BOROUGH COUNCIL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 583, 14 July 1933, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL

regular meeting COMMITTEE REPOBTS AND GENERAL BUSINESS CONSIDERED. i CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED 1 Th,e regular meeting of the Rotorua Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening, the Mayor (Mr. T. Jackson) prseiding. There were also present CrS. E. T. Johnson. O. H. Coleman, F. Goodson, G. French, G-. Steele, J Banks, and L Woolliams. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. Bayfeild and Waekrow. The Town Clerk reported that officers of the Internal Affairs Department (Fisheries branch) would make arrangements in connection with suitable specimens of stufFed trout to be sent abroad. At a former meeting, the council decided to remind Mr. W. A. Nixon of the borough by-laws in connection with the driving of stock in Malfroy Road. It was reported that th'e cows were still being driven on this- route and the matter was referred to the general committee to be dealt with. A letter was received from a resident of Gibraltar, Mr. Frederick, enquiring as to climate, house property and various other aspects of (Rotorua. The clerk advised that the necessary information had been supplied. Band Contest. The secretary of the South' Auckland Brass Band Union advised that the next contest would be held at Easter, 1934. It was reported that an invitation had, been extended to hold the contest in Rotorua and that all bands likely to be interested had been circularised to that effect. A letter had been writien to the manager of the Rotorua Bargain Stores, Ltd., requesting that a match vending machine should be removed ' so that it did not project oyer the . footpath. | Mr. P. Keaney wrote inquiring whether the council would elear noxious ; weeds on his property by unemployed j labour. Th'e clerk advised that the j writer had been informed that the j Unemployment Board would not sanc- ! tion this work. A letter was received from the chairman 0f the Dominion Council expressing regret that no official notification has been sent regaxding the result of the tour of the Young Austrai lian League band, which' finished early ' in the year. Balance sheets, etc., had i been sent to Sydney and it was antici- ! pated that there would be a deficit ' j on the tour. The Dominion Council | expressed its sincere thanlcs to all who I I helped to make the tour such a suc- j j cess and regretted that the financial j I side showed no profit to distribute to • | eharity. If desired, the auditor would ! I supply a confidential report to any j | committee requiring same. j I On the motion of Cr. Coleman it j was decided to ask for a report. { The opinion that the council should ■ j press for a. reply was expressed by | Cr. Coleman when the clerk advised that no reply had been received from j the District Public Works engineer , to a request from the council that he I supply a statement of the position in i regard to main highways 'subsidies i due to the council. It was pointed out ' that the figures were necessary in I compiling the estimates. It was decid- j ed to telephone the engineeer and ask him to reply to the council's letter. An application to have the street frontage to h'er property laid in grass was received from Mrs. H. Jones, of

Fen-ton Street. The matter was referred to the works committee. A letter was received from the secretary of the Rotorua A. and P. Association, asking that the council grant ; the license for the hall as soon as possible. The clerk reported that the association had. been advised of certain requirements of the council which had not been complied with. Permission had been granted A. S. Paterson and Co. to operate a lorry on classified roads. The International Harvester Co. wrote with reference to Mr. V. C. Florey's application for a refund of heavy traffic fees. The company advised that the truck had been sold to another resident of Ngongotaha and it was reported that Mr. Florey had been notified of the position. Hairdressing Hygiene. A letter was received from the Medical Officer of Health, advising that following a complaint of a case of sycosis having occurred following a visit to a hairdresser's, investigiation had again brought into prominence the need for hairdressers complying with the regulations. A circular letter addressed to all hairdressers was enclosed and he asked that each hadrdresser should be supplied. with a -copy and opportunity taken by the inspector when he delivered the circular, to educate hairdressers in the impoii;ance of this aspect. The secretary of the Municipal Association wrote forwarding memorandum of matters dealt with by the executive committee at dts meeting h'eld in Wellington on June 14. The following matters were dealt with: — Hoardings, Unemployment, Unemployment relief loans, Crown as mortgagee (rating liability), scale of subscriptions, emergency committee, water works (model -by-ilaws), model bylaws, local government officers bill, vehicles plying for hire, Dog Registration Act, test case (half cost of footpaths), fidelity policies, loan conversion, water supply. The- Director-General of Health advised that no objection would be raised by his department to the re-formation

