PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 193, 21 July 1916, Page 2

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above authority was held on Wednesday evening, the members present being the Mayor (Mr H. G. K. Mason), Crs C. Roadley, K. Bilkey, C. Clarke, I. A Motion, A. B. Barter and J. Patterson, with the Town Clerk (Mr J. %■ - Deane). A MEMBER'S ILLNESS. Leave of absence on account of illness was accorded to Cr Hubbard and the Town Clerk was instructed to convey to him an expression of ! sympathy at the cause of his nonattendance THE FIRE BRIGADE. A suggestion was received from the Fire Biigade that it would be conducive to co-operatioa between the Council and the Brigade if one or more members of the Council's Fire Brigade Committee would attend the monthly meetings of the Brigade.—Cr Motion, as chairman of the Committee, remarked that he would endeavour to attend the meetings and possibly other members would accompany him. YATES' BUSH ROAD. The Mayor reported that a deputation from the Council had duly waited on the County Council and had asked that authority to contribute to the formation of the road leading to Buckland on the side of the railway. The Mayor added that, although no actual decision waa arrived at he understood the County would be willing to pay the Council the amouut of rates received from Messrs Roulston's property before the road was transferred to the borough, but such a sum would go a very little way towards the cost of making the road. Cr Patterson suggested that as County ratepayers were mainly concerned in the road they should use fluence with the County Council to inbring about a substantial contribution. I It was decided to await a reply from the Countv before tiking further action. AVERTING DAMAGE TO ; ROADS.

The damage to roads in the vicinity of Pukekohe Hill caused by Hooding on the occasion of the recent storm was again considered and it was resolved to divert the water from the .top of Barter's Hill in the direction _ of Tuakau Road instead of it running, as now, towards Queen street It was farther resolved to call on Mr J. B. Howe to close the ditch that cariied water from a lagoon on his property on-to Cemetery road. The Foreman of Works (Mr P. Clews') presented a report to diverting the present fljw of water from Morrow's road and from Cemetery road, the respective costs being estimated at £260 and £133 15s.—The report was held over for future consideration. COLLECTION OF RUBBISH. The Mayor reported that the Council's contractor had arranged to take up a collection of rubbish in the business part of the towD, fur which purpose the Council had purchased a supply of rubbish tins.— |lt was agreed to sell the tins at cost price, viz, 7s Gd, to applicants for the same.

KERBING AND CHANNELLING In accordance with notice of motion, Or Roadley moved that the by-law providing for owners paying half the cost of kerbing and channelling the frontage of roads adjoining their properties should be enforced. Cr Barter seconded " Cr M >tion asked whether such charge would be made in respect of the diversion of storm-water it was proposed to carry out on Pukekohe Hill.

The Mayor expressed the opinion that such work would not be included in the meaning of the resolution.

Cr Patterson, however, pointed out that although the works alluded to might not be chargeable to owners yet, for instance, when a water channel was constructed on Barter's hill the charge would have to be enforced.

In reply to Cr Patterson, the Mayor stated that the resolution as proposed would be retrospective in owners being called on to pay for kerbing and channelling laid down for two years past. Cr Patterson considered that as the chirgj couli only be mile retrospective for two years it meant that owners in King street would pay nothing, thus entailing an injustice to owners in other roads- He suggested that owners should only be charged as from the present tintsCr Koadley accepted Cr Pattwp son's suggestion, and the resolution was then unanimously agreed to on such understanding. WATER AND ELEdRIC LIGHT It was decided to adjourn the meeting until to-night for consideration and decision of the propose'! loans for water and for electric light, the Mayor reporting that the Advisory-Engineer's report on the electric light scheme hid baeu received.

A few matters in connection with the loan schemes were, however, referred to, and the Mayor also mentioned that in the teat esse heard at Wellington Ihe decision was that the Council was* not debarred from raising a bank overdraft by reason of a loan having teen rais?d to pay off a previous overdraft, the Judge hsving ruled that the previous loan was illegal and that cjnsequently the amount of the came, viz., £485, mefeiy ranked as a current liability in determining the extent of the legal overdraft available. . The purchase of Hickcy's Daflrts a source of supply for water was the subject of a letter of advice rcc?ived from the Council's solicitors, Messrs Eodean and Holloway, who stated that they bad perused Messrs Hickey's deeis and loond the same in order, mended that Mr Pilgrim's rights in connection with the dam shoolt not be overlooked.-Cr urged that in spendirg the ratepayers' money they should make their position secure.—l he Mayor remarked that if necessary Mr Pilgrim's rights cjulJ be acqaiM

under (he Public Works Act. He added that in his opinion only some nominal amount would te payable MMr Pilgrim.—lt waß agreed to ODen up ntjtotiatiors with Mr Pilgrim for the purchase if his iig;its. The Houocil'a seal was affixed

to the d ed of conveyance of land from Mr E. lioose to the Council V'tor the site ot the proposed new icsifvoir. The Mayor suggested that an order, at a cost of about £3OO, sbculd be iorthwith placed for the Hydram, which it was proposed to porch»B3 for raising the water to

Boose's Hill, as some eight months would elapse before such machineiy couli arrive ffum Eagland, and in his opinion everything should be expedited as much as possible.--Cr ltoadlcy noiutea out that the Hydratn could be cabled for at any time, and he advise! that ail preliminaries should be carried through before the order was given.—Cr Bilkey w. j s of opinion that they should await the result of the loan pc 11 bstoie orderrg the Hydram.-*No action was taken, it being understood that the matter wotild be dealt with at to-night's adjourned meeting, FINANCE. Debit balances of £1278 and £1259 were reported on the General and District Fund Accounts respectively, and accounts totalling £519 wire passed fur paymen'.