SMALL FIRE LOSSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 644, 22 April 1929, Page 11

SMALL FIRE LOSSES

From S:it nnl.'i v*s l-.tto tOdition. •

OTAHUHU BOROUGH’S FIGURES The superintendent o£ the Otahuhil Fir© Brigade reported at last week’s borough council meeting that the brigade had answered a total of 35 alarms, 33 of which were in the borough area. Of these 18 were actual property fires. The insured value of property at risk within the borough was £9,405, the value of uninsured property concerned £4O. and the estimated loss by fire £B7B, showing the proportion of fireloss to be 3s 6id a head on an approximate population of 5,000. A recommendation by the traffic inspector that the authority of the council be granted for the issue of heavytraffic licences was agreed to. It was po.nted out that the number of vehicles garaged in the district, in respect of which heavy-traffic fees wore payable, was now sufficient to warrant the issue of licences in the borough. The council would benefit by 5 per cent, of the amount collected, and tiiis would total a considerable sum. The building inspector reported that the value of building permits issued for the six months ending March 31 was £23,060. The pumping engineer reported that 3,375,000 gallons of water had been, pumped at the station for the two weeks ending April 14. An application by J. W. Bateman for improvements to the roads near Havelock Street was deferred for the consideration of the incoming council. On the proposal of Cr. H. J. Hall, it was agreed to deny all liability in respect to a claim made by W. J. Doran for a sum of £l5O, for alleged damago done to his property when the council took over adjacent property. Mr. A. W. Hall, M.P., notified the council of his intention to oppose strenuously any reduction in motor taxation, and expressed it as his opinion that, considering the damage done to the roads by heavy vehicles, they are not paying sufficient now. This particularly applied to motor lorries, which were working in opposition to the railways. The Railway Department notified the necessity of the erection of the standardised crosing signals by June 1. The clerk estimated the cost of the necessary sign at £BO. It was agreed to authorise the erection of the sign at Mangere Crossing, and defer consideration of the balance till aJter the election. In answer to a letter from the secretary of the Licensing Committee for the Hauraki electorate asking for the annual allowance for services rendered, the clerk advised that previous payments were £25, which went to the consolidated fund. On the proposal of Cr. Pearce, it was agreed to forward £lO, the Mayor remarking that it was immaterial providing it did not affect the secretary. The Works Committee reported the settlement of a claim by Trendall Bros, for land taken by the council for street widening. The claimants had previously fixed the amount of the claim at £BB2, but after a conference between the committee and their solicitors. the amount of £SOO had been agreed upon. The report was adopted. The Mayor, Mr. R. B. Todd, who is not seeking re-election, gave a comprehensive review of the works carried out during his term of office. A resolution placing on record its high appreciation of his services as Mayor during the past eight years was pase©4 by the council.