work to be carried out in Rangiuru St. The Public Works Department has been asked to conf-er with the council so that the work can be carried out without undue detriment to the Pukeroa jRieserve. The Town Clerk of Hastings advised that he had not yet received his copy | of a photograph taken -at the Municipal Conferenee, although' he had paid for it. The clerk reported that the photographer reported that two copies of the photograph had been sent on different occasions. Landlorcl's Position. A letter was received from Mr. R. G. Marsh. hr-inging before the notice of th'e council the position of ratepa.yers of Rotorua. The letter stated that rents of different properties had been reduced from 20 to 50 per cent. Landlords, also, had to contend wtih a large amount of unpaid rent, which would never be paid. He suggested that under the circumstances, unless a fair reduction -is made in rates, a laxge amount of rates must remain unpaid. Mr. C. H. Clinkard, M.P., forwarded a copy of a letter received by him from the Minister of Health, advising that definite proposals affecting th'e future use of the site a,t present occupied by King George V. Hospital were not yet before the Government. The secretary of Trustees, Gover-nor-General's Winter Relief Fund, forwarded the sum of £8 for the relief of local distress. The amount had. been forwarded to the Rotorua Women's 'Club, the clerk reported. Mrs. Ada Iles wrote stating that she eonsidered th'e Phillip St. drain to he a public drain and the piping a borough matter. When this matter was settled, the roads would be formed and the rates coming in from new houses would repay the borough for piping the drain. The matter was referred to th'e works committee. The secretary of the Auckland Education Board advised that the board offered no ' objection to the councils' proposal to cnt 15 feet each way from the school sdte at the corner of Ranolf St. and Arawa St., provided the board is put to no expense in connection with' the matter. The clerk advised that he had written to Mr. H. Langguth in connection with the infitalla.tion of a culvert outside his property. The Mayor stated that this culvert was the standard type being constructed by the council for heavy vehicles and suggested that councillors should inspect it. Mr. W. D. Young wrote applying for the removal of a tree outside the entrance to his property in Pukaki St. The clerk reported that the tree had not been entirely removed but ha.d been transferred to a more suitable position. Bus Tickets. The secretary of the Rlotorua Bus Co. wrote with regard to the sale f concession tickets on the buses. The letter stated that it had been an instruction by the Transport Licensing Authority that th'e tickets should be sold at the companys office and not on the buses. Cr. Coleman said. that the tickets were now being sold a.t chree business premises in addition to thecompany's office. It was also. reported that the company was proceeding with the erection of sign-posts as suggested. A letter was receiced from Mr. H. Mitten asking permission to cut down an overhanging tree. on the section occupied by the carved house adjoining his ^property. The writer stated that the tree shut out the sun in the winter months and made the section damp. The matter was referred to th'e reserves committee.

General Committee. The general committee reported having authorised building permits to the value of £472 15s during the period and with having authorised certain traffic prosecutions. The committee also reported having again eonsidered the question of trees in McLean Street and in view of the position, reaffirmed its recommendation that the trees should be removed only when required for council purposes. The application received was for the removal of trees alleged to be interfering with certain properties. The committee had investigated the matter and found that the properties in respeet of which the complaint wqs made were not affected by the trees. On the east side of the street the trees adjacent to the house had been removed and on the west side the trees which might be eonsidered a menace were on the property and not on the street. There were two trees on the west side adjacent to a property, the > owner of which had not complained or requested the removal of these trees. The committee recommended that following arrangements be made for the control of traffic on race day, July 29: — (a) That all traffic to and from racecourse be confined to Fenton St.; (b) that Grey Street and Carnot St. be closed to through traffic and set aside for the parking of buses. taxis and private cars; (c) that the parking of cars be prohibited in Fenton St., between Malfroy Road and Robertson St. and in Wairoa Road from Ti Street to Forestry Avenue .between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The suggestions were adopted. Publicity and Aniusement. The Publicity and Amusement Committee recommended that the name of the committee be altered to the Rotorua Borough Advancement Committee. The suggestion was adopted. This committee reported having accepted th'e offer of Mr. A. Pyman to give a series of entertainments and to donate portion of the takings to the committee. It was also reported that a committee has been set up for the purpose of ! establishing a small enquiry bureau to .assist visitors to the town. The committee reported, however, that while it wished to keep the matter in mind, it did not consider the present an opportune time to proceed with the suggestion. The committee reported that pend-

