KAITANGATA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLVII, Issue 51, 24 December 1920, Page 6

KAITANGATA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting, of tuo Kaitangnta Borough Council on Wednesday was iby the Mayor (Mr f. Gage) and Councillors W." Stephenson, .1. Knthei ford, T. I'urvis, J. Pilgrim, U. Clark and J. \V. Font on.

Tlie receipts for the month were as follows:—Rates, tt>;S Is 4d; 10 per 'cent, penalty, Kid; >atiirary fees, tt!4 13s; pans, £(> -is; licenses, £1 10s; fees and lines, 'Hi iss; Government subsidv £94 19s 7d;—totnl, £194. *'

The 'bank .balances amounted to:— "General account (debit), £3*29 2s yd; cemetery account (credit), £123 15s 2d; domain account (credit), i'ol) 9s 9d. The I\j!lowing accounts wire passed i'or payment:—J. Kuowle-, £•_•:! 15s 5.1; Free Press, £ls Ms (id; 11. and CA. Hoard. £."0; interest on loans, £4O 16s; X.Z. Coal Co., £1 6<; McGruer, Taylor, £lO Is Sd; ilt. "Ramsay, £7; P. Clements, £l4; labour, £;::'. 4s; Government Printer, £1 5s 6d; hawkers' licenses, 3s 6d; clerk, £l3 Kis !0d; M. Brow-. SI 4s; cemetery aeeonnt, 17s Cd. Insurances:— Domain, £1 10s; workers' accident ■£6 15s lOd. Roll of liononr. l{js. CORR'EsTOXDK.YCE. ,

J. AV. Finch wrote applying for the use of the raadline adjoining his pro-perty.—Reqne-t declined. It. Lee, manager, Kaitangata Coal Co., replied re loading 'bank that as far as his memory served the arrangement made with the council's deputation was to leave tlie matter over until it was seen how the present siding suited. The company were agreeable to consider the question, 'but wished to know to what extent the council would assist. They would only agree to a bank similar to the standard railway loading 'bank.—Resolved that the matter be held in abeyance until a conference was held with the coal owners to see what assistance would be given, the council's deputation to consist of the "works committee.

Manager, Kaitangata Coal Co., wrote •desiring to know the council's intentions regarding house buLlcliiigf, and ■whether they intended to accept the •company's offer.—Councillor Fenton said it was a gieat pity that they were practically compelled to turn down such a line offer on account of the apathy of the people, especially when houses were so scarce, 'but many ratepayers objected to the 'borrowing of money for such purposes.—Councillor Stephenson said people were at present paying low rentals, and preferred carrying on as at present iu preference to having houses of their own.—Resolved that 'Mi Lee 'be asked to let the matter st:iurl over for three months, since owing to prevailing high prices there had been no applications for houses under the scheme.

Clerk Hruee County Council, wrote that the road 'between the old-canal and the new canal on "Clyde Terrace was not a i-oiinty road.—'ln reply to a qoestion the clerk stated that prior to the making of the new canal the Bruce County Council maintained the road from the old bridge.—Councillor Stephenson suggested that ihey draw the attention of the Public Works Department to tbe state the road was left in. —Councillor Pilgrim considered it was the county council's' duty to force the Public Works Department to complete the job. —Councillor Purvis said the ■work was not finished. He moved that the county council be asked to remove the old bridge, metal the road to the full width and put it into proper order for traffic—(Seconded -!by Councillor Clark and carried.

Blair 'Mason, Lee and Owen, consulting engineers, New Plymouth, wrote that in the 'Public Works Statement for 1920 there appeared a list of suggested power districts, and they desired to know if any steps were being taken to form the district which included Kaitangata, or if the couneil had under consideration the installing of a power supply for their local needs. —Resolved that a reply be made-that a BCheme was under consideration. . Wm. Bradley wrote tendering his resignation as dayman and poundkeeper owing to ill-health. He had been 82 v .years in the (borough service, and asked if he could be given a light signation accepted with regret, light work to be offered when available.—On the motion of Councillor Purvis it was further resolved that Mr Bradley receive the usual fortnight's holiday on full pay at the expiration of his term. Secretary, Otago Education Board, wrote asking that the trees which had been cut down and left lying across the boundary fence at ■ the Kaitangata School 'be removed irs early as possible. —Resolved, on motion of I'ouncillors Clark and Aitchison, that the contractor be given H days' notice to clear the fence, otherwise the work be carried out at his expense.

iA. C. Laing, secretary, S.O. 'Progress (League, -wrote asking what steps the council had taken in regard to the establishment of a generating plant for its own use from steam power, and whether the council would be able to supply outside consumers.—deceived. Secretary, Kaitangata School Committee, reported that someone had tipped a load of house refuse on the roadline almost opposite the top school gate, on the iCoast "Boad, and asking that 6teps ibe taken to prevent a recurrence.—Received.

SAXTT.AIRY CONTRACTS. Fourteen complaints were received from residents of the iborougb regarding the unsatisfactory nature of the sanitary service. Councillor vStepheuson said it was growing a common thing for residents to hail a councillor whenever they saw one with "Hey! T want you. Where's the sanitary contractor?" Councillor Purvis said the contractor bad been met by the committee and had etated to them that ho was only three days 'but later they found that further behind than ther had previously known. The committee now recommended that the contractor have a foook to carry out the work in rotation. The contractor had stated that Jltt reason he was 'behind was the ae-

cumulation left by the previous con : j traetor. 1A man was therefore put on j to assist for six days, and - 200 houses had 'been visited in the : first five days. | Councillor 'Feiitdn.said the position I' was serious, and he moved that the eon- : tractor be informed that unless he car- i ries out his contract in its eutireiy the ' council will adopt methods to have the '' sysrmt carried out to their satisfaction at liis expense. I . Seconded toy Councillor-Aitchison and carried. ' The Mayor said the system was all . right, and it was in the interests of the ' ratepayers that it should ibc properly j carried out. J. H. Kuowles, sanitary contractor, wrote complaining that at several of the houses he visited the cards had 'been removed, and he was unable to mark his visits. He n?so directed to removing other refuse not provided for in the eoutract. | Councillor Pilgrim said the case was one where the -householder had watched the contractor pass, and compelled him to' come back. i Councillor Fenton said he had known of other persons getting out of bed to compel him to call. He apparently , called at only a few houses on the i round. ' j The letter was received. i GEXEIRAiL. It was resolved, on the motion of 'Councillors Stephenson and Pilgrim, that the clerk 'be given leave to attend . the conference of engineers at Christ- ; church on February 22 at the borough ! expense. It was resolved that applications be failed for the positions of borough dayman and poundkeeper. i Councillor Stephenson referred to the destruction of the swings in Victoria ■ Park by the removal of parts, and cou- ; sidercd that the attention of the public ! should be drawn to it. He also asked I the council's support in the matter of j catering for the pleasures of the chilI dren by tlie provision of more sand for I the pits and the erection of more swings.—It was resolved that the matter be left to the clerk to attend to. The Mayor reported on the visit of Or MeKibbin in connection with the operations of the new 'Health Act, and after explaining the provisions the council unanimously agreed to adopt the Department's scheme for the appointment of a district sanitary inspector to control sanitation in the borough iu co-operation with other boroughs of the district. Councillor 'Aiteliison reported that a meeting had been held with the Beturned Soldiers' Committee, who desired that the borough might recommend a site for the proposed soldiers' dub.—Matter held over for inquiry.