BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 150, 27 February 1915, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL

ORDINARY FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Taihape Borough Council was held in the Council Chamber last, evening, there being present the Mayor (Mr A. L. Arrowshith) and Councillor Beban, Dougherty, Wrigjhtsdm, Healey, M!qCormick, Wilson and Aldridge. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Outward correspondence was read and approved.

CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr R. A. Davies, enclosing a tracing cf the plan of land in Kaka Road and asking th>3 Council to exchange on precisely similar terms to near the hospital for one of his of similar value so that he might have a freehold frontal to the road leading to the hospital. The Mayer moved that the Council meet the wishes of Mr Davies provided he pays all expenses of carrying the exchange into effect and agrees to leasee the section hl.e gets in exchange on prcisely similar terms to those existing for the section at present leased. He pointed out that the hospital Road had not yet been taken ever as a public road, but arrangements wculd shortly be made for doing

so. Cr Aldridge moved as an amendment that Mr Davies' request be agreed to as proposed by the Mayor, but with the latter part compelling Mr Davids . to continue to lease the exchanged piece deleted. Hb considered the piece of land en Kaka Road was much more valuable than that on Hospital Road, and if it wore offered for leas/3 it would fetch £0 if the other brought £4. The Borough w.onld tja the gainer by the adoption of his proposal. The Mayer tb'/.'hfht li committee should be set up to see the two sections. It. was a question of whether the Council wrr.hl be able to let th/3 piece received in exchange if the latter part of his motion was delated. He would offer no opposition provided the exchange was an equitable one. Cr Dougherty said the piece they were to get might be a better section, but Mr Djv)3s must take it at the same price and for the term of the present lease. Cr Wilson thought the land Mr Da vies proposed to hand over was a more valuable piece and if there was nothing to prevent it the Council should allow the exchange to be made. The amendment was put to the vote, and carried. From H. Bailey, Tauniarunui, enclosing an offer to lease the Town Hall for picture purposes. He thought the Council's terms for letting the building were rather high, and submitting two sots of terms on which he was prepared to lease the hall. Number one was to lease for three years, rent for the first ylear tc be £5 second £6, third. £6 10/; to include lighting inside and use of piano; outside lighting to be by arrangement. The Council to retain the right to let the theatii3 not more than 43 nights in each year. The second proposal is to lease for three years at £7 per week, pay all light, moto r current to be. arranged. Alltheatrical bookings to be through him, charges not to exceed the present rate. Council to retain use of hall for borough purposes only. The Mayor said lib would rtct agree to the Hall being let in anyway that would remove -it from the control of the Council. He suggested that the Hall Committee should confer with* Mr Bailey, as there was. not -a wide, gulf between the.•. Council's-, proposalsand the terms offered.; ...... ......... ; Cr. Beban thought the Mayor should, be on this particular committee. . It was finally' resolved, that... the Mayor, and Crs Wrightsbn'anci Wilson should confer w.jth"&ir Bajley When, he came to Taihape: ' From John S. Burgis. calling attention to a serious imno-ee to the public health in the vicinity of the sale yard., caused by dead 3heep""beirigt left

till the smell arising therjefrom compels people to keep their doors and windows closed, and asking the Council to have the nuisance removed. The Mayor moved and Cr Wrightson seconded that the Auctioneers' Association be written to drawing their attention to thla nuisance and requesting them to take steps to prevent re-

curreuces. Cr Aldridge affirmed the exisence of' -he nuisance and said it had been a menace for some time. He also said •'here were two sheep in the yards vhich had been th)?re for a week and here was not a blade of grass for hem to eat. lie also drew attention o other matters of a deprecatory character. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. From Mr P. Kearins stating that he had been asked by ratepayers of Ellis Head tc approach the Council with ref. to having a footpath formed from Smith's steps, along Ellis Road, uid connecting with Ruru Road, and icintirig out that owing to the very iad state of Ellis Road during winter ; t was almost impossible for women md children to get into town. Hie iiought that with the easy grade the oost of formation and upkeep would '>e very light. The Mayor said the Works Committee found that tbjare was about 25 hains of footpath wanted. The report of the Works Committee m the subject is "that the Borough 'oreman be instructed to inspect Ellis load and submit a report on the cost >f forming a footpath in such road. The committee's report also proposed l .hat necessary stiaps be taken to complete the closing of certain roads in '.he Borough, plans cf which were submitted to the Council. Cr Wilson said resolutions providng for the making of footpaths in Tui 3trept past the Technical School, and islo in other streets had passed, ■jut nothing had been done. Cr Wrightson said that there was some prevision in connection with that •esolution and that was that they werje o be made when funds permitted. The Works Committee's report, on he resolution of th}2 Mayor, was then ulcpted. From about twenty residents of the Western portion of the town asking, hat owing to increasing congestion in hat quarter, it be connected with the ewerage system, and the water supply, and also to be supplied with the slectric light. A general discussion ensued on the nresent inadequancy of the water supply.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT

The engineer reported as follows: ■'The river is sc low that I havje curtailed the supply of current and shut down the plant between the hours of 3 a.m. and 7.30 a.m., and between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Under present conditions, it is only possible to build up the reserve of water in the llaservoir to not more than 120,000 gallons. From a fire prevention point of view, .he position is dangerous, and unless he dry spell breaks there is littlje hope of improving the position without seriously inconveniencing cousum-

The pump house is being construct ■M in steel and concrete, and is almost completed."

