OTAKI BOROUGH COUNCIL

Otaki Mail, 9 February 1923, Page 3

OTAKI BOROUGH COUNCIL

i MONTHLY MEETING, The ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. P. Brandon), C. Kilsby, A. W. Broadway, Ji. Carkeek, H. Cockrell and H. Taylor. Leave of absence was granted Cr. Bills.

Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: —

From P. Rikihana, asking for work for members of his family and stilting strangers had been engaged on the wa-ter-works in preference to local residents. By securing work an opportunity would be given him to pay his ratc<. The Mayor said the Council 's policy was to give local ratepayers work, but still Ihe Council could not act as a charitable institution. No favoritism had been shown, and it often happened that a local man was a good chap but a poor workman. j It was decided to reply that the Coun- j cil w ? as doing its best for the ratepay- J ers. !

Cr. Kilsby suggested that when a vacancy occurred the application bo considered.

The Clerk, on being questioned, said generally speaking the men on the wa-ter-works were doing their best, but there were some who were not used to such work. Cr. Kilsby considered there should be a drafting of the men, while Cr. Broadway said it was falso economy to employ some ratepayer;, lie considered the best men should be secured, irrespective of where they came from, Cr. Cockrell said it hud been suggested to him' that the workmen be" paid on Fridays instead of Saturdays. The Clerk said lie would attend to the matter.

From Cooper. Rapley. and Rutherford, stating they would be pleaed to know if the Council had completed arrangements for the advance of £14,000 for proposed loan from the Public Service' Superannuation Board.—Attended to,

| From W. H. Field, M.P., staling he I had waited on the State Advances su- | porinteudent relative to the second in- | stalment of £sooo—water-works loan. J and that lie hoped very little delay il would result. —Received. From Department of Internal Affairs stating the Mayoral election and election of Councillors was set down for the last Wednesday in April, but on account of this being Anzac Day the time had been extended to April 2flth.—Received. Other correspondence is dealt with in the reports. Clerk's Report. Mr F. G. Davies reported:—"l have the honour to report as under: Owing to the very bad weather tar work on the footpaths could not be proceeded with. A start has now been made on Eangitira Street. Though the Council has had more metal placed on the streets this year than has ever been placed on before, pot-holes are fairly plentiful. Nothing big can be done at this time of the year, but a fair amount of patching is wanted. j

Water-Works.—The Council will note from the foreman's report that the pro gress on the water-works has not been so rapid as expected. This is entirely due to bad weutlier, and under the circumstances ke is doing well. A statement of finances re loan works has been prepared, along with an estimate (to date) of water-works. Sewerage.—Plans and letters have been forwarded to Mission Trust, and. Messrs Tews Bros, re carrying sewerage over their land into the Waitohu Rates.—Ten per cent, has been added to all outstanding rates (current) year. A detailed statement will be prepared for the March meeting so that an effort can be made to collect all before the 31st of that month."

Foreman's Report, "During the month I have laid about 4- chains of pipes. The wet weather has delayed me with the work. With good luck and good weather I hope to be on the main County Eoad by the eud of the present month. I would like the j Council to build a small shed at the yard to put the water works' materials in, say about Bft. x 10ft. AVe have plenty of roofing iron to cover it and some timber. I could then keep things together.—R. Webby." Health Inspector's Report. Report for Month of January;.— "No infectious diseases were reported in the Borough during the month of January. Inspections have been made of buildings in course of construction and now plumbing work has been inspected in various places. Dr. Watt, of this Department, has visited the district, and spent some time in Otaki. During the visit he took the opportunity of discussing the water and drainage schemes with the Borough Engineer.—J. W. HUGGINS. Inspector of Health. Finance Committee's Meeting. A meeting of the Finance Committee was held in the Concuil Chambers on February ,~th. Present: Councillors Cockrell and Taylor. An apology was r?c?i-rt<3 from Cr. Bilk. The Committee recommended that £5 be paid to the library. The request of the Fire Brigade 10 be supplied with 1 fire-lighting appliances, estimated at j £126 Ss -Id, was considered, also imrnediate purchase of goods amounting to £3" J necessary for dry practice before the water was turned en. The Committee j favourably considered the requests, but j asked Councillor Taylor to make fur- ■ ther enquiries re cost of hose, and the Town Clerk for second-hand goods for practice. The Committee would meet ; again when these figures are. available. ; From Mr Byron Brown forwarding ' cheque for £1 10s and thanking Couni cil for generous consideration in connection with resuming of streets. The financial statement of water-works and raised estimate to date for completion

' of same was presented by the Engineer ftnd considered very satisfactory, Works Committee's Meeting. I

A meeting of the Works Committee was held on Monday, January 22. Present Cr. Kilsby (chairman), Broadway, and Carkeek. The Committee recommended that a cheque for £lO be paid to j Mr Hobbs for cutting grass on streets with a horse mower, but the claim for I breakages not be allowed. The appli-1 cation by Mr MeDougall for authority to build on Pt. Sec. 85 in the township

| was referred until the By-laws were rej turned from the printer, and a reply re- ' ceived from the Municipal solicitor. ; The Committee considered a suggestion by Mr Carkeek (serveyor) of making , the main street a chain wide. The matter was recommended to Council, laud to be purchased at present value, but paid for when taken. The Committee considered that with regard to special constables to assist, the police in j controlling motor-ear traffic an outline of the method should be forwarded to Levin and Horowhcnua Councils and Foxton with the suggestion that they; co-operate. The Committee recommended that a fortnight's "clean-up" in

the town area be arranged, the Town Clerk to send out a circular letter to the business people. The Committee have authorised a lamp to be erected in Mill Road, opposite Mr Kilmister's, and that the request of Mr Hakaruia to fence off a portion of Iti Street be granted during pleasure of Council."