MANAIA TOWN BOARD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 3 September 1926, Page 10

MANAIA TOWN BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING

The final monthly meeting of the Mahaia. Town Board as at present constituted was held last evening, when there were present . Commissionera L. G. Nielson (chairman), J. A. G. Cosgrove, J. Hickey,' H. Mead, V. H. Hobday, S. H. Greaves and N. C. limes. The foreman reported verbally that during the month he had been engaged principally assisting with the installation of the drainage- at the Town Hall, while a portion of the period had been spent in cleaning out the settling tanks at the intake, where a certain amount of trouble had been encountered. SPECIAL LOAN REVENUE. In response to a request from Cr Innes, the Town Clerk at Ha-wera wrote advising regarding the transference of - revenue received from water and drainage to the .special loan account -for the purpose of applying surplus revenue so as to lessen rate charges. He suggested that rates should be collected- until a sufficient credit balance had in the course of a few years been accumulated to meet the first six monthly instalments of interest on* the loan account. The 'board discussed the matter at length, during which the chairman suggested that , it -should be a recommendation to the. incoming hoard l that revenue received from the sale of water should be applied to meet- the payment of interest on Joans. Cr Mead enquired) regarding the cost of having a local Bill put through the House for this purpose, but it was generally agreed that the cost, even if the Bill were agreed to, would l be prohibitive. It was finally decided to thank the Town Clerk for hiss advice, it being thought better to leave the matter as it was. RUNNING WATER. IN STREETS. During the consideration of the- conditions under which the new foreman should be employed, the matter of his duties ca-me up for review, and Cr Hickey remarked that the- board! would experience difficulty ini -securing a good man while the street cle-an-ing was included in the foreman’s work. It was. however, decided to leave the schedule as it at .present stood. Cr Cosgrove stated that, a-s the town had a good' water -supply with an adequate pressure, it would reduce the -street cleaning work to a minimum if a constant stream of water was allowed to flow through the waterta.bles. He added that a -small flow of water constantly running would keep the town a great deal cleaner and healthier, without- affecting the pressure. Commissioners agreed that the suggestion was a. -good one, but no action was taken.,, WATER SUPPLY. The chairman drew attention to the fact that the- board had no jurisdiction over the stretch of the Kapuni stream above the intake. The Ha-wera; Borough Council,' the -intake for the water supply of which wa-s a mile above the. board’s intake, had had the stretch of the stream from its intake to- the mountain reserve vested- in .the council, and periodically searched this area for the purpose of retaining a. pure supply. He suggested that the -board should endeavour to have the .area between the two intakes vested' ini it and co-operate with the Ha-wera Borough Council for the purpose of having both lengths searched at once. ! As it was the board had no legal right to prosecute anyone for polluting the supply. It- was decided to recommend the incoming board- to have the area vested in it for this purpose. APPRECIATION. Prior to the rising of the board, the chairman expressed' his thanks to his associates for the -splendid assistance given- to him during his term of office as chairman,. He also thanked the clerk (Mr W. J. Badley), who had always been courteous and had- given every assistance. ' He felt that the present -board' was retiring with a clean conscience in the knowledge- of good work done. The policy of the board had been of a progressive nature,' and during the last- term a great deal of' permanent work had been completed, the greater part of the work carried out being of this nature. He -said l that, while he did not .propose to again seek office, as his business duties were very heavy, he'hoped that all the other retiring members would again join the board. Cr Hickey paid a tribute to the chairman, and expressed his regret that he did not intend to offer himself for re-election. The board had been a very happy one and, though members had not always agreed-, he was glad to say that no animosity had arisen between- them! He also intimated that he did not wish to stand again. Cr Innes referred to the pleasant relations between members of the board, and said that he proposed to again offer himself for the board. He had always been keen on a- water and sewerage scheme- being introduced! into the town, and, while many people did not agree, he felt that this would' be a distinct acquisition from a health standpoint. Cr Cosgrove moved a. vote of appreciation- for the services given by the retiring ch-ariman, and paid' a tribute to the efficient and tactful manner in which -he had .presided l over the board' meetings. He felt he was only voiqing the opinion- of the whole board when he said that the chairman had the entire confidence of the ratepayers. He expressed regret that neither the chairman- nor the deputychairman (Cr Hickey) intended to return: to the board, and hoped! that they would lx>th reconsider their decisions. as they were lxrth men whose services the town could ill afford to lose. The motion was carried by acclamation . GENERAL. The. resignation of the -working fore man- (Mr J. L. Lett) was received and accepted, and l it was decided to call applications for the position of fore--man, and that Mr T. Dee be appointed temporarily to the position. A copy o.f the Order-in -Council authorising the raising of £SOOO, part of the £36,000 water and drainage loan authorised by the ratepayers, was received . Accounts totalling £129 7s 4d wero passed; for payment.