PATEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 January 1925, Page 6

PATEA.

BOROUGH COUNCIL

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A special meeting of the Pate a Borough Council was held on Monday evening last, lor the purpose of fixing the day on which the weekly half-holiday shall be observed during 1925. .His Worship the Mayor (Mr. P. S. Finlayson) presided. A letter was received from the Paten Tradesmen’s Association asking that the Council fix Wednesday for the half-holiday. Cr. Jones moved and Cr. Hoot seconded, “that Saturday be fixed as the day on which the half-holiday shall be observed within the Borough during 1925.” O. Watson moved, and C. Ramsbottom seconded, “that in accordance with the expressed wishes of the Tradesmen’s Association, Wednesday be fixed as the day on which the half-holiday shall be observed.”

On being put, the amendment was carried. It was then put as the substantive resolution and declared carried. The valuation roll for the year 1925 was presented, and on the motion of the Mayor, seconded bv C. R.amsbottion was received and accepted. The special meeting then adjourned. The ordinary monthly' meeting was held at the close of the Special meeting. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. P. S. Finlayson) presided. A letter was received from the District Manager of New Zealand Railways, stating that the Department was going to erect four cottages on the South Road, and asking il the Council would extend its lighting system along that road, so as to enable the cottages to be connected up. Resolved to send favourable reply, and at the same time ask the Department to connect up the two outages already erected. The Inspector of Police wrote regretting that he was unable to send an assistant constable to Pate a. for the Christinas holidays, as he had no men to spare, and stating that he would lie grateful if any residents would, assist Constable Armour, if necessary, in putting down any acts, of larrikinism. The letter was received and the Inspector thanked for his reply. A letter was received from the solicitor to the, Municipal Association, in reply to a query as to whether the Borough Council had authority to advance money for work on the County road. The reply stated, inter alia, that as the road is in a great measure used by the inhabitants of the Borough for purposes of recreation, health convenience, or the. purpose of public utility, the contribution made by the Borough was quite in order.

An application was received from Aitcliison. Ltd., for a. permit to make certain alterations and additions to a h ouse —granted. Mr. H. S. Alpe. of Wellington, wrote to the effect that he was undertaking a widely advertised road walk from ’New Plymouth to Wellington, with the obieot of establishing new pedestrian “records” for the journey. During the journey a duly accredited representative of Dr. Bamardo’s Home would accompany him. and it was intended to take up collections in the various towns passed through, in aid of that institution. Permission was asked to take up such a collection in Paten on March: 14 next. —iPe rm is si on granted. GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE REPORT. Tlie following items were included: That the letter from the District Noxious Weeds Inspector, notifying the Council that an inspection of the Borough before March, 1925, was impossible, he received. That owners of property on which noxious weeds are flourishing be notified to. remove same before January 24, 1925. The letter from the Medical Officer of Health, instructing the Council to serve notice on Mr. George Williams, owner of the building situated on part section 8 block 7. Leicester Street, calling on him to carry out, within’ three months from date of sendee, the demolition of the building, inaccordance with the medical officers’ certificate, be received, and that the instructions a be carried out. The letter from the Department of Health regarding the destruction of rats within; the Borough he received and that the Town Clerk communicate with the Health Inspector concerning the distribution of rat poison. Frank T. Ray be appointed Borough Valuer on the usual conditions. .No action be taken at present in regard to Town Hall seating, and that sample chairs he returned. ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE.

The Committee resolved: —That the engineer be given authority to purchase the necessary cable required in connection with transmission line re-construc-tion. That the engineer be asked to report on the estimated cost of cable cross arms only, necessary for extending the line to the Ivakaramea hotel. EDECTRICAD ENGINEER'S REPORT Water Department.—A continuous supply has been maintained to date; the frequent falls of rain during the last four weeks materially reducing the consumption. Hydro.—This plant has heen run, j since the date of my last report, without incident. He detailed the work carried out with regard to changing over in certain streets, and renewing cable. Under date January 12, 1925, the Engineer submitted the following, report: “During the last week the water supply again caused considerable anxiety ; the natural flow of water from the bore being insufficient to meet the daily requirements of the town. The flow front tlie bore will raise the water level in the well approximately 8 inches per hour, anti will take about 24 hours to fill the well. An endeavour was made to increase the supply by connecting the 17 li.p. pump direct to the bore and discharging the water into the well. This effort was highly satisfactory, as by this means the water level in the well was raised approximately 16 inches per hour, as compared with 8 inches by the natural flow. This method will entail twice the ordinary amount of pumping, as it is not possible to pump direct from the bore into the mains.” A long discussion took place on this question. His. "Worship stated that it would be necessary to take into consideration before next summer the question of putting down another bore. There was no doubt the water was there, but the present bore was not giving the flow. A formal resolution was passed ajv pointing Air. Coleman Sanitary Inspector for the Borough of Pa-tea-, with full authority to- take action against any offenders.

'Pho following estimate of cost of proposed extension of the electric light lines from the Ivakarainea factory to the Kakn.ramea Hotel, was submitted by the Engineer: Distance, f- mile; cable, £SO: Cross arms, £2: insulators, £3 ss: bolts, £1; labour £35; transport £2: 14 poles, £49: total £142 ss. The Committee appointed to inspect the premises lately occupied by W. Hebley. reported that with the expenditure of about £7 the property could be made habitable. The committee also recommended that necessary repairs be effected to the library building, emphasising that the expenditure of a few

i I pounds now, would certainly save the necessity lor a very much larger sum m the near future. After discussion it was resolved to empower the committee to carry out necessary repairs to the two places. Or. Watson stated that complaints had been made to him about the action of the occupier of a certain paddock in regard to the fence. Cr. liamsbottonii said he had received the same complaint, and had told the complainant to put his complaint in writing, and send it to the Town Clerk’s office. The Mayor: Quite right; that is the correct procedure. A return showing the amount of uncollected rates and outstanding rents was considered, and a. resolution passed authorising the Town Clerk to take the necessary steps to secure payment of the amounts. With reference to the damage done to the Council’s lorry by some joy riders about three weeks ago, it was resolved to request the erring ones to attend the meeting of the Council to be held on 26th inst. In connection, with this matter, Cr. Jones thought that the words “Patea, Borough Council” should be painted in prominent letters on the cab of the lorry. The suggestion was a dopted. BY-LAWS. Or. Jones said that now the holidays were over he would like the Council to get busy and push on with the drafting of the new by-laws. They had been at it since 1922, and had managed to complete about two sections, and thought by istrenuous application they should about finish, them by 1926. He would like to see the by-laws finished by the end of the present Council’s term of office. It was resolved to meet during the month, and push on with the redrafting of the by-laws.