Te Aroha Borough Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42784, 28 September 1905, Page 3

Te Aroha Borough Council.

The usual monthly meeting of the Te Aroha Borough Council was held in the Council’s Office last evening.

. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. J. Farmer), Crs Hetherington, P. O’Meagher, Wallis, Devey, Thomas and Rowe. Minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Inward correspondence was then dealt with. 1

In connection with the Palace Hotel drainage, the sum of £SO was donated by Messrs Campbell and Ehrenfried towards the cost of this.—Resolved that best thanks of the Council be convoyed to the Company for their kind donation and wishes for the prosperity of the town.

A letter from Messrs A.' and T. Burt, stated that they would forego interest on overdue account, as the Council had acted promptly in this matter.

A letter from Messrs Steuart and Fenn stated that Mr Fenn would come to Te Aroha in order to get the poles and wires for electric light erected before the completion of the Hydraulic work, and also stating that where possible, local labour would be employed. The Mayor said he would have to hurry this firm, as the light was wanted by Christmas.

It was reported that good progress had been made with the concrete beds for the Pelton wheel and dynamos in the power house. This work was not included in the electric light contract. A letter from the ' Superintendents of Electric Lines, stated that before a license can be granted for the erection of electric wires over private property, it was necessary that formal consent should he obtained from the owners. A draft of the proposed license

was enclosed. r - The Clerk was instructed to write to Messrs Potterton, P. Baine, and 0. LipSey, getting the necessary permission. Cr Rowe to obtain the | signatures of these gentlemen. Resolved also that Cr Rowe wait on Mr Gilchrist and get his permission to erect a transformer house (about 10ft x Bft) on his property, at the back of the present sample •/ room of Messrs Hancock and Co. ' The poles were reported on the spot and N ready for erecting. It was asked whether, with the £1550 at •their disposal, the electric light scheme could be got through. The Mayor stated that if they were careful not to get any leakage they could manage

The Fire Brigade’s request for an annual donation of £25 came up for discussion, and it was decided that a cheque be forwarded to the Brigade to liquidate present debts, and that if the Committee was satisfied that everything was in order, the Council were prepared to pay the Brigade £25 annually, i The proposal to contribute £ls to the • Tourist Department for the purchase of new library books, was carried unanimously. On a request from the Waikato Charitable Aid Board for a moiety in respect of the total amount owing to them bv the Council. It was resolved that the sum ofg2£3o he forwarded. « : :f A letter, signed by three ratepayers, called h attention to the urgent 'necessity for forming the footpath between Rewi dud Lipsey Streets. The Clerk was instructed to write stating that this matter '■would receive attention when the construction of the drains was completed. Application was made by R. T. Jansen for assistance in prospecting to open up an old level in the Success Extracted Quartz Claim, Te Aroha. It was decided that the (present state of the Council’s finances would not warrant any assistance at present, otherwise they would be pleased to assist. , Petition received from four owners and occupiers of sections on the south side of Bridge-Street, asking for the drain to he continued across to their side of the road to enable them to drain into it on the same terms as occupiers on the north side. Resolved that petitioners be informed that they must connect up to the main entirely at their own expense. Messrs Mackie and Dudley wrote asking the Council to form a road from the street to their workshop. It was said that this matter came under the same head as crossings in front of shops, and therefore if Messrs Mackie • and Dudley ' wanted a road to their workshop they must csnsfcifuct it themselves. The Mayor was commended for having obtained a reduction on an account of legal charges which were considered excessive. It was stated that the Fire Brigade Committee were empowered to order small items which did not.exceed the sum of £5. In a discussion as to whether two houses should be allowed to drain into one service pipe, Mr Wallis was of opiuion ihat it should on no account he sanctioned. Re the conveniences at the Palace and Grand Hotels, it was stated that they were I quite equal tg those provided at much larger I towns, and that no change should he I ordered. I Re nightsoil, it was stated that those who I required a more frequent service than the I fortnightly one, must make their own arI rangements with the contractor. I In the case of Mr Deverell’s sign board, I permission could not he given for it to be I fixed below 9ft from the ground. Mr StanI ley's was lower than this, but they must I order it to be taken down according to a reI solution passed some time ago. I Cr Wallis stated that he had carefully gone I into the question of rating on capital value, I and had come to the conclusion that any I alteration in the system of rating would at I the present time be extremely inadvisable. ■ They did not want to find themselves in the ■ same predicament as Devonport Council were I at present. ■ ' The question of forming a path to Mr ■ Evan’s newlhouse was brought forward and I referred to the next meeting. I Cr Wallis said the Council spent too much ■ money on small issues; they should confine H their efforts to maintaining the main H thoroughfares. ■ Cr Thomas called attention to the fact that ■ water pipes were in some places exposed | in ■ the roadway and liable to damage by carts. ■ o It was resolved that the Turncock be in- ■ atructed to lay the pipes six inches deeper. ■ Several complaints had been received with ■ regard to calves tied to fences at night, as ■ being a great annoyance. 'Resolved that the ■ Pound-keeper be instructed to keep all stock ■ off the street m accordance with his engage- ■ ment with the Council, or else terminate his ■ agreement. ■ tfrThe total overdraft at the Bank above the ■highest limit allowed, now stands at £6O 8s 3d. ■ The following accounts were passed for ■payment-J. S. Crickett, £1 17s 6d and 7s ■6d; Johnson and Wigg, £1 16s 3d; D. McL. ■Wallace, 18s 8d ; F. Walker, £ls ; M. Geaney, ■,£lo 10s; P. Dierek, £l2 ; T. A. Dudley, £1 ■7nH. Morse, £l3s; P. Baine, £9 2s; Te ■Aroha Timber Co., 17s sd; F. Walker, £276 ■l2b 8d; F. Pavitt, £2O 19s ; W. Slaughter, 3s; Te Aroha News, £4 3s 2d; Waikato and Charitable Aid Board, £3O; Salmon, £4 ss; Tourist Department, K. Robfnson, £7 18s 8d; A. and T. Burt, §■£3s4 3s'; Steuart and Fenn, £IOO ; Northern K. S. Co., £l7 10s 9d; F. Walker, £2O; and Fenn, £B6 17s 2d; J. W. Wallace and Co., £2OO. &311 12s Bd. !■' His Worship the Mayor then reported on visit to Wellington, saying that in converSir. Joseph Ward informed him that Mr g; a, B. Moss, our present sitting represenwas one of the hardest working memin the House, and. .was constantly Te Aroha’s requirements to the front. §■& Joseph proposed to open the new railway Waihi and advises the Mayor (of Te that he will stop at Te Aroha and in with our Mayor, will- personally

inspect the railway station and see what can 1 e done. The Mayor also explained to Sir Joseph that the water supply should bo extended. The Domain was the largest constoner, and the rate was fixed five or six years ago when consumption was only perhaps one quarter of the present amount. The Mayor explained that if the Government did not assist them in this matter, then the Council would be compelled to bnrrow the money elsewhere, and charge the Tourist Department a high price for their water supply, b it if the Government would grant them £3OO straight out, they would rather fall in with this arrangement. Sir Joseph remarked that bo thought the £3OO would be granted unconlit ion ally. This concluded the meeting.