ROTORUA TOWN BOARD.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 3, Issue 152, 30 October 1895, Page 2

ROTORUA TOWN BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Town Board, took place in the Courthouse on Thursday afternoon last, when there were present Messrs C. Malfroy, (chair,) S. Brent, It. D. Danscy and Dr Ginders. Mr Mueller telegraphed regretting his unavoidable absence. Texdeks. The Chairman stated that the tender of Wera had been accepted for the clearing of Hinemoa Street, between Tutanekai and Banolf Streets, at 4s 6d per chain, and that the contract for forming Haupapa and Pukuatua Streets between Eenton and Tutanekai had been let at 40s and 44s per chain respectively to" Hone Kereama tc Kiri. The jSltjsoky Byi>i.aws. A telegram was read from the SurveyorGeneral's Department stilting that tlie matter of gazetting the bye-laws was still under consideration of the Law Officers as it did not appear that there was power under the existing law to do so.

The Chairman stated that on receipt of this communication he had replied asking if the matter could not be arranged by the introduction of a short Act this session, as means for efficient sanitation of the town could not be taken till the bvclaws were passed. To this the SurveyorGeneral responded that he was quite alive to the seriousness of the situation and he yet hoped that something would be done about it this session. He (the Chairman) would like .to have the opinion of the; Board whether it would not be advisable to iii-k if the bye-laws could not bo gazetted under the same authority as the rules and regulations governing the Pukeroa Reserve, viz., by the Governor-ill-Coun-cil 'i If that authority could make rules to regulate the reserve over which the Board had control he fancied the same power could be exercised in regard to the bj Telaws. Mr Brent was of opinion that there was a special provision in the Thermal Springs Act by which the Governor-in-Council could from time to time make laws governing the town of Rotorua. Dr Ginders suggested that they should simply point out the fact stilted by the Chairman and Mr Brent and ask if the

Kline course could. not bo followed iu regard to the bye-laws. This was decided ou. The Footbai.t, Area. Tim Eotorua Football Club, through their secretary Mr Webber, askeu the Board to plough, drain and fence the ground before next season and gave many reasons for the Board's compliance with the request. ilr Dansey thought the reqir-st a n* " sonablc one seeing that r mail had hoc. nearly drowned in a scrum which tool; place at a recent match. The Chairman was disposed to do what was required but he must" protest against the footballers talcing matters into their own hands as bad been done recently. AV itliout permission they had cut a drain light through the embankment, and left it in a disgraceful condition. Such procedure could not be tolerateil for a moment. The footballers seemed to think that they could do as they liked and ignore all authority and on that account deserved no consideration at the hands of the Board. If they had taken the trouble of asking, a pipe would have been put in and a proper job done ; instead of that the embankment hud been left in i: dangerous condition. It was resolved that a strong remonstrance should he sent to the Club re the unwarrantable liberty taken. In regard to the request made Mr Dansey stated that before anything was done in the way of ploughing, draining or laying, the ground would require to be fenced. The Chairman said that as horses would get in somehow when the grass was good it would need to be a strong substantial fence. Mr Dansey moved that the Board undertake the fencing, ploughing, &c ; , of the football ground, and that specifications of the fence be drawn up and tenders called for the erection of the same. Carried. The Pukeboa Resehve. After a lengthy discussion as to the scale of fees charged for the depasturing of horses on Pukeroa and in consideration of tlie fact that teamsters simply placed their animals there overnight it was decided that the following concession be made: —That any person putting in more than four horses be charged at the rate of Gd per head per day. Sir F. C. Clarke wrote resigning the position of poundkeeper from the end of November. It was pointed out that the position of poundkeeper and custodian of the reserve were combined and that the resignation would refer to both. The resignation was accepted. "Mr Dansey moved that offers be invited to lease the grazing rights on the Pukeroa and also the public pound, both to be under such restrictions as the Board may impose, for a period of twelve months. This was seconded by Dr Ginders and carried.

The Fike Bhigake. In respect to two communications from Mr H. \V. Neighbour, secretary of the Fire Brigade, it was decided that the application for permission to erect shed, Ac., in the Courthouse enclosure he forwarded to the Department of Justice, recommending its favorable consideration ; that permission to erect shed adjacent to the Lihrarj' be granted; that the trusteeship of the property of the Brigade be accepted and that the Board agree to act as an advisory committee to the Brigade, as desired, and to promote its interests as far as possible, A* Exhaustive Hesoluticw. Mr H. W. Neighbour forwarded copy of resolution passed at the public meeting held on October 14, thanking the Board for their attention to the resolutions passed at the previous meeting and urging them to continue their efforts in regard to various matters also expressing an opinion in favor of the construction of a reservoir at the top of Pukeroa. Dr Ginders said they would see by the Estimates that the question of extending the water supply would require to be held over till one or other of the Ministers came. This was inevitable as instead of the £ 1.4(H) sought for £2OO only had been set aside.

The Chairman stated that in regard to the water supply lie had read the' specifications prepared by I)r Ginders, bearing in mind that it would be necessary to have a pressure available for fire extinguishing purposes. If the reservoir was constructed on Pukeroa it would not give as high a pressure as laying a 4-inch pipe front the end of the present 8-inch main. He would therefore be in favor of a 4-inch pipe from the end of the main as far as Lake House and thence a 3-in pipe to the blacksmith's shop. This could be done for about £4OO and the other would not be much less. This would give a pressure of GOlbs. In the meantime the letter could bo replied to as suggested pointing out the small amount available and that there was little likelihood of anything being done for some time. Mr Dansey referring to the other matters embodied in the resolution mentioned the advisability of removing the close fence which encouraged the continuance of a great nuisance. The Chairman udriiittod that no doubt a nuisance existed to a certain extent but they would have to put up with it in the meantime. He suggested the planting of wattle or grass similar to that grown on the railway embankments on the face. In regard to the other matters referred to in the resolution the Board were doing everything in their power to expedite thuin. It was decided that the letter be replied to in accordance with tlie foregoing discussion, and that the planting oi the face of Pukeroa be proceeded with and an approach made at the point suggested.

The Library Ttusteeship. Messrs Corlett and Watt representing iv deputation from the subscribers to the Library and Reiiijing Room asked the Board to accept the trusteeship of the property of the institution. This was acceded to, and the usuul grant-in-aid was promised when the .funds permitted. Notice to Quit. The following telegram was read i'rom the Department of Lands : —-Taylor holds no title or lease to any part of the Puke-' roa Reserve, and he should be requested to remove his building within a month or that the Board will do so at his expense. It was decided to defer taking action in the matter till Mr Mueller was present. General Business. It was resolved to urge that the wharf and boat-shelter be put in hand without further delay. It was decided to ascertain the cost of a couple of tons of iron seat frames for the Sanatorium grounds ; that wire netting should be place", round such of the trcs-guards as required it, and that a eul-

vert iu front of Mrs Bn'nklcy's hou*e ho ' renewed, Accounts. The following account* were passed for '< payment:—Morrin & Co., £1 3s -Id ; Wilsons & Horton, lGs ; Steele Bros., i'l I'isfd; ALcliroy ic March esseuu, ill Od; H. L. CinioxicLE, £;). The meeting then closed.