BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 14, 12 June 1912, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Weekly Meeting. The Mayor (Mr W. Dunn), Crs. Lawrie, Berriman, John*, Pollock, Bilkey and Hamilton were present at the last meeting of the Council. Hf-' Water Mr Fuggate, engineer, bi ought to the notice of the Council several matters affecting the water supply. He suggested that the first 120 people who "signed on" for the seivice should be connected with the main free u of charge to the fence line. \fc The Mayor did not see why people Who came in now should be favoured as against those who did so later. He thought that all should pay alike or all should have the pipe seivice free to the fence. He did not care which. -Ci\ Johns asked how many had signed on so far ? If the people were holding off it might be an inducement to adopt Mr Suggate's suggestion. But the first question was what had the Council to pay for the connections ? The Clerk said they had contracted for something like 150 connections. "The Town Board's intention was that the charge should be uniform, at £l. This would connect both sides of the street from the main to the fence. He explained that the contract price with the Pipe Company for this work was 308. per connection. The Engineer said the first question consumers would ask was how much they would have to pay for the service. The contractor had agreed to do the 150 services for 30s. each. Suppose only 80 people signed on for the service now, they could not ask the contractor, later on, to come back to finish the work at the same price. After further discussion Cr. Johns moved, That the first 150 have the connection made for 10s. An amendment, moved by the Mayor, that the charge be £1 was carried by four votes to three. The Exgike-driver. A discussion ensued about the appointment of an engine-driver. The engineer said n would take a man all his time because he would have the services to attend to, putting washers on taps, attending to complaints, and soon. Cr. Hamilton said some people stated that there was a local man here and if we had him two days a week it would be sufficient. The engineer said a competent man was wanted to attend the suction gas plant, and do repairs etc. They really needed a mechanic. It was decided to invite applications for the position at £3 10s. per week. Duplicating Plant. • The Mayor reminded the Council that at a previous meeting the engineer had said it would cost from £3,000 to £3,500, within one or two years, to duplicate the pumping plant. It occurred to him that if they were going to have a loan they should also consider whether they would not require an additional sum to cover the water requirements of other portions for instance, the Hill portion. He moved, That Crs. Pollock, Hamilton and Johns be asked to formulate a report to show which portions of the borough were likely to require water within the next 10 years. The committee to get an estimate from the engineer and report to the next meeting. Cr. Lawrie seconded the motion which was carried. Whence the Money? When the accounts came forward for payment the Mayor asked the Clerk where the money came from which paid the cheques that had been drawn. The Clerk replied :■ " Mostly out of loan money." The Mayor: Then we will have to make some other arrangement. If this is paid out of loan money not available—even' if it is for sums due by the Town Board—the question of our personal responsibility may come in. Particular money must be available for particular accounts. Re moved, That Crs. Lawrie and Johns be a committee to interview the bank to arrange for an overdraft. This was carried.