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Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 263, 30 March 1917, Page 2

otAhjhu. Otahuhu Agent tor " The Times" is Mr Bathe, from whom copies of the paper may be obtained. Mr Bathe is also authorised to receive advts and printing orders on our behalf.] OTA.HUHU BOROUGH COUNCIL LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. The postponed fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening when there were present Mr J. Atkinson (Mayor), Crs H. Hall, J. Wilson, W. B. Lloyd, A. Boss and A. Lowe with the Town Clerk (Mr C T. Kent-Johnston). lIOKONUI ROAI), A letter was read from Mr G B. Osmond suggesting the substitution of a 3-inch water main for the J-inch main on the Hokonui Road. The road being full of houses the water supply, he said, was insufficient to meet requirements. He als) asked for a lamp to be erected on the Haui'e Road. Cr Ross moved that the water main qu»s*ion be referred to the Water and Drainage Committee and that the Committee should enquire what sum the Union Candle Company wanted for the 4-inch mains they were discarding. Further that the matter of the lamp, should be referred to the incoming Council. The motion was agreed to. Cr Ross expressed the hope that the Council wou'd not allow leas than ' 4-incb pipes to be fixed in the future. THANKS FROM THE TRENCHES. An acknowledgment of thanks for a Christmas parcel forwarded by the Council was read from Trooper W. B. Stouppe, of Papatoetoe, who is attached to the 19th Mounted Rifles. NATIONAL EFFICIENCY. A circular letter was read from the National Efficiency Board advocating the curtnilTient of all but urgent works and the displacement of men where possible so that women could be employed in their places. The circular also suggested various for reducing labour in the interests of National Efficiency. Cr Ross said the letter contained much for criticism but it was undoubtedly necessary to cut down expenses and husband resources. The Mayor thought the suggestion that women could be employed on the roads was an absurd one. Cr Ross suggested that the whole question be referred to the inooming Council. ThU was agreed to. 80LDIXRS* VOTES. In reply to a letter for information sent by the Council, MrT. P. Counsel ti the Municipal Association, advised that absence from the district in camp or on active service did not cause a soldier to lose his right to vote at local elections provided he was duly qualified as a voter before he went away. AS7AC DAY OBSERVANCE A circular letter was received from the Department of Internal Affairs respecting the commemoration of Anzac Day on Monday, April 23rd, and suggesting observances in connection therewith on that day. Cr Ross asked as to what form of the celebration was proposed locally. The Mayor expressed the opinion that unle«s something in the nature of a concert was provided to enter-. ' tain the people the public would not attend. Cr Ross suggested that with a view of securing a united religious service as part of the commemoration a committee should confer with the ' local Ministers of religion. It was ultimately agreed on the motion of Cr Ross that the matter should be referred to the Patriotic Committee who would consider ways and means. DUMPING MATERIAL. In a discussion on the tarring of j footpaths Or Ross strongiy objected | to so much dumping of material taki ing place at various parts of the Borough, e<sf eaaiiy on Btation road. The Mayor said that undoubtedly when work was complete! material should be removed. On the motion of Cr Roes it was | agfeed that instructions should be . given to the Works Committee to ask the Foreman to stop " dumping." BATHING SHED ACCOMMODATION. , Dealing with the recommenda- . tion by the Works Committee that a new shed for ladies at the Avenue Road bathing place should be provided Cr Ross sug- | gested that repairs to the existing | building should be put in hand ana that the question of erecting a new building should be left over to be ' considered when the estimates for ' the next year's work were framed. Cr Ross' proposal was adopted. NOXIOUS WEXDS. The Mount Wellington Road Board wrote drawing the Council's attention to the prevalence of noxious weeds in the Borough and asked that steps should be taken to eradicate the same. It was resolved that the Borough Inspector should issue notices at > once to the owners concerned. | GOLF AVENUE. 9 Mr W. Markwick, Golf Avenue, . wrote complaining of the state of the . water-tables in front of his property j in Golf Avenue. i Cr Lowe stated that the condition 3 had been bad for two years. Cr Ross contended that the water--3 table required deepening so that it 1 would take the water through to the t creek. 3 After some d scussion it was ultii mately resolved that the Foreman of . Works should report as to the best 1 method of dealing with the trouble. 8 CEMETERY IMPROVEMENTS. The Cemetery Committee recommended that the cemetery be properly cleared and that new division pegs » be fixed, together with new posts. r Cr Ross assured the Council that ' the expense entailed would not ex- , ceed the sum of £135. The report was adopted. r DOROUGH SOLICITOR APPOINTED. 9 In regard to the appointment t of a Borough solicitor, which had e been under consideration for some ■. time, the Finance and Legal Comy mittee submitted a recommendation I that Mr Joseph Stanton, solicitor to a the Auckland City Council, should be appointed solicitor to the Borough Council.

Or Boss urged that the matter should stand over until the new Council came into force.

