HAWERA CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 February 1927, Page 6

HAWERA CIVIC AFFAIRS.

ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly mooting of the Hawera Borough Council xvas held last evening. There were present: The Mayor (Mr E. A. Paccy) and Crs A. Reid, G. J. Bayley, W. G. Walkley, J. M. Townsend, E. Morrissey, H. N. Lester, and W. Page. The gdncral committee reported having received a deputation comprising Mrs Hoddle and Mr Bownes, who asked that relief'he afforded from the alleged nuisance caused toy band practices toeing held so close to tlieir dwellings. The committee recommended that, -a subcommittee comprising, the Mfcyor and Crs Morrissey and Townsend be requested -to confer with the Band. Committee and report as to the possibility of moving the band room to a more suitable site. The committee also recommended(inter alia): That the Mayor, Cr Walkley and the toivn clerk toe appointed the council’s delegates at the meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association on February 23; that the application toy -the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co. for,an auctioneer’s license toe granted; that. Cr Walkley and Mr C. Goodson be re-appointed members of the south committee of the Egmont National Park Board; that Mr L. A. Bone and Cr Bayloy too elected members of the Hawera Fire Board; that the proposals as to specifications re roading, etc., of tlio -Caplen estate sub-division as submitted by the engineer toe approved, subject to approval of the borough solicitors; that the matter of the park custodian’s holiday, new hand mower, and removal of old fence at tlie water tower toe left in the hands of the chairman of the Park and Reserves Committee, with power to act; that the engineer asphalt balance of street, to finish at cemetery gates. The recommendations were adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The report of the engineer (Mr J. Sturrock) as folloivs was adopted: Removal of grass behind kerbs and repairs to cracks in footpaths have been completed. New pattern ribbed domes have been -placed. The attempt to secure better visibility lias, I think, been successful. The domes are neater in appearance, -and the new special white road paint lasts better than the former materials. Actual tests made with a motor bicycle as to the greatest height advisable to give clearance to silencer pipes were made and domes reset to that figure. The domes look much more formidable than they really are, which is all to the good. They are only 34 inches above the surface. I think this pattern could be adopted until something more modern arrives. Yellow paint shows up rather better, but ordinary paint wont last. The water main in Waihi road has been laid. Nolan town water pipes and fittings have been ordered. They are due to leave Home in April, coming direct to New Plymouth. Glivo street has been levelled. The experiment of painting over edge of kerb with bitumen to prevent weeds has been made. It will take some time to ascertain its results. The settling tanks at the intake -have been cleaned and an inspection of the -tunnel made. All is satisfactory. Tlie 'arrangements made for scouring out the tunnel have been beneficial. The paths fronting the school arc now completed in bitumen macadam. Repairs to the Waihi beach road have been made. Ta-whit-i road, from Glasgow street to the borough boundary, ha 6 been repaired. BUILDINGS AND LICENSES. The inspector (Mr L. Hunt) reported that house inspection had been carried out in Camberwell road and High street business area, the usual notices having been sent to owners -and occupiers. Five building permits for extensions and alterations had been made during the month, to a total value of £351. Twelve drivers’ licenses were issued. Two prosecutions had been made, the fines totalling £l.l ss. Dog registration fees totalled £3. “I have -had several complaints from different persons with regard to the obstruction -caused by trees planted on Glover road footpath,” continued the report. 1 ‘ They are growing larger as time goes on and will be a bigger nuisance later, and I would suggest to the council to have them removed.” The .report was adopted and, on tlie recommendation of the Works Committee, the matter of trees on foothpaths was held over until the inspector’s return. HEALTH AND SANITATION. The report of the sanitary inspector (Mr F. G. Coleman) was received as follows: One plumbing inspection and three drainage inspections were carried out. Thirty-six premises were inspected, including two fish shops, one fruit shop, two bakehouses, -one boarding-house, two offensive trades and two cattle •salcyards. Eight samples of milk were taken and tivo overseas parcels disinfected. In connection with the cattle salcyards, quite a number of the pens at -the Farmers’ Co-op. yards in Glover road have been concreted. I would re-, commend- that a progressive and continuous attempt by the owners of all yards to comply with the regulations should be insisted on, with completion of same in up to, say, five years, w T ith cancellation of the registration as the penalty of failure to carry out, say, one-fifth of -the programme in -any one year. During 192(5 the following cases of infectious diseases were notified, 1925 figures in brackets: Scarlet fever, 1 (1); tuberculosis, 2 (1); encephalitis, lotliargica, 1 (0); diphtheria, .17 (6); pneumonia, 0 (2); puerperal fever, 1 (0). TOWN ABATTOIR. The etc lie ("Mr H. S.- Elliott) reported (inter alia) on the work of the town abattoir for the month as follows:

Stock slaughtered: 2 bullocks, 89 cows, 54 heifers, 3(51! sheep, 343 lambs, 19 calves and 4S,pigs. Pees ami rents totalled £lO4 12s 8d (£95 10s and £8 16s Sd respectively), the fees being £3 12s 9d more than in January, 192(5. Total fees for ten months ended 31st January are £l7 7s 9d less than those for corresponding period of last financial year. FINANCE. A. statement snowing the balances of the various accounts ns follows was tabled: £ s. d. £ s. d. Account Dr. Cr. General .... 1802 18 0 Water 2545 1(5 9 Cemetery ... 122 15 10 Hospital ... (503 1.1 10 Special Hate— Original area 917 0 3 Added area (53 11 0 Deposits .... (500 122 .15 10 5938 18 4 122 .15 10 Net credits . . 581 C 2 6

Bank of New Zealand District Fund £ s. d. Cr. as per pass book 5897 2 *> Amount in hand 120 4 9 Less outstanding cheques .. 11l 4 6 Balance 55.16 2 G A statement of estimates and actual expenditure showed that £10,639 had been expended out of the estimates totalling £18.338, leaving a balance of £7(599. The clerk reported that current rates unpaid amounted to £4233. At March 31, 1926, rates outstanding totalled £255G, of whigh £725 was still unaccounted for. GENERAL. The ranger (Mr G. H. Blackwell) reported that five heifers had been found straying in Campbell street on January 23 and one horse in Egmont street on January 31. The librarian (Miss M. E. Newland) reported that 15 members left during the month and six joined, leaving 470 on the list to start February, this number being 3G higher than for 192 G. New -books number 37 were bought. The Hawera Amateur Swimming Club was granted permission to use the public baths on February,23, March 3 and Ma-reli 10 for the purpose of holding carnivals. Following a resume given by Cr Walkley concerning the opinions expressed at a meeting of the executive of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association held earlier in the day, when it was decided to recommend to the meeting of the association being held today that- the allocation of heavy traffic license fees in No. S district be referred to a magistrate, the council authorised its representatives at to-day’s meeting to vote according to tlieir discretion.