TAUPO TOWN BOARD

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 41, 22 October 1952, Page 6

TAUPO TOWN BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING At the monthly meeting of the Tauoo Town Board on Wednesday, October 15th., there were present: The Chairman (Mr J. Story), the Deputy- Chairman (Mr J. D. Swan), and the following members: Miss K. O, Lewis, Messrs W. T. Irvine, W. G. Morris, C. J. Vedder, and K. E. Young. The business transacted was largely routine. An application by Mr E. Marsden j for the use of a site for an open- • air entertainment in conventioii with \ ihe Carnival was declined. A Gala Night. In view of the steady progress now being made toward the comple- j tion of the Hatepe Hydro-Electricity Scheme the question of an approipriate celebration to mark the sswitching-on of the current for the iilumination of the niain street in Taupo has been tentatively discussed. The programme in mind is a display c:' festoons of coloured lights in Tongariro Street. Speeches wiU be deliveied from a dais to be ereeted at an assembly point wnen the cui~ rent is switehed on and every effort will be made in organising the arTangements to make the occasion a gala night for the local ponulace as part of the War Memorial Hall Carnival season. The programme is at the moment purely a tentative one and subject, of course, to the date of the eompletion of the Hydro scheme and the weather. Picnic Ground at Two-Mile Bay. In eonnection with the project of a concrete ramp for the convenience of boat-users at the picnic ground at Two-Mile Bay — the project was promoted by the Aquatic Sports Club — it has been pointed out in official correspondence that subject to the acceptance of certain •conditions laid down for conserving the rights of the general public as tisers of the grounds, and other pqints, the Department of Internal Aifairs is prepared to recommend the issuance of a permit by the Marine Department, the controlling authority in this particular eonnection. The Sports C.lub has accepted the conditions, but there the matter stands at present. The !Spa Road and Lake Front Highway. According to advice received, members of the Main Highways | Board were to have visited Taupo on Saturday, October 18th. on busi- | ness eonnected with improvements to the Spa Road and the Lake Front Highway, when discussions will take place with representatives of the Town Board.

Noxious Weeds and Fire Hazards. Arising out of a letter from Miss Le Huray in reference to fire hazards from adjoining over-grown sections, the Board decided to have an investigation f made.. It appears ( that the Board has legal recourse for compulsory action in the Rural Fire Distriets, and also in the Noxious weeds Regulations in regard to broom, whieh is a noxious weed. It can compel owners under either or both of these autliorities to clear t'heir land or undertake clearing vvork itself and debit the owners j with the cost. The problem is the | Siiortage of labour necessary to \ earry out such clearing on a compre- | 'henstve scale. The increase of j house-building is accomplishing a -ccrfain amount automatically, and where in other cases there is a defini'te fire risk to adjoining buildings the Board can take action. Building Regulations. To clarify a previous resolution on the subject of building conditions in the business area, in whieh it was stipulated that partition or dividing walls should be of specified materials concrete or brick-work — when aHually the condition was intended to apply to external walls, the resolution was rescinded, and a new resolution minuted to that effect. Stray Horses Nuisance. In an endeavour to cope with the Stray horses nuisance the Town

Board has appointed William Wineera on a part-time capacity as pound-keeper. The Board is also in negotiation with the Municipal Association with regard to an alteration in existing legislation whieh will enable local authorities to deal more effectively with the nuisance. Local Works Report. For the Works Committee, » the Chairman (Mr Story), reported as follows : — General. — Steady progress has been made in the preparatory work in Ruapehu Street, prior to sealing. The work entails quite a good deal of aligning the sides, and consequently it is necessary to devote a fair deal of time on this particular job. Road maintenance has been resumed after a few days delay owing to the grader undergoing repairs for new brakes. Motor Camp. — The new motor camp is being gone on with as quickly as possible. The major works under way since the last meeting are the construction of the septic tank, erection x>f portion of the buildings required whieh are being built to A.A. specifications and the installation of the water supply. Power Scheme. — Progress at the headworks are now cn the way to eompletion. Dif- | ferent points of construction are now , drawing to a close. The turbine and alternator have been placed in posil tion. The reticulation contractor is making excellent progress. Generally the outlook is indeed a pleasing' one at this stage. Rates The collection of rates for 1952-53 states a report to the Board, has bt en well maintained and it is anticipated that the estimated amounti will be achieved. Arrears of rates are also being fairly well reduced at this stage and the necessary formalities to enforce payment of Maori rates is being taken up with the solicitors.

Arrears at the beginning of the year were: Eurcpean £513 ls 6d; Maori £1797 18s 9d. Collected: European, £334 18s 6d; Maori, £39 3s 3d. 10 per cent. penalty on all rates collected: £36 14s 9d. The above arrears covev a period from 1947-48 to 1951-52. Building Permits. — . The total building permits issued for the current 6 months as compared with last year are: April-Sept. 19:52 : Number of permits issued 88; estimated value of buildings £69,997 10s Od; permitfees received £357 5s Od. April-Sept. 1951: Number of permits issued 105; estimated value of buildings £88,282; permit fees rej ceived £423 5s Od. ! Plumbing & Drain.laying Permits. — For the first time in Taupo, permits for plumbing and drain-laying have been issued and fees collected' only however being made possible by the co-operation of the Health In-spector. The amount of fees re-cei-ed to September 30, being £29 10s. I