LOCAL BODIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 45, 22 February 1929, Page 16

LOCAL BODIES.

TAKAPUNA BOROUGH. The Takapuna Council met Wednesday evening, the Mayor Mr. J. W. Williamson) presiding. There were present Messrs. M. L. Wilkins, J. Dnvis, J. Guiniven, F. Hawes, G. C. Malcolm, A. M. Gould, H. L. Bowden (clerk), and A. Slinger (engineer). Proposed Harbour Bridge.—The Marine Boroughs Association's request for an expression of opinion regarding the desirability of constructing a bridge across the Waitemata Harbour was deferred to a special meeting to be held next Wednesday.

Rate Remission.—The Legal and Finance Committee recommended that two outlying areas of 198 acres should be declared unlikely to be required within a reasonable period for building purposes, and should therefore be subject to reduced rates. Mr. Guiniven opposed the proposal on the ground that it would tend to undermine the unimproved values system, which was adopted by the borough eighteen months ago. To this the Mayor replied that the bulk of the land in question was used for agricultural purposes, and other portions were swamp. Mr. Guiniven moved, and Mr. Davis seconded, that the clause should be deleted, but the motion was negatived by the casting vote of the chairman. Mr. Guiniven said he would convene a public meeting to protest against the infringement of the unimproved values rating principle.

Unsightly Hoardings.—The new draft by-laws relating to hoardings were approved, the Mayor stating the tendency of the present council was to eliminate as much as possible the disfigurement of the boroughs by unsightly hoarding erections andr signs. The question of provision of sanitary convenience in the Strand was postponed, as there is much diversity of opinion concerning the site, protests from residents thereabouts having beeu received. Several prosecutions are to be made for unlicensed hoardings. New Drainage Works.—lt was decided to call for tenders for drainage work in the area bounded by Lake Road. Eversleigh Road, Onepoto Road, and Northboro' Road, and to invite fresh tenders for work on the drainage system in the MilfordShakespeare Road area. Warning To Swimmers.—The council decided to erect warning notice boards at the estuary at Milford pointing out the dangers to swimmers bathing in the entrance during the passage of boats."