TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2082, 7 August 1890, Page 3

TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Temuka Town Board was held last night. Present —Messas J. Blyth (chairman), OK Mason, B. Clinch, P. Coira, and A. B. Allan.

COKBBSPONDENCK. Correspondence was dealt with as follows: , _ , n From Mr Dignan, agent Bank ot New - Zealand, requesting that Mr Caleb Bateman’s name should be - iaserted on the rate roll for sections 237 and 238, Wallingford, m place of the Bank of New Zealand, and from Mr Bateman, agreeing to same,— Alteration to be made. From the same, requesting that Mr T T M Hayhurst’s name should be piaced on the roll instead of the Back’s, with regard to section 84,

Wallingford, and from Mr Hayharst agreeing to same.— Alteration to be made, , ... From Mr Stubbs, Clerk Geraldine County Council, re the rate rolls, and stating that the auditor had found no fault with more than one rate being inserted on a rate roll. From Mr P. Malvabill, Pleasant Valley, acknowledging the receipt of £l, contract depositFrom the Property Tax Department stating that a voucher for £2l IBs 7d for subsidy due for the year 1888-89 had been forwarded to the Treasury, and requesting that a fresh demand should be made for the 1889-90 subsidy excluding the f d special rate. From the same intimating that a voucher for the payment of £l9 9s 5d subsidy due under the Local Bodies Powers and Finance Act had been forwarded to the Treasury for payment.

From the Eev. E. S. Bunn complaining of the state of the footpath in front of the Wesleyan parsonage in wet weather, it being the camping ground for stray horses and cows, the broken ground and nuisance caused by the cattle being the cause of loud and general complaints. He appealed to the board for redress.— The clerk was instructed to ascertain the responsibilities of the police in the matter, and failing them taking action the poundkeeper to be communicated with.

THE EIRE BEIGA.DE

Mr Henry, Captain of the Fire Brigade waited upon the board and stated that the wells bad been tested on the 23rd and 25th of July. He furnished a detailed report of the depths of water in the several wells. The engine had been worked by 14 men, and the depths tested every 10 minutes. With 26 men the wells were but little reduced. The well in Wood streeet had only 8 inches of water, the shingle having fallen in. That in the Railway Terrace had only 3 inches of water. The brigade possessed 1050 feet of reliable hose. The trial had cost the brigade £7 10s. The question of the wells was discussed at 'some length, and it was resolved that the well in Wood street be deepened and bricked, and if the work proved successful a well to be sunk in Wilmhurat street, —The overseer was authorised to have a plug fixed t© the cover of the well in Ewen road.

The selection of the actual position of the suggested new well was left to the chairman, overseer, and Captain Henry. Mr Mason drew attention to a complaint made to him to the effect that the engine-keeper did not do his duty. The salary given was £9. This he considered too much la Geraldine the engine-keeper received £6. This was sufficient in his opinion, An account for salary was now submitted. This could not now be disputed, but he thought it would not be well to bind themselves to pay this amount in future. The chairman said that be had been present at the last meeting of the brigade and no objection was then made.

Captain Henry said that the salary was not too large when the brigade was in full practice. Certainly last year the salary had been easily earned. The last caretaker had resigned, but had tendered afresh for the position, and the brigade had, after consideration, decided that the old caretaker be reappointed. The board were satisfied that the action of the Eire Brigade had been for the best.

oteeseee's eepoet,

The overseer reported that the unsettled weather had hindered the starting and progress of contract 34 (carting 240 yards shingle for street repairs and 10 yards fine gravel for footpaths), but it was completed on the 23rd July. He advocated the purchase of a double screen, as it was difficult to procure suitable shingle on the Temuka riverbed. Altogether 265 yards were carted at a cost of £lO 15a 4d, or 9id per yard. This was only a fraction of the metal really needed, and he advised that further tenders should be called for. He bad pracured the necessary notice and receipt books for the Tirnaru harbor rate, and would send out the notices simultaneously with the demands for general and nightsoil rates* He could alter the present rateroll to take in the harbor rate, and would do so with the board’s approval. He suggested that the general rate for the present year should be struck without delay. He submitted a list of rates unpaid. All ratepayers whom it was decided at last meeting to sue had since paid, and others also, but as these had not paid before the 30th June the board lost the Government subsidy they ought to have been entitled to; be suggested that next year steps should be taken to ensure earlier settlement. Mr McGuire, licensee of the Temuka Hotel, in accordance with instructions had commenced to lay a box drain to carry off pump and rain water from his back premises into Vine street. He had written to Mr J. Angland, licensee of the Star hotel, requesting him to erect a urinal to avert a nuisance, but he had taken no notice of the letter. He suggested that step? shopld be taken to protect or poyer in the drain through the police paddock and paddock leased by Mr H. Lee, which was filled up by stock crossing it. He also stated that culverts were badly neededed over watertable at Mrs , Gibbs’ and Mr Roddicks, ia Birket at.,

where cattle and vehicles were constantly crossing, and converting watertables and footpath into a slough. He also reported that during the recent wet weather stock on the footpath had become an intolerable nuisance, and as the poundkeeper had taken no notice of previous letters from the board he suggested that the board should appoint someone to keep the streets clear. it was decided to procure a gravel screen, and to invite tenders for 300 yards of shingle, and also for 20 yards of footpath shingle, tenders to be considered o • the 20th inst.

Resolved—“ That the clerk give notices to all ratepayers where culverts are required over watertables for vehicles and stock to cross footpaths.' BATES. It was moved and carried that at the next meeting of the board strike a general rate of |d in the £, and a nightsoil rate of §d of a penny in the £ be struck on all rateable property in the Tenauka Town District for the year ending the Slat March 1891. Resolved—“ That all rates in arrear be sued for.” ACCOUNTS. ’ Accounts to the amount of £52 14s lOd were passed for payment. The board then adjourned until the 13tb August.