PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 110, 19 November 1915, Page 1

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting.

Ihe usual monthly meeting of the above authority was held on Wedieeday evening last. Present: Th 3 Mayor, Mr H. G. K. Mason, and Cra C. Roadley, C. Clarke, J. Patterson, F. Hubbard, I. Motion, A. B. Barter and J. Beatty. TAXI CHARGES.

Mr K. F. Webßter wrote complaining of what he considered was an excessive fare charged him by a Pukekohe motor car chaffaoer on Monday last. He stated that he rang up for a taxi to take him from his house to the' station, and he was charged five shilling-, although the distance was only about half a mile.

Ct Motion remarked that the minimum fare in Auckland was 2s for cither one or two miles, and he considered the charge of 6s in Pukekohe was not excessive, the road on which the car had passed being very rough. Cr Patterson proposed that as the Council licensed cars plying for hire, the question ot charges should be looked into by the bylaws Committee.—Agreed to. FIRE APPLIANCES.

The Fire Inspector, Mr Rollioson, acknowledged the receipt of bis warrant as Fire Inspector to tbe Pukekobe Borough and suggested that the scheme cf placing a quantity of hose together with a hydrant and nozzle, at the top ot East street hill as agreed to by the Couacil, should be given effect to in order that the same should be available for tires in Prospect Terrace, and, further, 'to save tbe exhausting work of pulling the hand reel op tbe hill. Mr H. H. Short, in whose outhouse a fire occurred on the Otb inst., wrote in a similar strain with reference to the erection of an additional tircbell.

On tbe motion of the Mayor, the Fire Brigade Committee were empowered to take action in the matter. TRANSPORT OF BUILDINGS.

A letter was received from the Franklin A. and P. bociety asking for permission to remove some of their buildings through the - streets from tbe old to the new Show Ground.

The Mayor moved thai sanction be given subject to tbc work being carried out under tbe supervision of the Borough Foreman at the Society's expense. Cr Koadley objected to permission being given if it meant sledging buildings, as such would cut up the roads and was prohibited by tha by-laws. Tbe buildings, he considered, should be removed on wheels instead of on a sledge. The Mayor amended his motion so tbat tbe removal should bs cairied out in compliance with the by-laws, and it was tben agreed to.

BOROUGH SANITATION The District Health Officer forwarded model by-laws as ssked for by the Mayor. Referring to the five cases of diphtheria which had occurred in the Borough durring the last six months, he stated that together with enteric fever cases the two diseases were a guide to the sanitation of the Borough. WATER EXTENSION.

Messrs S. McNally and James McCormick applied for tbe water main to be connected to tbeir properties abutting on Rowe's corner. The Town Clerk pointed out tbat to extend the main it would cost £63, and the waterworks engineer intimated that the extension, if made, would not be tbe means of bringing in any other water consumers than the applicants. It was agreed, on the proposal of the Mayor, that a reply be torwarded stating that the Council had not the money available at the present time to undertake the extension. "RAISING THE WIND." In reply, to a communication from the Council tbe Deputy Superintendent, State Advances' Office advised the Council on their proposal to borrow money without the consent of the Governor. He stated that it was not lawful or competent to dt> so during the present war, and undei those circumstances he suggested that no steps should be taken by way of raising a loan until the Council's application had been considered. He further asked that full particulars be forwarded. Cr Hubbard proposed, and it was decided, that tbe request regarding the particulars should be complied witb. It was also decided to inform the jovernmeni that the Council would not pay more than six per cent interest tor a loan. The Mayor remarked tbat it might be found preferable to issue debentures for a loan instead of borrowing from the Government.

STREET CLEANING The Town Cleik of Auckland wrote stating that the Auckland City Council had not either a water cart or a rotary street sweeper for sale, but he advised tbe Council of a firm that dealt in the name. A letter was received from the firm in question stating that they could supply a new road sweeper for £49 15s, and offering to indent a water cart.

Urs Koadley and Hubbard were authorised tu inspect tbe appliances offered to the Council and report at the next meeting.

With respect to a water-cart Cr Koadley proposed that the same should be built locally stating that an under-cart would coat about £2O and a tank placed on it would suffice.

Cr Patterson considered that what was advocated by Cr Koadley would be a jerrj -built article. Cr Koadley took exception to the aspeision passu! en the local coach-builders by Cr Patterson as none of them would certainly turn out a jerry-built rart. Cr Patterson explained that he did not refer to the under-cart in what he had eaid, but he maintained that an old iron tank en a new frame would be nothing but a jerry-built appliance as a whole. Cr Patterson moved that a rotary water cart be procured. He was of the opinion that the upkeep would cost less than one proposed to be purchased by Cr Koadley. Aa no seconder was forthcoming the motion lapsed. Cr Barter proposed, and Cr Clarke seconded, that when in Auckland inspecting a street sweeper Cre Readlev and Hubbard ascertain the cost of a water cart, whether rotary or otherwise. This was carried.

