TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

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

TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The usual monthly.- meeting of the .Taihape Borough Council was held last - night. _- : Present: His Worship the :_ r\ Mayor.-.(A; If. Arrowsmith); Crs. ChamWrightson, Healey, Dashwood, Keid, Joblin, and Turnbull. Mr. Wrightson thanked the Councillori<B|r\ their kind expressions of sympathy in!, the injuries he had received in his accident. A letter was sent by the Council to the Railway Department, asking a conCession in railage on materials for footpaths in the Borough. The stationmaster replied that Railway Department regretted it could not agree to any reduction being made on tariff rates. A letter was received from the Wanganui Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, stating that the levy on the Borough of Taihape was 10/4 on each £IOOO of capital ratable value (£295,000), which amounted to £154 Is 6d. The Mayor said the levy had gone steadily upwards every year. It was dow more than double what it was a few years ago. * The Town Clerk said the levy last Vyear amounted to £124 16s 9d. A letter was received from the Mount Herbert County Council, concil, conveying a resolution to the effect that owing to the large annual sums required by Hospital. and Charitable Aid Boards for. replacing old buildings and extending new institutions to meet the demands of increasing population the need of amending legislation to enable Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards to borrow money f©r capital expenditure be pointed out to the Minister for Internal Affairs. The Mayor said the abovJe letter gave point to his remarks that Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards were becoming a greater tax every year. It seemed to him the Boards could not live on the previous year's income, and werg continually raising it. Mr. Joblin remarked that the Wanganui Board were considering a scheme for further improvements costing about £40,000. His Worship: Wanganui wants to make their hospital an imposing structure. He endorsed Mount Herbert County Council's, resolution, and moved in that direction, adding that the matter be brought uner the notice of the Government. This course was adopted. A letter was received from the Returned Soldiers' Ball Committee asking for a rebate on the hire of the jrTown Hall for their forthcoming ball. The Mayor said they would all agree that the returned soldiers every consideration. He suggested the hire be fixed actual amount it would cost—l3/4. This suggestion was heartily endorsed by the Counfeil. A communication was,received from the Plumbers' and Gasfitters' Industrial Union, citing the Council as one of the parties in a case to be heard in Wellington on August 6th. His Worship (drily to Cr. Wrightson) : Are you going down? Cr. Wrightson: No, Your Worship.

His Worship moved that the Wanganui Employers' Union Be communicated * with to act as representative for the Council. The Mayor read out a long list of work that the citation contained, remarking that really it only applied to cities, and if the clauses w r ere enforced in' the country districts they would be brought to a standstill. The report of the Foreman of Works was read as follows: The water channels in Ellis and Euru Road have been attended to. A portion of Mataroa Eoad, which was badly broken up, has been temporarily repaired; this work could not be completed owing to the weather not being x t suitable for carting metal. I would re--"''Sspectfully draw your attention to the 4 in. drain which runs along the footpath of the Main Street from the premises of Messrs. Dalgety and Co. to the office of the Taihape Daily Times Co., Owing to about 1§ chains of this drain having no fall it has become blocked for that distance, and I would suggest that the blocked portion be taken up.and relaid with the necessary fall.

In accordance with instructions re-

ceived at the last meeting of the Counycil I have the honour to report on the question of diverting the surface water drain which at present runs through the properties of Mr Pi A. de Loree, and Mr. D. Neagle, Mataroa Road. The water channel which commences at the Fire Brigade Station and runs to a point opposite Mr. de Loree ; s house could b e continued further along the Mataroa Eoad by filling in an existing water, hole, and the storm water could then be conveyed into the water course in Pipi Street by laying a 12in. culvert under the Mataroa Eoad. With regard to the disposal of the storm water from the footpath in front of the house of Mr. de Loree and Mr. Rice, I am submitting, a rough sketch plan which shows a proposal to lay a 6in. pipe drain for about,4oft, along the said A footpath to connect with the culvert deferred to above. To carry out this proposal it will be necessary to raise the'level of the footpath two (2) feet six .(6) inches. I estimate that this cost £37- 12s, exclusive of

the cost of re-erecting fences, etc. The cost of laying a 12ih. pipe in the open drain running through the properties of Messrs. de LOree and Neagle, would be about £27. ' The Works Committee's report was read as - follows: 1. That the report of the Acting Foreman submitted herewith be adopted, with the exception of that portion dealing with the 4in. drain which runs along the footpath of the Main Street from the premises of Messrs. Dalgcty .and Co., to th e office of the Taihape Daily Times Co. 2. Re special report from Acting Foreman on the question of diverting the surface water drain which at present runs through the properties of Mr P. A. de Loree, and Mr. D. Neagle, Mataroa Road. That the Acting Foreman's suggestion be adopted, but only the filling in of the water hole and laying the culvert across the Mataroa Road to Pipi Street be done at present. 3. Re letter from Mr. G. Nicholson applying for a footpath to be formed in Pipi Street. —That a reply be forwarded to Mr. Nicholson stating that the Council cannot see its way to undertake this work at the present time. 4. Re letter from Messrs. Baird and Mackintosh in respect to forming a road from Luke Street to the Otaihape Valley Road.. That permission be granted to Messrs. Baird and Mackintosh to regrade a portion of Luke Street and to form 12 chains of Otaihape Road Reserve in terms of their letter, but that they be informed the Council will have nothing to do with the proposed road through the Convent Grounds. 5. That the tender of Mr. T. Thompson for the removal of nightsoil and rubbish in the Borough be accepted. A long discussion took place on the various recommendations of the Works Committee, With Tegard to the drain in front of Dalgety and Co's office, it transpired that the drain was wrongly constructed, inasmuch as the drainage to be effective, would have to set at defiance all natural laws and hil, and the work Las adversely " reported on to enable the position to be investigated. In reference to clause 4, dealing with Messrs. Baird and Macintosh 's letter, after the matter had been considered it was decided that the report be amended to read; That permission be granted to Messrs. Baird and Macintosh to regrade portion of Luke Street, and form Otaihape Valley Reserve Road, security to be given to the Council that they will keep those portions in repair. Formal resolutions with regard to financial matters were moved and (tarried. The Mayor then read a letter f'om the Town Clerk, Mr. W. J. Dennis on, tendering his resignation. He moved that the resignation be accepted with regret: It was explained that applications, for the position had been called for by advertisement, and His Worship, and Crs. Joblin and Wrightson be a committee to deal with the applications and report to the Council. The Finance Committee's Report was then read and adopted, and the Council arose.