LOCAL BODIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 162, 11 July 1928, Page 11

LOCAL BODIES.

NEW LYNN. An ordinary meeting of the New Lynn Town Board was held last evening. The chairman (Mr. W. L. Titchener) presided, other members present being Messrs C. E. ; H. Putt, A. S. Akehurst, R. P. Ward, J. A. Fielding and I. Hughes. Drainage.—Seven tenders were received for drainage contract No. 9, which embraces the school area, including Astlev Avenue and Golf Road. The lowest tender, that of Messrs, Forest Bros., was accepted, the price being £5291 19/. The tendering wag very keen, the highest being the only one above the £6000 mark. Foreman's Report.—The foreman reported having completed the shoulders on the main highway to a length of 117 chains on • both sides of the road. Sixty chains of new footpath had been constructed during the past fortnight. Traffic. —The traffic inspector reported that motor license fees since • April 1 totalled £90 -4/. Fines collected amounted to £18 10/. In discussing traffic on the main highway, members expressed the opinion that accidents could be attributed "very largely to speeding and insufficiently lighted vehicles, especially did this apply to motor cyclists. Public Pound.—-A report covering the past six months showed a profit of £13 19/0. District Assessor.—ln accordance with legislation recently passed the board has to appoint an assessor for the district, and nominations will be received up to the 23rd inst. Subject to more than one nomination being received, a public meeting will be convened by the town clerk and an appointment made by the ratepayers by ballot. It is not necessary for the assessor to be a ratepayer ,or resident of the district.

Auckland City Council Water Supply Bill.—A draft of this bill was received •from the City Council, also a communication from Mr. H. G. R. Mason, M.P.„ who desired to know the board's opinion of the proposals contained in the bill. The chairman, in asking members to study the bill and forward their views to the town clerk, stated that he personally objected- to the giving the council the right to raise money without the consent of the ratepayers and the right to fix a minimum profit on all water supplied to outside local bodies. The board objected to the City Council having a monopoly of water, and agreed to forward . their opinions as suggested by the chairman.

Public Telephone.—The Poet and Telegraph Department replied to the board's letter of May 9, asking for the installation of a public telephone box in the centre of the township. The reply was that in view of the estimated deficiency it was regretted that the application could not be entertained. It was resolved to again write the Department asking for the economics of the' proposition, intimating that the board was prepared to meet a small deficiency in order to obtain the desired service.

Building Inspector.—Sixty-five applications were received for the position of building inspector. Mr. W. Potter was appointed.

An Account.—Mr. S. Todd submitted an account for £52 for rental of land. The land in question is situated at the corner of Todd and Totara Avenue, and until recently was occupied by the board's offices for a number of years at a peppercorn rental. The board disclaimed any liability.

MOUNT ROSKILL ROAD BOARD,

A meeting of the Mount Roskill Road Board was held last night, there being present: Messrs. E. F. Jones (chairman), G. E. Tansley, S. Scarborough, T. Davies, S. L- Goodall, E. A. Pearc< J. Donald, E. W. Foote.

Drainage.—The board is desirious that the proposed drainage of the western area of Mount Roskill shall be proceeded with. Before this can be done, however, the draft agreement between the road board and the drainage board must first be completed, to enable the Drainage Board to proceed with the incorporation of the area in the drainage district. Provision has been made for a flov of at least nine times the estimated ultimate dryweather flow of 35 gallons per capita per diem for an average population of 20 persons per acre, which is in accordance with the standard practice of the Drainage Board, where a branch sewer is involved. The volume of storm water to be dealt with will be fixed by a separate agreement, in which provision will be made for a maximum flow of 5000 cubic feet per minute for the Three Kings area, inclusive of sewage and. stormwater, as already proposed. Mr. fl. H. Watkins (engineer and secretary to the Drainage Board) will arrange for Mr. J. D. Whitmore (engineer for Mount Roskill) to be supplied with all the data which he will require in connection with the junction of the Road Board's sewer system with the Drainage Board's sewer system.

Transport Board.—The board declined to affirm the principle of the formation of a Transport Board, as the report of the Commission was not available.

A Loan.—The board decided to raise an unemployment loan of £4000 in a month's time, at 5% per cent • interest, to be redeemed in five years.

Classification of Roads.—The Public Works Department notified the board that all classification of roads received during the last few months had been held over roending the decision by the full court of a legal question relating to the validity of the present procedure.

Fire Brigade.—The chairman drew attention to the loss by fire of the residence of Mr. P. A. Fowler, in Liverpool Street, Mount Roskill, on June 30, and said that it* had been reported to him that the fire brigade lost half an hour in reaching the fire. Mr. S. Scarborough, a member of the Mount Roskill Fire Board, explained that the steering gear of the fire tender locked when turning a corner out of Mount Albert Road, and on reaching the fire the plug of the hydrant broke. Further, as the house was quite 300 ft away from the road, there was a shortage of hose, and on top of all this the pressure was only 401b to the square inch- After procuring more hose and joining up with the Onehunga and One Tree Hill water supplies, the pressure was increased to 1021b. The fire board had held an inquiry and found that the brigade was not be any means entirely to blame.

