TOWN BOARD.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 9 December 1913, Page 3

TOWN BOARD.

A meeting of the Te Puke Town Board was held last evening, there being present Messrs T. E. Palmer (Chairman,, T. P. Lemon* R, Tees, L. Bayliss, A. Montgomery and R. King. • The minutes of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed. Rating _ The Chairman said the first business was to consider the report of the committee set up to consider the question of rating. The estimated expenditure for the current year was £270, and the committee thought it advisable to strike a rate of lid in the £. This would produce a sum of £230, which with the license fee of £40 already received, brought up the required amount. The proposals of the Committee wer endorsed, and it was resolved to publicly advertise the proposed estimate of expenditure, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, prior to striking the In reply to Mr Tees, the Chairman said the Board had power to collect the rate within a fortnight if they thought fit. Fire Brigade. The Secretary of tsFire Brigade wrote, asking whether the Board was favorable to members taking up subscriptions in aid of

its funds. Mr King thought it would be better that the Board should vote a sum to the Brigade for current expenses. • ' Mr Bayliss coincided. Taking up a subscription meant that only a few contributed, whereas if the Board made a grant it iell on the whole of the ratepayers. The Chairman thought the sum required would not exceed £5 per annum. The Board would provide any necessary appliances, and if the Brigade required money for any special purpose they could make further application. On the motion of Mr King, it was resolved that an additional £2 (to the grant already made) be voted the Brigade.

The matter of insurance in regard to members of the Brigade was left in the hands of the Chairman. Severance from the County.

Mr Bayliss introduced the quesion of severance from the Coun-

ty. He thought it was quite time the Board took steps to separate, ne moved that the Clerk bring* forward the necessary motions at the next meeting to effect same. 'Mr Lemon seconded. Ho said it was to the advantage of the Board to obtain a severance. If

they did not they would still continue to pay the rate. An effort should be made to come to a mutual agreement with the Council in reference to the bridges. ■ The motion was carried. Water Rate.

The Chairman reported on the visit of Mr King, the Clerk, and himself to Tauranga in quest of information regarding the method of rating in connection with the water scheme. They found that they would have to rate on the annual value, not on the unimproved, and it would be necessary for them to appoint a valuer. In most towns the water rate was sufficient to meet the whole sum required, but with the small population in Te Puke he thought

they would have to draw from other rates. It was desirable that they get the valuation made as soon as possible, for people would want to know what the scheme was going to cost them individu-

ally. , Mr King said the whole of the land within the town district was liable for the interest, but only land within a certain distance of the mains was liable for the consumers' rate. He moved that Mr Tees and the Clerk be appointed to prepare a report as to the annual rateable value, and submit same at next meeting. This was seconded by Mr Lemon and carried. , On the motion of Mr King it was resolved that the Clerk be authorised to obtain the necessary legal permission from the landowners possibly interested in regard to taking the water pipes through their properties. Mr Bayliss moved that the Clerk be instructed to write to the' Commissioner of Crown Lands stating that the Board proposes to draw water from the Kiri Kiri stream, and asking that any sections forfeited in the vicinity be vested in the Board. Seconded by Mr Montgomery and carried. Electric Light. The Chairman and Mr King stated that when in Tauranga the question of lighting had_ arisen, and the Mayor (Mr Robbins) had intimated that he thought if tne Borough Council was approached I it would be willing to supply Te

Puke with • the electric Hght, When the system was established, which would be in about two years; also that the Council would no doubt be willing that its engineer should provide all necessary information, as to cost etc. Members of the Board were unanimous in thinking that the scheme was one that should be enquired into, and it was resolved that the Borough Council be requested to supply details. Courthouse. Mr Tees brought up the matter of the erection of a Courthouse. He considered that they should ask that the amount placed on the Estimates for the building be spent as soon as possible. Mr Lemon thought they should ask for an additional £200, to bring it up to the amount previously on the Estimates, viz. £200. Mr King strongly condemned the proposed site for the Courthouse as being inconvenient and quite unsuitable. He thought the building should be on the main street, and that a site was available on Crown land next the stationmaster's residence. It was decided to write to the Minister for Public Works, asking that an additional £200 be granted for the Courthouse, and also that it be erected on a site on the railway property. This concluded the business.