BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 174, 27 March 1915, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Taihapa Borough Council was held in the Council Chamber last evening. Present: Ths Mayor (Mr A.'L. Arrowsmith),and Crs. Beban, Dougherty, Wrightson, Healey, McCormick and Wilson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and correspondence, outward, was read and adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was revived from Mr H. E. Finch, Wellington District Health Officer, acknowledging the Council's letter stating that it intended taking no steps to enforce the recommendations made in a leter dated January 29, and emphatically protesting against thfe Council's action for two reasons. (1) A large amount of money

had been spent on water and drainage to improve the sanitation of the town, which would be money wasted if the sewers were not made full-use of (2) Because in similar cases the Council had strved a requisition on owners of properties to connect with the drainage system. It was not in accord with good government or with British

fair play to treat one different to another without good cause. If the Council thought his recommendations unreasonable he wished to know in what particular. The Town Clerk read the details of what was recommended by the Inspec-

Cr MacCormick moved and Cr Healey seconded (to ena-bile discussion) that the Health Department be informed that tHis (Council floes think the present time opportune to compel the ratepayers in the drainage area to 'go to the expense of installing P.W.C.'s and connect the water service direct with hot water installations. He moved this resolution because it seemed that very many ratepayers could not find the money to do what the Inspetcor was asking for. If Mr Healey were compelled to do what was asked then every other ratepayer would have to put in P.W.C.'s and connect up after as directed. They could not do it. Cr Healey said misstatements had been made by somebody about his property. The Inspector came to his house and he asked him to explain what was necessary and what he wanted done. The Inspector refused to tell him anything about what was wanted, but sau l k e would report it all to the Council. When the Inspector toldyhim thi s he told the Inspector to get out of his house. If the Council thought he ought to do what" the Inspector's report mentioned, and they forced him to do it, he would have to do it, but he thought the Council, or the Works Committee should go and see for them, calves whether it was fair to put him to such an expense. Cr Wilson said he could bear out what Mr Healey said about the Inspector's treatment of him for he had treated him in the same offhanded way. He, Cr Wilson, thought that when the Inspector came into premises he should tell the owner what he wanted done. Then if the owner refused to do it he should report to the Council. He voted against compliance with the report when it was before the Council as he considered there were many things in it that were not at all necessary. He thought the Council should satisfy itself about what was really needed, and what was fair and reasonable. The Borough could not do what the Inspector wanted because it hadn't the money, and the people were as short of money as the Council was. Mr Healey had several tanks and if they ever got empty he got them filled from the Borough supply. The water was quickly used and they often got cleaned in that way so there was nothing dirty about them. He would very much rather have the tank water than the Borough supply water a s he considered it much cleaner. He saw the Borough dam cleaned out, and there was plenty of evidence that filtration of the Borough water was necessary; lower water was nothing but slime. With reference to the P.W.C. down stairs, in the yard, he thought these were necessary and a fair thing, and Mr Healey should be called upon to put them in. Cr iMcCormiek asked what tji'e works ordered by the Inspector would cost. Cr Wilson said he did not know, but in one of hi s properties alone the Inspector had put him to an expense of £9O. Cr Dougherty thought the demands | were not justified and he was inclined i to move that the letter be received. Cr Wilson moved an amendment to the effect that the Inspector be invited to come to Taihape and view the premises with the Council so that there might be no misunderstanding. Cr McCormick withdrew his resolution in favour of the amendment. The Mayor said the difficulty probably arose through the Council being too precipitate. After hearing Cr Healey he felt sure the Department would not put him to the expense the work would entail. Cr Wilson's am/endment was cart, rieJ unanimously. The Wanganui Hospital and Charitable Ail Board wrote acknowledging receipt of the Council's offer to contribute £45 a year towards the salary of a second Health Officer, on condi-

tion that the new officer be permanently, stationed in Taihape, and notifying that the Board could not see its v/ay to be tied down to the latter proposal, although it was almost certain that Taihape would be found the most suitable centre to work the district from. The latter also pointed out that the Agreement could b;e terminable by three months 'notice, and the arrangements if unsatisfactory, could be reviewed at any time. He asked whether the Council bad any other proposal to make. The Mayor said under the circumstances the Council mjjjht waive its stipulation that the Inspector have residence (a Taihape and that the annual contribution of the Council be i JE S 5. He moved in that direction.

Cr Healey said that Hunterville was only giving £5 and Taihape was not seven times as large as that town. Cr Wrightson understood from Mr Jcblin, the Taihape representative on the Board, that every borough and town board between Taumarunui and Marton was supposed to contribute, and if they could raise two-thirds of the money Wanganui would give onethird. During his conversation with Mr Joblin .lie was shown a paper indicating that, the promises already to't'uiicJ over £2OO. It seemed that instead of the Local Bodies payinfjj twpj-i-byrds they were paying the whole lot. He thought the Board should be written to asking what amount the contributing bodies were expected to pay, for it seemed to him that instead of the Board paying one-third tiiey were going to make a pro/It out of it. Wanganui had started at the wronjg end; they should say what they would jgive v then make up the balance. The Mayor said there would be other expenses in addition to the salary of the Inspector Cr Wilson said that the Council had made residence in Taihape a part of their conditions. He thought £45 was altogether too much for Taihape to pay, £25 would be ample. The Mayor, on several Councillors suggesting £3O, said he was prepared to alter his resolution to provide for that amount instead of £35. It was then adopted by the Council.

Letters were received from the Prime Minister, and Mr R. W. Smith, M.P. for the district, acknowledging receipt, of resolutions of the Council in connection with the proposed War Tax and the price of foodstuffs. On the motion of the Mayor both letters were received.

A letter was received from Mr Carpenter with reference to payment of water rates which he contended he was not liable for. On the Mayor's esolution the letter wa s remitted to he Borough foreman to investigate, and report to next meeting of the Council.

Mr R. J. Loughnan wrote, enclosing rawing for a private right of way beween two houses.

Cr Wrightson said it did not touch n any public road, and being' right n private property the Council had nothing to do with it. The Mayor said it was entirely a matter between the two owners concerned, but the District Land Registrar ruled- that it must be agreed to by lie Council. On Cr Wrightson's motion, the request was granted.

Mr Jamiescn, of the Royal Pictures, Wanganui, wrote asking whether the Town Hall wa s available for pictures. On the Mayor's resolution Mr Jamiesen is to be informed that the Hall was let.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REruRT

The Finance Committee's report, shewing the statement of the various accounts to be as follows: District Fund Account (dr.) £2,026 1/2, about £75 less than at last meeting; Interest Account (dr) £468 0/5; Loan Account, No. 1 (dr), £914 1/9; Loan Account, No. 3 (dr), £302 2/11; Domain Account (cr) £32 18/10. Accounts amounting to £309 2/5 were passed for payment. The Report was adopted.

The Work's Committee's report, which recommended that the plans and specifications of proposed alterations to the Tui Street Picture Theatre be passed, subject to the doors leading from the side of the body of the hall being hinged to open outwards, was, on the motion of 'Cr. Wrightson, adopted. A discussion took place on the presence of fireman in the building during public entertainments, and on the advisability of increasing the amount of insurance on th e building, but nothing definite was decided upon, The Council then adjourned.