RAETIHI BOROUGH COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 3

RAETIHI BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. (Own Correspondent.) The usual monthly meeting was held on Tuesday at the Council Chambers. His Worship the Mayor (Dr. W. J. Feltham) presided and there were also present Crs. A. E. Urwin, J. H. Stanley, F. Soar, J. Donnelly, T. Shout, R. B. Davies, the town clerk (Mr. C. M. Turner), the electrical engineer (Mr. W. Journeaux) and the works foreman (Mr. C. Davis). Cr. R. Ciochetto was granted leave of absence due to his attending the Library Association conference. The following matters were dealt with:— The N.Z. Road Safety Council advised that in March it will consider proposals as to whether or not it is in the interests of road safety to inforce restrictions on the use of motorcycles. They invited the views of the council on the matter.—The council agreed with the idea of greater restriction and suggested that further restrictions be placed on pillion on Motor-cycles. It believed that any bicycle adapted for pillion riding should have a specified seat which should be a fixture to the cycle. The Raetihi Volunteer Fire Brigade tendered its quarterly report re personnel of the brigade and also intimated that at the request of the Health Department a report by the brigade superintendent had been made on fire prevention measures at the Public Hospital. No calls or alarms were experienced throughout the quarter.—The report was received.

Fitness Week Committee.—The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) notified the council that he had agreed that the following persons be appointed to the district committee to represent that area situated within the boundaries of the borough of Raetihi:—Messrs. A. G. Dobson, Dr. W. J. Feltham, T. Shout (representing the Raetihi Borough Council), Mr. D. J. Berry (representing the Waimarino County Council), and Messrs. O. D. Bell, D. P. Scarfe, Rev. M. Underhill. The town clerk notified the council that Mr. O. D. Bell had been appointed secretary of the Raetihi district committee.—Received.

The certifying officer of the Employment Bureau notified the council that it had been decided to terminate Scheme No. 5. —Received.

The sanitary inspector (Mr. W. H. Roy) forwarded his monthly report concerning habitations, food-sellers’ premises, lodging-houses, sampling under Food and Drugs Act, plumbing and drainage, and the cemetery. In connection with the refuse tip the report stated:—l wish to congratulate the council on the improved condition of the refuse tip. Since my report of last year, the tip has been fenced, a hedge planted, and partial i control of the tip face has been start-

eel by periodic covering of the lace of the tip with earth strippings from the council’s metal pit. Periodic visits have been made by me and I am pleased to state that no conditions which could be classed as a nuisance have been noted at any time.—Received.

Correspondence from the New Zealand Library Association in answer to inquiries for information was referred to the Library Committee.

The Pahiatua Borough Council asked the Raetihi Borough Council to support its remit at the Municipal Conference in which it will ask that the act be amended to provide for the making and levying of annual fees in respect of the ordinary and extraordinary supply of water. It was the opinion of the Pahiatua Borough Council that the making and levying of charges by rating under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act on unimproved, capital, or annual values might, in certain boroughs, be inequitable. The larger ratepayer, principally on business premises, not only found the bulk of the interest and sinking fund charges on a water loan but also indirectly for water used by the greatest consumers of water, viz., duelling houses. —The council decided that its delegates to the conference should support the remit so as to provide an alternative method for the payment of the service rendered. The Taihape Borough Council informed the council that the Raetihi Borough Council had been assessed to the amount of £8 in connection with its share towards the cost of the erec-

tion of a provincial memorial at Petone. The council was asked whether it was willing to undertake to find its quota.—After discussion the council decided against making a contribution. The local certifying officer for the Employment Bureau notified the! council that appproval had been given for an extension of subsidy on Scheme No. 13 for the employment ot eight men until March 31, 1939. They were to be employed, only on road widening and reformation, footpath formation and kerbing, clearing watertables and drains, clearing and leveling camping grounds.—Received. The Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. W. Laurenson) forwarded a froP'sal that the traffic control in the borough of Raetihi be given over to the Department of Transport and in consideration for which service the council should either pay over the i revenue from drivers’ licenses, less a reasonable charge to cover administrative expenses, or grant an annual sum of an amount to be agreed upon. The duties to he undertaken would be: (1) Enforce all general laws and by-laws relating to motor traffic; (2) j test applicants for drivers’ licenses, | i 3) control traffic on special occasions; I • 4) advise the borough on all traffic 1 matters as required.—Following a full | discussion it was the opinion ot rhe j c< uncil that it would be better if mat- j ters were allowed to remain as they | are at present. The Raetihi Womens’ Institute, in

connection with the,local Centennial Memorial, offered to help in ?ny way jossible.—Received. Road Sealing.—The borough Io: einan (Mr. C. Davis) in a special report to the Raetihi Borough Council staled: In view of the fact that the Public Works Department will not ae doing any tar-sealing work this year it was suggested by the Public Works Department engineer (Mr. Sampson) that the Borough Council should arrange to use up the bitumen now on hand either on the roads or on the footpaths within the borough. Should the council desire to do any of this work I would suggest that that section ot Ward Street between Queen Street and Grey Street be the best surface to seal (a distance of 15 chains). The bitumen on hand should be sufficient to seal 35 chains with one coat for a width of 12 feet. The proposed work would use up about half of the available bitumen.—The council decided to proceed with the work as outlined in the report. Reports. Ihe following reports were adopted: Library Committee. That the chairman or his nominee be the council’s representative to attend the N.Z. Libraries’ Association conference to be held at Palmerston North from February 14 to 17; that a grant of £25 be made to the Library Committee; that Library Committee meetings be held regularly on the third Tuesday in each month; that further inquiries be made from Overseas Advertisers Ltd. in regard to the supply of free book covers. Finance Committee. —That "Cyclone" gates be erected at the base of the hose drying tower as requested by the Fire Brigade; that accounts amounting to £952 13s 7d be passed for payment. General. The chairman of the Works Committee (Cr. T. Shout) quoted figures to illustrate the growing demand that is being made upon the borough’s water supply. The following figures represent the annual number of gallons pumped:—l934, 20,098,894; 1935, 25,1(12,443; 1936, 26,770,346; 1937, 27„077,384; 1938, 31,354,080. Cr. Shout also reported that about half of the proposed road grading to be done by the county grader had been completed. The remainder would be done when the weather was suitable. Road and Footpath Obstructions.— Cr. Shout reported that a local contractor had been responsible for depositing a load of metal on a footpath and so breaking a by-law. Other councillors agreed that an infringement had taken place. C?r. Stanley: What about those who deposit goods on forms on the footpath in the main street. Cr. Urwin: They are not a danger Ito the public. | Cr. Stanley: Still, its an obstruction.' It was agreed that a letter be sent

to the contractor concerned and it was left to the discretion of the works foreman to issue notices to those responsible for other similar forms of by-law Infringement. Due to the absence of Cr. R. B. Davies and the town clerk at the Municipal Conference it was agreed to change the date of the March meetings and they will be as follows: Committees, March 14; council meeting. March 21st; library committee, March 28.