THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 16, 26 June 1912, Page 4

THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

+. Weekly Meeting. (This report was held over last weok.) At the weekly meeting of tho Pukekoho Borough Council, on Wednesday evening, there wero present: The Mayor (Mr W. Dunn), Cra Comrie, Pollock, Johns, Berriman, Hamilton and Lawrie. The Mayor welcomed Mr Deane as Town Clerk and treasurer. He expressed the hope that the appointment would be to the benefit of all concerned, and that the connection would last for many years. Mr Deane suitably replied. Cr Lawrie reported having inspected the road near the school, complained of by Cr Bilkey, and instructions had been given to repair it. Baisino the Money. Beporting on behalf of the Committee, the Mayor said that the Bank of New Zealand had agreed to allow an overdraft of £4OO, or perhaps £SOO. Concerning a loan, the local manager suggested that a deputation should interview the general manager in Auckland.—Crs Lawrie and Comrie were asked to go to Auckland and get all tho information possible. The Mayor said he intended to submit a series of resolu'iono to the next meeting dealing with the Council's book-keeping, which should be a big improvement upon past methods. About the Accounis. A discussion took place in connection with Mr Patterson's position. The Mayor said that from last meeting Mr Deane took charge and Mr Patttrwrffcjiow had only tlio accounts topresenl|t Cr Lawme: Will we then release Mr PattexWn altogether ? The Mayor: It depends on what we thin lM qrtlio accounts. Mttfaittle (borough foreman) suggen Hiat tho date of acceptance of hiJl Bfnatiou bo extended, until the fiwlmts had been presented by the late Clerk. The Mayor thought that Mr Little's agreement to stay was generous, and it might prove valuable to have the foreman's assistance. Ho expected that they would require to get an expert accountant, and it might be necessary to get information from Mr Littlo, who had had charge of the works. t Tue Engineek's Salary. - At the previous meeting the proposed salary of the engineor was fixed at £3 10s per week. Several Councillors thought the wages should be less. Cr Comrie strongly urged that for these positions they should call for tenders—they wanted the best man at the lowest price. He thought they should also have invited tenders for the clerkship. The Mayor called for a vote to see if the matter Bhould be reopened, but this could not bo done (a unanimous vote being nocessarj) a3 Cr Lawrie voted against the motion. Cr Comrie then gave notice to move at next meeting, That the former resolution to invite applications for an engineer be rescinded. Miscellaneous. ! Tho Mayor explained that a number of new points had arisen in connection with the water service coL'iections. The chief of these was whether the Council or the people would pay the plumber for tho connections. The Mayor read legal advice that Council, if it accopted responsibility for tho money, would only have an ordinary claim against the persons whose property had been connected. It was decided (on the motion of the Mayor and Councillor Johns), that tho Council accept the responsibility, the money to be collected from property holders before the connections are made. It was repoitod that certain telegraph posts wero in dangerous positions, and it was decided to ask the Department to remove them. Cooper and Curd asked permission | to 6roct a signboard over tho footpath, to project to tho korb. Tho Mayor said this was a matter that would have to be provided for in the by-laws eventually. | Cr Pollock: Supposing every business man asked permission to do this, what would tho street look like ? Cr Berriman said the rule in the past had been to have the post of the signboards to bo ten feet from the building, and the bottom of the board eight feet high. On tho motion of Councillors Lawrie and Comrie, it was decided to grant permission to erect a board, to be eight feet high, and not to project more thau six feet, work to be done to the satisfaction of tho Council. It was decided, That tenders be invited for the combined position of dog tax collector and nuisanco inspector. Cr Pollock asked that a crossing be made at Jackson's corner, and the matter was referred to the Works Committee.