PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 60, 23 July 1915, Page 1

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting. The usual monthly meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council was htkl on Wednesday evening! PresentThe Mayor (Mr H. G. K. Mason), Councillors J. A. Comrie, K. Bilkry, C. Claike, J. Patterson, I. A. Motion, A. B. Bait.r, *. Hubbard, and J. Beatty, and the Town Clerk, Mr J. F. Diane.

DRAINAGE SCHEME IMMINENT. In reply to a communication from the Council, asking whether if a Draioage Loan for £B3OO Were :arried money would be available, the State Advances Office wrote thai the existing limit to local authorities was £SOOO, but if that amount would be of assistance the application, if made on the prescribed form, would receive consideration. The Mayor mentioned that the letter had been written by his instructions, as he understood there was a possibility of money being available.

It was resolved to make formal application to the Stat* Advances Office for a loan of £SOOO, the bum not to be taken up unless authorised on a Loan Poll. ANNUAL BALANCE SHEET. The Audi tor-General returned the balance sheet of the Borough for the year tnding March 31st last, certified as correct.

TREE PLANTING. The District Engineer advised that the Council's request for permission for trees to be planted on ths top of the railway embankment opposite tha Pukekohe Hotel would be referred to the Chid Engineer. PROPOSED BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

A letter was received from the Pukekohe District Horticultural Society suggestirg that the Council should assist in the proposed establishment of a Beautifying Society. It was decided that the Council should signify approval of the formation of a Society as suggested, and would be prepared to give assistance if Buch Society were formed.

CEMETERY, BY-LAWS. The Council's solicitors, Mesas Endean and Holloway, advised as to the necessary steps to be taken fur alteration of the Cemetery by-laws. AN OLD CLAIM..

A further letter was received from Miss Pepler in the matter of her contention that a public road encroached on her property.—No action was taken. A COMLPAINT.

Mr F. Wightman, of Helvetia road, wrote complaining of the blocking up of the water-table on the road in the vicinity of his property, rendering the road dangerous.— Referred to the Works Committee with power to act. HOSPITAL BOARD CALL.

The Auckland Hospital Board wrote acceding to ths Council's application for the Council's contribution to the Board to be made in four quarterly instalments, each of £62 6s Bd.

FIRE BRIGADE REQUIREMENT

The Fire Brigade wrote drawing the Council's attention to the "totally inadequate ' provision of spac3 at their disposal for the housing of the Brigade's gear. The present building was, moreover, eo "porous" that there was difficulty in keeping the hc?e dry and they asked that a suitabh water-tight building should be provided, They also pointed out that the reel and hose, just purchased, bad to be housed at the Horse Bazaar. The Brigade also suggested that a Fire Inspector ba appointed, also Fire Police, the lattcr's duly to be to keep the public from interfering with the Brigade at fires. Cr Motion, as chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee, reported that the present shed had been repeatedly Hooded in recent heavy re inn.

The Brigade's communication was referred to the Fire Brigade Committer, repaits to the existing shed to be carried out as a temporary measure.

R&SIDEN'IIAL ROADS. The Mayor moved the adoption of the repoit submitted at the last Council meeting by the Foicman of Wotks, viz., that Eids street* (i.e, residential roads) should be formed with tcoria to a width of 30ft, with footpaths on either side of 18ft width fach. His Worship explained that if the principle were adopted it would still te oprn to the Council to make other arrangements for formation if such was desired in any particular instance. Cr Hubbard seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

FINANCE. A credit balance of £149 on the General Account and of £4lB en the District Fund Account was reported, and accounts totalling £215 on the Genera) Account were passed for payment.

ROAD CROSSING. 'Cr Hubbard, chairman of the Works Committee, reported that owing to the wet weather the construction of u crossicg near the railway bridge, as authorised, had been necessarily postponed. UNUSED KOADS.

On the suggestion of the Mayor, the WjtfKs Committee were instructed to report en roads in private occupation or unused. His Worship explained that unless proper steps were taken there was a danger of the trontage owners being able to claim such roads whereas the Council bad power to sell the same.

STREET BY-LAWS. The Major proros d that the Foreman of Works should b° empowered to enforce the by-laws in ordef to Etip the practice of vehicles and hortc3 being hit unattended in King stresi. Ke remarked that instances of the same w re very nuxerous. Cr Hubbard counselled frave consideration before any steps as fuggested were tiken. The town, he said, lived on the country, and the Mayor a proposal ws a rap against country people, who whilst transacting business naturtlly left their caits in the elr.et. Cr Patterson maint.ind that there were plenty of livery Btables available for use and that there fore, Lots 38 and vehicles should not be allowed to stand in King street. He suggested that the difficulty could be overcome if a tie up rail were erected in Hall street.

Cr Hubbard pointed cut that Eccording to the by-laws no offence was committed eo long as fcdrseß were tied up.

Cr Comrie r. marked that he was opposed to such stringent action as suggested. Pukekobe was a counity tiwn and the country people had to bs stu:i-:d.

jha Mayor withdrew his resolution, stating that in view ot what bad been sah his proposed remedy might create worse* evils. A suggestion by Cr Comrie that cross-rails should be fixed to tieposts in order to prevent horses getting on to the footpath was referred to the By-Laws Committee.

RIDING ON FOOIPATHS. On the motion of Cr Beatty, it was decid.d to ask the Polio to take action against persons riding on the public footpaths. 'IHE BLACKBERRY PEST,

Cr Barter asked whether the notice, advertised in the "Times," calling upon owners to clear away blackberry burhes protruding on the streets, had been complied with.—The Foreman of Works, Mr S. ClewF, replied that only in a few instances had any steps baen taken.

It was decided to call on some of the worst offenders to comply with the cotk'3 within seven days and to institute prosecutions in ail cases of default. CONGRATULATIONS.

On tha motion of Cr Patterson, seconded by the Mayor, it was agreed to forward congratulations to Mr J. P. Grcsaman upon his appointment as Professor of History at-the Auckland University, the Mayor remarking that such would only be a graceful act seeing that Mr Grossman had refused to accept any fee or reimbursement of expenses in connection with the lecture on the war he recently gave in Pukekohe.

OLD RAILWAY TRACK. Cr Patterson drew the Council's attention to the turn of £4O having been allocated at the conference held at Taumarunui for Pukekohe's contribution to the proposed national highway between Wellington ar.d Auckland. The route, as designed, however, in no way benefited Pukekohe.

Cr Comrie considered that a far better route than what was proposed would be to take ever the track of the old line of railway, viz., to Buckland and to Pokfino and then the suggested new mad would come right tnrough Pukekohe and the hills would be avoided.

It was arranged that a deputation, consisting of the Mayor, Crs Comrie and Motion should wait on the County Council to endeavour ti secure the latter's co-operation in the acquisition of the old railway (rack for road purposes.

OTHER MA'ITERS. Discussions on other matters including charges for water, fixing of the new rate and improvements to rjads are reported under Bfp ~r- te headings.