Borough Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42797, 26 October 1905, Page 2

Borough Council.

MONTHLY .MEETING.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Te Aroha Borough. Council was held in the Town Chambers, on Wednesday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (A. J. Farmer, Esq.,) Crs A. E. Thomas, T. Devey, J. Hetherington, J. Rowe, P. O’Meagher. Minutes of the last meeting were read and •.onfirmed. , Outward corresoondence was . eil d. Inward correspondence was then dealvith as follows : ... A letter from Mr Faes asked permission to use section 9, block 14, for the purposes of a kitchen garden, undertaking to give up possession immediately when called upon to do so.

Cr Thomas said the Council's idea was to gradually fill this section up with debris. Permission granted on the understanding that the Council reserves the right to fill up the low places. Mr Faes to fence the land, and no rent to he charged by Council. Tenders for connecting and fixing water pipes on Tui Hill: — S. R. Bushell -£BS Os F. Walker £54 10s E. Patterson ... £57 17s

Mr F. Walker’s tender was accepted. Miss Gillet wrote pointing out that the Couneil had removed a portion of her fence, allowing animals to get through, and asking that it be replaced. The letter also pointed out that the transformer house was net erected in conformity with the building rules of the Borough. The space in fence complained of has been filled up on the completion of the transformer house. s Re the question of joint drains, raised by Messrs Lovegrove, Bygrave and another, it was said that no occupier could be compelled to drain more than 100 feet. The Mayor thought that very often two or three could drain into one drain. The main objection was that when a stoppage of pipes occurred, neither party would admit that they were responsible for it, and the aid of the law had then to be invoked.—Resolved that the opinion of the District Engineer be obtained. The Mayor moved that the thanks of the Council bo tendered to Messrs Hancock for germission to erect a transformer house. . Electric Light. Messrs Steuart and Fenn made suggestions as to the use of any poles or wire that might be left over. They also gave particulars a« to how all-night running could be arranged. and also gave particulars' of arrangements that had been made with Mr Meddings, the Inspector of Telegraphs, with regal’d to the insulation of lighting or telegraph wires at points where they cross one another. A method involving a minimum of expense had been agreed upon. —Resolved that the Telegraph Department be instructed to carry out the insulating of their -wires at necessary points, and charge same to Council. A letter from the Resident Medical officer enquired if the Council intended to supply arc lights, and if so, what the cost would be to the Tourist Department for lighting the Domain. \ A letter from the Railway Department stated that the lighting required at Te Aroha railway station was insufficient to warrant the Department installing the electric light. Cr Hetherington thought that charges should be regulated in proportion to the amount used.

The Mayor: In Gore they first fixed a uniform price as we have done, but found that it would not work. Laer they had made a separate contract with each, consumer and had found! this to work veiy well. Cr Thomas: Another great objection brought forward is that although hoarding houses} keep open as long’ as hotels, they are charged £\, against £1 5s for hotels. The Mayor thought a committee should he appointed to revise the prices. The question of meters was discussed, hut there were several objections, an extra man was needed to read the meters. Cr Thomas had interviewed an _ hotel keeper who had said he would he willing to pay 22s 6d per annum if the boarding houses were charged the same. The fact was then brought up that the allnight running had been introduced for the hotels alone, and they should therefore pay for the extra accommodation. Cr Thomas .gave notice of motion that prices fixed he considered, and that meanwhile a sub-committee he formed to attend to the matter. The Mayor, Crs Thomas and Rowe, were appointed as the committee to enquire into the matter of prices. The question of arc lamps being discussol, it was said that arc lamps were unsuitable for a windy place. It was agreed that if the Tourist Department required any large lights the' Council was prepared to meet the Department in this respect. The Mayor said that from information he had gathered in 'Wellington, he thought they should not go in for arc lamps. It would be impossible to go in for them with only one man. Cr Thomas: Our plant will run 700 16 c.p. lamps, but as they will not all he running at once, we can supply more than

this number. The Mayor: I understand this plant can be duplicated for about £3OO if required in future. The question was discussed whether the clusters should consist of 32 or 64 c.p. lamps. Moved by Cr Hetherington that these clusters each consist of four 64 c.p. lamps. Seconded by Cr O’Meagher and carried. Cr Thomas : Five of ! those clusters will take one-seventh of our total power. NUISANCE EEFQET. There are only two on the lines of sewer that are fully complying with the orders of the Council re sewer connections, Mr J. Bew and Mrs Bradley. This matter was dropped. Complaint has been lodged that the stable on section 1, block 15, is a nuisance and dangerous to health. The inspector is of opiifion that the stable should be removed, or flooring altered and drained into sewer as suggested by the Health Officer. The report recommends early attention to the connection of the Whitaker-street water table and house drainage into the sewer

