OTAHUHU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 430, 29 November 1918, Page 3

OTAHUHU.

OTAHI'HU BOROUGH COUNCIL LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. A meeting of the Otahuhu Borough Council was held last (Thursday) evening, the members present being the Mayor (Mr A. McDonald) Crs. R. B. Todd. T. \V. Stringer, A. Wildman. T. Clements. H. J. Moffitt, and J. Bradv, with the Town Clerk (Mr \V. J. Dinnison.) An apology tor absence was received from Cr. J. Hall. A PI'BLIC DANGER. In reply to a request ot the Council for the police to enforce the by-laws in regard to vehicles travelling at night-time without lights in the Borough, Sergt. Harvey intimated that action had been taken, and several persons had been convicted. MORAL WELFARE. In accordance with the spirit of a resolution carried at a meeting of the newly-formed "Citizens' Moral Welfare Committee," the Council was apprised of action likely to be taken thereon. The letter was "received." PEACE CELEBRATIONS. A letter was received from the Civic League relative to peace celebrations, and asking the co-opera-tion of all local bodies. The Mayor stated that another meeting of the League will be held next Wednesday, in the Town Hall, and on behalf of the Council he had pledged its support to the movement. noxiois WEEDS. That the widespread growth of the thistle, now so prevalent in Otahuhu is a menace was ventilated in a letter from Mr S. Hill, who complained of the rapid growth on the Panama Estate as being instrumental in causing the seed to scatter over his property in Luke Street. Several Councillors spoke in support of the comphint. and suggested that the Mt. Wellington .Road Board should be held responsible. The Mayor, whilst agreeing that the complaint was a bona fide one, deprecated any action as suggested in view of the menace being so existent in the Borough. He said that had it not been for the intinenza epidemic the roads in the district would have been attended to ane clenred of the thistle. However, such work had been prevented, owing to the Council employees fighting the spread of the " flu." * • SEWER CONNECTION". In the matter of the application by an owner for extension of time to connect certain property in Station Road with the sewer, Cr. Todd stated that the circumstances of the appeal warranted the Council giving the necessary extension of time. The Mayor stated that any relaxation of the by-laws might lead to a precedent, but, in view of Cr. Todd's statement, he would not oppose in that instance. The motion was seconded by Cr. Moffitt, and was carried. MISCELLANEOUS. Reports from the Pumping Engineer, Turncock, and the Works Committee were adopted. A letter was received from Mrs W. Paterson, of Church Street, applying for the filling-of a ditch to enable her to erect a fence in front of her newly-erected house. —The matter was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. FOOTPATH IMPROVEMENT. The work recently carried out on the footpath in front of 'the Wesleyan Church in Fairburn Road, caused considerable discussion. —Cr Todd wanted to know the esitmated cost and the amount already spent on the path. The Town Clerk replied that there had bees no decision as to the amount of expenditure, the arrangement being that the footpath was to be levelled, and scoria to a width of 6ft. to be spread on the same. Cr. Brady thought that it was agreed that the cost was not to exceed £ls. He also pointed out that the footpath had been made 15ft, wide instead of 6ft. as originally intended. Cr Moffitt, a member of the Works Committee, in speaking in justification of the work, stated that the reason of tne path being made 15ft. in width was on account of the excavating that had to be done near the fence so as to allow a permanent level 'o be struck REMOVAL OF SPOIL. In regard to earth being removed fiom the work near the Wesleyan Church, and from other places in the Borough, suggestions were made by several Councillors that the spoils should not he deposited on private properties when there were so many ditches and hollows where the earth would be more profitably utilised. The Mayor supported tlii~> argument. and it was resolved to ask the Foreman to furnish a report dealing with the matter

After the usual business of tne Borough Council had been disposed of last evening the Mayor referred to the Influenza epidemic and the action taken in regard thereto by the Council. Ite expressed the Council's appreciation of th-j noble way in which the Council's em ploy re had worked towards combating the spread ot the disease A motion of appreciation and thanks was adopted.

Taking advantage of last night's meeting of the Borough Council being the first held since the signing of the Armistice terms between Germany and the Allies the Mayor moved the following resolution, which was duly passed, viz, "That this Council expresses thanks to Almighty God for the cessation of hostilities, which had been the cause ot so much sorrow and death during the past four and a half years, and also records its appreciation of the magnificent services rendered to the Motherland by the New Zealand soldiers, and offers its most sincere sympathy with those who suffered the loss of dear ones, and hopes the time may speedily arrive when we shall be able to say in all sincerity, Peace on Earth, Good will to Men."

WANE OF THE EPIDEMIC. Otahuhu has now emerged from the influenza grip and although that form of illness has been very rife the borough can point to a very low death roll as out of five deaths at the temporary hospital established in the public hall two only were these of local residents. The district is now so free of the epidemic that the temporary hospital was closed last Tuesday. Four patients were then under treatment and whilst one returned to his own home the other three were sent to Constable Moss' residence, which has been used as a Convalescent Home. All the convalescents are, however, likely to be discharged within the next day or two, good recoveries being made in every instance. In all 30 patients were treated at the temporary hospital, including cases from Whitford, Pakuranga, Panmure, Takanini, Westfield, Papatoetoe and East Tamaki, and the efficiency of the organisation and management, for which the Town Clerk (Mr W. J. Dinnison) was mainly responsible, was highly eulogised by Mr W. Wallace, the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, when he visited the institution last Sunday. The skilful nursing undertaken by Sister Giibble (of Ea9t Tamaki), assisted by Sister Docherty and Nurse Edwards, was commended by Mr Wallace, and on this point praise must in addition be bf stowed on the many honorary lady workers who rendered aid in the wards and kitchen, Mrs H, Mason supei intending the commissariat de partment, and Miss Muir directing the movements of the ladies' com mittee. Mr .J. Wilson, captain of the Fire Brigade, worked untiringly as "chief mate " to the Town Clerk and members of the Brigade took turn in night duty at the hospitals as general assistants The transport of patients to the hospital was most ably controlled by Councillor Mofhtt and Constable Moss, whilst relief to those in distress waa administered as the result of a systematic house-to-house visitation carried out bv the Bev. H. Mason and the local officers of the Balvation Army. A soup kitchen was installed at the Parish Hall by the Ladies' Committe under the direction of Mrs McDonald (the Mayoress) and the wants of residents in respect to nourishment wore well catered for. Motor cars for general hospital work were kindly lent by Messrs W. West, T. Lippiatt, Kay, and F. Matthews, and the assistance of Mr King (Pumping Engineer) as a driver of the cars was appreciated. Tribute must also be paid to the noble action of Constable and Mrs Moss in not only surrendering their residence so that convalescent patients could be installed therein but in taking charge of the invalids The thanks of the community are due to the Constable and wife for their thoughtlul deed, which was attended with no little self-sacrifice. The new concrete building to form an addition to the Otahuhu public school is now rapidly approaching completion and will be ready for occupation when the new term commecces next February. The structure is of a handsome character and will relieve the overcrowding that has for so long been complained of in the main building.