PAPAKURA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 391, 12 July 1918, Page 1

PAPAKURA.

PAPAKURA TOWN BOARD LIVELY PROCEEDINGS. At the ordinary monthly meeting of the Papakura Town Board, held last Monday, the members present were: Messrs. R, M. Gillespie (chairman), P. Holt, W. B. Linstrom, W. Richardson, T. H. Markwick, and T. D. Campbell, with the Clerk (Mr. Harold Wilson).

Railway Reserve. Replying to the Board's application to the Railway Department for the renewal of the lease of the railway reserve adjoining the Papakura Station for recreation purposes, the District Engineer (Mr. D. T. Mcintosh) wrote that the renewal would .be granted, but only on a year to year tenure, and subject to three months' notice.

Bank Overdraft. The Board's bankers having asked if the Board desired to increase its bank overdraft, Mr. Markwick expressed the opinion that it would be advisable to have the overdraft increased to £450. He moved that application should be made accordingly. Mr. Campbell proposed as an amendment that application should be made for £4OO only, and this was seconded l»v Mr. Linstrom.

On being put to the meeting, the amendment was lost, Messrs. Holt, Markwick, and Richardson voting " against," The original motion, increasing the overdraft to £450, was then carried.

Soldiers' Graves. Miss Edith M. Statham, the Inspector of Soldiers' Graves, under tha Department of Internal Affairs, wrote relative to the upkeep of soldiers' graves, stating that the Government intended to erect head-stones over all soldiers' graves, and that when the design of the stones was approved the Board would be advised. IrTthe meantime she expressed a hope that the graves would be kept free from weeds. Water Supply Scheme.

The Clerk reported that Dr. Monk, the District Medical Officer of Health, had informed him that, as the report of the analysing chemist on the quality of the water taken from Symonds' Stream was such a satisfactory one, he did not consider it necessary to supply a report, and under such circumstances a bacteriological analysis, he considered, was unnecessary. He was quite satisfied that the samples of water and the reports submitted would warrant the Board proceeding with the water scheme as proposed. The Chairman remarked that the statement by the Medical Officer of Health was very satisfactory, and a saving of about £8 would be effected by dispensing with a bacteriological analysis. Mr. Holt reported that he had received drafts of the agreements proposed to be entered into with the owners of land adjoining the source of supply, and he thought everything would progress satisfactorily. The Board decided to leave the whole matter to Mr. Holt. Town Board Elections.

In accordance with notice of motion given, Mr. Holt proposed a resolution advocating that the biennial Town Board elections should take place in the month of April, instead of in September, as at present. The same having been carried, it was decided that the suggestion should l>e forwarded as n remit from the Board to the Municipal Association for consideration.

Alteration of Boundaries—Heated Words.

The Assistant Under Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, wrote, notifying the Board that it had been decided to appoint a Commission to enquire into the proposed alteration of boundaries of the Papakura Town District. The Commission, it was stated, would consist of the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the District Valuer.

The Chairman reported that, as empowered I>y the Board, he had visited Wellington, and had interviewed the Minister oi' Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. \V. Russell) relative to the proposed extension of boundaries and objections forwarded thereto. In re•aid to tlie personnel of the Commission. lie explained to the Minister that lui certain reasons he objected to the I»i-t11- I Vh!h'«t lieinn a member of the Commi-i-ii'iit. and he understood the \liiii-tei to piiniuse that a substitute would be appointed. 1;. Il l 1 111" to objections lodged to the |,ii.pi.-id boundaries, Mr. Gillespie

aid that lie ariaii'-ieil for a copy of the Mime to be sent him. Those, he added, had now come to band, and he proceeded to road them, after first remarking- "The Minister of Internal Affairs is in full sympathy with the representatives of the Town Board, lei me tell you, gentlemen."

