TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3493, 22 May 1920, Page 5

TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The usual monthly meeting of the Borough Council was 116151 last night. Present§”"His Worship the Mayor (A. J. Joblin, Esq.), and Cl 3. Turnbull, Davies, Eteveneaux, Cuxgninghanle,

fßeid, and Fookes. ‘ Estimates for ensiling twelve months were adopted, His Worship remarking that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board levy was larger than was “at first anticipated, making it necessary to levy a. rate of ‘seven-sixteenths of a penny this year. The Mayor reported that the address of welcome from the citizens of Taihape was duly presented to the Prince of Wales, whose secretary had written expressing‘ thanks the'l‘cfor. I Cr. Timbs was granted six months? leave of absence, owing to his visit to the Old-Country. The Chamber of Commerce wrote, pointing out the urgent necessity there ‘was that something should be done to better the present deplorable condi‘tion of Main South ‘and Birch ’s Roads. M Cr. Reid said all_that was possible to do was being done in respect of this request. '

Cr. Davies inquired if some't-hing could not be doné‘to fill up some of the holes on the Main South Road. 01-. Fookes said that from Beban’s Hill to the cemetery there were some very bad holes. The leter was received. The A. and P. Association was

granted the use of’ Hl9 Recreation

grounds for ‘the purpose of holding dog Q trials -in conqeetiion with the :__VVink

ter show‘. A letter from the Undersecretary of Internal Afl"airs with regard to the proposed loan of £IOOO, stating the matter was under consideration. Mr J. Mortlnnd was granted a renewal of his second—hand dealers’

license. The.Lawrenc.e Borough Council wrote

with reference to the levy for Hos- ’ pital -and Charitable Aid purposes, pointing out that the rating of local bodies for this purpose was inequitable, and that the money for this purpose should come out of The consoli- § dated fund. 1 ' The Mayor said the levy on the Borough Council‘ formerly was £IBO, now it ivas £240. P The assessment -was of thevalue of 5/6, now it was 15/ or more, and he did not ‘think they were getting-any more for it. The fees had been raised 50 per com, and the cost was still going up. He did not know Where it was going to end. It was decided that the matter of the increasing levy be brought under the -notice‘ of the member “for the district. V A deputation from Luke Street waited on the Council with reference to the lighting and provision of footpaths in that locality, a report of which apr pears in‘ another column. A renewal of a slaughtering license ivas granted to Mr S. S. Timbs, The hfayor referred to the fact that a petition was signed by some 127 children and parents, asking for an improvement to be made‘ in the zig-zag path on the reserve opposite the Tiki Brewery. He said he had seen the chairman of the Domain lgoard and discussed the mattetr w’ith him. He had also been over the ground with the borough foreman, and arrived at a decision as to What is to be done. Mr Bray said the Domain Board was not able to do all the work, but would do its share under the sfipefirision of the borough foreman. The Board would reform the path, timber each side, and do the wood work if the Council would provide the metal and ashes. These would cost about £5, and he considered the Council was justified in spending this amount. It was decided to give the necessary metal and ashes.

‘WORKS COM'MI’I"I‘EE’S REPORT. A report from the Works Committee, dated May 15th, was read as follows: Your Committee I‘CCOInnICII(]S: 1. That the wages of A. Smith (first carter) be incl'eeised by 6/ per week. 2. That P. Coleziian (acting second carter) be paid 13/. per day while on the cart, and 12/ when off. 3, That a. temporary carter Be employed at £4 per week. 4. That foul or five loads of ashes be supplied to Messrs Adair and others for spreadirlg on foot track on VVilkie’s sub-division.——Adopted. The following V report, dated May 10th, was also read:——Youl' Committee

recommends:— ' Your C°mmi“9o.- after an interview with Mr VVall recommends that the levels submitted by him for re-grading Main StréTeT-be approved of, subject to necessary adjustments being made to levels of side stroefs :11 Main Street intersections.

.A counclillor remarked t.hzl’r this meant that the consulting engineer was cut out, to which the chairman of the Work's Committee aflirmatively replied, and that the levels for the man-holes in Main Street were available at any time from Mr Wall ’s plans'.!‘——The report was‘ adopted. ELECTRIC LIGHT AND WATERWORKS COMMITTEE. The above committee reported as tfolows:H‘l..Vil_‘g reeeived ‘four applications

for 1110 position of wircxumi and ten for the position of chief engineer at the Power House, and now reports having ofiered the positions to: 1, E. Win, of Foilding, {is \\'ircnl:ln; 2. and B. S. Marshall, of Dunedin, as chief power—house engineer. 3. Recoxiiuiexids that a junior be ‘appointed to the wiring department at_ a Wage of 25/ per week.—Adopt.ed. i A further report from the sumo committee was read, as under:~—