ing the appointment of a paid origaniser, it had aecepted Mr. R. H. ■Reid's offer to act in an honorary capacity. Band Committee. The band committee reported that the total profit from th'e concert organised for June 4 was £7, half of which had been handed over to the band funds and had been spent in securing music. The band had been authorised to play on Sunday afternoons oecasionally at King George Y. Hospital. The committee recommended that the request of the Rotorua and. Bay of Plenty Hunt Club that the services of the band be available on race da.y, July 29, be acceded to on the terms set out .in their letter, and that in deference to the request of the Rotorua Bowling Club, the amount of £2 2s received from th'e club be paid over to the band social fund. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee reported having eonsidered the question of office administration, and were of opinion that some reorganisation was necessary in order that the work might be efficiently carried out. Tha Town Clerk had been authorised to procure on trial for one month, a dictaphone which was offered for sale at approximately £50. The committee eonsidered that if the machine proved satisfactory, greater efficiency would be possible in the office without any 5ncrease in staff. If the machine does not prove satisfactory, the question of increase in staff would have to be eonsidered. It was explained that the ■ dictaphone had -been installed solely on trial and without any obliga.tion to purchase. Accounts amounting to £2478 9s 3d, as submitted, were eonsidered and passed for payment. The chairman of the committee (Cr. O. H. Coleman) reported that the council was in a financial position but that care in administration was necessary. He submitted an interim report. Works Committee. Th'e works committee reported (a) Having eonsidered applications received for subsidy and having decided in the meantime to give employment to 14 ratepayers and 20 residents. These men wil be engaged on special subsidised relief work and will be employed for their ordinary relief days spread equally over each week. The igangs will be: so arranged that the work will be carried out eontinuously and the council subsidy earned by each man will be retained and paid to such man during the normal standdown week. As th'e subsidised scheme mentioned above will not be in operation until after the stand-down week, the lamount available to the IR'eturned; Soldiers' Association from the Canteen Fund is being subsidised to the extent of £15 during the stand-down week. The. committee also reported that as complaints had been received with reference to stock routes, it had instructed the Town Clerk to write to the Tourist Department calling attention to th'e dilapidated state of the fence on the south side of the Arikikapakapa Reserve fronting the Hemo Road. and asking that the fence should be put into good repair, as this road is now a stock route. The committee also reported upon the following matters: — In order that the committee might be in a position to consider th'e use of obsidian for sheeting suburban footpaths, tbe engineer had been requested to submit a report ou the cost of opening up the quarry site in the Hemo Road. Wtih reference to the request from Mrs. L. Gardner for a street light, the engineer had been requested to submit a report to the next meeting on any new lights which are necessary. In response to a request from Messrs. W. D. and W. J. Parsons, the committee had authorised the filling in of portion of the drain along the footpath in Malfroy Road fronting the properties of the abovenamed; the drain to be fascined before being filled Having authorised the purchase of stormwater drain pipes to th'e value of £6 10s. This was a special type of concrete pipe manfaetured locally and the price at which they were offered was very reasonable. Having accepted the tender of Messrs. Heywood and Amson for the purchase of table potatoes at £4 10s per ton delivered. The balance of the potatoes will be disposed of to relief workers at ls per sugar sack. Having authorised the repairing of the footpath' in Arawa Street on the south side between Tutanekai and Amohia Streets. Having authorised the engineer to level the frontage and supply soil, as requested by a ratepayer. The committee recommended that as the drain running through Sections 5 and 6, Suburbs, is carrying stormwater from c'ouncil property, the council undertake the cleaning of th'e drain from time to time. This is a drain which was dug in substitution for the drain filled in along the footpath in Pererika Street. That as the Water channel is being lifted by the tree roots, the tree dn front of Mr. Gostello's premises be removed and the water-ch'annel be relaid from Haupapa Street as far as is necessary towards the south.