WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1922, Page 6

WAITARA.

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) June 19. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held on Wednesday last. Present: His Worship the Mayor and Crs. Jones, Johns, Johnston. Blair and Ogle. Apologies were received for absence from Crs. Rennie and Jaggs. A vote of sympathy was passed to Cr. Rennie in his continued illness. A deputation consisting of Messrs. Wells, Gaw and Waters, representing the Chamber of Commerce, waited on the council and asked that the electric light be available at 2 o’clock instead of 4 o’clock, as at present, the latter not being considered early enough. The Mayor said the lighting department did not pay, and they were keeping down expense as much as possible. The council, after considering the request, resolved that during the months of June, July and August the power be given on Mondays and Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. other days. A complaint from G. Bird senr. re a street lamp at the corner of Pratt and Cracroft streets not having been alight this year was left in the hands of 'tne lighting committee. Licenses to store benzine and kerosene were granted to local storekeepers. Mr. E. Fisher, of Palmerston North, wrote regretting t-halt he is unable to visit Waitara, as requested, re advice on river bank protection. He outlined a possible plan by buttressing the banks with green trees and pultting in groynes.—Mr. Fisher to be thanked.

Cr. Johns mentioned that the natives had erected weirs in the river above the recreation ground, and he thought it was a practice that should be stopped, as if a fresh occurred it might result in erosion of the river bank.—lt was resolved that the Harbor Board’s attention be drawn to the matter, asking <to have the practice stopped if possible.

Mr. J. Purdie asked that a drain in front of his property be filled in.—Left in the hands of the works committee. The overseer reported that a new main at the intake, together with a small tank, would cost about £6O without pipes and valves. The Inglewood bacon factory had been visited, and things were found to be much cleaner. The Mayor said the intake job, to ensure a continuous supply during cleaning operations was too big a mat--1 ter for the council to undertake at the present time. He moved that the Fire Board be advised accordingly. The electrical engineer reported that , the crank and shaft of No. 3 engine had broken on the Sth inst. Steps had been taken to get same replaced. The dynamo of this set is now being overhauled, the generator being in a very bad state. It was suggested that when the No. 3 engine is in commission again, the freezing works supply should be continued for a time to enable No. 2 sot to be thoroughly overhauled. To save further misunderstandings, the engineer asked that instructions from the lighting committee be given in writing. He wished the committee to state in wha/t way their instructions had been ignored. The council went into committee on all electric light questions. On resuming it was resolved that in view of the fact that Mr. Pigott had arranged with the committee to do all the outside and inside work with his staff of one man and two boys, no extra labor be engaged without permission of the committee. Cr. Johns brought up the matter of making arrangements for securing a bulk supply of' current from New Plymouth, and Cr. Blair undertook to interview the engineer of the New Plymouth Borough Council on the subject. A notice of motion was tabled by Cr. Johns that the previous resolution respecting the electrical staff’s wages be rescinded. It was resolved that the application from Mr. Caldwell for a rise in wages .be left over till next meeting, HARBOR BOARD. Very little business came before “the monthly meeting of the Harbor Board. Messrs. T. Ewens and C. Ayton asked for permission to surrender their respective leases.—The secretary was instructed to reply that the board cannot accept surrenders except when compelled to do so by reason of default. The chairman’s action in granting Gaustad, Marlow r and Co. the use of the board’s cement store at a rental of 10s per week was confirmed. The erection of a boat shed in concrete was left in the hands of the works committee. GENERAL. The tennis mart held on Saturday last proved very successful, the nett takings being just over £l9. The residents of Tikorangi on Wednesday afternoon entertained Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Hine for the purpose of saying farewell. Mr. and Mrs. Hine, after having farmed in the disitriot for a .number of years, are leaving to take .up their residence in Waitara. Mr. C. Foreman, on behalf of the subscribers, presented them with two easy chairs and a hearth rug. A special meeting of the Waitara Chamber of Commerce is being held on Tuesdav next, whereat the business people are being asked to attend for the purpose of formulating some scheme to boost the town.