TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 21 April 1917, Page 5

TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting or the Taihape Borough Council was held last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. R. Arrowsmith), Crs. Turnbull, Wrightson, Healey, Somerville, Joblin, and Cunninghame. A letter from the Minister of Defence was received in reply to a communication from the Council urging that men in the Second -Division should be classified before being called up, stating that the Department of Defence was formulating proposals for this classification; also that before men in the Second Division are balloted for, those in the First Division whose cases have been adjourned sine die, will be reviewed by the Military Service Boards. Rev. W. F. Stent wrote on behalf of the Red Cross Society, asking for a rebate of the Town Hall charges for Lieut. Morton’s lecture. —A rebate was granted. A request was received from the Taihape Fire Brigade for an additional supply of hose. The request of the Fire Brgade was granted, the Council considering a fresh supply of hose was very urgently needed.

The Fire Brigade also wrote to the Council asking for a more effective control of th e storage of explosives in the Borough. His Worship said that owing to the increase in the number of motor cars the risks had been very greatly increased, and it was time to do something to minimise what was undoubtedly a very real danger. Perhaps the best way to deal with the matter was to build municipal stores. He had an idea it was best to build an iron star, with double iron walls. An inspect! cn had been made recently, and (turning to the B'orough Engineer) he saw.. “Can you give us any information on the subject?” The Borough Engineer said he could

not do so off-hand. But there was one incident that came under his observation that deserved comment. He had seen two tons of benzine stored in :•

building, surrounded by shavings, and a person smoking near by.

Cr. Joblin considered it was absolutely necessary to protect the hose of the firemen in the case of a fire, and the only way was to control the storage of explosives and inflammable material. The Mayor was of opinion that something should be done, and per sons storing explosives should' take out licenses.

Cr. W rig his on wanton to know if any fee was to he charged for a license. The Mayor: A fee of £j ; s . )ro . vided for in the by-laws. Cr. Cunninghame: Benzine L Uu f really an explosive, and it was hardly fair that a man who stored a tin or two of benzine should have to ray as much as those who, pc mpr. r.oivd tons. Cr. Jobiiu moved tint It days' notice be given by advertisement in the local paper that persons stoiine explosives within the fi trough he required to comply with the bylaws i/i regard to the storage <-f e.cob.?..\c/j

and dangerous goods. Seconded by the Mayor and carried. The Finance Committee’s report was read as follows: That the expenditure necessary for forming a footpath on Birch Road (referred to in Die report of the Works Committee) be authorised. —Report adopted. The Treasurer’s report was read as follows: —The ha land os of the- various accounts were as follow; —District Fund Account. Dr, £2786 13/9; Interest Accounts, Cr, £33 16/6; Temporary Loans Account, Dr, £140; Loan Account No 1, Dr, £691 6-9; Loan Account No 3, Dr, £203 3/11; Loan Account No 4, Dr, £3468 16/T;, Oval Domain Account, Cr, £53 17/5. —Adopted. The following accounts were passed for payment:—Subsidy Fire Brigade, £3O; D. Neagle, £1 4s; National

Electrical Engineering Co., £5 7s; S. G. Peyton, £2 10a; H. Strong, (I/; Waipa Collieries Co., £5 2/12; Inspection of Machinery, £5 2/6; H. Wis e and Co., £1 As; J. Swan and Co. (dog collar labels), 12/5; Cilice Appliance Co. £1 1/5; wages, £207 Os 3d. The Works Committee's Report as follows wa a adopted: That, subject to the Finance Committee recommending the necessary expenditure, a footpath be formed in Birch Read as suggested in the report of the acting-foreman submitted herewith. That the wooden storm water culvert running under the read from ;he corner by the Bank of Australasia to the opposite corner in front of Messers R. Wilson and Co’s store, be tak-

en up and replaced in concrete. ' The Foreman’s report was as follows;—In accordance with a resolution of the Council passed at its last meeting, I have the honour to submit an estimate of the cost of- forming a footpath along Birch Roach from the ! corner of Moa Street to The Presbyterian Manse; a distance of 21 chains. ■ Thi s being the main stock road it 1 would be difficult to form a footpath right through on the south side, on i account of the high bank along the i frontagg of Mr. Gibbs* property; stock i would destroy the path in a short ! time, anti further, a large, majority of the residents in this locality would only use the footpath from Mr. Al-

dridge’s gate down. I would therefore (respectfully suggest that the footpath be formed on the north side from Moa Street to the gate opposite Mr, Bradley’s residence, and then across to the south side. The portion from Mr. Bradley’s property to the Manse would cost about £2 17/9 per chain; a distance of 11 chains* The portion from Moa Street to Mr. Bradley’s residence, a distance of 10 chains would cost about £5 15/6 per chain. About 220 yards of earth will be required for filling in purpose s for this portion; also 1600 feet of timber for culverts to divert storm water. Total estimated cost £B9 10/3. —Report adopted.