PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 24, 26 March 1915, Page 2

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting.

The usual monthly meeting dt the Pukekohe Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr C. K. Lawrie), Cra Comrie, Bilkey, Hubbard, McGough, Hurley, Hamilton, Pollock and Beatty.

FIKE BRIGADE'S SUGGESTIONS A deputation consisting of Messrs A. Ec!gar (captain) and ti. J. KollinEon (secretary) waited on the Council on behalf of the Fire Brigade and called attention to the advisability of the Council adopting regulations for the attendarce of two firemen at all entertainments arid meetings at the Premier Hall, authorising them it the same time In prevent overcrowding in the building. They also drew attention to the ehortage of hose at the Brigade's disposal, and suggested that two unions ard an additional 5(10 feet ot hose should be purchased, that the Council should take into corsi.'eration the scarcity of tire plugs in King street, and further that arrangements should be made for teatirg the hose at inteivals in order to prove its capacity of standing the pre.sure of water. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Comrie, the matters mentioned by the deputation were referred to the Fire Briga-e Commiittee for report.

THE WATEK SUPPLY. In accordance with notice of motion, Cr Hubbard proposed that the Council should take l:gal steps under the Public Works Act to acquire for water supply purposes the property known as Hickey's Dam.

In moving his resolution, Cr Hubbard stated that if not immediately wanted a new Hource of supply of water would be required in the future. In view of a recent statement in the "Pukfkohe Times" that he was only a newcomer to the district, his qualifications lor bringing the matter before the Council might be questioned, and he desired therefore to explain that although hia present residence in Pukekohe was not of long standirg he lived in the town soim 26 years ago, and he accordingly claimed to be thoroughly acquainted with the requirements of the Borough. That the Council was nearing the expiration of i(3 term of ofr'ce was, in his opinion, no reason why it should not be decided that night to provide for future necessities. Cr Hamilton seconded, and explained that he did so pro form i 1.1 order to have the motion discussed. He was, however, doubtful whether it was wise to take steps under the Public Work* Act before it was ascertained whether the purchase could not be effected by private dealing with the owners.

The Mayor proposed as an amendment that the consideration of the subject should be deferred until the new Council had been elected, 'lhe present Council, he said, would go out ot office a month hence, and it should be left to the newlyconstituted Council to consider the advisability of purc'iase, more especially as, he believed, that there would be no difficulty in coming to an agreement with the owners.

Cr Comne seconded. Cr Pollock favoured the purchase, but approved ot it beir-g referred.to tne new Ucuncil.

Cr Bilkey support?d the amendment-, remarking that the r.e» Council might devise Bonis entirely new scheme, for wbich-Hickey's dam would r.ot be wanted. Cr Hurley was of the same opioion as Cr Bilkey. The amendment was' carried, and Cr Hubbard thereupon expressed his satisfaction at the decision arrived at. pa his only object was that the I matter should be kept before the public. ROAD REPAIRS. The Works Committee recommended that Buckland road should be remetalled near Mr Webb's property, that a footpath should be formed on Tuakau Road from Catheart's corner to Mr A. E. Wilkinson's gate, that 50 yards of scoria be placed on Routley's Road, that a dressing of shiugle be laid on Kaye's road, that Hall Street from the Post Office to the " Times " building be raised, that as Mr Beatty was willing to undertake the formation of 15 chains of footpath on Beatty's road the Council should provide chips for the same, and that Seddon Street be graded and rilled. The report was adopted. Cr Pollock explained that the Works Committee had not overlooked the necessity of improvement works being carried out in West Road from Belmont to the borough boundary, but as the cost would be considerable and operations could not be undertaken before the Council went out of office the matter had been left over for the new Council

On Cr Bilkey's suggestion it was decided to lay shingle at the foot of Pukekohe Hill from Catkcart'.s Corner to Mr Oostello's gate. Cr Cornrie proposed that in order to avoid Edinburgh Street being axle deep in mud as it was last year, scoria be laid thereon for a width of 18ft fur that portion from King Street to Eoulston's Avenue. — Agreed to. Patching work on Beatty's road, between Messrs Hiekey's and Lovatt's property, was also authorised, and it was further resolved to plough and form the road running past the new showground to Mr J. Eoulston's property.

