OTAHUHU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 272, 4 May 1917, Page 2

OTAHUHU.

[The Otahuhu Agent for " The Times" i 9 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. |

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

INSTALLATION OF MAYOR. After the excitement of the recent election and in conformity with the practice of municipalities there was a pleasing feature about the Otahuhu Borough Council gathering held on Wednesday evening when the newly elected Mayor (Mr A. McDonald) was officially installed as Mayor of the Borough. As a sign of the good feeling towards the new Mayor and Councillors recently elected the gathering included the late Mayor and ex-Councillors together with several of the general public. The chair was temporarily occupied by the ex-Mayor (Mr J. Atkinson), who first asked the Town Clerk (Mr J. Kent-Johnston) as Returning Officer, to road the result of the recent election. This being done the Mayor-elect read the statutory declaration of office.

The chairman then addressing the Mayor-elect said: On behalf of the citizens of Otahuhu I congratulate you upon your attaining to the honorable position as Mayor of the Borough of Otahuhu and wish you a successful term of office. With the cordial assistance of your fellow Councillors I feel sure you will be able to uphold the dignity of your office and also the prestige of the Borough. I have great pleasure in welcoming you, the newly elected Mayor, to the chair. —The Mayorthen officially took his seat amid applause. He then s>aid: "Mr Atkinson, gentlemen councillors and fellow electors. Let ine express my thanks for the very kind remarks made in inducting me to the chair. I can fully reciprocate what had been said with regard to the help I will receive from the Council and I have not the slightest doubt we will work together for the good of the Borough." The Mayor said he would refrain from saything more then as he hoped to speak later on that evening.

business. All the new Councillors, viz., Crs H. J. Hall, R. Todd, A.J. Wildman, J. Brady, H. J. Moffitt, H. T. Clements, H V. Stringer and F. K. Field then made declarations and took their seats at the Council table.

DEPUTY MAYOR. Cr Hall expressed his pleasure in proposing that Cr Brady be the Deputy Mayor. Cr Brady, he said had obtained the greatest number of votes at the election and he felt sure they would be carrying out the wishes of the ratepavers in appointing him to that position. Cr Wilcbnan seconded the motion and there being no other nominations for the position Cr Brady was duly appointed. Cr Brady, in returning thauks for the honour bestowed upon him, assured all that with the cordial assistance of the Council he would act iu the best interests of the Borough.

I OM XI ITT EES. The appoiutment of Committees was then proceeded with. Cr Wildman suggested that a General Purposes Committee be appointed to include Finance and Legal matters as he recognised that the linaneial question was an important one.

Cr Stringer asked Cr Hall for information ns to the number of members of the la to Finance Committee and the reply was " three." Cr Brady advocated that the Finance and Legal Committee should be the whole Council so that every member would be cognisant of the financial affairs of the Borough. ■

Cr Field supported - the last speaker and formally moved that the Legal and Finance Committee consist of the full Council.

Cr Stringer expressed himself as opposed to a General Purposes Committee as being indefinite. Cr Hall moved an amendment that the Legal and Finance Committee consist of three members in addition to the Mayor and this being put to the meeting was carried. The members of the Committees were then appointed as follows : Legal and Finance : Crs Wildman, Hall and Field. Works : Crs Moffitt, Brady and Stringer. Water and Drainage : Crs Field, Clements and Moffitt.

Public Service (embodying Building, Cemetery, Pound, Lighting and Licensing Committees): Crs Clements, Stringer and Todd.

DAYS OF MEETING GrHall suggested that alternate Mondays at 7.30 should be the days of meeting as previously. The Mayor said that personally he would prefer any other evening. For 15 years he had been a member of the Auckland Hale Choir which met on that evening and if Monday was continued he would have to resign his membership of the choir.

After ascertaining the most convenient evening for all the Councillors, Cr Field moved that the Council should meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays each month at 7.30 p.m. This was then carried unanimously. The Mayor expressed thanks for the effort made to meet his wishes in that respect and incidentally mentioned that he might be able to arrange for the Auckland choir to assist in some patriotic function locally.

TOWN CLEEK'S HOLIDAY.

The Town Clerk asked the Council to sanction his annual vacation, stating that the present would be a more opportune time than later on. He explained he could return in time for the meeting on the 24th and would arrange for the necessary work to be done in his absence.

Cr Btringer expressed himself in opposition to the suggestion and hinted that the assistant clerk was not capable of attending to the business of the office in the absence of the Town Clerk.

The Town Clerk strongly protested against an attack on his office and mentioned that Cr Stringer, in his absence recently, had endeavoured to persuade his office assistant to ' 'break away from his instructions," which he strongly resented. Continuing, the Town Clerk explained that for the proper discharge of the duties there must be no interference with those left in charge of his office.

This " breeze" ended with the Town Clerk being granted leave of absence for fourteen days.

congratulations. Mr Albert Ross, the defeated candidate for the mayoralty, wrote congratulating Mr McDonald on his success and expressing regret that he was unable to be present to speak personally.

MUNICIPAL BAND. The report of the Otahuhu Municipal Band (in respect of which the Council contribute a subsidy of £l2 10s N was received and adopted.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

The Treasurer's report was read by the Town Clerk and accounts amounting to £l6l 6s 8d passed for payment. The consideration of th 9 Treasurer's report was, on the motion Cr Field, postponed until the next of meeting of the Council.

wages. *" It was resolved that the question of increase of wages to employees be referred to the Legal aud Finance Committee.

