councillors Cockrell ('chairman) and T&ylor. The Committee report that two conveniences have been erected in the grounds. It is also proposed to strengthen the fence (put up last year) before the football season began. Foreman's Report. During the month maintenance metal has been put on Mill Road and Waerenga Road. I have made another start with the footpaths. Matene Street and the stretch by the Family Hotel have been tarred and finished. I would like the Council to buy a tarboiler as our tank was beginning to leak a good deal. During clean-up week 42 loads of rubbish were carted to the dump. 1 will be tarring Mill Roaa path this week. I isi/dd mention to the Council that the pine trees at the corner of Waerenga Road, owned by Mr W. Eoaeh. be cut back, and elder trees on Matene Street, owned by Mr Cockrell. I have in the yard 12 barrels, of tar and 25 yards, of sand.—E. WEBBY, Foreman.