PATEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 February 1925, Page 6

PATEA.

BOROUCH COUNCIL

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The monthly meeting of the Paten Borough Council was held on Monday eevuing. His Worship the- Alayor (All. P S. Finlavson) presiding. The Minister of Internal Affia.irt wrote- with reference to the special order reducing the number of councillors from 9to 7—lt was resolved, on the motion of the Mayor, to forward a copy of the special order to the Minister for gazetting in April next. The Railway Department wrote with reference to the council’s suggestion that, when the new cottages shortly to be erected by the department are haling the electric light installed t-he two cotta OCR now erected be given the Light 7 to the effect that the present cottages were under the control of the district engineer’s department, and recommending that the council write direct to. that department.

GENERAL PURPOSES i COMMITTEE.

The Gneeral Purposes Committee reported having resolved that after interviewing Mesisrsi. Hayward, Willis Spooner, Clarke-, .Jackson and Campbell and receiving the sum of 1:27 on account of the damage caused by them totalling £33 os, Id, action by the council be abandoned on condition that the balance owing—£o 5s Id —he paid before next council meeting. .ELECTRICAL MATTERS. The electrical engineer reported that the hydro plant had rum 699 hours generating 13,963 electrical units. The water in the dam had held out very well, during the spell ot dry weather, the level dropped only three inches. The high tension lines had been inspected and the low tension lines in Lincoln Street have been, completed. The water supply has, been maintained continuously with one exception., which was due to a- burst in the mains in K'gmont Street, the water having to he turned off at the, towei before repairs could he carried out. The Inflow from the bore was much below the water consumption of the town, but by tests; carried out double the quantity could lie obtained by pumping direct out of the bore into the well (approixma-telv 50 gallons per minute).* and hv installing a- small pump the required amount of water could easily he .obtained. This plant would only be required during the dry weather. THE LIBRARY. 'The committee appointed to reporton some necessary repairs to the dwelling portion of the library building, reported in favour of the alterations asked for by the librarian being carried out, and that tenders he called for painting the whole bidding, Cr. Ramsbottom remarking that lie thought the library building was the only decent building, owned by the council. CJr. Peacock thought that plans should be obtained of the proposed alteration's. He did not, favour the alterations: suggested; by the committee ; lie thought the room, was being divided the wrong way. What they should do was to make the, place permanently suitable ais a dwelling for the librarian. He moved: “Thiat alternative plans be obtained tor making the place permanently suitable as a "dwelling for the librarian, and also that an estimate of the cost 'accompany the plans.’’ This wa,s seconded by Cr. Watson, who endorsed the remarks of Cr. Peacock, and added that the work should not he- spoilt for the sake of a pound or two. The motion was, carried. His Worship thanked the members of, the committee for the great trouble they had taken, over this matter. ITe mentioned that the inspector of the Health . Department recommended that a general clean-up be made throughout the borough, and he would ask the, council to fall in with the suggestion and fix a week in which, the work shall be done. “CLEAN-UP” WEEK.

Or. Ramsbofctom quite agreed with the suggestion, but- hoped the work would be carried out more systematically than was the case on the la-st occasion a “clcan-up” took place. A day should be named for the removal of rubbish from an area, and it should be picked up. They didn’t want to see a repetition of the spectacle of “cast off curios” floating down the streets at the head of a strong wind. Cr. Peacock thought the clean-up should be limited to one day, not spread over a week. Their contractor had sufficient teams, fob the work, and he should he required to put them on. The rubbish should not- be allowed to be stacked at gateways for several days awaiting the convenience of the carter. He moved : “That a day be set aside as .a ‘clean-up’ day, the date to be fixed by the council.” This was seconded by the Mayor. Cr. Lane doubted if the work could be satisfactorily done in one day. It would be far better to divide the borough into blocks and set aside a certain day for each; block; and then they were sure of getting the town properly “cleaned up.” His Worship said lie thought the suggestion of Cr. Lane’s a good one. There was no doubt that better work would be done cutting the- town into sections and allocating a day for each section.

Cr. Watson: quite agreed with Cr. Lane, and moved as: an amendment: “That the town be divided into seotiomg and a. specific clean-np day be allocated to- each section.’’ This was seconded by Or. Honey field.

Cr. Peacock still held to the opinion that the work could be done in one day. Under his agreement with the council their carter had to carry out what was required of him, and in any ca=c the Health Department had first '•all. If the borough contractor could not do the work there were other carters in the town who could be engaged. The amendment was carried, and Crs. Ramsbottom and Lane were appointed a committee to subdivide the borough for the ‘‘clean-up.” GENERAL BUSINESS. The Mayor mentioned that the solicitor’s costs in connection with the taking over of McComisky Bros.’ lease had not been paid. At the time of the completion of matters councillors had agreed to pay the amount out of their own pockets, blit ibis had not been done. Some of those present at that time had left the place, and as they stood at present there were ionly three left. Or. Peacock : Why did the councillors make a personal debt of it? Cr. Honeyfield : So as to secure the site*’for the new nurses’ home. On the motion of Cr. Peacock, seconded by Cr. Honeyfield, it was decided to pay the amount. The Mayor stated that he had gone into the matter of the artesian bore near the trig 9 station, and had been supplied with a lot of data by Mr. Hemingway. After due consideration he did not think it would be wise to spend the money on tlio project. The present supply was more than sufficient for about ten months in the year, and as the expense would be heavy he did

not- think they would he justified in spending the amount, considering the short while the bore would lie required. The engineer was now considering a scheme 'which it was thought .would meet all requirements. It was resolved to obtain outside advice on the matter of supply. The Mayor stated that some objection had been raised to circus performances in the town during the presenttime, but he had pointed out that the matter was in the hands of the Health Department, and so long as they did not object he did not see how the council could. Or. Peacock asked why all the borough carting was given to one man There were two or three other carriers in the town, all of whom were ratepayers. and he did not think that one man should he allowed a monopoly. He was aware that certain dray work was let by contract, but that contract did not embrace all parcels, etc., that might come to the order of the council. He hoped that in future the carting would ho distributed amongst all the carriers.