Or Lloyd favoured the appointment being made by the prcstnt Council. Cr Hall said the question had. been very carefully considered by the Committee and he regarded it as advantageous to the Council that a recognised legal advisor should be appointed. Cr Boss moved as an amendment to the Committee's recommendation that the Council should defer the question. Cr Lowe seconded but the amendment was lost, the mover- and seconder voting u for" and the Mayor, Crs Wilson, Lloyd and Hall " against." The Committee's recommendation was then agreed to, Cr Boss dissenting. BUEIAL PBEMITS. On the request of the clerk, who complained of trouble aiising through telephonic messages being sent him in respect of applications for burials in place of the same being made verbally in accordance with the by-laws, it was resolved that the by-laws must be strictly complied with. CB WILSONS BETIREMBST.

Cr Wilson in announcing that he did not intend to seek re-election expressed his appreciation of the courteous manner in which he had been treated by his colleagues on the Council. He paid tribute to the Town Clerk and other officials for the able manner in which they had carried out their respective duties He recognised that he and the Council had made mistakes and hoped that the incoming Council would do their best.

The Major referred to the zeal and energy displayed by Or Wilson and mentioned that all the Councillors had worked most amicably together. Grs Hall, Boss, Lloyd and Lowe all spoke in support of the Mayor's remarks and Cr Wilson returned thanks for the kind words uttered, saying that it was through business demands he found it necessary to retire. NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

It was resolved that the next meeting should be held on Thursday, April 12th.

The Otahuhu Municipal Band, under the conductorship of Bandmaster P. C. Calkin, discoursed an excellent programme of music last Sunday afternoon in the public school grounds. It may not be generally known that in return for a subsidy granted by the Borough Council the Band undertake to give a certain number of free performances and last Sunday's gathering was one of such occasions. A decided improvement in the Band's playing has been generally noted and expressions to that effect were freely heard on Sunday last. These appreciations stimulate and keep alive the interest in the Band and cement the bandsmen together, thus preserving a spirit of unity and helpfulness. A gift auction sale recently held under the auspices of the Otahuhu Patriotic Committee resulted in receipts amounting to £IBO. The Committee consider the amount most encouraging and especially appreciate the assistance rendered by the residents and settlers of the town and district who contributed so much towards the success of the sale. The Ladies Patriotic League, who meet every Thursday afternoon in the Parish Hall, will be pleased to welcome any ladies desirous of helping in the work of providing comforts for " our boys " It is worthy of record that the local Committee transmit ten suits of pyjamas every month to one of the Base Hospitals at the front. The Committee also despatch from time to time various other garments and quite a number of socks are knitted by the ladies. It is to be hoped that as the result of the invitation for more willing workers a loyal and patriotic response will be the resuL. The honorary secretary is Mrs H. J. Hall.

A good deal of interest continues to be taken by the various members of the local fire brigade in their work and great satisfaction is expressed with the recent official notification that in future all Volunteer Fire Brigades will be placed by the Government on the same status as permanent brigades and will be annually inspected by Inspector Hugo, the Government Inspector. The official inspection will stimulate the members to take an even more intelligent interest in their duties and they will thereby be better qualified to deal with future fires. A call was recently made on the Fire Brigade to a house in Church street occupied by Mr Duane, where it was found that a chimney was on fire. Strange to say the occupants of the house, who were in bed at the time, did not know of the existence of the fire until aroused by Police Constable Moss. But for the prompt arrival of the Brigade the result would have been serious. It is believed the origin of the fire was due to a defective flue. The main electoral roll to be used at the forthcoming Mayoral and Borough Council elections closed with a total of 1285 names of voters. Those persons entitled to vote and not already enrolled should note that application for the inclusion of their names in the Supplementary Roll must be made to the Town Clerk before April 11th. A good deal of uncfrtainty still prevails with regard to the candidates likely to come forward for the contest for membership of the Otahuhu Borough Council. The present Mayor, Mr Jas Atkinson, has definitely decided to retire and anticipated aspirants for the office are Cr A. Ross and Mr A. Mac Donald. How many of the eight retiring Councillors will offer themselves for re-election is unknown but Cr H. Hall will for one again be in the field. New candidates will probably include Messrs R. L Absolum, J. Brady, T. Clements, F. Gibson, F. Matthews, J Mclvor, E. Shepherd and A. J. Wildman. To-morrow (Saturday) afternoon the Otahuhu Bowling Club will hold an "At Home" on their green. Representatives of 36 Clubs will be nresent and friendly matches will be eneajred in. Afternoon tea will be provided by the ladies of the Croquet Club,

MANUREWA. (See also page 1.) It is anticipated that the Manurewa section of the railway grade casement works will be used for the first time on Sunday next, when the new railway station will also be utilised. The change will also be the means of doing away with the level crossing on the ManurewaPapakura road and also the crossing adjacent to the present station on the Station - Weymouth road. The temporary wooden bridge on the latter route over the new cutting has already bren dismantled and traffic now passes over the new concrete structure.