ELTHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 December 1924, Page 6

ELTHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Borough. Council met on Friday, the Mayor (Mr G. AY. Tayler) presiding. The councillors present were: Crs. Lewis, Taplin, King, Taylor, Campbell, Clement, Nairn and Bridget.. The Mayor moved that a Vote of thanks and condolence be passed to the widow and family of the late Mr C.. Potts 5 also concerning the late Mr G. Sangster, of Stratford. The votes were passed in silence., Mr J. S. Murray, surveyor, wrote asking the council to affirm the subdivision of a section in King Edward Street, the property of Mr T. B. Grump.—The subdivision was approved, i MOUNT EG MONT RESEBVE. Mr T. B. Crump, chairman of the southern committee in charge of • the Mt. Egrnont reserve and the Dawson Falls Hostel, and also, the council’s re- j presentative on the committee, asked permission to address the council on the subject before the council concerning the presence of goats and wild cattle in the reserve. He stated that th© committee had not a very long life to live in its present form, as prc.poasls of a new constitution were being brought into being. We live so close to the mountain that we fail to realise what an important part it plays in our every-day life. It is the landmark for th© whole of and means i a good deal to the .residents for its scenic beauties. The hoard 'are endeavouring to protect it from any destructive influences, but of late years, due to th© general retrenchment policy of the Government, very little financial assistance has been received, and the committee have Bad to provide other means of financing the hostel and the maintenance of biiildings, roads, etc. The constitution of the present .board is democratic, representing nearly all the local bodies of Taranaki and uvo representatives of the Government, with the Commissioner of Crown Lands as its permanent chairman. The area under control is 80,000 acres, just half the size of the Tong&riro National Park. It bad been reported that there were thousands of wild goats on the mountain slopes, also wild cattle, which were destroying the young growth of native trees. The board had no evidence of this matter, and he doubted whether there were any wild cattle at all in the reserve. No doubt many farmers utilised the reserve in the winter to graze their cattle on. He traversed the history of the board and. its difficulties, and outlined the constitution of the new board and its increased power of control, and of financing the various matters under its jurisdiction. The Northern Committee had always decided to lease the Dawson Foils house, and iii that connection w©,were always very fortunate in the choice of caretakers. He suggested that the new board when constituted would be seeking financial assistance from the i Borough and County Councils. The board did not resent the complaint concerning the destruction of the reserve by animals, but' lie thought that 'be report referred particularly to the northern ranges of the mountain. The (traffic to tli© Dawson Falls house so far this year had been a record. . The ' track yfas in excellent condition, and a permanent hand was employed, on the I road. The total revenue obtained last year was £85(5, and the committee could spend £SOOO on the two: hostels, which would greatly increase the traffic to the mountain. Several questions were asked Mr Crump concerning the old accommodation house, and suggestions for improving this were wfere given. Ci’, Nairn said that to his owii knowledge there were sufficient wild goats ■ in the reserve to create a menace to its preservation in five years ? time. They were not only on the slopes, hut were also in the hush. Mi; Crump was accorded, a vote of thanks, on the motion of Crs. Taylor and Lewis. GENERAL. A letter was received from Mr T. B. Crump, solicitor, on behalf of Mr R. T. Adams, applying for permission to erect an addition to the building in Bridge Street occupied.by Mrs Williams as a dining room.—The Town Clerk explained that the addition was required under the* new health regulation concerning the storage of foodstuffs, but the building was in the.brick area, and the by-laws provided that all extensions should be in brick.—On the motion of Crs. Clement and Campbell, Mr Crump was to be informed that the application could not he granted.— Carried. Miss Birket, on behalf of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, applied for permission to conduct a street stall and make an appeal for funds.—Permission was granted. !The Health Department wrote enclosing a copy of the regulation concerning the control of health matters by the Borough Council, apd suggesting new by-laws regarding the matter. —The letter was referred to the Finance Committee to report. COMMITTEE REPORTS. . The Finance Committee reported:.That the recommendation of the gasworks manager re; closing gasworks yard from 1 p.m. to 4 p.in. daily be 1 adapted. That the recommendation of the gasworks manager re advertising ■*" gas cookers and gas heating appliances Be adopted. That the application of the Eltharn Public Library Committee — | for annual subsidy of £35 be granted. I Cr. Taylor objected to the clause in I the report concerning the advertising I of cookers. The committee should economise, as the department was sure to show a loss next, year. The gas manager was working energetically, and this was sufficient. The Mayor stated that the advertising contract was £ls for 12 months. He thought that with the opposition of the electric power it was necessary to draw attention to the benefit of gas cooking heaters, etc. Cr. Campbell supported the advertising expenditure, and agreed that the boost was necessary. Cr. Thomas stressed the benefit c,f advertising, especially with [regard to the use of cookers. Cr. Bridger said be most heartily supported the advertising campaign. Economy in this direction was false economy. They had already proved the benefit of the campaign, |ns some 18 cookers had been sold. * Cr. Taylor moved as an amendment that clause 6 be not agreed with. This K 3 failed to secure a seconder and the motion lapsed. The Town Hall and Pictures Committee recommended :—That the application of‘the Eltharn Volunteer Fire Brigade for a benefit picture entertainment in aid of the widow of the late Fireman AV. H. Hart he granted. That the- application of the Eltharn combined Scouts for a, picture benefit on the usual terms he granted.. That an extra exit from operating box be provided. The committee reported that th© sum required to efficiently advertise the pictures for the ©nsuing twelve months is £275. The Reserves and Cemetery Committee recommended that the tender oi; Air A\ r . C. Clement for lease of portion of Soldiers’ Memorial Park at £2 10s per acre*per annum be accepted. That it has no recommendation to make re matter of establishing a fernery in the Taumata Park. That it has inspected

