AT THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 24, 21 August 1912, Page 1

AT THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

WEEKLY MEETING. At the weekly meeting there were present:—The Mayor (Mr Dunn) Crs. Bcrriuian, Hamilton, Johns, Lawrie and Pollock. Extending Drainage Sciteme. The recent estimate for a drainage scheme for Pukekohe was £SOOO, and the engineer was askod what would be the cost for an extension to the east side of the railway lino. His reply was another £2OOO would have to be allowed. The Mayor proposed, and Cr. Pollock seconded, That a loan proposal for £7OOO for the drainage scheme be placed before the ratepayers. This was unanimously carried. Kates. The Mayor withdrew his notice of motion to strike a three-farthing rato over the whole of the borough, and thirteen-sixteenths of a penny over the old Town Board area; he substituted a proposal to strike a three-farthing rate over the borough, and seven-eighths of a penny additional over the Town Board, to cover interest on the original and contingency loans. This rate is to be didy advertised. Water Meters. Tenders were received from several firms, and Crs. Comrie, Hamilton and the engineer were appointed to consider the tenders and report to the next meeting. Water Works Report. Mr C. Suggate (engineer), reported as follows: — "Water well. —During the past week or ten days, and since the water has been pumped out of the well, I have been able to make a systematic test of the meter available. While there is plenty of water there it is not higher than 27 or *2B feet from the floor of the house, or 5 to 7 feet lower than the depth given me. It will therefore be necessary to deepen the well to 30ft., making the tunnel to No. 2 bore at that level. We are now working in very hard country, travelling about 12 to 18 inches a day, while the tunnel will take about the same time. To allow of completing the contracts, releasing the contractors, and to give the town a supply of water as quickly as possible, I am placing a Jin. suction pipe down the Gin. bore to take immediate advantage of the water at the lower level, and recommend that the deepening of the well and making the tunnel be left over until the reservoir is filled, the new pump working only in the bore when deepening, the small pumps dealing only with the well, This will admit of a high pressure supply being available in case of fire. " Progress of contracts —Last week I wrote Messrs Niven and Co., Ltd., the Spiral Pipe Co., and the trenching contractor to resume work as from last Monday, but so far only the last-named contractor has arrived. Messrs Niven and Co. informed me that they would start work at once, and if the Spiral Pipe Co.'s representative is not hero to-morrow I will wire the Company." It was decided to adopt Mr Suggate's suggestions. Building By-Laws. Mr Mason, solicitor, advised regarding by-law No. 45, passed by the late Pukekohe Town Board. " I understand that the particular caso before the Council is that of a resident who has partly erected a dwelling-house before applying for a permit. I may point out that although under the by-law a permit must be applied for in a." cases, yet no condi tions of specifications for the building are laid down ; n the case of a dwellinghouse. Hotels, boarding-houses, and the like are the only classes of buildings for which particular requirements are demanded. . Of course the

fact that the permit would have issued as of courso does not render it less an offence to proceed with the erection of a building without having made application or received the permit; but it is quite conceivable that a Magistrate might under such circumstances regard the offence a« of merely a technical character and sufficiently met by a nominal penalty." After recommending a revision of the by-law Mr Mason added: "I know of no power whereby pemoval of the offending building can be enforced for, lack of the necessary permit. It would have been lawful to have inserted in the by-law a provision that in such a case the building should be pulled down, but in the absence of such provision nothing can be done in this direction." The matter arose out of a complaint against a building being erected by Mr D. Goodwin near the railway line on the east side. —Mr Goodwin wrote saying that the Council should visit the place before crediting the report of the foreman. " You will find few farm premises in a more clean state," he wrote; "asfor skins, they are not worth speaking of." Pipe Co.'s Account. The Spiral Pipe Co. wrote in appreciation of the position taken up by the Council, " that they do not propose to take advantage of any technical informality in the matter of the arrangement to pay us interest on any overdue amount, and that your Council feels that they are not released from their moral responsibility in the matter. With the assurance from your Council, as contained in your letter, we are quite satisfied." The Council held the view that the company was taking too much for granted in assuming that the interest would be paid, and the Town Clerk was instructed to again write by way of further explanation. New Railway Station. The Mayor read a letter from the Prime Minister saying that a now station would be built in Pukekohe Councillors welcomed the decision as very satisfactory. Damage to Property. F. J. Morrow wrote : " The damage to the property of the late Wm. Morrow would be considerable if the land was in crop. The natural course of the water is through the late Mr Moore's property and we hope the Council will take steps to divert the water into its proper course as soon as possible. In regard to tho deviation of the road through the property the trustees have no power to dispose of aay of the property. This matter has been before the Council several times. It was decided to lot the matter stand for the present and until such time as the Council ascertains what funds it has available for work in this locality.