LOCAL BODIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 174, 25 July 1928, Page 9

LOCAL BODIES.

NORTHCOTE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Xortheote Borough Council was held last evening. The Mayor (Mr. A. E. Greenslade) presided, and Councillors C. H. Johnston, Harry Weaver, A. T. Munn, Robert Martin, P. J. Ryan, and W. C. Ellis were also present. Regulation of Traffic.—Recommendations of the Works Committee for the regulation of traffic were adopted. These provided that buses shall discharge passengers before turning at the wharf entrance, and that after arrival of ferry steamers the front bus shall be the first to start, and this order of rotation observed. The length of bitumenised road, from the end of the concrete paving to within thirty feet of the wooden wharf, is to be reserved as a bus area. \ ehicles for transport across the harbour are to be required to await the arrival of the cargo steamer on the eastern shoulder of the concrete paving, while the western [ shoulder is created a parking area for vehicles. The traffic inspector was authorised to erect the necessary notice boards. Loan Works.—The engineer, Mr. A. Greville Walker, reported that the contractors for the Queen Street concrete paving works had attended to miscellaneous maintenance on drains. The con-j tractors' maintenance period would expire | on Agust 25, in respect to Queen Street j and Belle Yue Avenue. L'ntil then he considered it necessary to retain the clerk of works. There were a number of details still to be finalised on both contracts. Claims By Gas Company.—Details of claims totalling £287 18 8 were forwarded by the Birkenhead and Northcote Gas j Company "for work done in Queen j Street in connection with the concrete j roading scheme." These were forwarded to the engineer to report. Harbour Bridge.—A donation of three guineas was voted towards the funds of of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Association. Incidence of Unemployment Relief. — The Hospital Board wrote pointing out the very serious position at present in regard to unemployment relief. In placing £30.000 on the estimates the board considered this sufficient. The pressure of applications for assistance, hbwever, was i abnormal. The majority of cases were I genuine and could not be refused. The I proportion for the past quarter had exceeded the estimated expenditure for j relief by £2333. It was decided to : co-operate with the Hospital Board in its endeavour to compel the Government to treat expenditure in relieving unemployment distress as a national matter, and thus relieve the present enormous strain on the local rates. Assessment Court. —Intimation was received that a sitting of the Assessment Court would be held next Monday, to consider an application for a reduction of valuation of a Xortheote property. Hauraki Fisheries.—Mr. A. Harris. M.P.. intimated that he quite concurred in the prohibition of power net trawling in the Hauraki Gulf. North Shore Destructor.—The council approved the draft clause proposed to be inserted in this session s Local Legislation I Bill, to validate advances and interest j paid from the district fund account of the borough councils concerned for the erection of the North Shore destructor, and to allow these payments to be refunded later from the loan when raised. Mr. I'. J. Ryan and the town clerk were empowered to take all steps necessary to give effect to the suggested legislation. The Devonport Council wrote also approving of the draft clause, and the lakapuna Council ad%"ised the appointment of a committee with power to act. I Memorial Museum.—After hearing j Messrs. H. E. Vaile and Gilbert Archey. it was resolved to oppose legilsation empowering the Auckland Institute to impose a compulsory levy on local bodies Tor the annual maintenance of the museum. It was further decided to invite the other borough councils on the North Shore to take combined action to defeat measure.