above the bridge, and also urges attention to the water table in front, and outfall at rear of Post Office. turncock.’s report on watee woeks. Intake dam reported in good order.—Suggested that a crack on the outlet corner of the reservoir be repaired at once.—Resolved that this repair be executed.—Re exposed pipes in the streets, the turncock states, that this has occurred owing to the re-grading of some streets.—A leak in Terminus-street and two burst pipes in Boundary-street have been repaired—The exposed pipes were laid before the present turncock’s time. Goldfield’s revenue brought to credit to August 19, 1905, £4 7s. The charge for water to IMr Bradley was fixed at M per annum. A ~ Illegal use of water. —It was said that Mr Stanley had been taking water from the Wesleyan Church service, to water horses at a stable belonging to Mr Strange. The Clerk; Mr Stanley runs horses and yet

pays no stable rate. Crßowe: Any business that runs a horse must pay a stable rate of £2. The Mayor: This opens up a big question, so I move it be left for further consideration. Ca ße < fhe Fire Brigade, Cr Thomas said the Bricrade was not insured, and that it a nre occurred and one of the members had an accident, the Council and ratepayers would be liable. It was said that the £25 included insurance for the Brigade. The Mayor moved that the Fire Brigade he instructed to insuro the men, appointment of electrical enoineeb. Seventeen applications had been received

. and were read. , * ■hv'ctiwm Moved by Cr Thomas and seconded ,byDr« Rowe that Mr A. T. Crosher be appomtedJUM the position of Borough Electrical Engme.r—r This was carried unanimously. ppp The Mayor moved that the license as V commended by the Department bo adopte L by;- . the Council. Carried Cr Rowe said the Council should try get the Baths opened on Sundays. *■ \ j.. The Mayor : They ought to . Sundays. They were at one time Resident Medical Officer was responsible k th Tto a 2yor ; If it ! I should he in fauour of closing all Sunday. ~, 1 Cr Rowe moved that the Connate to the Department m Wellington S““ g g un _ . necessity for the Baths being ope { »o t io^ t^: electrician be allowed to qonnec Council ; : . electric mains unless licensed by at a charge of £2 p. a. Seconded by Cr Hetherington and carried. _ ote f or The OpotiM Town Board Clerk wrote tor particular as to tho means _if| Aroha in obtaining the Order-in- reau jred v • being formed into a Borough. Th eq , . information was furnished. -l v A voucher-for £133 has been embffied y the District Engineer, and Council on behalf of Rewi-street sew • , A letter from the Bank of New A stated: ‘‘As the Council has now flowed l . : ; Electric Light Loan, I have, cancelfied _ana v , return herewith the Debenture for fo sand pounds which the Bank held as c its temporary advance. —Yours, etc., F. E. CoRKUi, Manager. Balances.—General Account, ,£585 Is 8d; Electric Light Loan Account, Cr., tsiv 15s. i ' -V': ' ' Accounts passed for payment as follows: F. Walker, £5 ; Te Aroha Fire Brigade, £25 , P. Gilchrist, £37 11s sd; F. W. Wdd, £7 9s lOd ’ Wm. Slaughter. £5 ; P. Gilchrist, £6 11s 4d; D. McL. Wallace, 10s Id, £8 14s 4d, £lO 5s 2d; P. Baine, £5 13s A. Layhourn, 4s 6d; Miss Allen, 14s ; Mclndoe and HUI, 7s 6d; Johnson and Wigg, 8»5d; Northern 3. S. Co., £3 4s ; Steuart andFenn, £l6 16s, P. Gilchrist (electric' light), 311 d; ■ Wallace and Co., £IOO ; M. Geaney^£8 to , Mackie and Dudley, £37 12s 3d; I. Walker, £75 ; F. Pavitt, £ls ; Te Aroha Timber Co., 16s 7d: P. Baine, £24 14s 4d; P. Dierck, £9 12s: Steuart .and Fenn, £22 5s 64. '' i\’ -■! This concluded the business. '