PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 332, 23 November 1917, Page 1

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting

At the meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council held on Wednesday last there were present the Mayor (Mr fl. G. E. Mason), Crs A B. Barter, J. Patterson, G H. Armstrong, R. Bilkey, J. T. Stembridge, A P. Daysh with the Town Clerk (Mr J. F Deane). Cr Pa'terson reported that owing to illness in his family Cr Morrow was unable to be present. Leave of absence was granted and similar leave was extended to Cr Hamilton owing to his continued indisposition PL'KEKOIIEPAERATA ROAD Attention was drawn to the unsatisfactory state of a portion of the Pukekohe-Paerata road by Mr J H Keith which he asked should be repaired before the winter. He stated that when the last loan monies was spent on the road he was promised that it would be done, but this had not yet been attended to. Mr Keith pointed out that the portion asked for attention was only about ten chains to the Borough boundary and that it carried the traffic from Karaka. When the question of repairing the road referred to was under discussion Cr Patterson sugge.-ted that the Council should approach the County with reference to the completion of the road wiih scoria as far as the metal to the Paerata road boundary. The Town Clerk explained that accoiding to a request made some time ago money allocated to the road had been spent on the footpath and that there was no more money available. After some informal discussion on the motion of the Mayor it was resolved to reply to Mr Keith that the money which should have been spent as desi-ed by him had been expended on the footpath and that as soon as the County continued the metalling ot the road towards Paerata the Borough would also do their portion. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER The Cleik of the Mt Eden Borough Councd in a letter to the '■'ouncil intimated that according to the report contained in the Public Works statement the Awapuni Gorge on the Waikato river showed promise of greater power at less cost per unit than the Kaituna river or the Aratiatia rapids and recommended that prospecting should be carried out to ascertain the suitability of the site for the necessary dam. It was pointed out that steps had been taken to ascertain the power require mentsof the Wellington district as far north as Palmerston North which would bo served from Mangahao after which it was proposed that the lequirements of the Wairarapa district and later the Hawke's Bay district should be ascertained. Apparently while Auckland contained the finest source of power it was to await the development of it while all others were served. It was requested that the following resolution should be adopted by the Council " That the Local Bodies interested tie urged to call the attention of the members ol Pailiament to the information given in the Public Works Statement as to the intention of the Government in the matter of hydro electric energy and that it be pointed out that the proposal to leave the Awapuni scheme to a later date was neither fair to the Auckland Province nor ia the host interests of the North Island as a whole." On the motion of Cr Barter it was re.-olvod to support the Mt Eden Borough Cou r cil in accordance with die terms of their letter.

morrow's road Or Stembridge asked that the Engineer should prepare an estimate if the cost of the formation of Morrow's road to the Tuakauroad corner which work, it was urged, should be carried out as soon as possible It was accordingly resolved that the Engineer should be instructed accordingly and that tenders should be called, the Works Committee being empowered to deal with such tendeis when received. RIICIIEXEIt UOAl) Cr Hilkey reported that Mrs Meli"p«lflMrod that a proper approach should bo provided to the entrance to i><*i house in Kitchener road. It wis ■I. <ided that the Engineer Bhould iispect and .sec what was required. I'RoSmT TERRACE In connection with the proposed uirk at Pi-iispeut Terrace, for which u.lt'is had been called. some differum- of Dpi existed and on tlo 'notion of the a\or it wis resolved that th" work should terminate at the end of the present concrete kerb. Ur Patterson strongly objected to 'his limitation of the w »rk and conf > nded that as no proper footpath w is provi.li il at th« far end that the work shoiild bo continued the whole length of the Tnriace. H" then moved an aiii'-nd awit tliat the work should be continued to tlm end of the [Vrrace. da the amendment be'uif/ put it lapsed us it was not seconded and he o motion was can i -d I'd- !;iyor then prop sed 'ha' ; ... Knu'it r should b,. asked to ■ vi e i- "i w h"thcr it Wolll i be .i i i,■ .I 1 • r . '!i-£»'-n-.. \\ it:, the l< i i.nij and ci .iiuiHliiiig but thi-s ,1-,. |.|,sed, there not bring n <ei; aider ACCOUNTS * counts amounting to £IO7O wrf passed for payment.

ebrriman's roah

Cr Patterson drew attention to the fact that there was still about four chains of this road uncompleted which, it was alleged, should have been done some time ago. He suggested that as the work had not been carried out notwithstanding repeated applications a final notice should be given to the owner in question to have it completed. After discussion, on the motion of the Mayor, it was resolved that the Chairman of the Works Committee should interview Mr Beniman and arrange for a supply of scoria to be provided so that the work to the road could be completed to the borough boundary.

