TUAKAU TOWN BOARD

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 537, 4 June 1920, Page 2

TUAKAU TOWN BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. On Tuesday night the monthly meeting of the Tuakau _ Town Board vfras held, there being present:— 'Messrs. Dynes Fulton (chairman), W. Barnaby, J.. Pirret, A. G. v Oeraghtv, Gep. Lapwood, J. Mungall, €. Finch, and the clerk (Mr. A. H. Tapper). The Prime Minister wrote stating overbad raSfway bridge at Tuakau would be referred to the General Manager for Railways, and a reply be sent to the board as early as possible.—Recei^d.

Ija future, until further notice, the ordinary meetings of the board will commence at 7 p.m. . Arrangements were made for the lighting of the street lamps, the foreman being relieved of th's work. Plans for good solid type of a house for Mr: P. A. Hilary were received and approved, subject to the description tc be altered from ' rough cast," as shown on the plan, to weather boarding. The latter are to be of kauri. Mr. P. A. Hillary asked that a road to his property be opened.—Agreed to open the road to the property, but not right through to the opposite road. . The general rates for year being .1845, 17s, the overdraft limit was requested to be fixed at a similar figure, in accordance with' the usual annual procedure. A verbal application, through Lr. H. Wilcox, for fifty yards of spawls to metal Franklin County Road (Harrisville) leading into Tuakau, was agreed to, the spawls to be available as soon as the board's requirements were fulfilled. The chairman remarked that the council had always been very considerate towards the board, f>nd the latter should reciprocate. ' It was reported that Contractoi Smeed's crusher had broken down, j.nd would take a fortnight or more to repair, thus causing an unfortunate delay in doing important road work. , iL The purchase of 200 posts and the necessary wire to fence from Pirrett's corner to Glasgow's Road was agreed upon.

EDITORIAL COMMENT ON FINANCES. The balance-sheet disclosed generp.i rates receipts as £639- 10s Id, overdraft £643 14s 6d, the debit-balance on the year ending March 31,. 1920, being £219 19s, assets £1379 7s 2d, liabilities, including overdraft and svwiry accoiifits £652 Is; the prepon'assets over liabilities ' therefore^being £726-Qs 2d. The t\fro most -substantial ifems among the sundry Veceipts were*rf£42 for publican's license, anß £sl. for auctioneers' licenses. Legal expenses amounted to £55 7s sd. The balance-sheet was passed by the Government auditor without comment, he apparently being satisfied that, despite criticism to the contrary, no monies had been improperly allocated or applied. From the financial statement it appears that the only really useless expenditure the board has indulged in during the past year is a rather .substantial item (£55 7s sd) for legal expenses, but the major portion of this was foolishly forced on bv the impetuosity of one member in creating such a stir that the board as a whole was compelled to secure legal advice to clear itself from statements that it had paid out monies on a contract that it ought not to have done. The legal opinion cleared the board of any such charge, but it .is unfortunate that this expenditure was ever forced upon it, and the ratepayers mulcted to that extent. But apart from this feature, the board may be congratulated on the year's showing. BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP. Mr. G. S. Lapwood has gone into partnership with Mr. J. M. Mungall in the land agency business, and the firm will be known as the Express Land Agency, with office in George Street, 'LVikau. A new adveitisement appears in this issue, and the new firm is out for business. LAND AGENCY. A new standing advertisement is inserted by Mr. P. A. Rowe, land and estate agent, who details some firstclass properties he has for sale.