PAPAKURA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 408, 10 September 1918, Page 2

PAPAKURA.

(See also page 1) TOWN BOARD'S WORK.

THE CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW

At the meeting of the Papakura Town Board held yesterday the Chairman (Mr R. M. Gillespie) reviewed the Board's work for the year as follows : "Theßoard's policy of progress and sound finance has been followed during the whole of this Board's term of office. The balance sheet for the year sbows that the receipts on the general account have totalled £986 j9sßd. Out of this amount £5lB 15s 7d was spent on roads. The sum of £179 18s was spent in administration. I notice the sum of 6d is the amount of sundries. 1 congratulate the Clerk on this matter, as the practice of showing from £4O to £7O as sundries is dangerous, inasmuch as it paves the way for peculation and is not good book-keeping. You will note that each account is in credit a few pounds. The whole of the Board's work has been carried out without any increase in the rates, although we are paying fully 25 per cent more for our requirements. Since my last annual report the Board has appointed a returned soldier to the position of Clerk and the change has proved satisfactory. The permanent levels of a number of the main streets have been determined and fixed, shell and gravel have been spread over a number of the main footwalks, tarring and sanding being held over for the present. The main arterial roada throughout the town have been maintained in good order, notwithstanding the two very wet winters we have had. The wooden bridges on Hunua Road and Croskery's Road have been strengthened and repaired so that they should suffice until they can be replaced by concrete structures. There are several sharp angles at certain street intersections that should be removed and we have to thank Messrs Richardson and Cole for donating land for this purpose in Great South Road and East Street. The erection of a pound, which was held over pending a trial of a ranger's scheme, will require to be put in hand immediately as the scheme under which we have been working has proved a failure. Flans are being prepared for certain storm water drainage and estimates are being made for the proposed watersupply and forming and metalling the centre section of Great South Road. A contract was let and is nearly completed for the greater part of Elliott Street to its permanent level. The balance of the work is allowed for in this year's estimates. This work became urgent owing to the transfer of the saleyards to their new position. The Sanitary Service has been working smoothly under the new contractor, tho alteration in the sjstem of payments being approved by practically every householder in the sanitary area. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company are making gOod progress with the erection of the new yards and had weather conditions been normal the old yards would have been removed before this. I am very pleased to state, however, that the lasi sale has been held in the old yards. The street improvements and storm-water drainage in the Village Centre will necessitate the closing of a portion of the saleyards frontage for a few weeks and the manager has been notified to that effect.

The question of a War Memorial has been considered and a conference with the Methodist Church Trustees held re a strip of their land to widen the village centre, with a view of erecting a memorial in that locality. After a joint inspection of the site it was decided that when the saleyards' fence was put back to its proper alignment there would be sufficient area to allow of the erection of a memorial as suggested. The District Engineer of the Railway Department has promised consideration of our request for the opening of Averil Street through to the line.

The leading business men of Papakura have met the Board in conference and decided that it is in the town's best interests for thu yards and sheds f oi goods traffic to be erected on the east side of the new station yard. It is pleasing to know that auctioneers' licenses are being taken out iu Papakura, the Board having received over i R O from thi9 source.

Re Cemetery Reserves.- Much could be done to improve their appearance. The Board is at present negotiating with the Roman Catholic authorities with a view of taking over control of their Cemetery. It would be io the town's best interest for these cemeteries to be closed and a new area obtained further out of the township. The question of rating on the unimproved value system is exercising the minds of a large number of ratepayers and arrangements are in hand for a gentleman resident of Auckland to address the ratepayers at an early date on the principle and benefits of this system of rating. A standard survey his been made of Great South road and the telegraph poles have been removed to the proper alignment. There is a mattf-r of groat importance to Papakura that should bo taken in hand at an eariv date aud that is the widening of Broadway. There are not any permanent buildings to hinder this and there are only two owners to negotiate with, the Methodist Chinch aud Rail May. The present uniijue opportunity of widening that which will some day be the tram terminus of Papakura's suburbs, is uot likily to occur a„ r ain. I would suggest that this road be 90 feet wide.

