OTAHUHU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 279, 29 May 1917, Page 4

OTAHUHU.

[The Otahuliu Agent for " The Times" is Mr Bathe, from whom copiea of the paper may be ordered. Mr Bathe is also authorised to receive advts. and printing: orders on our behalf. |

OTAHUHU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Otahuliu Borough Council was held on Thursday last all the members being present, viz,, the Mayor (Mr A. McDonald) and Crs Field, Stringer, Clements, Todd, Moffitt, Hall, Brady, and Wildman, with the Town Clerk (Mr C. J. Kent-Johns-ton). TIIE PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE Mr Stephen Shelton, secretary of tho Otahuhu Patriotic Committee, wrote that by the constitution of their committee the Mayor and Councillors wore ex-officio members of the Patriotic Committee. In a subsequent letter it was announced that the next meeting of the committee would be held on Tuesday, the 29th.

an "at home"

A letter was received from the ! Otahuhu Womens' Patriotic League, inviting the Mayor to an 'At Home' j to be held on Saturday, June 2nd, in | the Parish Hall and His Worship I was understood to say he intended | to accept the same. MOTOR CAR REGISTRATION The Dannevirke Borough Council, ! in a circular letter, asked the coj operation of the Council with ft view of procuring an amendment of the legislation so that all Boroughs with over a population of 3000, instead of over 5000 population as at present, bhould be constituted authorities for the registration of motor cars.

! Cr Hall raised a question as to ' whether the Borough would gain by the suggested amendment, he being jof the opinion that the amount of , fees received by the Borough would i be less than the share now received from the City Council.

j Cr Field suggested that the better ; course to agitate for would be for , all Borough Councils, regardless of extent of population, to be registerI ing authorities, but Cr Hall pointed j out that such would lead to over- . lapping and too great a multiplicity of authorities.

! On the motion of Cr Moffitt, the | matter was referred to the General Purposes Committee to report. i APPOINTMENTS OK ENGINEERS j The New Zealand Bociety of Civil Engineers (Wellington) wrote stat- ' ing that when engineers were being appointed by local authorities the Society would be pleased to advise as ; to qualifications of such candidates. —The letter was " received," the | Mayor expressing his opinion that ! the offer might prove helpful in the ! future. THE WATER TOWEH i A letter was received from Mr G. Laing Meason, Civil Engineer, Wellington, stating that he understood steps would be taken to remedy | leakage in connection with the re- | inforced concrete tower belonging ito the Council and that he would be glad to advise the Council on the subject and to remedy defects. The letter was " receivad."

i THE TECHNICAL SCnOOL. The Secretary (Mr G. W. Kern- ; play) of the Otahuhu School Com- ! mittee for a contribution 1 towards the upkeep and equipment ' of the Technical School and especially in their endeavour to obtain I typewriters and sewing machines. : It was pointed out that any annual ' contributory body were entitled to a ! representative on the Advisory Com- | mittee. Cr Hall asked if it was usual to ! make a contribution and Cr Todd ; volunteered the statement that it ■ was the custom to expect assistance. | Cr Moffitt, who was in favour of j contributing, said that if the Coun- ! cil contributed the School would get ! subsidies of equal amounts both i from the Government and the Edu- ! cation Board.

Cr Stringer expressed the opinion that the Council had enough to do to keep up the roads, i Cr Brady said that owing to the state of finances he did not think they should contribute anything. Ur Clements pointed out as an instance of the necessity of sup- : porting Technical School education that m the new Carpenters' Award it was stipulated that apprentices ' should attend Technical Schools. Cr Hall stated that he believed that in another award extra payments to apprentices attending Technical Schools were provided for. , He referred to the great purposes served by Technical Schools in ; furthering the interests of the future trado of the Dominion and advocated that every support should be given to their work.

Cr Brady thought all assistance should be obtained from the Government and the Education Board.

It was ultimately decided that the ! sum of should be donated to the School.

OIUEOTIOXAHLE POSTERS The Minister of Internal Affairs, in a circular letter, sought the cooperation of the Council to snpprcss the exhibition of objectionable ' posters.—No action was taken, the Mayor mentioning that no objectionable posters were displayed in Otahuhu. W.N It RESOLUTIONS The Alexandra Borough Council, in a circular letter, asked the support of the Council to resolutions passed by tliom urging the Government to bring down a more liberal scale of pensions to discharged soldiors and to make more adequate provision for the dependents of soldiors who had fallen or who were on activo service. Tlio letter was referred to the Legal and Finance Cominittoo. IJANI) COMMITTEE Mr T. C. Fitzsimmons, tho lion.

secretary of the Otahuhu Brass Band, in acknowledging the receipt of the lirst instalment of the Council's subsidy towards the Band asked the Council to appoint three Councillors 011 their Executive Committee. Crs Todd, Clements and Stringer wore appointed as the Council's representatives. COMPLAINTS, Mr W. Brown, of Golf Avenue, wrote complaining of the ovoifiow of water near Mr McCullum'a gate

Mangere Road, which affected his house.—Referred to the Foreman for attention.

