TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taihape Daily Times, 22 June 1918, Page 4

TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

o A special meeting of the Council was hold last •night . Present: His Worship the Mayor (A. L. Arrow, smith), Crs. Joblin, Champion, Wrightson, Healey, Dashwood, Turnbull and Reid. The ordinary monthly meeting was then held. A letter was read frUm Miss StallaTd, offering to purchase the Grand piano in the Town Hall. —Not for disposal.

The secretary of the Taihape Fire Brigade wrote to the Council with reference to keeping the exists clear In places of public amusement. The custodian of the Town Hall submitted a report In which he stated that the exits were always clear ,the fire appliances readily available ,and all requirements for public safety provided for .The custodian's report is to be forwarded to the. Brigade, who are to be asked to provide more definite Information . A quotation was received from en and Co. for the Iron gates and fencing on the Town Hall section. —Matter referred to Crs. Wrightson and Turnbull, to report on. The Civil Engineers' "Association wrote, in reply to the Council's letter asking them to recommend "an engineer, that they declined to recommend any particular person, as it would be invidious to do so.

Mr. W. Rownthwalte, secretary of the Association,, wrote, offering his services at a certain sum per day or on commission.—To be informed that the Council is considering the appointment of an engineer. The annual subsidy of £3O was voted to the Fire Brigade.

A letter was received from the Returned Soldiers' Associtaion asking for a reduction of charges for hire of the Town Hall for social functions, also for a refund of part of what had already been paid for hire of Town Hall and supper room.

Cr .Joblin pointed out to cil that they had discontinued the Town Hall rate, and threefore it was impossible to make rebates so liberally as in the past. The Council decided that the charges for. the. Town Hall for patriotic purposes should in future be 50 per cent, less than the schedule rates.

S. S. Timbs~* application for a slaughtering license was granted. The Tradesmen's Association wrote, asking for the Council's co-operation in endeavouring to get a reduction of fire insurance rates.

The Mayor said he cad not see any harm in seconding the efforts of the Association in the matter, though he thought there was little chance of success as~ long as there was such a number of-wooden houses in the town. The same tariff was charged in Taihape as in towns similarly situated. The Council decided to co-operate with the Association in ifs efforts in this direction. A letter was received from the Minister of Education in reply to the Council's communication with regard to educational matters, stating that the Department had under consideration improvements in the system cf national education. A circular was received from the Clerk of the Ohinemuri County Council, asking the Borough Council's support of a resolution in favour of the Government taking over the control of arterial roads and maintaining them out of consolidated revenue. The necessary resolution in support was Passed.

Mr. J. Mortland's application for a second-hand dealer's license was granted. A request from the Returned Soldiers' Association for the use of the Recreation Ground on July 18th, and permission to make a charge on the gate was granted. The Works Committee read as follows: — 1. That tenders be invited for the removal of night soil and refuse from the premises of each and every prop-erty-owner in, the Borough requiring such service. 2. That the Schedule for a proposed Loan for street improvement purposes, amounting to £3200 and suiDmitted herewith plus additions as the Council recommends be placed before the ratepayers of the whole Borough by way of a Loan proposal as soon as possible after the estimates for storm water drainage are available. Such proposal to Include a sum sufficient to cover the costs of raising the Loan, other preliminary expenses and payment of first year's interest out of Loan. 3. That the sum of £175 be added to the proposal Loan Schedule mentioned herein for the purpose of forming and gravelling Moa Sire*?* (as requested by Mr. J. McKeown) from a point opposite Mrs. Connor's residence to the Main Road.

« 4. That, owing to the increasing nuisance and danger to the public caused by straying cattle, that it be publicly notified, that on and after 24th inst. proceedings will be taken against every person whose cattle (including horses) aTe found straying or at large in any street or public

place within the Borough, and that the Ranger be instructed accordingly.

5. That Mr. Loaders request&for permission to remove a stump aiftr reduce the level of the "flank of the road fronting his property in TTaka Road be granted. Cr. Wrightson moved that paragraphs 2 and 3 be deleted, <&xplainingr that -the matter contained should come before a special meeting of the Council so, as to enable the councillors to get a thorough grasp of the position. Cr. Joblin supported the motion, saying he was not at present in a position to pass an opinion on so important a question. Cr. Healey was in favour of raising a loan to put in proper order the main footpaths, which were anything but a credit to the town. - Cr. Wrightson considered they should decide on an engineer, get him to visit Taihape, and go into the matter exhaustively with him. He suggested obtaining the services of an engineer from a borough in an analogous position to Taihape, and his experience would be invaluable to them.

The Council considered the idea a good one, and decided to adopt the Works Committee's report with the deletion of paragraphs 2 and 3, and endeavour to get the services <& an engineer in terms of Cr. suggestion, and that a special meeting be held to deal with the question. The question of putting up name plates on the newly-named streets was brought up, and it was stated that quotations had been ' obtained for plates with blue enamelled background and white letters. It was stated that the Town Cleryk was in correspondence with the manufacturer on the matter.

Cr. Dashwood drew attention to the unsatisfactory condition of the railway bridge on Kiwi Road, stating that atfer heavy rain the bridge was almost impassable for pedestrians owing to the water lying on the decking of the bridge.

The Mayor stated the bridge was under the control of the railway authorities, and suggested the Council should draw the attention of the Department to the inconvenience. He said there was a possibility of having the bridge replaced at some future date, as it was practically condemned. It had been built of Powellised timber, which had not proved a success* It was decided that the Borough Foreman should interview the Railway Engineer and endeavour to have the inconvenience rectified. ~£_ The question of fixing the Mayor'! honorarium for the ensuing two years was brought up. His Worship vacated the chair and Cr. Wrightson was appointed to the position. The Council went into committee ,and on resuming reported that the honorarium had been fixed at £BO per annum. The Council then rose";