KAPONGA TOWN BOARD.

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

KAPONGA TOWN BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Kaponga Town Board met last evening. There were present Commissioners A. R. Bates (chairman), R. A. Law, J. Dawson, C. E. Betts, R. F, Williams and Messrs A. E. Moss (engineer), and G. P. Cook (clerk).

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY. The engineer (Mr A. E; Moss) reported:—“During the month the supply to the western circuit from Opunake has been satisfactorily performed. The supply of water in the .river has been kept up by the several rainy spells, the dam now "showing a falling tendency. The alternator reached Eltbam this morning in a broken condition. We have not taken delivery, and it is being returned to Wellington.' I propose to hurry on the Hume pipe contract.

Meanwhile present arrangements will stand. On November 28 the thrust on the No. 1 plant gave way, and some slight damage to the generator necessitated putting in the spare armature carried In stock. The armature needs to go away to have the commutator trued up and the end connections reinsulated. The staff has been reduced to a. minimum, one new connection only being Tpade.” The report was adopted. The engineer verbally reported that with Mr Goldsmith, resident engineer at Eltham to the Taranaki Power Board, he had inspected the damaged alternator at. the Eltham .railway yards and had conferred with the railway officials. The alterantor would have to be returned to Wellington for repairs, and apparently compensation could be claimed from the Railway Department. Until the work was done the damage could not be assessed, but he thought it would not be less than £2O.

It was decided to return the alternator to’Wellington’ for repairs, the clerk being instructed to communicate with the Railway Department regarding the claim for damages. Replying to the chairman, the engineer stated that tenders for the pipe line excavation would -be called by advertisement during the next few cays. He thought that a good gang would open up the line within three weekly of the commencement of the work. Referring to the Hume pipes, lie had hopes from what lie had been told by the makers when in Palmerston North fhat tlie cost of ’laying would be less than the original estimate, it being anticipated that from 10 to 14 pipes per day would lie put down. The pipes were already made, aiul were at the Palmerston 'North works, and lie had asked that they be forwarded between Christmas and the New Year.

A letter received from the Opunake Electric Power Board notified that as from December Ist the Town Boaid would be charged for 50 k.w. r i maximum demand. FOREMAN’S REPORT.

The report of the foreman (Mr A. Melville) stated, inter alia, that drainage to the bawling green was finished, though trouble had been experienced owing to sides falling in and causing blockages. This had necessitated pumping to remove the water. With reference to the Christmas holidays, application was made for leave of absence on the morning of Saturday, 27th, it being pointed out that a halfholiday was owing, as owing to necessary work the half-holiday had not been taken on Saturday, 13 th. The report was adopted, leave of absence, as requested, being granted. DISPOSAL OF RUBBISH.

Included with his report, the foreman drew attention to the practice of dumping rubbish on the paddock at the rubbish tip. Clearance of the paddock had recently occupied 11 days of his time. He asked that instructions be issued requiring those disposing of rubbish toi put it over the tip head. The clerk was instructed to communicate with the town carriers calling attention to the matter, giving the instruction as suggested. - FIRE BRIGADE.

Explaining that the Kaponga Volunteer Fire Brigade was organising a campaign to assist the brigade funds, the hon. secretary (Mr. J. H. Tyack) made application ror the use of Victoria Park on January 22 for the purpose of holding a. sports meeting, and also requested that the Board grant a picture entertainment in the hall during the evening-. Permission was granted for the use of the park, and the clerk was instructed to arrange for the picture entertainment, the proceeds, in excess of certain charges, to Be handed to the brigade. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST PLAGUE. A circular letter received from the District Health Office explained that in view of the reported outbreak of plague in Los Angeles and South Africa, it was necessary, in conjunction with the measures being adopted at New Zealand ports that local authorities should alsjs continue their anti-rat measures, and stressed the urgent necessity for constant action against rodents. This should be impressed upon ratepayers by local authorities and the fact, that poison was available made known. Special attention should he paid to prevention of rubbish accumulation and the destruction of rats at tips. Propertyowners guilty of default regarding antirat' measures should, be served with notice requiring action, to lie taken. — received. SANITARY. INSPECTION. A circular letter received from the District Health Office, Wellington, notified that where an inspector of health had been appointed by. a local authority us it sanitary inspector he was, for the purposes of the Act, an officer of the local, authority, to which he should report all matters with which it bad power to deal, but to- give him tho necessary status, it was -required that lie should ho appointed by form a I resolution ■of the local authority. Advice as to whether such appointment had been made by the Board was requested, recommendation being made that if the resolution had not been passed .previously it should he passed forthwith. Enclosed tyith a further letter the medical officer of health . forwarded copy of plumbing and drainage regulations tinder the Act, and suggested that the local inspector of health be made the board’s sanitary inspector for carrying out the work. It was decided that Mr Gray (health inspector) be appointed, and that the regulations be adopted for inclusion in the board’s by-laws. GENERAL.

Formal notification regarding the statutory special meeting in the month of January for the purpose of deciding the weekly half-holiday for shops in the district was received from the Department of Labour, Wellington.—The clerk pointed out that failing the receipt by the department of notification regarding the meeting the department automatically recorded the half clay in accordance with that observed during the previous year. As apparently- no change was desired by local retailers, the meeting was therefore not necessary.. —No action was taken. With reference to complaints received concerning the nuisance caused by fowls kept in the more congested nor-

tion of. the town area, the sanitary inspector was instructed to carry out an inspection and to take such action as was deemed necessary. Accounts totalling £775 were passed for payment.