BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 221, 5 June 1915, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The Mayor (Mr A. L. Arrowsmith), and Crs H. D, Bennett, W. McLennan, G\ Wrightson, R. Healey and F. W. Somerville were present at the fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council, held last night, when the important business discussed included the alteration of the conditions of lease of the Town Hall by Mr H. Bailey and the supply of metal, two subjects reported under separate headings in another column. CORRESPONDENCE. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board acknowledged receipt of the Council's letter expressing the views that the Council noticed with alarm the increase in the Board's current levy, and advising that the letter was minuted as "Received" at the last meeting of the Board.—Received. The Taumarunui Chamber of Commerce stated that a very large number of favourable replies had been received to the Chamber's circular advocating the formation of a National Highway by completing the Main Trunk road communication between Wellington and Auckland. A conference of members of Parliament interested and delegates from local bodies, chambers of commerce, and automobile associations would be held at Taumarunui on July 17th and the Council was asked to appoint a delegate.—Held over to next meeting. The Railway Department wrote respecting drainage connections to the railway residences on the western side of the town. The Department considered the laying of a 4 ineh pipe, where the Council required a 6-inch pipe, would be sufficient and if a six inch pipe was insisted on, the Department asked if the Council would pay the difference in cost of laying the larger and smaller pipes. Cr. Wrightson considered a 4-inch pipe would bo sufficient for one house, but if further connections would be made a 6-inch pipe would be necessary. On the motion of Crs. Bennett and Wrightson the Council agreed to pay the difference in cost between the 6-inch and 4-ineh pipes, so as to enable the Council to make further connections at a later date without replacing the pipes. . The Taihape Chamber of Commerce asked the Council's support of the request to the Minister of Public Works to complete road transit: between Taihape and Napier. The Chamber was asking the Minister to expend the two sums of £SOO on. the estimates towards the cost of a road and approaches to a proposed bridge over the Rangitikei river, and to vote another £950, plus the cost of a bridge, for the same purpose. The expenditure of £1450 would be required on the Taihape side of the river. On the motion of Crs. Wrightson and Bennett the Council decided to write to the Minister on the lines indicated in the Chamber's letter.

By letter Mr. J. P. Aldridge agreed to being included in No 3 Special Eating Area conditionally on the Council extending the sewer to a point towards the houses in course of erection on his i behalf, the terminus to be agreed between the Council and himself. Accep ted and agreement to be drawn by Borough solicitor and executed by Mr. Aldridge and the Council.

REPORTS. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Mayor, Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith, chairman. The Committee recommended that the Treasurer's report be adop ted, and that the accounts stated there in be passed for payment; Re proposed bridge over Hautapu River:—That as soon as the Council's ; proportion of the cost of the concrete bridge is ascertained, the amount be raised by Special Order over the whole Borough.—Adopted. TREASURER'S REPORT. The Treasurer, Mr. W. J. Dinnisoß, reported:— District Fund Account, dr £2500 10s 6d; plus amount of accounts previously passed, not yet drawn for £244 5s 4d; total £2744 15s lOd. Interest Acount cr £Bl 18s lOd; Loan Account No. 1 dr £661 13s 9d; Loan Account N 0.3 dr £l9l 8s 8d; Oval Domain Account cr £52 8s 7d. Accounts passed for payment totalled £173 10s 7d. TOWN HALL, RESERVES AND BATHS COMMITTEE. (Cr. W. McLennan, chairman). The Committee recommended that permission be granted to the Pirate's Football Club to take a collection at the gates of the Oval Domain on Saturday the 12th inst., in aid of the Local Relief Fund.

That the rooms in the Town Hull, now occupied by the Electrica Department, be offered to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board as an office for the second Health Officer, at the nominal rental of 10s per week. That the offer of an exchange, made by Mr. R. A. Davis, of Lot 1, Municipal Reserve, leased by him, for a simi--ar area of Section .10, fronting Kaka Road, be proceeded \jith. ' That the trees bounding the Ovafl Domain be topped : ahd. trimmedi. McLennan. moved the adoption ef tke report. The present Health Officer had asked that the office be grantod free but the committee did not feel d-isposd to agree to the request. The report was adopted, •%

BOROUGH FOREMAN'S REPORT.. Mr. A. Anderson reported :—• f General.' —"Welcome rains, since lasV report, have done much to eonsodate the various roads and streets, sjljph were breaking up badly owing to the continued dry weather. Kaka Road: The reforming of portion of this road leading to the Public Hospital is now completed, and the recent rains have helped considerably to consolidate this work. Hospital Steps. —The steps adjoiningthe Hospital Reserve and giving access to Kiwi Road have been trimmed up and re-sanded. Mataroa Road^ —Repairs are at present being carried out on the part of this road from its junction with Birch's Road to the Borough boundary. All water tables have been cleaned out. and various large holes are being filled in. Four men are at present being employed.—Adopted. ;S ; ! - ■.:• :• >i.-...,•. d FIRE ESCAPES. The Borough Foreman reported that the fire escapes at the Three Stars Theatre were practically completed. At last meeting the Council decided to reuest the proprietor of the King's Theatre to alter the doors so as- to open outwards. The side exit comprised two sliding doors each five feet wide. One had been altered to hang outwards, tiro «ther had not been touched. Cr. Wrightson considered a eliding door almost useless as a means ©f pw» viding effective and expeditious exit, in case of fire. However he was at present inclined to say that an exit five feet wide as now provided, should be sufficient for the seating capacity down stairs. • \ Cr. Bennett 'asked whose duty it was to state if the alterations made corn* plied with the requistion by the Coun-. cil, and if the alterations were satisfactory or other wise. He proposed that the matter be referred to the Works Committee for a report in the direction of his question. Mr. Soinerville seconded the motion which was carried. : i f '■ LABOURER'S UNION" DEMANDS. At last meeting Councillors Wrightson Somerville and the Town Clerk were ap pointed a committee to meet the Concil iation Commissioner and representatives of the General Labourer's Union respecting the basis of a new agreement with the Council. The conference was held yesterday and at last night's meeting Cr. Wrightson report ed on behalf of the Committee that an agreement for two years from July Ist, had been arrived at. The representatives of the General Labourer's Union had dropped several of their stated demands. The agreement would provide for a 48 hour week, the hours to be worked between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. en six days of the week. The general preference clause would be included, as in the present agreement, and .the wages asked (1/3 per hour) 'were agreed to. The Council had obtained.a clause that work at the pipe lines and pump house would be included in suburban work, i.e., work done within a radius of two miles of the Post Office. In other respects the agreement would be the same as at present. It was resolved to affix the seal of the Council to the agreement when same is completed. GENERAL. The Mayor mentioned, ?n reviewing the minutes of last meeting, th.it details of the amount due by Mrs Wilson had been supplied to solicitors, but the amount had not hedn paid. On the motion of the - Mayor and Cr. Somerville it was decided, after discussion, to instruct the Town Clerk to communicate with Mrs Wilson's solicitors, and if payment is not made to take" action for recovery. The Council rose at 9.40 p.m. '4 ,. „„ .T-n-Tr. _„„. '— *