Finance.—The general account is" in debt £4340. Exnended during quarter ended June 30, £3788 3/2: balance of estimates available, £14.985 4/10.

Boundary Roads. —Mr. S. I. Goodall reported on the financing of the repairs and reconstruction of boundary roads between the road district and the city. The best method, he reported, was to pay £741 out of the current year's revenue, and to spread payment of the balance of the board's share of the cost, £3000, over the four succeeding years. The- board adopted the report.

Mount Roskill School.—A donation of £5 5/ was Voted to funds of the Mount Roskill school committee in celebration of the jubilee of the school. A committee was also set up to co-operate with the school committee in celebrating the jubilee, and also the diamond jubilee of the road board.

St. Mary's Home. —On the motion of Mr. G. E. Tansley the clerk was instructed to investigate the question as to whether the board had the legal right to impose rates oa St. Mary's Home property.

NORTHCOTE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Northcote Borough Council was held last evening. The Mayor (Mr. A. E. Greenslade) and Councillors C. H. Johnston, Harry Weaver, A. T. Munn, Robert Martin, E. J. Eraser, W. C. Ellis, A. J. Lennpn and P. J. Ryan were also present

Gas Company's Ciaim.—Mr. A. Greville Walker, C.E., intimated that* the manager of the Birkenhead and Northcote Gas Company had told him that his company had been faced with about £287 additional expenditure on account of the Queen Street concrete paving loan work. Of twelve claims submitted, Mr. Walker stated, in only two could he see any justification for claim. However, he had advised the gas company's representative to place the full details of all claims in writing to the council, so that they could be reported upon.

Refuse Destructor. — The Takapuna Borough Council wrote intimating willingness to take concerted action with Devonport and Northcpte in seeking legislation to allow payments to be made out of the district fund account toward the erection of the North Shore refuse destructor at Takapuna, and to refund these advances from loan account when raised after ascertaining the full sum required.

Soldiers' Unemployment.—The secretary of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr. E. H. Sharpe, wrote that as the Poppy Day funds had been exhausted, no farther funds for assisting unemployed soldiers were available, though it was hoped some money would be forthcoming later on from the canteen fund.

Auckland WatSr draft of the Auckland Water Supply Act, 1928, was received from the City Council, and referred to the legal and finance committee for consideration.

Motor Drivers' License Fees.—The Auckland City Council quoted correspondence in 1925 to show that no agreement to collect motor drivers' license fees on behalf of the Northcote borough was made. The Council, in any case, could not refuse to grant a driver's license to an applicant whose qualifications conformed to the requirements of the Act. The City Council regretted not being in a position to make any payment to Northcote in connection with motor drivers' licenses. The Northcote council 'will in future collect motor drivers' licenses.

Main Highways.-*-A communication from the Main Highways Board stated the cost of general maintenance of main highways in_ boroughs would be subsidised up to a width not exceeding 66ft. The subsidy for tar-sealing would je limited to a width of 30ft.

Beautifying.—The Ratepayers and Residents' Association suggested that the time was opportune for planting the clay bank near the wharf, and also the crest of the bank in the municipal recreation reserve. This letter- was referred to the reserves committee.

Traffic.—A letter from the Ratepayers and Residents' Association suggested alteration in the method of the regulation of the bus traffic at the wharf, in respect to the positions when starting buses, and also that the backing of buses to the stand of the wharf be discontinued. The traffic inspector agreed these alterations were desirable. r lhe matter" was referred to the works committee.

Street Lighting.—lnstances where it was considered improvement could be made by the provision of street lights were forwarded by the Ratepayers and Residents' Association. Between Vincent and Clarence Streets, and between Duke Street and Beach Road new lights, were suggested and a rearrangement of position so that light could be thrown on the footpath in Milton Road. Ihe street lighting committee is to consider the recommendations. Fishing in Hauraki Gulf.—Mrs. Ruby Watson wrote soliciting support for legislation in pursuance of the policy of the preservation of our fisheries by closing the Hauraki Gulf to all power-driven nets. It was decided to intimate to Mr. A. Harris, M.P., that the council supported this course. Auckland Museum.—As the council had decided not to contribute to the annual upkeep of the Auckland Institute and Museum, no action was taken in respect to an offer by the .president and secretary to address the council in furtherance of this objective. It was also decided to intimate that should legislation be attempted to make a compulsory levy for this purpose, this action would be stoutly resisted. Play Association.—An application from the Auckland Play and Recreation Association for permission to hold a street collection in Northcote on Friday, August 10, was not entertained.