LOCAL BODIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 15

LOCAL BODIES.

ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Onehunga Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor, Mr. W. C. Coldicutt, presiding.

Finance.—The district fund is in debit £2508. All the loan accounts are in credit. Accounts amounting to £1086 were passed for payment.

Borough Assessor.—The Valuer-General asked the council to appoint an assessor to represent it to hear objections to valuations in the borough for a term of three years.. Applications will be called for the position.

New Wharf.—The Auckland Harbour rei ? m d«i the council of its promise to subscribe £100 towards the erection of a new wharf at Cornwallis, and asked for immediate payment of half of this amount. The Mayor said this was not a straightout liability on the part of the council. Personally guaranteed to raise *>IUO, and had no hesitation in saying the money would shortly be forthcoming. The letter was received. 6 Poppy Day.—The sum of £60 is the council s share of the revenue derived from the sale of poppies on Poppy Day in Auckland and suburbs. The Returned Soldiers' Association desires this money, together with the £ for £ subsidy from the council to be spent in finding work for unemployed returned soldiers. This was agreed to. Auckland Museum.—The council was j , agree to legislation being enacted, Authorising the City Council and -5 suburban local bodies to pay £6000 per annum towards the maintenance of the Auckland Institute and Museum; also to pay now £184 4/7 for this year belore the legislation has been passed. The Mayor said the council had no funds for J? e . Purpose. Mr. F. S. Morton remarked that the council decided not to contribute anything to this object at the last meeting, and it was decided to adhere to this decision.

Conference.—Mr. F. S. Morton was appointed to represent the council at a conference of local bodies in the hospital district, to consider increasing demands made by the Auckland Hospital Board. Recreation Reserve.—Mr. J. E. Green, intimated that the Onehunga Spores Federation, of which he is president, had accepted the council's condition for the improvement of the recreation reserve. The council will subsidise any sum up to £1(W raised by the federation for this work. A conference is to be held on May 31,

Fire Board.—The Fire Board reported that several streets in the new area recently taken unto the borough from One Tree Hill have no water mains for fire fighting purposes, and that in other streets there are dead ends. The Fire Board asked the council to have the fire pl.ugs in the borough cleaned and marked four times a year. Referred to the Waterworks Committee.

Petition.—A petition bearing 30 signatures was received asking the council to prevent the owner of a property in Clarke Road, Onehunga, from leasing it as a racing stable and paddock for trotting horses. The matter was referred to the Health Department for a report. The following tenders were received for installing electric light in the Municipal Buildings: E. Keith, £31 10/6; R G Keeling, £29; G. H. Hunt, £25 10/; A." White, £24 17/6; J. C. Raine, £24 15/; W. J. Osborne, £24 10/; J. Burns and Co., £24 9/9; T. Stewart, £23 10/; S. T. Austen -(accepted), £22 15/.

PAPAKURA TOWN BOARD. j The Papakura Town Board met last to discuss the balance-sheet, and strike a rate for the enduing year. The chairman, Mr. Jan. McCall, presided. The chairman said he thought a five per cent rebate should be made on rates for prompt payment. He also intimated that the time had arrived when summonses should be issued every year instead of every two years. The Rev. W. C. Wood drew attention to the state of the Traffic Control Act. The balance-sheet showed that expenses £113 6/9, against fines totalling £62 4/. He moved, "That the attention of the solicitor be called to the fact that penalties have not been paid, and necessary steps be taken to enforce payment. ' Mr. McEntee seconded the motion, which was carried .unanimously. It was resolved that notices be given to persons in arrears of park estate rents, and that immediate steps he taken if rents are not paid. It was resolved that all persons in arrears of rates be served with notices to pay within 14 days. The balance-sheet total of rates owing to be £1316 14/1, £500 of this being 1926-27 ra Jpv' a £846 14/1 last year's rates. f/ 1 ® rates as scheduled were adopted, with the alteration of the hospital rate to making a total consolidated rate of 11 4 red "ction of five per cent will be allowed on current rates paid within 30 days of due date. , McEntee stated that the estimate for the Fire Brigade of £60 was insufficient to cover expenditure during the year, as the brigade needed more equipment It was decided to raise the estimate to £100. Ihe balance-sheet for the past financial year showed a credit balance of £760 14/1 account, and a total of £3033 19/4 on all accounts.