HOAD WORKS In a written report on various roads in the borough the Consulting Engineer (Mr I). W. McArthur) stated (inter alia) as follows : "I am given to understand that on Kitchener street west, for a length of about ten chains from Anzac road, certain work in footpath and water table formation was intended to be proceeded with some time back, but owing to urgent calls elsewhere this has not been attended to. It is very evident from appearances that a large volume of surface water finds its way on to this road which will necessitate qu ; te a costly work to cope with. Before starting to improve isolated portions, such as suggested above Anzac road, it will be necessary to design a complete scheme nil the way down Queen street so that any portions made from time to time may fit in and form a complete whole whtn the termination is reached. Kitchener street east from Queen street to creek east of cross road leading to pumping station requires attention buth in formation work and provision for surface drainage. Owing to the steep rise at cross road, the carrying out of a drain from Queen street to the creek will be somewhat costly, but until this is made there will be no efficient outlet unless the present course through private property is enlarged and deepened which, however, I could not recommend if at all avoidable, as under similar circumstances I have known trouble and expense to result from real and fancied damage. On the Puni road there appears to be a ditliculty with the drainage. Previously some of the How turned Kose's corner going eastward. This has been stopped, thus throwing the water from its natural course over into a different watershed, besides causing the metalled road near West street to be unduly wet and bad in wet woathor. There are quite a number of small holes or indents in metal on the different roads which should be attended to by tilling in with fine metal (not scoria). The sand in stock at rear of Borough Chambers is not suitable for top dressing when taning the main street as it is composed nearly entirely of ground up shell. Material for such work should be very fine and hard sandy gravel. This I can procure in Auckland. With regard to proposed improvements to the above roads and surface drainage I will require to take a great many levels in the field and prepare plans before any definite estimates and recommendations can bj given." On Mr McArthur's report being read Cr Patterson said he saw danger ahead and he asked who was to instruct the Foreman in connection with certain works to be done. He wanted to know whether Mr McArthur was to do that or the Works Committee. Cr Patterson complained that there was much delay in work concerned because the' Engineer was not always available. He (Cr Patterson) thought that when Mr McArthur was appointed he was to be resident at Pukekohe. Cr Barter suggested that perhaps the Engineer could arrange to be in attendance at the Borough Council meetings. After some informal discussion His Worship said that difficulties could be dealt with as they arose and he did not see any reason to anticipate trouble. The report was then adopted. ELECTRIC LIGHTING

The Lighting Committee reported as follows: Your Committee visited the power house aud found everything in firgt-class running order. At a subsequent meeting your Committee went into various details connected with the cost of running the light and maintenance. We consider that a charge should be made on the general account to the lighting account for the maintenance of street lightiug, and suggest that amount to be £ 150 per annum. The lights to be maintained and kept iu repair out of that sum. We recommend that a larger pulley be procured for the engine in order to get increased running on the dynamo and less work on the engine. It has boen found that the majoriy of the consumers using electric irons on Wednesday afternoon would prefer io have the power on Tuesday, so we in g to recommend same, in view of i hj» trouble in the future of obtaining supplies of wire and there being very little on hand for house connections we have after consultation with iho Mayor instructed the Engineer to order sufficient for immediate reipuiremeuts On account of the dillii uliy in procuring motors we would that application be made to the Auckland City Council asking 'hi'iu to lease us a number of Westinghouse meters which would meet our requirements until we could purchase those of the same make now in use. We would recommend until sufficient meters are obtained that a

ilat rate of say 4a per month be adopted where minimum power is utilised The Government Railway Light Inspector has visited the district and has sent his report re lamp to Wellington. We are informed that he recommends the payment of £5 to the Council to shift the position of the lamp to East street. The number of consumers up to the present is 80. The report was adopted.