PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 168, 25 April 1916, Page 2

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting. Tho ordinary monthly meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council was held lust Wednesday, the members present being the Mayor H. G. E. Mason), Crs Bilkey, Beatty, Clarke, Patterson, Barter and Hubbard.—A telegram apologising for non-attendance was received from Cr Roadley, who was necessarily absent through having been called away in his capacity as Coroner for au imjuest at Clevedon. CEMETERY BY-LAWS. Sitting in special meeting, prior to the ordinary meeting, by-laws were adopted for the control of the Cemetery, Cr Barter remarking that the same were necessary for the guidance of the erection of tomb stones. HRE BRIGADE MATTERS. The Fire Inspector (Mr H. J. Rollineon) reported that on the evening of the 13th inst, the Brigade turned out for an alarm of fire was made for a blaze on Mr J. Russell's premises, Pukekohe Hill, caused by the burning of rubbish. He added that Mr Mclntyre had offered the Brigade the free use of his motor-car, whenever available, to enable the Brigade to attend fires.

Mr Mclntyre's offer was accepted with thanks.

The Mayor pointed out that the burniug of rubbish during dark was a breach of the by-laws but he advised that the case under notice would be met by Mr Russell being called on to pay the cost of the Brigade's attendance.—The Mayor's suggestion was adopted. Cr Hubbard gave notice that at the next meeting he would movo a resolution in regard to the matter of the upkeep of the Fire Brigade. SIGHT-SOIL REMOVAL.

A letter was received from Mr H. J. Hawkins, of Papetoetoe, the contractor engaged to carry out the removal of night-soil in Pukekohe, intimating that he could not so far promise to commenca operations on May Ist, as he did not know whether he would be released by the Otahuhu Council by that date, and further that he was having trouble in securing a site in the district for the deposit of night-Eoil. ICIXO STREET IMPROVEMENTS. Cr Hubbard, who was unable lo be present at the previous meeting, complained that tho Council had substituted another portion of King street, viz., from the National Bank towards Edinburgh street, for treatment by bituco in place of the road in the vicinity of the railway bridge as recommended by the Works Committee. The Committee, he said, carefully considered tho matter, and with five members present a majority of the Council) a unanimous agreement was arrived at. Consequently he could not understand members going back on their previous decision. Ho askel for an explanation of the Works Committee's decision being rejected. The Mayor ruled that the subject could only be raised on a' notice of motion to rescind the Council's resolution. He added that personally he changed his mind and voted for the alteration as the best position for the experiment.

THE KAIIAVAY APPROACH. Cr Patterson enquired whether aDy information had yet been received as to the intentions of the Eailway Department iu regard to the Station Approach road, which the Council had asked should he widened to G6ft for its entire length when being altered to provide for the duplication of the line. The Mayor replied in the negative but added that the Town Clerk would again write to the Prime Minister (Mr Massey , who had promised as member for the district to communicate with the Railway Department thereon.

The Council agreed to accept the payment of £ll7 by the Eailway Department in respect of the alteration and widening of the borough road opposite Mr Berriman's residence.

WATBB EXTENSION. Applicatior was received from Mr F. Souster, architect, on behalf of Mrs M. R. Meiklejohn, for the water main to be extended from the sale yards to a section near at hand she had purchased from Mr H. Dell, on which a residence was to be erected.

The Waterworks Engineer reported that the work would necessitate a six inch main, and his estimate of the cost was £2;30.

On the proposition of the Mayor it was resolved to inform the applicant that the Council could not entertain the proposal owing to lack of funds but suggesting that the application should be renewed later.

water srrr-LY to s< iiool. The Auckland Education Board wrote asking for water to be supplied without charge to the Pukekohe School as in the case of schools in Auckland and in other districts. It was resolved that a reply be forwarded stating that owing to the water having to be pumped it was necessary that a charge should be made and therefore the Council could not agree to the suggestion.

TOWN LMIHTINU. Ihe Towu Olerk reported that one tender had boon received for lighting the borough by gas and that there was a possibility of a tender beinj, r received from a Nelson iirrn for electric lighting.— The Lighting Committee wore deputed to report at the next meeting on -the tender or tenders received. CLUAUIXij I'AEUAIA I KLKK. It was decided to call on owners to clear Paerata Creek and if the notice was not complied with the Council to carry out the work at the owners;' ooi>t MOTIONS LAI'SK. lu view of Cr Roadloy's absence motions relative to the raisiug of the wages of tLa- Council's poiiuanout labourers by Is per day, the calliug of teuders for 10,000 yards of metal, and the appointment of a Borough Engineer were not proceeded with. COMMITTEE VXPENDIITRE. Cr Hubbard proposed that the liiiiiiiiijttiii&fa

ised to expeud a sum up to XIU in the case of any etuorgeucy. He explained that in view of the motion recently passod by the Council to tho effect that no expenditure was to ho incurrod without tho Council's authority the hands of the Works Committee woro tied Cr Baiter seconded.

Cr Patterson moved as au amendment giving Authority to tho Works Committee to spend £5. He thought such would be an adequate sum and pointed out that the reason tho previous motion was passed was that ou two occasions liabilities had been incurred by members. Tho result of such action was that tho Couucil had either to confirm the expenditure or to pass a vote of censure ou tho member or membors responsible, and it was not fail that the Council should be placed in that position. Cr Beatty seconded. The amendment was lost and the motion was then adopted. lIXAM'E. Credit balances were reported as follows, viz: £409 on the general a/c and £450 for the District Fund a/c. Accounts totaling £OO3 were passed for payment. The Council, at the close of the meeting, went into committee to discuss tinancial matters. STATISTICS 01' WORK. It was resolved on the proposition of Cr Hubbard that the Foreman of Works should submit at each meeting a report of the mouth's working, containing particulars of work, where done and the cost thereof. In this way, if was claimed by Cr Hubbard that a check on the expenditure of loan moneys could bo made and information would be afforded as to the amounts spent on the different streets. Cr Patterson's idea was that tho figures might lead to misapprensiou on the pait of the public as naturally streets carrying greater traffic than others necessitated more money being spent on them.