OTAKI BOROUGH COUNCIL

Otaki Mail, 14 September 1923, Page 3

OTAKI BOROUGH COUNCIL

| MONTHLY MEETING. i The ordinary monthly meeting of r the above Council was held last night, i Present: (Jrs. T. O'Rourke (Doputyi Mayor, in the chair), 11. Cockrell, H. . Taylor, C. Kilsby and H. Kilmister. 1 Correspondence was read and deal! ■ with as follows: From Mrs. Champion, applying For water from the high-pressure supply.— The chairman pointed out that by refusing such applications the Council ! was losing revenue, ;-■.;<' as there was ample water for years to come he saw ; no harm in granting the request. Cr. Kilsby differed and said whet: application was made for power they were told there was not sufficient wa'i r, and he considered it advisable to ;■■;- i here to the Council's ['evolution and j thus turn down such requests. He wa j doubtful if the prest'tii supply was ;;■■ I ing to be an adequate one and considerj cd u thorough test should 1.,. made b->-I fore allowing those outside the Borouyh to participate in wafer benefits, Decided that the matter b. held over till the next general meeting. A letter was read ['ion the Fit ■ | Brigade asking fur further fiiy-fighting appliances—Tlie Depul v-Miivur' sa i SIC! had already born "ranted.—Cv. j Cockrell ' asked 'that a necessary hydrant be secured, and the chairman agreed it would be verv useful in case of fire.—Hydrant to be'pur. hnsod. From flie Oraki Chamber of Com | nierc.e re insanitary buildir-gs and si,'» puty-Mayor pointed out that the question of buildings was one for the Health Officer, while it was not the right lime to have a "clean-up" week. The matter, however, coidd be considered later,—Agreed to. ■ i'n.m jloiowhenuu Electric Power ' Board slating: —"I have to advise that J ; the Board i,- prepared to enter into an J - agreement with the Borough for street . lighting fur a period of 7 years on the following terms:- — i

(.1). The price per lamp per annum to be, i"t 12s lid. for the lirst hundred lamps and thereafter £3 10s per lamp, netl in each instance. This includes installation, electricity, and maintenance and the hours to be from sunset, to midnight. For an all-night service until daylight, an extra 5s per lamp per annum would be charged.

('2). That ten per cent of the total number of lamps supplied to any town may be increased to 150 candle power, provided that, such totally increased candle power shall average within 100 candle power per point installed." It was deedded to accept the Board's offer, and agreed to make enquiries re leu lamps for all night purposes. From the Department of Agriculture stating:—"As you are no doubt aware, an Act was passed during the recent session of .Parliament, amending the Noxious Weeds Act. 190 S, one-of the which confers on a. local authority power to declare that any of the plants mentioned in the second schedule to the principal Act. except blackberry and sweet briar, shall be deemed not to be noxious weeds within its district or any specified portion of its district. The clause which deals with the matter reads as follows: '' A loca I authority may at any time in manner hereinafter provided declare that any of the plants mentioned in the second schedule to the Principal Act. except blackberry and sweetbriar shall he deemed-not to lie noxious weeds within the district of the local I authority or within any specified portion of that district, and every such I declaration shall have effect according to its tenor. Any declaration under j this section and any declaration under* section four of the Principal Act, whether made before or after the passing of this Act, into- at nnv time bo in lifce manner amended or revoked. Section five of the Principal Act shall apply to declarations under this section in the same manner a- it applies to declarations under section four of the Cr. Kilsby drew attention to the fact | that there was a deal of California!) f thistle in tin Borough area and would like to see it declared a noxious weed. —No action. Town Clerk's Report. Mr. Davies reported as follows: — "Water-works: —Good progress has has been made by the contractors laying pipes along Tasman Road. Ou the main pipe line two concrete pillars have been erected, supporting the pipe en each side of the road bridge in Waitohu Valley Road, The valve controlling the by-pass into the steel main has j been concreted in. and will be tried in j a. few days. Councillors at the last ordinary meeting decided not to allow any more connections to our water' system outside the Borough. It is a | matter for the Council to decide, but 1 have to advise that it is in my opin- j ion contrary to the int-orests of the j ratepayers.' There will be plenty of water for many years to meet the Borough's supply, and the residents along the pipe-line'route Correspondence has been received from Messrs John Duthie and Co., to the effect that the d inch pipes for Waeienga Head should arrive in New Zealand about October -4th. It is the wish of tlie Council that (subject to satisfactory financial arrangements with the Bank) that tenders be called tor laying same in time for the October meeting.

