ELTHAM NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 15

ELTHAM NEWS.

BOROUGH COUNCIL AFFAIRS. THE MONTHLY MEETING. (From Our Own Reporter.) Eltham, Nov. 26. The usual monthly meeting of the Eltham Borough Council was held tonight. Present: The Mayor (Mr. I. J. Bridger), Crs. L. Nairn, W. Rigg, J. D. McKay, R. Lewis, A. Kemp, W. Tapiin, A. S. Ricketts, T. McWhirter. An apology was received from Cr. Garden. The gasworks manager reported for the month of October as follows (1925 figures given in parentheses):—Gas made, 518,590 cu. ft (569,600); coal used, 41 tone 18 cwt (44 tons 8 cwt); gas per ton, 12,376 cu. ft (12,829); gas sold per meter, 442,900 cu. ft (520,000). Sales for month: Fittings, £4B 4s 8d; coke, £27 2e 9d; tar, £l2 17s 3d; ashes, etc., £1 14s 6d; total, £B9 19s 2d.

The abattoir manager reported that 104 cows, 10 bullocks or heifers,. 187 sheep, and 56 pigs were slaughtered during the month. One cow was condemned. The finance eommitee recommended: (1) That a remit be forwarded to the 1927 Municipal Conference requesting the Government to exempt from the operations of section 64 of the Electric Power Boards Act, 1925, municipalities which have established gasworks prior to the granting of a license for the supply of electric energy in their districts, or failing the granting of this exemption that municipalities be given similar rating powers is respect of gasworks undertakings. (2) That clause 593 of the by-laws relating to the discharge of fireworks within the borough be amended as recommended by the borough solicitor. (3) That the council accepts from Mr. C. Cooper the sum of £22 in full settlement of its claim for £35 Ils 9d in respect of extraordinary water sup ply to his residence in Cornwall Street. The works committee recommended that notice be served, under the a. thority of section 7 of the Land Drainage Amendment Act, 1913, on the owner oi section 10, block X, Ngaere Survey District, requiring him to clear the ereek on his property in Mountain Road to allow water to flow away from the culvert in Mountain Road and from adjoining lands; that the council undertake the work of renovating cross-arm notice boards in the borough, as requested by the Railway Department, and that the department be informed that this council desires to be relieved of any further liability m respect thereof; that tenders be called for the work of repainting cross-arm notice boards on railway crossings also for painting London Street footbridge. The reserves and cemetery committee recommended that the Kaponga Cycling dub be granted the use of the Taumata Park for the purpose of hold an electric light cycling carnival in January, and that the charge for hire thereof be fixed at 20 per cent, of the admission money. The Municipal Association of New Zealand advised that the executive of the annual conference would meet on December 9, before which date local bodies were asked to forward any remits to be brought forward for consideration at the conference which would be held at Palmerston North some time in February of next year. —Received. “Lt has been suggested to me by several town clerks that the time has arrived when some organisation should be formed to further the interests and raise the status of officers of municipalities," wrote Mr. P. Skoglund, town clerk of Stratford, whom it was suggested should take the initiative in the matter. He suggested that a town clerks' association be formed and that a meeting for this purpose be held in Palmerston North prior to the annual conference of the Municipal Association. Mr. Skoglund asked for the council's views on the matter, and also sought the opinions of town clerks so t at an agenda paper could be drawn up for the guidance of the proposed meeting.—Received. Mr. R. Day, chief inspector, New Plymouth, forwarded a schedule of the July-September quarter of heavy traffic fees, showing the apportionment as approved by the Local Bodies’ Association. The position of the Eltham Borough Council for this period was that they collected £27 9s 9d, of which their proportion anionnted to £l5 a 2d, leaving the council to hand over to the distributors the sum of £l2 4s 7d. —Received. Mr. W. J. Tristram, secretary to the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, advised that in accordance with a resolution of the associati to levy half f annual subscription for the current year, the council should remit the sum of £2 12s fid as its contribution. Mr. Tristram also wrote asking fo. particulars of any valid objections held L the council to being brought under the provisions of the Dominion Federated Drivers’ ..ward. The request was the result of a resolution passed the last conference of the association. Received. The ccuneil was further asked by Mi. Tristram which scheme for the allocation of heavy traffic fees it considerad

preferable.—The Mayor recommended the council to approve of Mr. Skoglund’s scheme, and this was agreed to. Councillor McKay raised the question of dirty fireplugs, instancing several into which it would be impossible to put a hydrant. After some discussion, it was decided that the foreman be instructed that the work of inspecting and cleaning the plugs must be done whenever necessary.