roadway leading to cemetery gates, and is of opinion that same is in good order. Cr. Bridge’- a-reiv attention to the remark contained in the reserves caretaker’s report concerning the action of some iiidividual with a queer sense of humour who had removed the nuts of the swing. This act might easily have caused a fatality. Unfortunately it is characteristic of the many jokes played by hoodlums wlio patronise the park during week-ends. The committee have not -reported any action concerning this matter, said Or. Bridger. The' person who would stoop to such an act is a hoodlum of the worst type, as it might easily have resulted in the death of some child. He hoped the committee would take drastic steps to find the culprit and have an example made of him.

The Finance Committee submitted special report re gasworks matters, in which it made; inter alia the following recommendations: That consumers fittings be maintained by the department free of charge other than the cost of materials supplied, and that a complete inspection o,r fittings be made once in each quarter. That the committee has no recommendation to make re matter of reopening showroom. That it is of opinion that the holding of periodical cooking demonstrations is the best method of pushing the sale of gas appliances, and that arrangements be made to have this put into effect. The Mayor read a lengthy statement concerning the gasworks, in which he referred to. the general working expenses of the department and the prospect of increasing the output by the sale of cookers, heating appliances, etc., especially with the special price inducement recommended by the Finance Committee.—Crs. Taplin, Taylor. Bridger and Thomas supported the reduction. GENERAL BUSINESS. Gr. Lewis brought several matters regarding the electric light poles lying in the main street, and also concerning the presence of rubbish in the side streets. —These matters were referred to, the Works Committee for attention. Cr. Bridger said that there was a matter in connection with the hiring of 1 the Town Hall that needed attention. 1 Certain travelling companies make it a practice of advertising certain prices for their respective entertainments, which usually provide for three prices for'admission, but do hot provide reasonable seating accommodation at the minimum price. People are often enticed to attend an entertainment on the lowest price advertised, expecting to have a reasonable chance of obtaining a, seat at the figure, but they find that there are usually so few seats reserved for the low price tickets that they are soon full, and that it becomes necessary to. pay more, or go home.. It seeined to be a trick to get people to attend and then make them pay more for admission, as a large number of cases only two rows of seats at the back are. reserved for the minimum priced tickets. He then moved that at least five rows of seats be reserved for the ticket-holders of minimum advertised prices. The motion was seconded, by Ci. Nairn, who said that he had had experience of the. matter under discussion. ’ Crs. Taplin and King also Supported the suggestion. Cr. Campbell did not think they could impose any 'condition on the travelling companies such as suggested. Cr. Thomas said that in his opinion it would be better to mark out the various sections on the walls. He thought that it would be hard to. enforce the condition. The Mayor did not favour the resolution, but thought that a trial might be made. The resolution was then put and carded. The treasurer reported that £742 had jeen received during the month, and recounts aiiioimting to £6BO had been raid. Tlie abattoir mamtgef reported that 115 head of stock had. been slaughtered rt the works, and that two animals rad been condemned.