The proposed exteuMon of the Town District's boundaries has been approved by a large majority of those interested and the Board has been congratulated by a number of leading men in neighbouring dis tricts upon its handling of a matter

which called for tact and knowledge. Since then I regret to have to place on record the fact that Mr Campbell a member of the Boaid, assisted by a small number of misguided residents, baa held up the completion of this much desired extension. The cost up to the time of presenting the petition to the Minister was very small, less than £lO, but owing to Mr Campbell's action the cost to the P ratepayers will now be considerable. The local Batepayers' Association has shown itself hostile and obstructive on various occasions and I cannot but think that most of their actions in relation to the Board have been dictated more by personal rancour than by a high sense of public duty. I still maintain that the Board, elected by a substantial majority to administer the public affairs of the district, adopted the correct attitude towards this Association—an irresponsible self-constituted body. At the forthcoming poll there will be two issues, viz , one, the biennial

election of members, and the other on the statutory half-holiday question. I regret that we have been unable to complete the amng >mri:ts for taking a poll on the ques'i >n of a loan for the water supply and Great South road. In conclusion, I congratulate the members of the Board upon the fact that they have adhered to a policy of sound foundation work. Spfctacular work is generally followed by those who have nothing else to recommend them. On behalf of the ratepayers I thank the staff for their capable and efficient services and would assure the ratepayers that their interests have been faithfully served by the Clerk and Mr McVeigh, as well as by the other workmen employed at various times under Mr McVeigh." Mr Gillespie, then moved the adop tion of the report and balance sheet and MrMarkwick seconded. Mr P. Hol v , who was present at the meeting although not taking part in the proceedings, sought and was given permission as a ratepayer to maVe a few remarks. He stated that he had hoped to have had the pleasure of s conding the motion He considered the report a good one and was certain tl at no member needed to feel ashamed of what the Board had done during the last two years. It was, however, only fair to say that in several important matters in which they had made advance, previous Boards had to some extent paved the way. He congratulated the Clerk on having passed the ordeal of the audit with a clear certificate. He thanked all members for their uniform courtesy extended to him dur ing their two years of work. Speaking of the Chairman, Mr Holt remarked that when Mr Gillespie was elected to the chair he (Mr Gillespie) had said that it was not to be a " one man show'' and that so far as he was able every member would have a fair deal. He (Mr Holt) thought that Mr Gillespie had redeemed that promise. Mr Holt proceeded to eulogise the work of the Chai'man and congratulated him on the various matters carried out by the Board under his guidance. Other members also paid tribute to Mr Gillespie's services and expressed the hope that the incoming Board would be as progressive as the outgoing one.

Mr Campbell stated that he wanto see progress but he claimed no progress had been made commensurate with the amount of money expended. The motion was carried nem con.

The matter of the Auditor-General having ruled, as stated in our last issue, that Mr P. Holt had automatically vacated his seat as a member of the Board by having accepted a payment from the Board of £6 6s for professional services rendered, although the Board's liability was incurred in 1914, came before the meeting of the Town Board yesterday, a letter being read from the Auditor-General stating that he presumed the Board would take steps to deal with the vacancy. Mr Holt in a written statement, contended that the Auditor-General had acted without full knowledge of the circumstances. Mr Holt explained that the payment made him was in respect of his survey of the Cemetery as arrange d in December 1908 by the Board th<-n in office, the survey being delayed to suit the convenience of the Board until 1914 before it was carried out. The payment accordingly concerned a liability that existed two years before he became a member of the Board. Mr Holt added that as soon as the Auditor General's " tag " was made known to him he sent a cheque for the amount to the Clerk of the Board. His disqualification as a member was one of secondary importance, but until the tag was uplifted he would not take any action at the Board's meetings He had obtained legal advice on the matter and was informed it would in no way affect him at the coming election. —lt wan explained that a copy of Mr Holt's statement had baen Forwarded to the Auditor-General, who had wired saying that he was replying by letter. It was accordingly decided not to take action in the meantime.