ELTHAM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 30 August 1926, Page 6

ELTHAM.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Eltlmm Borough Council was held on Friday evening, when there were present: The Mayor (Mr. Ira J. Bridger) and Councillors Taplin, Kemp, Lewes, Garden, Rickets, Bigg, and Nairn. An apology was received from Cr. McWhirter. The Audit Department returned the balance-sheets of the council lor the years 1924 and 1925, which were certified as correct. —The council formally received them. Messrs D. Syme and W. D. Connell wrote thanking the council for the resolution of congratulation passed by the council at its last meeting relative to their respective sons’ successes in England. TOWN PLANNING.

The Hawera Borough Council wrote asking for support to the resolution of protest passed at a special meeting called for the consideration of the Town Planning Bill. —It was decided, on the motion of Crs. Nairn and Kemp, to support the resolution. The Mayor said he had only received a copy of the Bill and the explanatory memoranda a few days previously, and the Bill had been put through Parliament with extraordinary haste when there was no apparent need. Ho explained. the conditions, of. the T>dl, which imposed an obligation on the local authority to prepare a townplanning scheme within three years and submit the- same to a board sitting at Wellington, which -would probably know next to nothing about the borough and its possibility of growth. Yet that board had the right to force any council to adopt a .scheme according to its ideas, which would result in no end of unwarranted expenditure. Ho then moved: “That the Government ho urged to- amend the Lands and Survey Act, making it compulsory for any new work in the matter of lands, roads, and streets within boroughs or cities to be surveyed and constructed according to definite plans laid down by- a general principle making for betterment in town .planning.” —Cr. Tap]in seconded the motion, which was trained unanimously. The Public Works Department wrote stating that the classification of roads and'streets within Eltham' had been approved, with the exception oi cli\ss five (2-ton). These streets had been transferred to class four (4-ton) and officially gazetted. -Cr. Lewis said that he took strong objection to the interference in the council’s classification. The council knew better than the department m Wellington what certain streets in the borough would carry, but the council was forced to accept the department s decision. The letter was received. The Mayor and Cr. Nairn were empowered to purchase a one-ton truck for the works department. Cr. Garden was appointed a member of the Einance Comiiiittee, and also the Town Hall and Pictures Committee. Cr. Taylin moved expressing thanks to the Rugby- Union for its action m deciding to play the Taranaki—Alana-watu-Horowhenua representative match in Eltham, and hoping that further representative matches would be arranged for Eltham. . . The following recommendation ot the Finance Committee was adopted: That no further .street stall licenses he issued. . rim The recommendations of the town Hall and Pictures Committee were as follow: That the application of the school committee for a picture benefit in aid of the school grounds improvement scheme be granted: that the council accept the tender of Mr O. Manley for covering the Town Hall circle stairway and landings with first grade cork linoleum at £lB. Permission was granted', Messrs G. W. Peebles and C. C. Stanners to erect kerbside petrol pumps in front of their business premises. The Overseer, Mr. T. Hoclgen, reported as follows: Twelve chains of footpath on York Street and seven chains on London Street west were regraded with clay and covered with screenings. Some asphalt patching was done on footpaths and all other o-eneral maintenance work done. One leak in the water main was repaired, and sewer mains and manholes flushed out. . The pound-keeper, ranger, and inspector (Mr. W. J. C. MacDonald) reported as follows: For the month of July nine head of cattle ,were impounded,' duly released, and fees collected and handed to the town clerk. Notices were served as follows: Cutting back of overhanging hedges 1, removal of hedge cuttings from roadway 3, repairs to leaky tap 1, removal of accumulation of tins and rubbish 6, replacing eoWi at top of vent pipes 2, repairs to spouting 2, and cleaning out of grease traps 2. a'll of which have been complied with Owing to the fact that no one person will take tlie, responsibility of clearing away refuse and 'leaving the place tidy as they' found it, I recommend that in future no permission be given to applicants for a street stall unless they give a proper security that the section they use will bo leit ns they found it. The abattoir manager reported that stock had been slaughtered during the month as under: Cows 91, bullocks. or heifers 25, sheep 174, lambs 8. pigs 28. _______