PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 213, 29 September 1916, Page 1

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Engineering Question.

Council in Unison.

A rptcial meeting of the Pukekobe Borough Council was hi Id on Wednesday evening for the purpose mainly ot expediting the execution uf the schemes included in the loan of £12,000 recently approved by the ratepayer*. The members present were the Mayor (Mr H. G. K. Mason), Crs Roadley, Bilkey, Beatty, Clarke, Patterson and Barter, with the Town Clerk, Mr J. F. Ueane.

KOADING PKOPOSALS

The Mayor repotted that no tenders bad been received for the advertised contract for the supply of spawls from the borough quarry, but that the Works Committee were arranging for metal to be Becured from elsewhere. The Mayor added that the Works Committee recommended that King street should be laid down in tarred mscadam and that in the matter of the offer of a contribution ot £5 from residents concerned towards the cost of improving the footpath on ratter's Hill the Committee recommended that the path be tarred from Brownlee's corner to the crest of the hill at an estimated cost of £l6 on the residents agrenrg to pay halt that sum, viz. £B.

Cr Batter moved and Cr Clarke seconded the adoption of the recommendations. Cr Patterson considered that the outlay on Potter's bill was unwarranted as only three owners would benefit thereby. He also pointed out that the ' Council had previously decided that owners should pay halt the cost of kerbing and channelling, and he aeked whether that would be enforced in the case of Potter's Hill. Cr Barter advised that an understanding should be arrived at as to what kerbing and channelling really meant, since the same joint concerned the work to be done on Pukekohe Hill. His opinion was that a channel with boulders such as was now proposed did not come under the terms ot the resolution as previously passed. The Mayor shared the view expressed oy Cr Barter, but it was agreed to refer the matter to the Works Committee for a report. Cr Patterson advocated that a path with chips would suffice for Potter's Hill instead of a tarred path. Cr Roadley contended that a tarred path was simply following out the Works Committee's policy of all future work being of a permanent nature thus effecting a saving in expenditure. A path with chips was a waste of money as weeds gradually grew and only a narrow track was used. Tne Committee's recommendation was adopted.

A NEW FOOTPATH

Cr Patterson desired to be enlightened as to the recent construction of a footpath from the railway station to the opposite side of the adjoining road. He asked who had authorised the work as it had not been before the Council. The Mayor stated that he bad no knowledge of the path, but would ascertain particulars as asked for by Cr Patterson. SUFEKVISING THE WATEK SCHEME.

In regard to his appointment to supervise the installation of the water scheme, a letter was read from Mr U. W. McArtbur Btating that bis charges would.be 3J per cent on the total cost of the scheme. He added that the position iu regard to the petition presented a«King for turther engineering advise to be obtained had been explained to him by ttie Waterworks Committee, but he had already taken up the work and could not see his way to submit to the proposal. There were, he pointed out, no engineering difficulties in the scheme, and he assured the Council that the work vruuld be carried out in a manner that would reflect credit on all concerned. On the motion of Cr Barter, seconded by Cr Clarke, it was resolved to accept the terms quoted by Mr McArthur. The Mayor then enquired as to the Council's wishes in regard to the reply to be sent to the signatories of the petition handed in at the last meeting. He stated that he inferred that Mr McArthur'* letter meant that he would withdraw fiom the scheme if another engineer was called in. Cr Barter mentioned that Mr McArthur informed the Waterworks Committee that he could not have another engineer supervising his work. The Mayor remarked that he had made enquiries and found that under

the circumstances they would in all probability ha\e a difficulty in getting aDy reputable engineer to act.

Cr Clarke was of opinion that the people who signed the (tuition would recngri?e that circumstarcei had eince altered. Whsn they signed thev understood that Mr McArthur would not te able to spare turh'cient time to properly supervise the work, whereas row Mr McArthur was nu longer a county official at Te Aroba, and he bad promised to regularly visit Pukekobe to control tne work. He proposed that they should take no action in the matter of the petition, and that a letter thuuid te sent to the petitioners explaining the Council's reason tor coming to tbat decision. Cr Bilkey seconded, and claimed that, in accordance with tie promise given, the Council had considered the petition but thought it unnecessary to ect on it. : !Jr Roadley stated that Mr McArthur, in bis letter, reminded the Council that they had already appointed him to the work, and tbat implied that he would bave a legal remedy against them it they "went back on the appointment. Ihey did not want legal trouble and it would bavc been far better if tha loan had been rejected than for tbeni to be led into litigation. If circumstances haJ not altered he (Cr Koadby) would still have bstn in favour of securing further expert evidence but row no local authority had control over Mr McArthur, who could devote the necessary time to supervising the work in I'ukekohe. Everybody agreed tbat Mr McArthur was perfectly competent to carry out the scheme and under the changed conditions he (the speaker' saw no reason why they should teke notue of the petition. Cr Barter remarked that ne was j placed in. an unenviable positl.jfc lie bad given a promise that would favourably consider the petition and on his assurance many favourable votes were secured for the loan. In voting tor Cr Clarke's motion he would probably be tolJ that be bad broken his promise, but he considered tbat bis action in doing so would be justified. Chaos would only arise if another engineer was now appointed as it would mean the retirement of Mr McArthur and the work would be bung up. He trusted that the ratepayers would recognise that in their decision that night the Council was only actirg for the progress and good of I'ukekohe. » The Mayor endorsei the views expressed by Cr Barter and pointed out that if those who gave the promise in regard to tbe petition liked to be hypocrites it would be easy for them to vote against the motion, joyfully knowing that such nould make no difference to the actual result.

Cr Patterson exressed hie pleasure at Cr Clatke proposing the resolution as he had done. Cr Claike, he said, was present at the meeting of the Waterworks Committee and he (the speaker) believed that Mr McArthur settled all doubts in his (Cr Clarke's) mind as to the feasability of the scheme. Cr Clarke's action disposed of bis previous suggestion that he (Cr Patterson) was afraid to lay the scheme before any other engineer, He (Cr Patterson) had always been impressed by Mr McArthur's eon fidence in the scheme, and he could not see that the ratepayers could take exception to them "turning down" the petition. They had had Mr McArthur there and having discussed the position with him he thought they had given the petition consideration (Jr Beatty epoke in support of the motion, saying he was satisfied now that conditions had altered. Cr Koadley contended that Councillors met to conduct the business of the town, and not to consider whether they gave satisfaction or die-satisfaction to any individual ratepayers. If they were not satisfied they could ask the Council to resign,

Cr Clarke's motion having nccn unanimously carried, Cr Barter exclaimed; A nine days' wonder We are unanimous at last. (Laughter). A letter was dratted to be sent to the petitioners setting forth that the Council had given the petition very careful consideration but as there was no doubt of anv sort concerning the competent engineering of the waterworks scheme and as Mr McArthur, now being relieved from,, any permanent engagement, had given an assurance that the supervision of the work would receive his closest attention the Council bad decided that no good purpose would be served by the appointment of another engineer. ELECTKiC LIGHTING. The Council went into committee to consider the appointment of an enaineor to carry out the installation of the electric light Bcheme.