LOCAL BODIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 19, 23 January 1929, Page 3

LOCAL BODIES.

MOUNT ROSKILL BOROUGH.

The first meeting of the year was held last night, when the chairman, Mr. E. F. Jones, welcomed the recently-elected member, Mr. R. San ft.

House Numbering.—Notification w«6 received from the Mount Albert Borough Council that all house numbers in Mount Albert Road had been rearranged from New North Road to the borough boundary, and suggested that the Mount Roskill Road Board and the Onehunga Borough Council should continue numbering in sequence to the Royal Oak. The board did not consider this a satisfactory solution of the duplication of numbering which was already beginning to cause confusion, for the reason that the larger part of the thoroughfare is not in Mount Albert, but in Mount Roskill and Onehunga, and as the latter bodies have already numbered their houses it was decided to ask Mount Albert to continue the numbering from the Mount Roskill boundary, thus making an unbroken esquence of numbers from the Royal Oak to the New North R%J, near the tram terminus.

Concreting Mount Albert Road.—ln connection" with the request recently mad by the Mount Roskill Road Board for a:: increased subsidy for laying dowu th-.• Mount Albert Road in concrete, the district representative of the Main HighwayBoard has notified the road board that the members of the Main High.va'e Board will be passing through Auckland early next month and will take the opportunity of inspecting the highway so that the question of subsidy may be funher considered. A committee was appointed, consisting of the chairman and Messrs. Goodall, Pearce and Taneley, to niej: the Highways Board.

Telephone for Turncock.—The Tslegrapj Engineer reported that it was impossible to give a telephone connection u the turncock's house, owing to the 2xc' i ia , .i < jv> apparatus being in full use. Xo si-aio number is available. He explained 'bat the blockage was in the exchange itself, so that the condition applied to the u hole of the area served by the Mount Eden exchange. The chairman maintained rh.it the matter was too urgent to be po*iporied indefinitely, for, in the event of a break in the water mains it was essoin m. to be able to communicate with tiic turncock at once. Mr. G. C. Mum*, M.P., will be asked to assist in getting early connection by telephone. ' Rating Church Properties.—The Valuation Department replied to the board"* inquiry regarding the exemption of rates on the property occupied by the Sisters of Mercy, and stated that it was impossible to discriminate between the laud that was fanned and the rest of the property. Moreover, it was likely that the sale of milk, which first caused the board to class it as a farm, and therefore subject to rating, would decrease during the dry weather. The board decided to press the matter, maintaining that the position was not affected by any possible reduction in the milk supply, as that happened to all dairy farmers during a drv summer, and this land was run as a farm.

Useless Reserves.—Mr. Tansiey brought up the matter of the large number of small reserves set aside when properties were subdivided, and drew attention to a move made by another local body to put these to some useful purpose. He thought the board should trv to get authority to dispose of these small isolated areas, and devote the proceeds to the purchase of an area which would be suitable for recreation purposes. The board decided to ask Mr. G. C. Munns, M.P., to investigate the position. Water Supply.—Following a request from the Roskill West Ratepayers' Association in regard to a water supply for Ridge Road and Halsey Drive, the board s engineer, Mr. J. D. Whitman, furnished an estimate of the cost of reticulation at £3370 9/3, and this information will be sent on to the association.

Loan Polls.—Mr. .Pearce urged that no time should be lost in obtaining the authority of the ratepayers for a loan to cover the cost of concreting Mount Albert Road, and the board decided to take a poll at an early date. At the same time the board will submit a loan poll for erecting municipal chambers and for the drainage of the western area of the district.

financial.—The board decided to impose the statutory penalty of 10 per cent on all unpaid rates, including water rates. The treasurer reported a debit balance of £7613 12/ in the general account. Committees. —The newly-elected member (Mr. Sanft) was added to the Reserves and Town Planning Committees. Mr. Scarborough was elected to the Finance Committee, and Mr. Roberts to the Works Committee, vice Mr. T. Davies, resigned.

