PAPAKURA TOWN BOARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 237, 9 October 1914, Page 4

PAPAKURA TOWN BOARD.

The October Meeting.

The first meeting of the recentlyelected Town board—with the increase from five t ?cven members —was held on Monday night, there being present—Messrs A. Willis, E. S. Cole, W. Crawford, J. H. Bates, D. B. Stewart and T.'JJ. Campbell.

CHAIRMAN. Ihe members were urianimou3 in their opinion that Mr A. Willis shield be re-elected chairman of the Board.

Mr Willi", in thanking numbers for the honour they had done him, said he had, prior to the election, maie up his mind to retire from local politics but had been persuaded not to. (Hear, hear.) If he felt later on that he was unable to properly carry out the duties of chairman he would resign. In the meantime he would du bis best for the welfare of the whole district. (Hear, hear). TREASURER.

Mr Geissler was appointed treasurer to the Board. FAfaT YEAR'S WORK.

Trior to proceeding tu business the chairman gave a brief resume of the work at present in hand and schemes which the old Board had initiated.

A DANGEROUS HOLLOW. Mr J. Flanagan, the represtnta tive for the D/ury riding on the Franklin County Council, wrote aatting u the Board would assist towards the filling in of a deep hollow, "which is an ese-sore as well as btiiis car.gerous," on the western tide of the Great South road, between Mr A. Willis' property and the road through Argyle estar. He suggested that the hollow sh.uld be filled up to level of the road and the footpath put along it. If the Board would assist ha would try to get the Council to help. Tin chairman said the oiler was well worth considering, it was one of the worst pieces of road they had. The Council's original idea was to simply raise up a footpath in the hollow. This was to be regretted, as it would not be a permanent work. Mr Flanagan agreed with this view and ream-' mended the offer now before them. He etrongly advocated accepting the offer.

Mr Jones wanted to know what it was going to cott. The chairman replied that Mr Flanagan had said ahout £2O from each party, but he thought the expense would be considerably more. Mr Stewart suggested asking the Countv Council for an estimate of the cost.

Mr Cole thought there were places which required attention before thi?. Finally decision was deferred until after the Board's tour of inspection of the road works required. DOMINION ROAD.

The chairman reported that the work ordered to be proceeded with on Dominion road had not been gone on with as the road was too hard.

H. Walkinson offered some 30 yards of hand-broken metal in the vicinity of Dominion road for 8s per yard, provided it was put on Dominion road from the bridge upwards.—lt was decided to offer 10s per yard carted and spread on road.— Later on Mr Watkinson came to the meeting and accepted the offer.

CnICKET CLUB. The Papakura Cricket Club applied for permission to play on the Recreation Ground.—Granted, the fee for the use being fixed at 255. INSPECTING THE ROADS.

The Board decided to inspect the roads on Saturday afternoon.

FENCES ACROSS ROAD

G. Allingtou applied by letter and in person tor the Board to take action to have the fences across the road leading to his new house removed. -The Board resolved to give P. Manuel notice to remove the fences referred to.

KING EDWARJ AND CHAPEL

STREETS. Mr Tuely waited on the Board with the request that the Board wculd do eomeihing towards King Edward and Chapel Btreets. He would assist the Board bv taking the levels if theae streets, provided ihe Board found him an assistant. Mr Bates offered to assist Mr Tuely. The chairman asked whether Mr Tuely'a offer held good if the Board did not proceed with the formation right awav. On Mr Tuely replying in the affirmative the Board decided to accept the offer.

ACCOUNTS. It was resolved that all accounts must be lodged with the cleik on the Saturday prior to the meeting, or they would not ba considered.

,; FINANCE. The Treasurer reported a credit balance of £sl. The following estimate of receipts was presented: Rates uncollected, £305 8s; cash in hand, £sl; due from hobpital rate, £45; licenses, £80; subsidy, £9O; domain about, £25; rents on leases £36; dog tax and sundries, £6 10s; total. £666 Is

The chairman considered that it might be desirable to call a special meeting to consider the question of expenditure. Mr Cole favoured letting any work over £5 by contract instead of carrying it out by day labour. The chairman said this was not always practicable. He believed in spending the money if possible as near as could be to where it was collected. Mr Jones advocated the ward system, whereby a certain percentage of the rates would be spent in the vicinity of where the rates came from, whilst the balance would be devoted to big or central works. Mr Stewart said that the majority of ratepayers thought that their ratea should be spent in front of their propeities, but they never thought of the central roads.

Ihe chairman mentioned that a veiy large proportion of their money went in maintenance. It would be sound and good business if the Board would borrow money to thoroughly put in order some of the principal roads. Ihe saving in maintenance would more than pay the interest, and they would have good roads. Mr Jones agreed with this view, and thought that the advisability of raising a loan of £IO,OOO for road works might have to be considered. Mr Campbell asked it there was aDy road around the beach. The chairman said the pegs of the properties were put in half-a-chain back from the beach. Day-labour and contract system produced considerable discussion. The chairman pointed nut that in the past the Board had been unable to secure tenders, and consequently bad to resort to day labour. He, however, considered that at present it might be advantageous to the Board to offer contracts, a view with which the members concurred. Mr Cole expressed the opinion that money should be spent on the South road rather than on the domain.

The chairman said they were not spending any rates on the domain or diverting any money from the roads. Mr Crawford asked if the Board were helping the Tennis Club by doirg work. The chairman said the Board were doing the work for themselves, not for the Tennis Club. He strongly defended the action of the Board in taking over the Village Greeu and their policy in trying to make it a beauty spot for the district. It was all very well saying they had the recreation ground, but they had only

a five years' lease of this and they

never knew when the Railway Department might not say they required it and take it. Mr Jones asked what steps the Town Board had taken to acquire the Library. The chairman: None.

Mr Jones thought that something should be done. He advocated making application for a Carnegie Grant.

The chairman thought the conditions imposed on such a grant would be too much for Papakura.

ELLIOTT STREET

W. Richardson wrote stating that two wooden culverts were required acroes the footpath at the bottom end of Wood street where it joins Elliott street. He also asked that the scoria on the footpath in Elliott street be blinded. He estimated the cost at about 30?, ar.cl offered to do the work at his own expense "if the Board would grant him the necessary permission." "That's too good ao offer to let pass," remarked the chairman. Members agreed with this and accepted the offer. SIGNING CHEQUES. The chairman, Mr Crawford and the clerk were appointed to sign cheques.