Cr Wrightson said the thing had been referred to tlie committee, but chey had since heard nothing about it. Thfere was not more than 120,000 gallons of water in the reservoir, and if a fire were to occur that would not last two hvV.irs; the whole Vf %h& water would be used up. This was a very iijiious condition for the town to be in, and ratepayers should be apprised at once of just how matters jtocd.

The Mayer drew attention to the difficulty the Borough had in getting mcrUy for what were necessary works. Cr Wrightson suggested that as the Bank of New Zealand had lent larger nuns to other bodies he did not see why tbey should not lend to Taihaj.l,2 The condition of the town was very serious, and it would be worse next year.

Cr Aldridge pointed out that the rail way had water difficulties and if a deputation were to wait on the Minister for Railways some arrangement might be come to. They were short of watfar and the borough was short of money. If the Government would lend the money they would be helping the town, and helping themselves at the same time. The railway could have all th e M'atiar it needed and he thought if someobdy went tc Wellington and laid the matter properly before the Minister they would succeed. Cr. Wrightson thought that if- thiay could give the petitioners light and water the drainage might stand over. The work had to be done, so why not tackle it now.

Cr Dougherty said they did net want h|3 light so much as they wanted the drainage. The Mayor mentioned the great cost of the full service: it was a question cf -money. ■ Cr Beban said'the best coursla to .follow was to get good engineer to report: and give an estimate of the COSt. ..; ,-,; ■;;•« -',-••'

..Or Al-driefce. said that), when stbo scheme was,, first,..instituted every Councillor thought they would be able to light Utiku and other places. It was' best to have a lialinble service put in even it it cost £SOOO more. He thought they should get the best engineer available and havje a scheme that they could rely oh, .•' -'■

4> ■ '' On the reeolutoin by Cr Wrightson, -seconded by Cr Dougherty, the electrical engineer's report was adopted.

The Mayor said there was one important matter that arose out of the discussion, that was the proposal to send a deputation to Wellington to interview th|3 Minister for Railways. The Council might decide what they would do about it.

Cr Aldridge proposed that the Mayor and Cr Wrightson proceed to Wellington and interview the Minister lor Railways with respect to a water supply that would be ample for the town and for railway purposes. He thought that if the matter was handled in a businesslike way, they could probably be enabled to put in an auxilliary plant that would give water for both railway and town. Cr Healey thought that a visit to Wellington would be time and money wasted at this particular juncture. They would get no money at the present time. During the war they never kn)3W what money was wanted to go to England. When aiything was done to the headworks it woull be best tc pull them d.cwn, go higher up the river and put up works that would give the water they wantjed. They could not do that now. It was no use asking for money when they had no chance of getting it. In a little while they would be smotheilad with water. The rates were as high as they could stand them. He compared the ratee he paid for a property new with what he previously paid. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr Aldridge moved in accordance with notice given: "That the resolution passed at the meeting of the Tai-ha-pe Borough Council, held en January 29th, 1915, in regard to the prop ei ty known as 'The Three Stars Thea ire,' being connected with the sewer >.ge system, be rescinded, on the grounds that Section 3, Block VII, on ->art of which the theatre is situated was net included in the area covered by the eld Drainage Loan No. 1, but va's included in the area covered by he Drainage Loan No. 2, and the pro Tosal to raise such loan provided foi the laying of certain sewers and house drains up to the kerbing of the feetoaths." Cr Aldridge said that clause 1 of the conditions under which Drain %e Loan No. 2 was provided ■cr carrying the connections to the iroper.ty boundary. If that clause was .vrcng he was wrong, but if it was "ight then he must be right in moving iie resolution.

Cr Wrightson, asked whether he was to understand Cr Aldridge to say that in 1907 when the loan was taken i four acre property could be subdivided into 16 sections and that the borough was subsequently to give each section the drainage connection to its boundary? Cr Aldridge maintained that it did net matter how the land was subdivided tbb loan was taken with the understanding that Everyone was to have •■he pipes brought to his boundary. Cr Dougherty thought each property as it stood when the loan was taken was entitled to one connection and f hat had beon given, but if a property was to be cu into 10 or 12 sections owners couldn't expect so many connections.

The Mayor said his views were something like those of Cr. Doughiarty He pointed out that this scheme did not provide for any sewer along Main Street, it was along Kuku Street. It would 11? as raf.onable to lay down the whole sewer as to make such connections and owners were entitled to noth 'ns: more.

C.r Aldridge in reply said it was not ■>. personal raat<hr. He thought the n .cnditicns gave the right to connections no matter whether the land was out infcc quarter-acre or two-acre blocks, and he believ/jd the Court would uphold hi«i contention.

The motion was lost on the voices. FINANCE. The Finance Committee's report was -id. The Mayer pointed out that there was really only one item that needed special notice, that was the proposal '•o hi-i-ease the salary of the Town '""p-k'p assistant bv 5s per week. He "'""wl the adoption of the report. Sev""l councillors' sooke in the highest ' n rms of the services rendered by the "ffice assistant. On the motion by Cr. Wrightson -cronded by Cr. Beban, it was una.nl"•■"vslv resolved to increase tb|3 Town ""■lerk's assistant,s salary by 10s per ■• >-pV the increase to commence from V--first, cf March. W r ith this altera- :- n fiie report was adopted. The statement of accounts disclosr ' the following balances: District fund account (dr.), £2.831 12s 8d; interest account (dr.), £856 10s 8d; r oan No. 1 (dr.), £914 Is 9d; Loan \V\ 2 (dr.), £302 2s lid; Oval Domain (cr.), £32 18s lOd. Accounts passed for payment totalled £163 19s 2d. After a in connection with fires on the roadsides, and in the scenic reserve, the Council adieu rued