The Chairman first read a petition hearing tin- signatures of3fi ratepayers, incliidiiit-' that of Mr. T. D. Campbell, a member of the Town Board, in which, anmng other things, it was stated: "The present proposal is neither consistent nor complete," and concluding: "We therefore pray that

either the matter be deferred for another Board to deal with, or that such alterations be made in the present proposal so as to make the area compact and complete. We feel sure that another inspection of the plan proposed will convince you that the present proposal is utterly absurd." During the reading of the petition Mr, Gillespie commented on the misstatements and inaccuracies which it contained.

Another objection, said the Chairman, was from the Ratepayers' Association. " That body is now defunct," added Mr. Gillespie, who also incidentally mentioned that the way the addresses were worded showed that they all emanated from one and the same source. Mr. Gillespie continued: "It is stated in this petition that the ratepayers in the Town District have had no opportunity to agree or disagree with the proposal. Gentlemen, that is an absolute lie," remarked the Chairman, looking towards Mr. Campbell. Mr. Gillespie proceeded to express regret that any member of the Town Board should be a tool of the Association.

Mr. Campbell: I never was a tool of the Association.

The Chairman: There is one thing, and that is you will never be a tool to me.

Mr. Campbell excitedly gave vent to some personalities, during which he called the Chairman a liar, but Mr. Gillespie ignored the remark, and simply reminded Mr. Campbell that he had the floor.

Then, taking up another document, the Chairman said: " Here is one from our worthy friend, Mr. Campbell." This, among other things, stated: "I, Thomas Duncan Campbell, being a resident ratepayer and a member of the Town Board, respectfully object to the amended boundaries as defined. I am in favour of the boundaries being extended, but desire that it be done in a manner that will make the district compact and workable, and include as far as possible adjacent residential lands."

After the reading of this communication, Mr. Gillespie proposed, and Mr. Linstrom seconded, that the petitions and the subsequent necessary proceedings should be left in his and Mr. Holt's hands.

Mr. Campbell moved as an amendment: "That the Commission be allowed a free course," but as no seconder was forthcoming, this fell through. The Chairman reminded Mr. Campbell that if the objectors had come to the Board, there would have been no necessity to send anyone to Wellington.

Mr. Campbell made some remarks to the effect that if any objectors had made personal explanations, they would have been insulted. He added that he wanted to see the Wairoa Road Board district included in the extension.

Mr. Holt contended that the utmost publicity of all the steps 4aken had been given by the Board. All through, said Mr. Holt, he had been very friendly with Mr. Campbell, but he could not help thinking that Mr. Campbell was opposing what he did not really object to. " Neither the Chairman nor any member of the Board had interfered with the public bringing their views before us," said Mr. Holt. Mr. Markwick considered that one particular member (Mr. Campbell) was inclined to "damn" the whole thing. There was, he said, some dirty work somewhere just because the Board tried to be progressive.

Mr. Gillespie's motion was then agreed to. Surface Man's Wages.

The Chairman drew attention to the low wages paid to the surface man, whose work, he said, was always satisfactorily done. Mr. Gillespie gave notice that he would move at the next meeting that the surface man's wages should be increased by one shilling a day.

Accounts. Accounts amounting to £lsl/15/5 were passed for payment.

Rifleman A. J. Rhind, of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, whose home is at Papakura, writing under date of May 13th last from " Somewhere in France" to the Editor of this paper, encloses a letter lie had received from a lady resident of Kirkcudbright, Scotland, which evidently deals with the fate of some of the gift parcels sent from New Zealand to soldiers. The lady, in her letter to Private Rhind, says. "You will no doubt wonder who is writing to you It i.--. quite by accident I am so. As you will sec by the address of this letter, this place is in Scotland, on the coast. Some parcels from a torpedoed ship were cast up on the shore on our farm, and some of the workers picked them up and opened tin-in. Ae you may imagine, the water had penetrated through the contents, which I think were ' biscuits.' Your address was perfectly plain on the outside, so I am sending you a small parcel as a substitute for the one that was lost. Hope it will arrive safely." Private Rhind thinks that this incident will interest our readers, and he adds: "I receive many copies of the Times out here, and always eagerly read the local news."