BUILDING PERMIT. The question of granting a permit in respect of a building formed some discussion when application was made for the approval of a plan submitted that evening. In the past it transpired that the by law relating to buildings had not been observed and the Mayor said that the practice was most unsatisfactory. Cr Clements mentioned that buildings were often half built before a permit was granted on account of the time builders had to wait for the permit. Tljp Mayor said that such a practice would have to be stopped in the future. The plan in question was then referred to the Public Service Committee for consideration.

TENDERS The consideration of the tenders for supplying a hand cart for use at the cemetery was also referred to the Public Services Committee. THE MAYOR'S SPEECH

The Mayor (Mr A. McDonald), in addressing the Councillors, said he was debarred from returning thanks at the poll and took that opportunity of doiDg so. When he came to Otahuhu (nine months , ago) he had not the slightest idea of being called upon to occupy such an honoured position. He highly appreciated the honour accorded him which he regarded as the highest which could be given to any of the citizens. Whilst recognising the honour, continued His Worship, he was also fully conscious of the responsibility attached to the office and was not unmindful of his own limitations and he accepted the position with a certain amount of temerity and forboding. He paid a high tribute to the very ripe and wide experience of their late Mayor (Mr Atkinson) who was highly respected by all throughout the district. The Mayor, continuing, said he was happily fortunate in having as Councillors men of municipal and business training whose services he felt sure would be used for the general good of the Borough as a whole. We' all could, said His Worship, respect each others opinions and agree to differ yet with one object in view—the general advancement of the Borough in which we lived. With regard to the financial aspect it would be prudent to " go slow." As to the administration of the Borough affairs economy and efficiency should go hand in hand, remembering that they were spending the people's money He suggested that the Council at an early date should arrange a tour of the district so that they might all be better acquainted with the township. His Worship expressed the opinion that the most urgent matter for consideration was the town's water supply and reservoir capacity. Alluding to Noxious Weeds the Mayor said these were rampant in the Borough, whi e as to straying cattle it appeared that people made an accommodation of the roads by allowing their animals to wander everywhere. These matters called for action. The establishment of a Telephone Bureau was also much needed and when that was done it would link up the Borough with other places, the town at present being much isolated. He did not propose an elaborate programme nor did he advocate borrowing money for the present was an inopportune time to do so. With regard to the construction of roads the speaker advocated tarred macadam and said they might profit by experiments carried on in the City. On the subject of patriotic work he felt the Council should assist that in every way. Concluding, the Mayor expressed his thanks for the very kind way he had been received in the Borough. He expressed his regret that Mr Ross was not present as he would have liked to have said in his presence that the election had been a clean contest and he personally desired that the same good feeling should continue both inside and outside of the Council (applause). Supper, which was afterwards provided by the Mayor and Mayoress, was partaken of by both past and present Councillors and the gathering then happily dispersed.

AN OTAHUHU TRAGEDY,

VERDICT OF SUICIDE.

An inquest was held before Mr A. R. Harris, District Coroner, last evening on the body of Mrs Lily Rose Coppins, aged 44, who disappeared from her home on Wednesday, April 25 th. Sergt. P. Harvey wa9 present on behalf of the police. John Coppins, market gardener, of Otahuhu, deposed that the body was that of his wife. He stated that he last saw the deceased alive about 6.40 o'clock on the morning of the day she disappeared. She was then going in the direction of the Tamaki river accompanied by a dog. About half an hour later the dog returned alone.

Sergt Harvey : Did you not think it strange that she should bo going in that direction so early '? Witness: Yes, I did and when the the dog returned alone I immediately called a neighbour and we went down and searched by the river but could find no trace of her. On returning to my home I found a note in which my wife wished me "goodbye," also saying that I would find her body in the river. I then informed the police. Sergt Harvey : Had you spoken to your wife that morning ? Witness : No.

The Coroner: Was there any cause why you d d not spaak '( Witness : We had no domestic troubles. I had no idea that she contemplated suicide. We *iad some words on tho previous Monday but they were nothing serious. Sergt Harvey : Had she threatened to commit suicide previously ? Witness : Yes, about '2O yoars ago in England and I then stopped her going to the river which was close to our home. The witness also stated that the deceased was in perfect health and had not been attonded by a doctor of late. They were in good circumstances and the deceased did not want for anything. They had one son, aged 23, who wa3 living in Auckland.

Alfred Coppins, nephew of the deceased, gave similar evidence, stating that his uncle and aunt lived on the best of terms and that during the two months prior to his aunt's disappearsi■ t during which he had

lived with them, thore had been no domestic troubles

Constable Wade deposed that on April 25th the husband informed him that he feared his wife had drowned herself in the Tamaki river. He immediately visited the spot and secured a launch and commenced dragging operations which had been continued ever since until that day (Thursday) when at 10.38 a.m. he, in company with the husband, found the body on the beach one mile below Prfhmure bridge. Constable Wade added that there- were no signs of foul play on the body' A verdict was returned that the deceased committed suicide by drowning herself in the Tamaki river.