Borough Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42742, 1 July 1905, Page 2

Borough Council.

The following is the balance ■of the report held over from last issue : Fire Brigade M utters —-Geo McKee, secretary of the Te Aroha "V olunteer Fire Brigade wro‘e stating that he had been instructed by the Fire Brigade to approach the Coun.cil for a grant o± £lq. He pointed out that it was th 9 intention of the Brigade to use this sum for paying insurance and other liabilities.

In response to requests for information, the Waihi and Thames Borough Councils forwarded particulars re the working of the Fire Brigade in their respective districts,

The question of granting the £lO asked for by the Fire Brigade is held in abeyance, pending the reply from that body re proposed reform in connection with the Brigade.:

Resignations.—Jas. Salmon wrote to the effbet that he had tendered his resignation to Captain Bygravo as stationkeeper and member of the Fire Brigade, also as secretary. He intimated that Fireman Crickett has been nominated stationkeeper, and Fireman G. McKee elecei secretary. —The resignations were . accepted, and on the motion of Cr O’Meagher, seconded by Cr Wallis, J. S. Crickett was appointed stationkeeper. Cr Wallis moved the not’qjp of motion standing in his name, a^tollows: — That certain a nr) amendments / bibndopted in bonnec'ion with the management amf present working of the Te Brigade, so far as this Council Wconcerned therewith. Cr Warns, moving the motion, said that spceiie had handed in the notice of niotion just read, certain alterations had already been made, which somewhat lessened the measures he suggested taking in order to place the Brigade on a sound and more business like footing. The existing circumstances in connection with the Brigade and its management were most unsat isfactory. As the Brigade is a volunteer one the Council had little or no control over it,' although the Council find all appliances, subsidise it, pay insurance, and pay the men for attendance at fires. The existing Fire Committee did not act as delegates ifi any way; they had a treasurer —in name only—as the Brigade had no banking account. Although the treasurer appointed by the Council had applied frequently he could not get access to the books of the • Brigade. He never ieird of such a thing as a public institution without- a banking account. In order to improve the organisation and increase the efficiency of the Brigade he moved: — That the present system under which the Brigade is managed, shall be amended (1) The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Council and shall have control over the whole of the funds of the Brigade, and his receipt shall alone be valid (or shall if so desired act in conjunction ’Sfeth a treasurei appointed by the Brigade) ; (2) The Brigade shall keep a Banking account and all revenue froin whatever source and all monies expended must pass through this account; (3) Proper books must be kept by the secretary, and shall be open for inspection at any time by the Fire Brigade Committee appointed by the Council; (4) The Fire Brigade Committee shall be exofficio members of the Brigade, they shall be notified of all Brigade meetings, and shall be eligible to attend same; (5) The payments now made by the Council for turning out to a fire, accident insurance for members, etc., etc., shall be discontinued, the Council undertaking to pay an annual subsidy of £25 instead, and in addition to maintain the Fire Brigade and appliances in an efficient condition; (6) The stationkeeper shall be appointed by the Council, and shall be responsible to the Corporation for the good order and safe custody of tho station and appliances (fair wear and tear excepted); (7) The office of Fire Inspector shall be abolished.?’ Cr Hetherington seconded. On being put to the meeting it was carried unanimously.

The Clerk was instructed to forward the resolution to the Brigade, and ask them to consider same and let the Council have a reply as to their acceptance or otherwise before the next meeting. Sanitary Matters.—The Inspector of Nuisances {Jas. Salmoa) reported that there were few causes for complaint last month. Mr N. Peters wants an outlet for drainage from bis house in ; Rata stieef. It coqld easily be cmnect'ed into water-table in Bridge street. The water-table in Whitaker street frpm Hliis’ corner past Crombies’ requires to be done, as passed by the Council. The drainage from Ellis’ cottage finds its way into the Presbyterian Church section. A drain, as authorised in rear of Messrs Mills and Johnson’s cottages wants doing badly ; the cottages have no outlet for their drainage, it simply soaks away into the railway properties, and complaint has been ma !e. Back yards have been kept fairly clean. No complaints re light-soil contractor; pans have been kept fairly well tarred. Heavy * lins have flushed all drains anc watertables.