Metal pit:—l have inspected the land adjoining our metal pit, owned by Mr. Noble. The area is approximately 3.75 acres, but only about 20 per cent, of metal contained therein can be used on the reads .without a crusher). There is one seam about 4 1 chain,, by lj chain.- that appears finer than the majority, but I would not guarantee more than that 1500 cubic yards from the seam. The remainder of the section is higher and would give good results with a crusher, but without this plant the purchase of land .loes not appear advisable A letter has been received, from Mr Wylie, on behalf nf Wylie Bros., suggesting to Council the purchase of the sections next to Mr. Noble's. Mv attention has been drawn to the high bank of saud on the roadway flfpposiae Babbacombe AvenuV. jThis obstructs the view of vehicles around the curve. The sand could with tidvantatie be deposited on the side of the road, nearer town, and would not cost more than ~1".

The following building permits have been recently applied for. and are in order: —Mr. "Brandon. Tasman Road; Mr. Nicolson. Matene Street: Mr. Adsett. Kirk Street: Mr. Siddells, Dunstan Street: Mr. Bills. Mill Road. The following is the cost of up-keep to date re Borough's horse and dray, since March 31st, 1023: Feed and shoes Poromnu's Report. •'•'During the month mosr of ray time has been taken up on the water-works. Tiie pipe-line through the Main Street iias been levelled and remetalled. .Street and road work is now being attended to. The fence around the pound could do with some new posts, say about 20. (Signed) R. Wj >x. Foreman." Health Inspector's Beport. "During the past month one case of infectious disease was notified and unfortunately it terminated fatally. Steps . were taken to _prevont the inread of infection. TlTft d r :ath.S of

! two Maoris from a long standing infectious disease necessitated visits to the two houses for the purpose of disinfection. Numerous inspections have been made—some in company with tlie I Borough engineer. Hannah's shops in j Main Street had not been attended to in accordance with my previous report and your notice. I have recommended that Hannah be prosecuted and I hope i hat this has been done. It should not lie necessary for several revisits in connection with nuisances, and one prosecutio.i will let ratepayers see that failure to comply with notices in this respect, will be followed by legal proceedings. 1 have been informed that ; it is the intention of the Public Works Department to carry out improvements to the drainage at the local Post Oifice. ft is hoped that this will get over the difficulty until the Borough sewers are available. The nature of the work may be largely experimental, but as long as no nuisances is created this should not be objected to, but rather encouraged. The matter of distance from a house of new septic tanks was mentioned by the Town Clerk. Someone had suggested that the by-law was unreasonable. It has already been arranged that each case would be dealt with on its merits, but where a section is sufficiently so that the by-law can lie complied with the distances mentioned in the by-laws should be wnforeed." I Miscellaneous. Tt was decided that portion of a sand-J hill be removed from near Babbacombe Avenue and placed in necessary placets on the road side.

Cr. Taylor considered the present pound was in tin unsuitable place and suggested it be removed. Other Councillors agreed, but it was decided that the matter be discussed at next meet-

It was agreed that the expenses of keeping the Council's horse was very reasonable, and several Councillors expressed surprise that the expenses were

<'r. Kilsby asked that pipe-crossings on the -Mill' Road be levelled off.—To be attended to.

Cr. Kilmister drew attention to a leak in the pipe line near Mr. Patching's.—'l'd be attended to. Cr. Cockrell asked that returns be given for licenses for halls, motors, and stocking dangerous goods.—To be supplied at ue.xi meeting.

Cr. Cockrell asked if anything further had beet, done relative to motorists who hod recently exceeded the speed limit. He said there were again some very bad offenders, both inside the town and out, and thought inspec tors might be again appointed.—lt was staled that the solicitors wore busy but thai owing to wrong numbers being given, it had been impossible to trace some offenders. Others would be dealt with al an early date. Cr. Cockrell asked it' anything further had been done in connection with the library.—The Deputy-Mayor stated that everything possible would be done to keep the library open. lie thought suitable premises would be available till a building was erected. It was reported that B inch pipes for Wnerenga Reed would arrive about October 41 li and the Clerk was instructed to lm in readiness and call for tenders for laying them, etc.. lenders to be considered at next meeting.