WORK IN HALL STREET. In reply to Cr Patterson, information was supplied by Cr Hubbard, chairman of the Works Commutee, that the cost (£3) of metal recently laid on the road in Mail street was borne by the Council, wbiUt the repairs to the footpath (costing about £4) had been effected at Mr W. R'tulston's expense.

Cr Patterson explained that the work was in connection with the erection ot a weighing bridge, and he claimed that' the arrangement was that ths whols of the cost should be charged to Mr Ruulstoti.

Cr flubbarJ contended that the road had required attention and consequently it would have been unfair to have charged Mr Koulston with that part ot the work. Addressing Cr Patterson, he remarked that he would have no obj action to a vote of cenaure being passed on the Works Committee for their action.

On the motion of Cr barter, tbe action of the Works Committee was continued.

PUBLIC LIGHTING SYSIEM In accordance with notice of motion, Cr Koadley proposed that tbe Council should consider tbe advisability of installing a lighting system for tbe borough, gas or electricity, and the best means of having the tame established. lie thought that everyone agreed that there should be some form of lighting, and both gas and electricity had th ir respective advantages. If tbe Council adopted either form then it would be necesary to deal with the financial aspect, and it might be found advantageous to allow some private Company to operate, the Council to be entitled to purchase after a certain number of years.

Tbe Mayor seconded, remarking that replies received from different towns concerning their installation of electricity showed that in practically every case water-power was the essential element, but that could not be forthcoming in Pukekohe.

Ihe resolution was supported by Cr Hubbard and was unanimously adopted.

PAERATA CREEK

At the request of Mr Joe Adams, it was decided to call on tha owners whose properties adjoined Paerata creek to within a mile of the borough boundary to clear tbeir respective portions of the creek.

LOCATING WATER On the motion of Cr Barter, it was decided to forward the sum of £5 to thd Rev. H. Mason ir p«ct of services rendered Lj aim recently in water-divining experiments. Cr Barter stated tbat although boring work on Pukekobe Hill did not meet witb the success hoped for bctler rasults were probable at tbe site at tbe Power House recommended by the Rev. Mason. ADVERTISING BOARDS. It was decided to call for tenders for the lease of the two advertising boards recently erected in the town by tbe Council, the posting of bills in tbe streets to be restricted to those Btations. BOROUGH BOUNDARIES Tbe Mayor reported that the Franklin County Council were willing to approve of the date of the alteration of the borough and County boundaries being brought forward so as to take effect at once insead of being delayed until March 31st next, provided that the Borough paid them (the County) the sum of £175 in respect of current years' rates. The Mayor explained that £126 was the actual amount due in respect of apportionment of the rates, but the County asked for the extra sum by reason of the roads that they were taking over being in want of repair. He (tbe Mayor) moved tbat tbe terms be agreed to. The motion was not seconded, and it was then resolved, on the proposition of Cr Hubbard, ta decline the County's offer, the change of boundaries thus to come into force as originally arranged on —March 31st next. The Assietant-Under Secretary of the Department of Internal Aifairs wrote stating that the question bad been raised as to whether the boundaries could be altered in the manner suggested by the Commissioners.

The Mayor remarked that the position was that more land was taken in than was asked for in the petition.

APPLICATIUN FOR WATUR In regard to the New Zealand Dairy Association's application for water to be laid on to their Pukckolie butter factory, the waterworks engineer, Mr Wyatt, reported that the Company was prepared to pay £25 per annum if the request was acceded to. He pointed out, hawever, that it would cost £342 to make the extension.

Cr Hubbard proposed that as* the Council was out of 'funds lbs matter be deferred for the present—Agreed to. MORSE DKIVING NUISANCE

The Mayor suggested that as loose horses continued to be driven through the main streets an ex - ample should be made ot an offender by taking legal action. Cr Motion considered that th 3 Mayor's suggestion would hamper considerably (he practice of driving young horses to the sales. It was decided on Cr Barter's proposal to exclude loose horses from the streets between the boura of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., horns being taken to the sales to be excluded from the terms of the resolution. SANITARY DEFECTS

Cr Barter pointed out that the Borough Sanitary Inspector could not, owing to the non-existence of any by-law dealing with the matter, compel owners to "trap" house drains.

On the Mayor's suggestion it was agreed that the By-laws Committee should formulate by-laws to deal with sanitary and drainage matters. FINANCE.

• Debit balances at the bank were report 3d as follows:—District Fond Account £754 19j, General Account £552 18s 2d.

Accounts totalling £874 11a Id were passed for piyment.