Building Inspector’s Report.—The Building Inspector (Jas. Salmon) wrote as follows:—I have to report that on the Bth May I gave notice to the Chairman of the Te Aroha School Committee to provide sufficient egress, also that all doors be hung to open outwards, the windows to open free at the bottom, that water be laid on with, sufficient hose to reach all parts of the buildings. No notice has been taken, even though there has been a meeting of the School Committee, Had the hose been provided the recent fire could have been ext.nguished by the head master or Mf Wal ftte, without calling out the Fire Brigade. * -In company' with the Euildjng Commit fee I visited the school and pointed out what I intended *o insist upon. The room nearest the master’s house must have some other exjt than the present door

which opens into a passage, the gates at entrance to open outwards, also at ygfp least four doors in the interior to be re -hung. All the hotels and boardinghouses have complied with the Act, and have sufficient means of fire | escape. " The Clerk was instructed to write tothe Building Inspector that in accor- Ay dance with Section 318 of The Mttni- , t ; ;i ; cinal Corporation’s Act, iOOQ, *be - direct the Committee of the Te Aroha .ip. Goldfield School to provide sufficient egress in case of fire ; that all doors be made to open outwards; that; the • . windows open free from the bottom jyAj that water be laid ( on and hose provided to reach all par.s of school. Should the Commute., failHyjg comply with the order within fourteJHH| days the necessary steps be taW compel them to do so. „ Foreman’s Report. —Foremanlrierck '1 submitted lis usual monthly report of I work done since last meeting. Made I a crossing over # the creek Brawn’s now house in Upper Rewi- - street. Patched Stoney Creek from Stoney Creek to the cutting opjU posite Father Kehoe’s. Was ptjJHflj vented from continuing further, Gavin stopped me taking out of his paddoetby locking the Mr Gavin said he required royalty on the balance of the metal. The clerk j-.y J and I both asked the man' who broke - 1 the metal in Mr Gavin’s paddock, and he said he had. Mr Gavin giving such permission, so there Ogfeggevidently some misunderstanding tween them. Broke the big stones in|||v Whitaker-street from Bridge-street to|?J| Rolleston-street. Patched Whitaker-, street from Bridge-street to Hot Springs Hotel. Patched holes from Rolleston-street to opposite; Mr Hill’s residence in Whitaker-street 1 Patched Lipsey-street 'from - Bridge- _ street to Railway station. Stripped A footpath in Bridge-street from l&jSmg-g Bradley’s to Lipsey-street to aJldtgg: surplus sand out of drain to he thrown on footpath. Sanded footpath on side of Lipsey-street from street to Kenrick street with sand came out of drain. Made drain lower Rewi-street to drain the street, yCleaned out few water-tables and sun- ; dry other little j obs. The quantity of|A metal used stace last meeting was 343%* 1 yards. Would suggest that the Coun*\||i cil get more metal broken, a 9 there onlv about 150yds on hand. Bridge street to Lipsey street is In a bad state , y and ought to have a coat of metal.||p Would suggest that a coat of metaLg). 12ft wide be put from Burgess stre?t||| to Lipsey’s bridge. That Appointment. —After hearing the statements of Ors Thomas, Hether-yy ington and o’Meagher, the Council yy were satisfied that the Town Clerkhad y| not appointed Crickett as ; station- 3

keeper. » ' 1 ' Hours of closing.—An extract feo.m.' the Government Gazette was intimating ' that, in response requisition from the majority of thcy-l. business people, the borough of Te ; ., v Aroha had been brought under “ The % Shops and Offices Act, 1904.’’ Th#. shops exempted are : Fishmongers,, fruiterers, confectioners, bakers, re*; | freskment-room keepers, or bookstall keepers on railway stations or wharves, y Chemists are included in those to.;> close.—Cr Wallis said it was iniquity, u >us to compel a man to close . his shop if he did not, wish it.—The y Mayor said that rather than the chetn»y ists should be made to close he ; would, rather see the whole thing drop through - —lt was resolved to forward a'!resoltt||_. tion to the Government to this effect.'| Accounts. —The following accounts .' were passed for payment: —P. Baine, y. £l7 15s8d;F. Walker, £22 215.; J|s W. Wallace and Co., £ls 2s 6d; Te|, Aicna Timber 00., 6s 9d ; Jolioson.au4||: Wigg, ss; Fire Brigade. £2 Inspector of Nuisances, £4 5s ; cipal Association, £2 2s; W. Slaugh-y, ter, £7 0s 6d ; J. S. Crickett, 9s 6d;|(/ News, £2 2s; A. Laybourn, £4 9|§dj|y A. and T. Burt, Ltd,, £354 3?. Rates.—A general rate of Is 3d;tpt a water rate of 7d was struck. AySt-