MOUNT ALBERT BOROUGH. The Mount Albert Borough Council met last evening, the chairman (Mr. L. E. Rhodes) presiding. Roads.—Tho engineer submitted plans for the reconstruction o£ Selkirk Road. School Road, Shaw Street, Collins Street, New North Road extension, and portion of St. Luke's Road, from New North Road to Taylor's Road. He stated that Richardson Road had been practically finished, and ou the motion of Mr. Langley, the thanks of the council for the way in which the work had been done were recorded. Proposals for the drainage ot Eustou Road, Gladstone Road Domain Road areas were discussed, the engineer suggesting that they should be let by contract. Several councillors suggested that by doing the work by day labour unemployed ratepayeiw of the borough would be given work. The decision of the council was deferred. Buildings.—The building inspector reported that he had issued 34 permit*, valued at £Bois, 10 permits being for dwel.nigs totalling £7325.

NORTHCOTE BOROUGH COUNCIL. The ordinary meeting of the Xorthcote Borough Council wae held last evening. The Mayor (Mr. A. £. Greene lade) presided. • Balance-sheet.—The town clerk. Mr. H. u " on > was congratulated on having the balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1828, certified by the AuditorGeneral as correct, without any tag. Marn Highways Tour.—The Mavor. Messrs. H. Weaver, Frank Wilson, and F. J. Ryan were appointed to present the various matters to be brought under the notice of the members of the Main Highways Board on February 11, inelud-

ing the question* of subsidies towards Queen Street and the proposed reconstruction work in Lake and Oaewa Roads. Queen Street Concrete Paving.—The : chairman of the No. 1 District Highways Council, Mr. J. McEnnis, wrote that the tar-seating on each side of the concrete paving in Queen Street could be put | in hand as «oon as the shoulders were | permanently «et. The shoulders, mean- ; while, should be kept up to the level and expansion joints attended to. Concreting Oaewa Road. —The waterworks engineer was authorised to lay a six-inch water main across the county portion of Onewa Road. Automatic Telephone.—lt was decided to co-operate with the Birkenhead Council in taking steps with a view to lie iauou ot the automatic telephone system. Street Telephones.— lu auuniwti u l.>< promised street coin-in-the-»lot telephone cabinet to be placed opposite the council chambers, similar facilities are to be requested for Onewa Road (either at the war memorial or Gladstone Road corner) and near the hotel, or Alma Street, in Queen Street. New Post Office. —Mr. Alex. Harris, M.P., wrote: "1 am advised by the Post- j master-General, Hon. J. B. Donald, that j he intends to personally visit Xorthcote | within the next week or so in connection with the recent discussion regarding the site of the new Post Office." In reply to Mr. Ryan, the Mayor said the council had been officially informed that the site on which it was proposed to erect the Post Office was at the corner of Queen Street and Grenrille Road, opposite the theatre.

MANUREWA TOWN BOARD. The Mauurewa Town Board held its fortnightly meeting on Monday, the chairman (Mr. Geo. Gsllaher) presiding over a full attendance of members.

Coxhead's Road.—The southern Works Committee tendered a report of an inspection of this road with a view to its being opened in the near future. After some discussion regarding a neeessary deviation, it was decided to communicate with the various property owners concerned, advising them that the board proposes to open the road.

Takanini Stream Bridge.—The clerk (Mr. H. Kay) reported receipt of an acknowledgement from the Mai.iik.ui Countr Council regarding the board'* offer to assist in financing the construction of a bridge over the Takaniui stream. The council's letter did not state that the board's offer had been accepted, but the councils engineer (Mr. J. R. Page) had since stated that this was the case, the plans being now in an advanced stage. Traffic Inspector.—Mr. Fawcett drew attention to a report that the Highwaxs Board proposes to appoint a traffic nis,>ector to control the Great South Koad. He expressed the opinion that the Highways Board should also be prepared to contribute towards the cost of the traffic inspector at present employed bv the suburban local bodies. Members concurred, and it was agreed that the matter be kept in view. Great South Road Shoulders—Mr W T Oox reported that portions of the recea'tlrlaia bitumen shoulders were considerably below the level of the concrete roadwav. ine engineer stated that the work bad been done to conform with the Highwars Board s instructions, but that the trouble had since been rectified and new work now allowed for shrinkage. Bituminous Roads.—Mr. Fawcett drew attention to the necessity for topdressing Russell Road and Hill Road. Referred to the foreman.

Railway Service.—Further to previous correspondence of a similar nature, it was decided to writ* to the Railway Department requesting additional train facilities between 3.38 p.m. and 4.43 p.m.