DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 215, 6 October 1916, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS

TUAKAU. TUAKAU TOWN BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. Tlio monthly meeting of the above authority, held on Tuesday evening last, was attended by Messrs Dynes Fulton (rhairman), W. Graham, J. Pirret, 11. Craig, W. Glasgow, H. B. Free and Captain Ryder, with the clerk, Mr A. H. Tapper. THE LOAX. The Superintendent of the State Advances Office conveyed the instructions to be followed in respect to the Gazette notice for the £12,000 loan. The chairman said that the requirements had been complied with.

Mr Craig asked whether further steps in respect to matters bearing on the loan could not be taken so that the Board would be in a position to proceed with the expenditure thereof immediately the first proportion came to hand. The chairman considered that it would be well to consider the matter of lighting, with a view of either

renewing the lease of or purchasing the quarry site before the lease ex- ' pired next February, in the event of an engineer reporting that the water power available on the site would be of sufficient energy for electric lighting purposes. He suggested that the question of a suitable scheme could be discussed with the Board's consulting engineer, Mr Eoutly. Mr Qiasgow mentioned the name of Mr Geo. H. Herbert, G.E., as an available expert to report on the

power. The chairman advocated consulting the Board's engineer in respect to the engagement of an electrical engineer, and advocated that as Mr Fenn, of Auckland, had already supplied information thereon gratis he should be considered in the matter, Mr Craig was of the opinion that until the population of Tuakau was greater the scheme would be too comprehensive. The chairman reminded Mr Craig | that Mr Bycroft was not bound to sell the quarry to the Board, and that in the event of it being sold to some one else it might be lost to the Board for all time. Captain Eyder suggested that they were "diving in the dark," and should secure the assistance of a reliable electrical engineer. The chairman remarked that a lighting scheme could bo installed in the township for £SOO, and that as the balance of the money allocated, viz., £SOO, for a lighting scheme could not bo diverted lor any other purpose, the quarry might be purchased therewith. Mr Free reported that he had had quotations submitted to him by re-

liable firms for the installation of an acetylene lighting system of I~> street lights for £ 100 and a suitablo benzine installation for £2OO. He suggested that the royalty charge of 6d which the Board paid on metal from the quarry could be used to help defray the interost on the purchase money of the site, in the event of it being secured, and that the site could also be used as a yard for Town Board purposes. It was clear to him that an electric lighting system could be installed and worked on a sound basis so that it would cost the ratepayers practically nothing.

Mr Craig raised the point that the quarry site would not be suitable for the purposes of a yard.—This view was also taken by the chairman, who recognised nevertheless that the site was a valuable asset as there was a good supply of stone therein. A proposal that Mr Routly should engage an engineer to report on the water power available in the quarry and on other power in the district, and that Mr Herbert's name should be mentioned with a view of him being considered in the matter, was made by Mr Free and seconded by Mr Glasgow and carried, In reply to questions asked by Mr Craig, the chairman said that if the

Board's consulting engineer advised that the site should be purchased after an inspection had beeu made by the engineer to be engaged, the Board would consider the purchase j thereof. KOOITATH KEI'AIKS. Mr Craig reported that he had unsuccesstully ondeavoured to arrange an interview with the Board's consulting engineer in respect to the footpath in front of Mr Rowe's business premises in George street. It was agreed, on the proposal of Mr Free, seconded by the chairman, that temporary repairs should be effected pending a report on the I matter being received from the engineer.

It was resolved, on the suggestion of Mr Glasgow, to place scoria, where necessary, on the footpath near Mr Northmore's and Miss Bruce's residences. MISCELLANEOUS. On the subject of tho provision of facilities for dealing with fire being advocated by Mr Graham, the chairman said that no action could be taken until a supply of water was available in the township, and he recommended that the proposal to erect a water trough should be further considered.—On tho chairman's suggestion it was agreed to defer the matter until the engineer's visit, when it could bo discussed with him. It was decided to refer to the engineer, for his consideration, a suggestion that temporary repairs should be effected to a cutting on 'River road, permanent repairs to which are provided for in the expenditure of the loan. With a veiw of hastening on the dedication of the deviation on Bycroft's road, the matter was referred to the Board's solicitors to take action'

The whole Board was appointed as the Works Committee, and Messrs Graham, Freo and Glasgow wero appointed as the Financo Committoo, the chairman to be chairman of both committees ex-otficio.