HAWERA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 June 1924, Page 6

HAWERA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Hawera Borough Council was held last night, when there were present : His Worship the Mayor (Mr. L. A. Bone), and Crs. Reid, Champion, Brunette, Morrissey, Goodwin, Surrey, Burdekin and Osborne. Leave of absence was granted Cr. Townsend. The by-laws committee recommended that no action be taken respecting a. by-law re cars turning in streets; that no. action be taken in respect of a bylaw prohibiting spot lights on motors. Councillors spoke strongly against the use of spot lights on cars, and referred the recommendation dealing with this question hack to the com" mittee.

The recommendations concerning cars turning in streets was .adopted. Mr. ft. Hart was granted a. relaxation of the by-laws in respect of the erection of a verandah at the back of his premises, providing that iron supporting posts be used.

Cr. Reid suggested that something should be done with regard to allowing the registration of cars to be carried out by boroughs as well as counties. At present boroughs were being deprived of a considerable amount of revenue.

The council decided to do nothing in the meantime owing to the probability of the matter being covered by legislation to be considered by Parliament this coming session.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS. The works committee recommended that E. A. Pacey’s application on behalf of F. Latham for permission to make additions to dwelling on leasehold section pt. sub. 37 be granted; that application by Salvation Army to hold street collection on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of show week next month he granted; that application by Para Rubber Co. for permission to erect box on verandah post of building in Regent Street for a free air station for motors be granted during the pleasure of the council, and subject to the box being placed 8 feet above footpath: that C". H. Mills be thanked for his kind offer to nrovide up to 100 trees for East End Park ; that Mr. Garnett he put in charge of any beautifyinrr works carried out at East End Park; that letter received from C. E.. Sinclair bp l referred to the reserves committee to consider and bring down a report as

to fencing re «üb. ,37; that Mrs. L. M Parson son’s application for renewal of secondhand dealer’s license be • that notice labels re breach of"by-laws be obtained as suggested by inspector; that engineer’s letter re roof water entering sewers be received and suggestion re inspector adopted; that enffineer’s report re storm water drain in HifrJi k iroct bo filed for future referenee; that with regard to asphalting flank of Regent Street, this work be done on the western side of street; that works committee’s report be adopted; that librarian’s report he adopted, and that clock be attended The recommendations were adopted STORM WATER DRAIN. ihe Borough Engineer (Mr John hturrock) reported upon the cost of a storm water drain along High street as follows: In High street the watershed is at L nion street, consequently a pipe would be required along High street trom Union street down to the railway crossing or close to that. Another pipe would be required along High street from Victoria street to the Park gate. Ims latter I have reported upon several

times. Its construction would put an filS: flooding, which occurs at Wilson street corner. It ought to be !u ld , at , s uch de P th that it will drain the hollows of Victoria street and Argyle street (between High street and Surrey street) which at present drain into the sewer. Why this method of constructing these streets was adopted in the past I am unable to sav. The other portion from Union street to the railway crossing may require to be laid some day as part of a system of storm water drains, which may have to be built to remove a lot of surface water which at present finds its way into the mam sewer. It will Ire much cheaper to do this than to duplicate the sewer in all probability. At oresent Ido not see any necessity for spending this there has been a little difficulty with one or two shops, but it seems to me to he better for a little care 'to be taken to lead roof water through a shop by means of a pipe wherefrom it can be discharged into the street channels than to consider spending, say, £IOOO of the ratepayers’ money. However, this is a matter for the council. Cost of a 15-inch pipe from Victoria street to Park gate, with branches up Victoria street and Aroyle street, £l<)20; cost of a 12-inch pipe from Union street to railway, £9.90. The report was filed for future reference.

ENGINEER’S PROGRESS REPORT. The Borough Engineer’s progress repoi t was as follows: Repair of worn and cracked patches in streets and paths is being attended to. This completes this year s tarring programme. The usual maintenance work is being attended to. In regard to new work to be put on estimates. I shall lie glad of your instructions as to whether this ‘work is definitely to be done. Each year, owing to the increased demand' for bitumen, the delays in forwarding are greater, and it is necessary to get in the order as soon as possible. Before doing this I must know what quantity of woi-k is to be undertaken. Your instructions need not be delayed until decision is made as to which side of Regent styeet is proposed. That question would not affect the quantity so long as I know that one of the sides was to he laid in metal. 1 would also like to know as soon as possible about any footpaths proposed to be laid in bitumen macadam, as it will be advisable to also order some high penetration bitumen suitable for this purpose. The tars we have been getting lately are vastly inferior to the pre-war product, and I have been compelled to »et local tar and refine what little we now use. The modern method of distiliinntars to pitch and then cutting back by the addition appears to yield a tar which will, conform to chemical analysis, but it certainly does not result in a durable article.

OFFICERS’ REPORTS. r Jbe Borough inspector (Mr L. Hunt') reported, inter alia: A decided improvement lias taken place in traffic since the disc scheme of parking has been introduced, and I think with a little more time the scheme with a few minor adjustments will be quite satisfactory, the commonest fault at present lying with the motorist who will persist in parking on the wrong side, and if they only observe the rules of the road, viz., keep to the left when parking or stopping in the street the fault would soon he remedied. The Sanitary Insnector (Mr Coleman) reported: During the month of May one plumbing and two drainage permits were issued. Seventy-five premises were inspected and any necessary notices issued. Two drains of a total length of 200 feet were inspected and tested. The Librarian (Miss Newland) re-

ported as follows : .1 beg to report an increase of about 30 new members during the month, bringing the number up to 460, which is a record, and an increase of 10 on the four winter months of 1921, when the number stood at 450. Fifty-three hooks were bought, quite a good number of general literature amongst them. This percentage should be maintained while the high membership keeps up. The news room clock needs attention. It has been going for many years without a fault, but now runs down every few days, so probably a thorough spring cleaning is necessary. The Borough Ranger (Mr Blackwell) reported that two horses and five head of cattle had been impounded during the month. The reports were all adopted.