TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 17 February 1917, Page 4

TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was held last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (A. L. Arrowsmith, Esq.), and Crs Bennett, Wrightson, Healey, Turnbull, Joblin, Cunninghame and Somerville.

A letter was received from the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce asking the Taihape Borough Council to co-operate with them in an endeavour to at once increase and husband our resources by utilising our waste water-power in the generation of elec ericity, and to appoint a delegate to attend a conference to be held in Wang inui on March 7th. At this conference the matter for consideration will be the desirability of the establishment of a hydro-electric scheme for the West Coast, and the devising of means for furthering this object. The Council decided that, owing to the war conditions at present obtaining it was not advisable to take action in the matter. Auctioneers' licenses were granted to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., and Mr. D. J. McLennan. The Secretary of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society wrote that their ranger had reported that, owing to a dam being built across the Hautapu river about a mile of the riv?~ is left dry at times, and no fish ladders being provided a considerable quantity of trout die. Also whether the dam is Borough property by what authority the dam was erected, and where a copy of the authority could be seen.—lt was decided to supply the information required. A letter was received from the Public Truste in the estate of John Higgins asking for permission to form a right-of-way on Section 2, block 3, between Messrs MeLaughlan and Bennett's shops.—After some discusion it decided to withhold permission.

Permission was granted to Messrs Meldrum, McLean and Davies to execute a sub-lease. The offer of the Railway Department to contribute £26 13/4 towards the cost, of draining the Railway B'uildings Avas accepted. A circular letter from the Hawera Borough Council was received, containing the following resolution: "That before the men of the Second Division are called up, the Minister be requested to classify them." The circular contained several cogent reasons for classification. The Mayor said the proposal must commend itself to everyone, as being eminently fair and logical. Cr. Bennett considered the sentiments were worthy of support. After some sympathetic remarks by other members of the Council, i was decided to support the proposal. The Engineer's report was read as follows: " have the honour to report that the Captain of the Fire Brigade and myself paid visits to all stores, gar ages, and other buildings where explosives and benzine are kept in stock, and positions of such article;; were noted." After some discusion as to the power of the Council to control the quantity of benzine and explosives in the borough owing to the absence of ;< municipal magazine, the report was adopted. The Treasurer's report disclosed the balances of the various accounts to be as loUqws: —Electric Fund account Dr., £3631 10/9; interest act., Dr., £749 13/3: temporary loans a/c, Dr £140; loan account No 1, Dr. £6Ol 6/9; loan account No 2 Dr. £203 3/11; Oval Domain account, Cr. £54 2/5. Accounts amounting to £4OO 0/5 were presented for payment.

The Treasurer's Report was adopted with the exception of a sum of £S6 17/6 (amount in dispute with the Rangitikei County Council regarding the hire of road roller) which was referred to the Finance Committee for adjustment. The Foreman's Report was submited as follows: "Since my last report the borough workmen have been engaged in reforming and metalling roads. Papakai road has been picked up from its junction with the Main read to the bridge across the Hautanu stream. and twenty yards of metal spread. About, twenty-two chains of Kak" road from its junction with the leading to the Hospital, has been picked up and sixty yards of met* 1 spread. [ would respectfully susrgesf that another twenty chains of this road be picked up and the larce stones broken; this work can be don? at an estimated cost of £1 10/ per chain. At present, work is being carried out in concreting the approach to the Tunnel under Hautapu Stroet opposite the Tiki brewery. The tunnel is through solid dry papa, with the exception of twenty feet at +-~ inlet end, where it is damp and f'a 1 - ey, this is being concreted nine in r ' ! es thick along the roof; six yards -■" concrete will complete this work 1::-

eluding the retaining walls on the front of the tunnel." The Report was adopted. The question ,of horses for the watering cart and other needs of the Borough was left iu the hands of Crs. Joblin, Healey, and Bennett. The matter of stabling accommodation for the horses when procured land the satisfactory housing of the carts and other utensils of the Borough then cropped up. Cr. Bennett favoured the erection' of a small stable at the rear of the Town Hall. Cr. Wrightson considered the present buildings thereon situated could be adapted very economically for the purpose, with possibly a small addi-» tion and the installation of the necessary drainage. | Eventually, en the motion of Cr.. Bennett, Messrs Wrightson and Somerville were appointed a sub-commit-tee to go into the matter and report at next meeting of the Council. ( This concluded the business, and the Council adjourned.