PAPAKURA TOWN BOARD

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 546, 6 July 1920, Page 2

PAPAKURA TOWN BOARD

LAST NIGHT'S MEETMi The ordinary meeting kura Town 3o:ird was hefl ing, when there were present! S. Evans, A. Wallis, 1). W. U. Campbell, J. Rea, and the clerk (Mr. A. L. Cooper). In the absence of the chairman (Dr. A. W. P. Brookfield), and the acting-chairman (Mr. E. D. McLennan), Mr. S. Evans was voted to the chair.

Water Supply Loan. The superintendent of the State Advances Office wrote with reference to future loans stating that he was

unable to give the board a definite assurance that the Department

would have funds available for in-

vestment at the particular time re-

quired. He saw no reason to suppose that the amounts would then be obtainable. Upon hearing'" that the board intended raising th& balance of the money from the lie Trust Office, steps would be taken S to obtain the precedent the Governor-GeneraJ-in-Councii.—fife-ceived. v ' ; - <r Removal of Duty on Cement. •- '- " ■ The advisability of urging upon the Government to remove the djttty on imported cement was advocated by the Hamilton Borough Council in a circular letter to the board. The letter pointed out the extreme shortage that existed for some time in cement supplies, thereby hampering operations in regard to building, both of dwellings and business places,, and also in a number of cases causing extreme hardship to families who otherwise would be in a position to • erect homes of their own,' instead of having to make»ffift,,with insufficient and inconveniejfefempwwcy,accommodation. To <wercome dMf.e9ty of the shortage the Wfrtfer* urged the removal of vthe import duty on cement, and solicited the fcoird's cooperation. On the motion of Messrs, Rae and Jones it was decided to sapgoxt the". Hamilton 'Borough Council •' matter. ' i&hs*' Railway Matters. < : u In reply to tjte board's requeslj for a railw.ay closing at the soutfhend of PapakurafamV regarding ac-% cess from AverilnStreet to railway station, the District Engineer* of New Zealand Railways stated foe. matters had been refernjd to the heads of the Department.—Received. 9 Deputation. * A deputation consisting of Messrs. Jeifson, J. E. Elliott and Roy Willis, members of the Papakura Tennis Club, '-waited on the' board in connexion with matters pertaining' M£ the tennis courts on the Village ■ >■' Green. . *' kJfMr. Jeff son said the committee or the Tennis Club had appointed, thaw to wait on the board and report_'j*jßC gress of the work at courts. The? board's donation last «aajt had been very heartily received bers, and had fleeirWcord,«ita very heirfy^vlfc/^^htata[fluf? m stated that the membiß'sh 1 36, and the' courts proved \^_ i s o of considerable amusement and recreation duringrhe past summer. The courts werionly it was the desirejof the club for the -\ Loard to do something of a perma— * nent nature. The court? required as- * phaFJng, and/the club^thought the boardscnayaje its way clear to def"" the tar" v 'andScharspe r a .;, reasonable renta? per annum. courts were of great benefit and a boon to the young people of Papakura. If the' board cjould attend to the work it would be the means of converting an eyesore to the into a beauty spot of the town. The Tennis Club would do all in its power to assist in beautifying the spot; £2O would cover;, the jggst of tarring the three courts, theslboar being a mere bagW&eflSr wouMK 4 - compjet* the then the tar. coulcßSe put bnjimfnediately. jg, gi Mr. Rae urgeek the erection of al pavilion. He added that if 4here4p were any funds after the club had acquired material and nets, it would be handed over to the board towards, the erection of the pavilion. Mr. Elliott said the grounds could * be madenrSry attractive indeed. In answer to Mr. Campbell, Mr. a buildfcftjgahoni ,20. .by 12 wojald be needed, Seung**sfit»ffti *' £3S J £4O. • : '-%sslK-*->■ F/answer to Mr. Jones, Mr. f>n said the club would Have about £2O to hand over to the board after it had acquired the nets, etc. Mr. Jones favoured the proposal as outlined by the deputation. Already the board had spent about £7O on the Village Green, and unless the board did something of. a permanent nature the money would be wasted. Mr. Rae expressed sympathy with the proposal. ■» </*s Eventually Dr. Brookfield, Messrs.' McLennan and Jones were appointed a sub-committee to go into the matter with the Tennis Clubhand report to a future meeting of the board. Budget of Complaints. ".

