BOROUGH COUNCIL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7337, 12 February 1920, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

Ordinary Monthly Meeting

The ordinary meeting of the Borough' Councit was held last evening, the Mayor (Mr B. Dive) and Crs Wrigley, Castaing, Roberts, Tanner, and Whiting attending,

The following correspondence was dealt with .—-

Rotorua-Paengaroa Railway

Mr W. M. Ashton, hon. sec. of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, wrote enclosing copies of letters received from local bodies in the Whakatane and Opotiki districts in reference to the proposed construction of a railway between Rotorua and Paengaroa under the Local Railways Act. The Council was asked for an expression of opinion on the following points : (a) Is it advisable to proceed further in the matter? (b) If so, give suggestions in detail ? (c) If the proposal has to be abandoned does the Council favour a strong agitation for the construction, by the State, of the line in question, as a part of a line to be known as, say, the North Island Central Railway, running through the interior, via Taupo, Rotorua and Paengaroa, with Tauranga as the port ?

It was decided, on the motion of Cr Whiting, seconded by Cr Tanner, that as Opotiki and Whakatane Counties had declined to supportthe construction of the proposed railway, its construction without those counties would prove too severe a tax on the remaining districts, and the Council could not therefore agree to support the railway without those districts.

Co&l Shortage

The Westport District Citizen's Committee forwarded circular in regard to the shortage of coal in New Zealand, similar to that forwarded to the County Council and already published.

The letter vi ar received. Portfolio of Mines

The Thames Borough Council wrote soliciting co-operation and support of a resolution urging that in the interests of the Dominion and the mining industry that the claims of Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., to appointment to Cabinet, with the portfolio of Mines, should be recognised. Cr Castaing moved that no action be taken. Mr Massey, he thought was quite capable of appointing members of the Cabinet.

Cr Roberts seconded and the motion was carried.

Prince of Wales' Visit

Mr B. C. Robbins, hon. sec. of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, wrote asking the Council to set up a committee to confer with like committees from the Te Puke Town Board and the Chamber.

Mr Murdoch, President of the Chamber, also waited upon the Couucil to ask its co-operation in the matter.

It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Castaing, seconded by Cr Roberts, that the Mayor and Crs Whiting, Tanner, Carr and Wrigley be the Councils committees with power to act.

Raising Loan Money

Hon. Sir Wm. Herries wrote acknowledging receipt of letter respecting the Council's application for a loan of £2,000 for streets and footpaths improvements. He stated he will have much pleasure in supporting the application, and in this connection he is communicating with the Minister in Charge of the Public Trust Office-

Communications on the same subject were read from Hon J. G. Coates, Minister in Charge of the Public Trust Office, the Superintendent of the State Advances Office, and the Controller of the Mortgage Division of the Public Trust Office.

The letters were received

Topping Trees

Mr G. Norris wrote asking permission to top trees in Christopher Street and Harvey Street West He also requested the Council to repair the side track on the Judea Hill as it is worn away and is dangerous in wet weather.

Cr Castaing thought this the wrong time of the year to allow plane trees to be topped, and in any case the Council should ex ercise the greatest care in allowing trees to be interfered with at all

It was decided, on the motion of Cr Tanner, seconded by Cr Whiting, that the Chairman of the Works Committee inquire into the matter, and report to the next meeting of the Council.

Erecting a Fence

Mr J. Haua wrote as follows : — "As I have now had two notices from the Council to erect a fence round my Eli2abeth Street property, I would ask that the previous records of the Council, during Mr Adams' mayoralty, be examined, when it will be discovered that it was decided bv the Council to erect a fence round my property to recompense me for the loss of two fences, buried at different times when the road level was altered. Messrs Tanner, Castaing and Roberts will doubtless recollect what I have here stated."

The Town Clerk read a motion passed by the Council in October, 1917, empowering the Works Committee to have suitable fence erected.

Cr Castaing moved, and Cr Roberts seconded, that the engineer be instructed to have the Councils resolution acted upon>

Transfer of Borough Lease

Mr G. C. Maltby, solicitor, wrote asking for the consent of the Council to transfer of lease of lots 873 and 874, Sec. 2, from J. Delepine to E. T. Baker, and fur-