Mrs P. Glynn, of Victoria Street, complained that storm-water from Railway Street overflowed and affected her house.—Referred to the Streets Committee with power to act. Mr W. J. Markwick wrote asking for a culvert to be placed in front of his gate.—Referred to the Streets Committee. A letter was received from Mr Alfred Pearse, of Seddon Terrace, stating that owing to the overgrown grass on the path in front of his house water accumulated and flooded a portion of his garden.—The Town Clerk was instructed to reply that attention would be given to the matter at an early date. Mr Frank J. Sanderson wrote drawing the attention of the Council to the unsatisfactory condition of the entrance to his paddock in Avenue Road caused by the storm water overflowing and producing a hole. —Referred to the Streets Committee.

Mr Thomas Weal wrote that the pipes which crossed Mangere road were not sufficiently large enough to carry away the storm water and were choked with willow roots. —It was resolved that a reply should be sent that the matter would 'be attended to by the Council. A letter was received from Mrs Mullins, of Park road, drawing attention to the state of the open drain at the side of her cottage. —The matter was referred to the Streets Committee.—Cr Brady expressed his opinion that some of these matters lequired immediate attention and it was useless referring such matters to the Committees unless they had some power to act. Delay was often serious. ALLEGED TOSANITARY CONDITIONS Mr W. H Patterson, of Church street, wrote complaining of the unsanitary conditions of a dwelling opposite to his house. The writer pointed out that in his opinion th« state of things Jwas a danger to public health.

" Mr StriDger explained that soapsuds, etc., were allowed to go down and soak into an open ditch. Or Clements regarded it as a matter for the Officer of Health to enquire into.

Cr Field was of opinion that the complaint could be settled by the Water and Drainage Committee, and Cr Brady concurred

Cr Clements moved that the matter should be referred to the Drainage Committee for conference with the Health Officer.

As an amendment Cr Fiefd proposed and Cr Brady seconded that the Drainage Committee alone should deal with the complaint. Upon a vote the amendment was carried on the casting vote of the Mayor, Crs Brady, Moffitt, Stringer and Field voting for the amendment and Crs Hall, Todd, Clements, and Wildman against. MOA STREET Mr T. E. Short, through his solicitors, made application for about five chains of Moa street, from the Station road, which had not been legally dedicated, to be dedicated. It was explained that the road had been kept in order by past Councils and by the old Road Board for many years. Cr Hall mentioned that the Council had always acted as if the road bad baeu dedicated and Cr Brady also mentioned that to all intents and purposes it was presumed that the road had been dedicated. On the motion of Cr Hall, it was resolved that the Council legalise the dedication of the road in accordance with the application. NOXIOUS WEEDS, A letter was received from Mr Alexander Gray stating that there was an overgrowth of weeds in front of his property in Avenue Road and Albert Street and ho asked that the frontages be improved. Cr Brady asked what had been done by the Council with regard to the noxious weeds which were so prevalent in the Borough. The Town Clerk explained that the Inspector had recently visited the district and as a result notices would be shortly served on owners, and, if necessary, proceedings would be instituted against defaulters. THE CEMETERY. Cr Hall drew atteuiion to the amount of rough stone which was often left by contractors on the road when doing work al the cemetery. The Town Clerk explained that lie had written to the contractors 011 the subject. The matter of extending the term of the Sexton's appointment and of repairing the cemetery fence were referred to the Cemetery Committee. returned SOLDIERS. On the motion of Cr Hall it was resolved that the Mayor and Cr Wildman should be appointed as representatives of the Council to meet returned soldiers who done their duty to the country. HOADINO WORKS. The Foreman of Works (Mr O. W. Kemplay) reported that the road formation in Clevedon road and McArthur street had been top dressed with scoria. The crossing at Beimel's horse entrance bad been raised, pipes laid across and two loads of scoria spread. The crossing at Mr Williams' property had been altered as suggested. The Foreman complained of the bad quality of the scoria from Mt Richmond and Otaluiliu pits.

The report was adopted except that the question ot scoria was referred to the Works Committee. OTHEK BUSINESS

Other business transacted will be reported in our issue of Tuesday next.

At 10., id p.m the Council adjourned until Wednesday next when consideration amongst other matters will be given to the question of charges for water.