The Foreman of Works Mr Clews) pointed out that although orders had been sent through there was ditliculty in securing deliveries of scoria, and consequently some delay might occur before the works authorised wore put in hand. It was also arranged to complete the formation of the footpath in East street, which had hitherto been retarded by tho impending removal of Mr Koulstoii'- weighbridge. A petition signed by Mr L. J. Bayly and six other owners was read asking that tlio road ou Pukekoho Hill lying between Mr T. Cannon's ami Mr Bayly's properties should be formed and graded.—Cr Bilkey thought that something should be done to the road.—Cr Pollock -aid more work thau could bo done before the Council went out of olliee had already been authorised, and it was useless to pass more work.-.—The Mayor considered that the owners themselves would probably carry out improvements if the cost was paid by the Council.—lt

was agreed that the Foreman of

Works should bo empowered to expend £lOou repairing the'road, a small contract for the same to bo let if necessary. OBSTBICTING TELEPHONE POLES. Or Bilkey drew attention to the dangerous position of the telephone pole at Gilroy's Corner, in Queen street, but it was explained that the pole had been erected so as to be on the boundary of the footpath when such was formed.—lt was decided to construct a footpath for a shoit distance on either side of the pole. Or Hurley reported that free passage on the recently formed footpath in Nelson Street was obstructed by the position if telephone poles in the centre of the path aud it was resolved to request the Postal Department to move the poles.

SHOWGROUND SECTIONS. Or Hamilton referred to the iuten tion of the Franklin A. and P

Society to sell the old showground

for building sections, and asked the Council to carry out at the Society's espuise the construction of a road through the- properly, for which the Society would be prepared to give a bond to make progress payments. Or Hubbard thought the request reasonable a3 it was only light to assist a society that belonged to and helped the town. He proposed that the road be constructed on the terms mentioned by Or Hamilton, the Finance Committee to be given authority to accept the bond for payment -Agreed to.

TOWN BAND'S APPLICATION. A letter was received fiom the Pukekoha Town Band rtquestirg that the mm of £25 should be donated to the by the Council, in return fnr which the Band wcull guarant e to give six open-air perormarces free of charge during ihe year. The Mayor stated that no donatrn had previously been made by the Council, but as the Band had beer a donation would materially help the organisation, and hjd indeed teen -previou-ly promised. Ha therefore proposed that .£25 be donated. —Cr Comrie seconded, and the motion was unanimously carried A RATIN i ARREaR.

A letter was real from a rate payer, residing outside the district, apclcgrsing for being i:i arrears with his rates, ar.d pleading that in view of the stringency ot finance", brought about by the war, he should not be called upo.i to pay the ten per cent, penalty incurred by reason ot his rates rot having been paid in due linp. He had, ha said, paid rates in Fukekoha tor over 30 years and had never been late in paying previously.--The Town Clerk explained that the Council at its last meeting decided thai it was not within its power to grant the rebate of the penalty, and the letter was in reply to his intimation to the writer to, that effect.—The letter was received. SANITARY INSPECTION.

A letter wss read from Dr Makgill, District Health Officer, suggesting that the Council should appoint the Health Board's Inspector to act as local inspector for sanitary plumbing in order that tha by-laws should be efficiently carried out. He suggested a charge of £2O per annum for the Inspector's services, and pointed out. that the Council's present Inspector was not qualified to inspect ssnitary plumbing. Mr J. Penman, Sanitary Inspector, who was in attendane at the meeting, stated that although he did not possess the necessary diploma to carry out inspec.ions as required by the new regulations, he woufd have no difficulty in qualifying for the same by si ting for examination, in which case he thought lie ought to have a little, extra remuneration.

Councillors expiessed pieference for payment tiling made to a local resident rather than to an outsider, and it was decided to increase Mr Penman's salary from £25 to £4O per aunum if he was successful in passing tha licensed plumbs' examination. AN OLD GRIEVANCE. Mr J. G. Haddow, solicitor, wrote on behalf of Miss Pepler, claiming that the thoroughfare known as Paeiata read ran through Miss property. As the matter in dispute had previously been considered and the Council had rejected the lady's claim of ownership no action was taken.

COST OF FOOD STUFFS

i ; 'A circular letter was read from the Kunanga Borough Council inviting the Pukekohe Council's cooperation in a resolution passed by them registering an emphatic protect at the way in which food stuffs in the Dominion were being advanced, thus increasing th? cist of living to thos3 least able to bear it, and calling on the Government to exercise the powers invested in it by regulating prices of common necessities.—The letter was formally received FINANCE. A credit balance of £2115 lis 9d was reported op the District Fund account, and accounts for £935 19s 'od were passed for payment. ELECTORAL P.OLL,

The District Electors' Roll was passed and signed. MISCELLANEOUS.

Mr W. J. Bowden wrote complaining of silt being carrie 1 down til? water-tible and deposited on his property in Helvetia roaf He suggested that a few pipes laid acros- the roaJ would divert the water into a natural fall into the creek.--Referred tj the Foreman of Works to inspect and report. It was decided to purchase a new ronl plough. The Mayor was voted aG honorarium of £25 in respect of the financial year ending on March Ulst,

It was arranged that the Council office should he closed for a week fur th 3 Easte: hclidays, from Thursday, April Ist