KAPONGA TOWN BOARD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 September 1924, Page 10

KAPONGA TOWN BOARD

FINAL MEETING. The final meeting of the retiring Town Board was held on Tuesday evening. There were, present: Commissioners W. G. .Gran (chair), C. E. Betts, it. A. Law, A. Bates, J. A. Dawson, L. Shepherd, and Messrs A. E. Moss (engineer), and G. P. Cook (clerk). GENERAL. On the suggestion of Cr. Bates a resolution was adopted providing for the preparation of a; profit and loss statement relating to the electric lighting scheme and the keeping of a separate account showing its operation. It was also decided that, in future, copies of the statement' of accounts he prepared annually for each Vnember of the board when the balance-sheet is-being considered. The clerk reported that the administrative work of the board and striking rates was held up owing to the- uncertainty of obtaining immediate finances. —A lengthy discussion ensued, consideration being given to the advisability. of sending delegates to interview various Government Departments with a view to obtaining the sum of approximately £IOOO required to complete the electrical reticulation of the district.—Commissioner A. Bates ami the clerk were eventually appointed to proceed to Wellington on Thursday. 18th inst. The clerk intimated that when the result of the visit was known the rates could be struck. This, , h was anticipated, would be done on th<following Monday. A circular letter was received fioir the Normanby Town Board referring to the proposed formation of a. Town Boards’ Association, the objects of which would be to. consider questions S of vital interest and disc-ms nuv pm [ gressive measures which the different j boards may have in view. The lette asked if the board would be prepare jto send a delegate if the Nnrmanbv j Town Board called a meeting at a. date |to be arranged.—No action was taken i A complaint was received from the on rob user of a dwelling erected under board’s housing scheme. The comfiaint Mated that defects were apparent in the tirnbe- used in linino- the nnthroom ami that the 'bath” wa*' .•*••• eked.— Cr. Betts was appointed t'investigate the complaint.

"REPORTS. The report-, of the* electrieal enginee(Mr. A. 15. Moss) as follows was adopted : “The past month has been a von frying one lor the staff. The endeavon to supply what is now practically r po.A load at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m., to cither with ihe concreting of the pip~ line between times, Irm entailed a 10-< of attention to sluice and regulating •-.pe-nd (jv hand. The damaged portior of the pine 'line is now all covered with reinforced eoimreto. The automatic or-eesure reducing arrangement has beei built in the sump. To-dnv'.s mi’ brought a heavy fr-eoh and this kepi the pressure, down. The 10-k.v.a transformers have Ruthie Road and Palmer Road, am 1 the ib has been token into store. j\f assistant, A. R. Mom. has --w e-m pleted a year of sendee, and I recommend his wage to be to £ c os weekly'. T regret to have to report a .serious accident to the alternator ii the smaller nlant. which rr>tcd w • standby for the country load. At R. 9" P.m. 011 Friday, after running in parallel during the milking, and when w load was on, the stator coils burned out. T pronose that rewinding be dour at once, t.he friction clutch removed and the flexible coupling replaced. Discussing the report, members made reference to the extreme difficulties unrßr wIT-h the migineev was working at present and it was decided to recommend to the incoming hoard tlmt two p-mmi'-siono-s bo appointed to confer with t 1 ’" cnrdvmcr, assisting and giving <»uthon’tv when making dooisions. ouch as wo*’? not necessary to nut befo’ o the full horny] concerning toe operation of the p'ant. T'h? foreman fMr A. Melville) re sorted that holes in the Eltham and" Manaia Roads had been filled in and work completed as instructed by slvehairman of the Works Committee. The weather had be<m unsuitable for av work, which would be proceeded with when the weather was favourable

Water-tables on the eastern boundary and in front of the Convent school, and on the Upper Ma-naia Road, had been finished. An extra man would be required for tar work, notification as to wages to be paid being requested. The report also requested that the public be warned against leaving benzine tins on the roadside within the town area, and further asked for instruction concerning the prosecution of motorists exceeding the speed limit or motorists or drivers of milk carts passing the “silent policeman'’ on the wrong side. The report was adopted, it being decided to instruct the foreman to report for prosecution cases of speeding or passing the “silent policeman” on the wrong side. The wage of the extra man referred to was fixed at 14s per day. Referring to the preparatory work necessary prior to 8 a.m., the foreman inquired whether he was insured against accident during that time or whether the board would guarantee compensation if the insurance company refused to accept, liability.—-The board decided to amend the foreman’s working hours to include the work mentioned, and to intimate that he was covered by insurance at all times when working under the board’s instructions.

Recommendations of the Works Committee as follows. w r ere adopted: The employment of an additional man to carry out, with the foreman, the topping of hedges in the cemetery and tarring repairs on Eltham Road between the Town Hall and the Convent school; that when weather conditions made the foregoing impracticable, the foreman proceed with the cleaning of water-tables and footpaths on the Upper Manaia Road; the foreman to repair the protection fences at the Mangatoki bridge-, to erect a new gate at the cemetery reserve, and- put down a patch of metal and chips at the entrance to the Grand Central Hotel APPR'ECIATORY. Concluding the meeting, the deputvehairman of the board (Cr. W G Oran) spoke in terms of highest appreciation of the harmonious co-opera-tion of members during their term of office. The speaker felt sure he was voicing the sentiments which would have been expressed bv their worthy -toman (Or. W. G. Cook) had that '’■e-ntleman been present. Referrino- to the period during which, in the chairman’s absence, be had presided over the meetings of the hoard. Cr. Cran thanked members for the courtesy extended and support accorded in the discharge of his duties. A vote of thanks was recorded in ippieolation of the able services reniH 1 * rGtirin - chairman (Cr. ’V U' L OO \' av k r] deputy-chairman (Cr. n .‘ S‘x? raTl \' Speaking to the motion Gi. Betts, who has, with the exception of one term, been a member since the inception of the hoard, said the retiring members and leaders were the most efficient he had been associated with.