Your Committee’ recommends: l. That the Council st-nnsiders the advisibility of Plll(Silia;~iilg 2. second-halid motor car for the use of the electrical department. 2. That .3, concrete foundation be constructed to carry the bearings of the counter-shaft of the low-lift pump. 3. That. electric light lines. be extended to the premises owned by the Presbyterian Church Trustees, and S. F. Reid, providing the owners pay the cost of the extensions. 4. that a number of applications are being received for extensions, and it is Obvious from the engineer ’s report of the 17th inst, that certain additions to plant and further extensions will ‘be required in the near future, accordingly recommend that a sum suflieicnt to cover the cost. of extensions to mains and plant be placed on the next loan schedule. (The amo'u’nt required at present would be approximately £3000.) 5. That Messrs ’Hussey and Onglcy he informed that the Council‘ will supply the current free of charge for a street. light in Luke Street, providing the residents asking for same pay the approxinient. cost of the extension (£8 8/). 6. That this Council supports the request of the -Christchurch ‘Borough Council, i.e., that the Government be asked to undertake the issue ‘of all license certificates for electrical wiremen. 7. That Mr R, J. Loughnan be informed -that the electric light. will be installed ‘in his dwelling, provided he agrees to pay the cost. of extension of the street mains necessary to connect up with his premises; and the installation of same. 8. That Mr _Mahoney’s resignation be accepted as from the 14th day of June, 1920. 9. That a second shift engineer be appointed at a salary of £225 per annum, to replace Mr Mahoney. 10. That F. Bird be paid a salary of £5 per week, without overtime, and he be placed in charge of the high and low lift pumps, and other works as the Council shall direct. from time to time. and be allowed ten days ’— holiday per annum. 1.1. That a special meeting of the Council be held on Friday next, to discuss "Mr Too;t_rood’s report on the’ gravitation water supply.

Cr. Reid moved that (11-ause NO. 1 be struck out, but no secomler was forthcoming. _Considerable discussim took place on Clause 1, it being stated that a second-hand motor car was under of.fer at £170.»-J A suggestion was made that a lorry would be more suitable for the purpose, and would cost about £3OO. _ Cr, Fookes said a motor car would probably cost about £2OO, and the Council wasdiscussing the expenditure of this sum when there were holes in the roads they-could not fill, and they were going to Wreck and ruin. I-Ie most emphatically protested against the expenditure ‘of this sum. 4_ - Cr. Turnbull moved: That Clause 1 be struck out, the question of a motor lorry be held over till next meeting, and that a return he laid before the Council what it has cost the Electrical Department fio-r cartage during the last twelve months_ This was carried, and the report as amended was adopted. During the discussion it was stated that residents on Kiwi Road are to 'be charged ‘the same rate, and current is to be supplied on the same conditions as those living on Kaka Road. - FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The report of the above committee was read as under, and adopted:— Your Committee recommends: That Mr -E. A. Williams be asked -to send his account for plans, etc., in full before any further payment is made. That the sub‘sidy of £25 granted to the Library Committee be paid. That the sum of 10/ charged an old age pensioner (Mr Archer) for removal of nightsoil be written off and no charge made in future. That M€£§Sr'S Jones and McAlister be paid the following sums for material, £193 3/, balance due for work” done; £BS 3Trefund deposit; £lO6, less claims received under “The Wages Protection and Contractors Liens Act 1908,” and orders received from the firm to pay two creditors and the account received for alteration to verandahs, which is still under consideration That is View of the estimated increase in the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board subsidy, that the Hospital and Charitable ‘Aid rate be increased to 7/16 of a penffy in the £.

GENERAL. ~lt was decided to have enlarged photographs of past Mayors hung in the Council Chambers» Cr.A Turnbull, said before the Council adjourned he wished Cr. Timbs a safe voyage home to the Old Country, an enjoyable trip and a safe return_

Cr. Reid wished Cr. Timbs a. real good timé in his trip. .

Cr. Cunninghame regretted losing him from the Council table, and wish» ed him every success and benefithfrom the change Cl-s. Davis, Fookes, and Eteveneaux also tendered good Wishes to Cr. Timbs. .

The Town ~.§Clerk on behalf Of the staff wished Cr. Timbs bon voyage. They zlppreciatedwery niuch his kind cc-nsidex-ation to the members of the staflf, and he regretted that Or. Timbs would not be here to see the operation of the motor roller over the_stree’cs. (Laughter).

Cr. Timbs briefly returned thanks for the kindly expressions of goodwill. Cr_ Turnbuli inquired what steps ,had ‘been taken to tender Mr Arrowlstnitll, their lafe Mayor, an ofiicial "send-Off A

‘The Mayor said there was no possible chance of seeing Ml‘ Al-rowsmith before July Ist. It was for the Council to take the\lead in this matter, and do if to some purpose.

It was decided to hold a. public meeting in the Town Hall supperroom on the 25th inst. to make 31'rangements for the send-off. ‘The Council then adjourned at 11.15 p.m.