Mr. D. B. Stewart, a ratepayer of Settlement Road, waited on the board with a sheaf of complaints. He launched out with a statement that he and his family had never experienced such difficulty in getting to their home during his residence in Papakura as he did that night, due to the fact that the township was not lighted. He stated that he came off the train that evening and attempted to cross the reserve, but owing to no light being on the Settlement Road side he could not find the way. He was simply astounded at the steps taken by the Town Board during the last 12 months to light ihe township. The 'amps throughout were rusting out for want of use. One lamp in particular, and he could name about a dozen, had not been lit for two years. Such a state spelt disgrace to the board. The centre of the township, Broadway, Creamery centre, Kissing Gate, Railway. Street, and Station Road were all essential streets, and should be lit. It was the duty of the Town Board to see that the lamps are lit. The board had more money coming in than any other previous board. Where they were diverting this money was beyond the comprehension of the ratepayers to know where the money had gone. No metal had been put on to the roads. He lived at the Kerekere settlement, hnd

claimed that the residents along the road had not had a fair amount of metal for one month during the last two years, and no gravel on the foot- : paths. They all ought to have JqW* share of metal at their end of ' the • district. They paid a fair share of rates, and were entitled to a fair share of consideration. They had not had it, and he was present to voice*. „ these sentiments. E&, "As a progressive board, have yegt -TL taken any interest in bringing an improved train service?" asked Stewart. He asked if they WOdNlra approach the member for the trict (the Prime Minister) and endeavour to obtain a better and _ up-to-date train service run to time-

table, and not as it was at present^ He asked if it was possible for thep" ; to assist in the matter. ■** «' ~ ' Mr. Stewart also referred to. iWf *, fact that the station lights were not "' always lit. \JHjfn *they Auckland they arrived It a tiraeydt • darkness, ,ahd when they arrived 8 there were no lights .at the station, m A stranger gettingfblf the train did & not know whhjhgway to go in order Jgj to get to the%oJrnahip. He instanc- -, ed a cas& of a law'.iitherto at the

goodshed which had now disappeared. It was badly needed to prevent people stumbling over the scoria on the goodsshed side of the station. The board had been rather dilatory in these matters, concluded Mr Stewart. He would be willing to assist in anything to bring about an improvement. In reply to Mr. Stewart, Mr. Evans said the board had not overlooked the matter of the street lighting. During the last six months they had attempted to get a lamplighter, but without success. With regard to the station lamp, the stationmaster had been written to with a request it be attended to. He concurred with Mr Stewart that the revenue had been greater due to the increased valuations. On top of this they had more to pay for work done, and had to wipe off the last board's debts. With regard to Mr. Stewart's jontention that the board had spent money beyond the comprehension of the ratepayers to know where the money had gone to, he, along with other mem bers of the board, was willing to go on to the platform and tell the ratepayers where every penny had been spent. Th3y could not get metal, although they had tried repeatedly. With regard to Settlement Road, he assured Mr. Stewart that the road would be attended to next yea when KIOOO of the loan money would be spent on the road. Mr. Rae s;ud with regard to the lighting, the board was willing to expend the £3 5s a week to get the lamps lit. Ho had failed to set a lamplighter, although he had scoured the district. The board had also taken steps to endeavour to have the train services improved repeatedly. Mr. Stewart accepted the .xplana tions, thanked ihe board I'm :is im partial hearing, and withdrew. Finance, Accounts amounting to H-K 17s 4d wtMV approved and passod for payW menf.

Sanitary Affairs. Matters '1 conne: inn with tho sanitary , i . ico were discussed on siniilai liiit'-" 1 tl,ose previously repoitod. I, decided 1o impose a fee of v , )(M ii.n,iii for sci ivces rendered iih. T. ' km - of a sanitary dump was jPcf-' J "I TI'JMDKHS. Removal of Trees. Tenders for the removal of trees on Young's Beach Road were received as follows: -William John .-.teen (Papakura), 3'trees at 1«s per tree, accepted; Mr. Jack Walker (Opaheke). i»s per tree, accepted. Mi. Robert Bates (Qnslow Road, lapakuta), 34 trees at 7s <>d per tree, declined. By-laws. It was decided to hold a special meeting on Wednesday, July 14, to consider the matter of by-laws.