TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 April 1918, Page 4

TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held last night. Present:, i His Worship the Mayor (A. L. Arrow--1 smith) Grs. Joblin, Champion, Wrightson, Healey and Turnbull. Leave of absence was granted ,to Crs. Dashwood and Reid. A circular letter was received from the Ruapehu branch of the Education. ; Institute, pointing out the need for | improvement in the education system 1 on the grounds of national expedien- . cy, and asking the Council to pass a. resolution enclosed, and to forward it to the Minister of. Education. . -. | After some discussuJlf it was decid- , ed, in view of the importance of the question, to postpone any action in | the matter until the Council had time- . I to consider it. v j The Prime Minister wrote, acknow- . ledging receipt of a resolution asking him to urge the retention of Samoa, and intimating that he would use his ■ utmost endeavours in this direction. Mr. Robert McLaren’s application j for a billiard-room license was granted. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote with regard to the observation of Anzac Day on Thursday, ApriigSß, The circular letter stated that It was specially urged that on this occasion special services should be held by all denominations. The Mayor said he had communicated with the Ministers’ Association to arrange for a similar celebration ter that oMast year, in the Town Hall at 3 o’clock. He had spoken to Sergt.Major Forrest, who had promised toarrange a parade of Territorials at 2.30. He suggested a procession headed by the Band, followe'd by thedefence forces, Borough Councillors and the public should proceed to the place where it was decided to hold thej services. • The- Mayor’s action was approved. The Works Committee’s Report read as follows: Your 4 Committee reports: 1 Having appointed Cr. Turnbull as chairman for the ensuing year. 2 Having approvedof the issue of dangerous goods licenses to V. Nicholls, Bennett - and Co., and C. N. Kelly in terms of the Inspector’s report. 3 That Mr. A. H. Safe ty be granted the grazing right over ■ section 87 (Gravel Reserve) during; the pleasure of the Council, and atjjfeis; own risk, for the sum of Is per- weeftpia’ payable monthly in advance.;. 4. His Worship the Mayor’s action ■in thorizing the employment of the road roller and scarifier on the Main Road near Tiki Brewery he approved of. E> That, subject to the approval of the Finance Committee, ; the footpath in ;> - ■ Birch Road be .formed-; on the north • | side from Moa Street to the gate opL : posite Mr. Bradley’s'residence, tliencA 0 ' | across the road and along the south- !J : side to the, Presbyterian Manse.. 1 AITj necessary storm water culverts to be i ’ j placed in position. Further, recommends that the extension of, the cul- ! vert and retaining wall opposite Mr. Gibbs’ residence be carried cut in con- 1 Crete .(Estimated cost of above works £108). 6 That the foreman of works bo given the authority to erect a temporary shed for the storage of hay for week-end feeding, on the “horse paddock” near Papakai Read Bridge. (Estimated cost £4 10s). 7 That the sum ■ of £IOO be placed on the estimates, this year for the purchase of a tar. spraying machine, should an opportunity occur of securing a suitable machine. 8. Recommends: That the matter of hiring the read grader be left in the hands of the Borough foreman to do as he thinks nf. The Mayor;*, speaking to the FaCort as a member of the Finance Coimnittee, said they took into consideration the question of raising a loan for constructing footpaths, and that should also be put on the schedule This view had a bearing on clauses 5 and 7 of the Works Committee’s Report. - Cr. Wrightson concurred with the-. Mayor’s view. They had to take into consideration that footpaths would: have to be constructed within th& next two or three years. The cost of these and other necessary new works, should be consolidated and a loan raised for the whole. The finances of the Council were now in such a condition as to justify them in pushing on a forward policy, even if it had to be done sliowly. He moved that clauses . 5 and 7 be deleted in view of the possibility of raising a loan. ..

The Mayor seconded the motion, saying the acting-foreman liad' prepared an estimate of certain works, the" cost of which would total £1849. This amount would be increased to £2OOO by the inclusion of street drainage, etc. The matter was too big a one togo. into at the present meeting, and it would have to be dealt with at a special meting. Clauses 5 and 7 were dieted,, anflA the report was adopted. The report of the Electric Light and Waterworks, was^adopted.. as follows:—-V “ ' 'Jjr Re new plant for Power House and

Your Committee reports having indfrixcted the Engineer to go into the matter of the cost of procuring and installing a new generator, high '. lift pump. Including alteration to primp house, and also any other plant, f 'appliances he considers necessary the next few years, and the Council re same at the Having -'obtained the opinion of the Solicitor to the Municipal Associations on a proposed agreement between the Council and Intending consumers who' may desire the Council to instal their premises and submit herewith the correspondence for the Council’s direction in the matter. Having received a request from the Electrical Engineer to have gates erected to enclose the Borough yards behind the Town Hall as recommended in the Report of the Special Committee dealt with by the Council on 17th March, 1917, and suggest that the Works Committee be asked to report on the matter giving an - estimate of probable cost to next meeting. Tie Finance Committee’s Report was as follows: Re Birch Road footpath, refered to in clause 5 of the Works Committee’s Report, recommend that the matter he defertfeft pending the Council’s decision Ira to raising a Street Improvement Loan. ■ That the salary of the Assistant and the Town Clerk be increased to £lO4 and £3OO respectively. In moving the adoption of the report the Mayor bore testimony to the ability of the Town Clerk, who had shown great capacity. If they wanted to retain his sAwices they would have to pay him a sufficient salary to keep* ■him. - ~ Cr. Joblin endorsed the Mayor’s remarks, Council was fortunate indeed to get a man of Mr. Menzies’ ability. Cr. Wrightson cordially endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers, and the report was adopted without discussion. The Town Clerk sent in a report of the Borough’s financial position and a statement of the •'miaous which the Mayor characterised as an extremely able and lucid exposition of the Council’s position, and it would make, the fixing of rates and other business a very easy matter.' It-: was decided to hold over considthe ' report, to enable the Councillors v to'- digest its contents at tfeaifv The' Council'' then ; adjourned. ; ' j