PAPAKURA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 419, 18 October 1918, Page 4

PAPAKURA.

PAPAKURA TOWN BOAED

The first ordinary meeting of the Papakura Town Board since the recent election was held in the Board's office last Monday evening. Present: Messrs E. D. McLennan (chairman), D. W. Jones, 8. Evans, A. W. P Brookfield, T. D. Campbell, with the Clerk (Mr Harold Wilson). ACCESS TO RAILWAY STATION In reply to the Board's communication requesting permission to make an opening at the end of Averill Street to give access therefrom to the Railway Station. The District Engineer intimated that the application could not be granted at the present time but would be considered in connection with the design of the proposed new railway station. The Chairman was of opinion that the opening from Averill Street was imperative and he advised that further representation should be made to the authorities.

Mr Campbell said what was asked for was a track to be constructed, with a turnstile to enable people to have a short-cut instead of having to go the round-about way. Mr Jones thought a deputaation from the Board should wait on the District Traffic engineer to urge him to have access made. He stated that half a-day's work would complete the job.

The Chairman and Mr Jones were deputed to wait on the Engineer with a view to having the work done. THE RAILWAY RESERVE In connection with the Board's application for a renewal of the lease of the Railway Reserve the District Engineer wrote stating that by his letter of July 2nd last a lease on a year to year tenure subject to three months' notice was offered. The term year to year subject to three months notice really meant a lease on an indefinite tenure, terminable at any time on the three months' notice by either side, and it might possibly run for a longer term that one year. It was decided to accept the offer of the lease en the conditions stated, the Clerk pointing out that the Board had hitherto had a lease for 21 years, which however, was due to expire next month.

"MONUMENT 01' NEGLECT" Mr F. West wrote drawing the Board's attention to a dangerous drain which passed his property on Settlement Road. He alleged that it was " a monument of most stupendous neglect, endangering the lives of animals in the vicinity, also encroaching on his legal boundary line and making it impossible for him to erect a much needed fence " He asked that " the chasm " should be filled in. The matter was referred to the Works Committee. BATHING ACCOMMODATION. In view of the approach of the bathing and boating season Mr Campbell drew the Board's attention to the necessity of providing dressing sheds and a jetty at Young's Beach for the convenience of ladies. At present, he said, there was no accommodation for ladies to prepare for a " dip " nor was there any convenience for them to embark on launches. On his motion, seconded by Mr Evans, the matter was referred to the Works Committee to deal with.

GREAT SOUTH ROAD. The advisability of making improvements to the Great South Road between Mr Ward's property and the Papakura Hotel was brought up by Mr Campbell. He stated that some time ago a grant of £IOO on a £ for £ basis was authorised by the Minister of Public Works and authority to spend the money was received but up to the present the work had not been commenced. He thought the Board should make application to the Minister for a further grant of £2OO so that a good job could be made. He advised that in view of the approaching Session of Parliament the time was opportune to make application and on his suggestion it was decided to ask the Minister of Public Works for a further grant of £2OO towards the works

A PROJECTED IMPROVEMENT. The ipatter of making arrangements with the Trustees of the Methodist Church for the bank on the footpath at Broadway to bo levelled was left in the hands of the Works Committee. Mr S. Evans, on behalf of the Trustees, said that the Trustees were willing to do the work and to erect the fence on the footpath level provided the Board supplied teams for the spoil to be carted away. CATHOLIC CEMETERY. With the object of having the Catholic Cemetery vested in the control of the Board Mr M. Dempsey, on behalf of the Catholic Cemetery Trustees, waited on the Board and stated that arrangements had been made with Bishop (Jleary for the transfer. He added that if the Board took over control of the cemetery the Trustees would render assistance to have it cleared of noxious weeds. Mr Jones remarked that the present state of the cemo'.eries was a disgrace to the district On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Campbell, it was decided to take over she control of c< ruetery provided 'I. Trustees took stops to have the w ions weeds cleared.

WATER SUPPLY St HEME The Board's Engineers' (Vieasra Lockie Gannon and McDuiTj submitted reports on the proposed water scheme and also f >r the forma in i f a storm water drained area f.>r Great South Road. The report wi 4 h plans and specifications was refer < 1 to the Works Committee, who are to report to a special meeting of the Board to he hold on November 4th.

eOMMITTEES The following Committees wore set up, viz. : Works Committee: Messrs E, D.

McLennan, T. D. Campbell, D. W. Jones and W. N. Mcintosh. Health and Sanitary Committee : Messrs E. D. McLennan, A. W. P. Brookfield, D. W. Jones and S. Evans.

Town Planning, Lighting and General Committee : Messrs E. JD. McLennan, R. M. Gillespie, S. Evans and D. W. Jones. Library Committee : Messrs E. D. McLennan and D. W. Jones. labourers' union award. Mr D. W. Jones was appointed as the Board's delegate to attend a meeting of the Auckland Provincial Employer's Association to be held at Auckland on November 13th in connection with the new demands made by the Labourers' Union.

TOWN BOARD FINANCE

HARD TIMES AHEAD At the meeting of the Papakura Town Board on Monday the Clerk (Mr Harold Wilson) presented a statement of the Board's finances for the six months ending September 30th last. The receipts on the general aocount, including a credit balance of £75 12s brought forward on April Ist, totalled £453 13s and the exSenditure £933 Is 6d, leaving a ebit balance of £479 8s 6d. The anticipated income to March 31st next was set out at £lO9l 10s 3d, the principal items being rates due £702 9s 4d and sanitary fees due £135 lis lOd, whilst liabilities existing or scheduled were put down at £1332 16s 9d, entailing an adverse balance at March 31st next of £241 6e6d.

3d, the principal items being rates due £702 9s 4d and sanitary fees due £135 lis lOd, whilst liabilities existing or scheduled were put down at £1332 16s 9d, entailing an adverse balance at March 31st next of £241 6e6d. In formally moving the adoption of the report Mr D. W. Jones said that the Board was practically insolvent, as on March 31st next there would be an overdraft of £241 6a 6d without any fresh works being executed The financial position was most unsatisfactory, he said, and the Board was up against it. To overcome the difficulty they would have to make arrangements with the Bank for the limit of the Board's overdraft to be increased. The situation was such that he suggested holding a meeting of ratepayers and electors with a view to placing the whole position before them. He added that the Board was elected to further the interests of the ratepayers but without finance they could do nothing. Mr Evans spoke in support of Mr Jones' remarks. On the recommendation of the Finance and Legal Committee the Chairman and Mr Jones were deputed to interview the Auckland manager of the Bank of New Zealand with a view to having the overdraft limit increased. The report was then adopted and accounts, amounting to £199 8s 7d, were passed for payment.

In formally moving the adoption of the report Mr D. W. Jones said that the Board was practically insolvent, as on March 31st next there would be an overdraft of £241 6s 6d without any fresh works being executed The financial position was most unsatisfactory, he said, and the Board was up against it. To overcome the difficulty they would have to make arrangements with the Bank for the limit of the Board's overdraft to be increased. The situation was such that he suggested holding a meeting of ratepayers and electors with a view to placing the whole position before them. He added that the Board was elected to further the interests of the ratepayers but without finance they could do nothing. Mr Evans spoke in support of Mr Jones' remarks. On the recommendation of the Finance and Legal Committee the Chairman and Mr Jones were deputed to interview the Auckland manager of the Bank of New Zealand with a view to having the overdraft limit increased.