Te Aroha Town Board.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2070, 22 January 1898, Page 2

Te Aroha Town Board.

The usual monthly meeting of the Board was held on Wednesday evening, when there were present : Corns Gavin (in the chair), Knock, Bygrave and Gallagher.

The Secretary of the Agricultural Society wrote askiug permission of the Board to put barb wire round top of fence of Pound enclosure, on the occasion of the'forthcoming show on I2th February.—-This was agreed to, subject to the approval of the lessee of the Pound.

Dog Registbation— The charge for dog registration was fixed same as last year, viz., 2s 6d for cattle dogs, and 10s for all other dogs. The tender of Messrs Mclndoe and Hill for supply of dog collars at 6s 6d per dozen, was accepted. The arrangement made last year with the clerk for , collection of tax was renewed.

Fire Bell. —Messrs Morrin and Co, Jno. Burns and Co., e afid Wingate and Co., submitted quotations for supply of fire bell as requested by the Board. Messrs Morrin offered to supply a bell which had already been used, but was in good order, for s£s.—Com Knock undertook to get Mr Currie, architect, to view the bell on behalf of the Board. Further action in the matter will be deferred pending receipt of Mr Currie’s report. Tenders The following tenders were received and dealt with by the Board For erection of bridge at Rewi street: Jno. Jackson, £80; Wm. Mackie (informal), £B4. On the motion of Com Knock Jackson’s tender was accepted. Com By grave voted against the motion, as he considered the price too high

Report of Works Committee.— Com Bygrave reported; on the work done in various streets in the matter of cleaning out water-tables, etc., and on the completion of the clearing of the trig track. Com Gallagher suggested the adoisability of putting a small bridge over creek beyond Mr Bell’s house. This was to enable a continuation of the footpath being made. It was left in the hands of the Works Committee to. let a small contract for the erection of the bridge. Inspector of Nuisances, Sunk Closets, etc, —These questions, which were adjourned from last meeting, and consideration of them' was again adjourned pending a definite settlement of the Borough petition. Works Bygrave’s term of office (3 months) having expired, he declined to accept re-election, Coma Gallagher and Knock were proposed but each declined oil the plea of business engagements, the fonri'er urging that he had held the position for 12 months* Com Gavin spi'd he would be willing to accept the position for five years if necessary, but for the fact that he was out of town all day, and could only get in at nights This appeal to members’ sense of duty, proved fruitless, aB no one offered to step into the breach, and it seemed as though a deadlock would occur. Ultimately the chairman (Mr Gavin) volunteered to accept the position for the next three months. Judging from the alacrity with which members agreed to this, it was evidently a relief to them to have the matter settled, by getting ‘ the other fellow ’ pushed into the billet.

Finance. —The Clerk submitted the following statement of the Board's financial position: Balance in Bank and on hand, £l3l 7s 7d; less unpaid accounts, £43 8s 3d. Accounts.— The following accounts were passed for payment : P. Snewin, L 3 15s ; Standard Insurance, LI ; Wallace, 2s 6d ; R. Michael, L 9 9s ; Snewin, 93 3d ; Robson, 6s 6d ; P. Baine, L 9 8s 9d; Te Aroha News, L2 11s j H. Morse, L2 16s; Te Aroha Times, L 7 Is 6d ; J. B. Johnson, L2 16s 6d. An account of Mr Baine’s was held back for explanation ; and the clerk was instructed to enquire into an item of Mr Johnson’s account.

The meeting then closed, and an adjourned meeting of the Domain Board was held.

DOMAIN BOARD. Adjourned Meeting." The following tenders were received for the pulling down and re-erection of portion of the Wilson-street boundary fence : James Clark, 7s per chain (accepted) ; James McCord and H. Tonge Ll2 (labour only); J. Wilson, 9s 9d per chain ; J. McLeod, 10s; Everitt and McLear, 14s sd; J. O’Grady, 9s. Attendant’s Hours.— The Board then wrestled with the question of hours of attendance, with a view of solving the problem of how the female attendant’s hours should be fixed. The question of the hours for keeping open, the baths was raised, and there seemed a general consensus of opinion that they were needlessly long. As an outcome of the discussion Com Gallagher gave notice that he would move at next meeting that the hours during which the baths will be open, shall, be from 6 a.m to 9 p.m, and that they be closed on Sundays from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. The matter of the election of a female attendant was deferred until a settlement of this motion.

Prior to the discussion above mentioned, Com Bygrave handed in the following In writing, as his idea for regulating the attendant’s hours: male

caretakers’ hours, in summer, from 6 till 8 a.m, and from 1 till 5 p.m, and from 8 till 10 p.m. Female attendant: 8 till 1 forenoon, and 5 till 8 evening. Gardener’s hours: 8 a.m till 4 p.m, with 1 hour for diuner. He will also be required to come in the evening, light lamps and put them out, and close up all bath-hou3es, and look round generally on Sunday morning. If a bell was provided he could be called from any part of the domain any time his services were required.