ELTHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 April 1927, Page 3

ELTHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Eltharn Borough Council was held last evening, when there were present: The Mayor (Mr. I. J. Bridget*). and Councillors A. Kemp, J. D. Mclvay, E, Lewis, T. MeWhirter, A. O. Ricketts, K. L. Gardne, L. Nairn. The Mayor extended a welcome to the recently-appointed borough overseer (Mr. J. H. Williams). A license was granted for premises to be used as a, billiard-room, o.n the application of Mr. R, It. Gibbings. DAMAGE AT INTAKE, Advice was received from the dish ict police office at New Plymouth that investigation had been made into, the circumstances attending the damage caused to the Elltham water supply intake in the Waingongoro river. No evidence had been adduced that wilful damage had been done, land it was suggested that the damage was caused by logs being carried down by flood waters and coming into contact with the concrete slab. The police authorities drew attention to the practice of residents bathing .in the vicinity of the intake during the summer months, and suggested the erection of warning boards that bathers were liable to prosecution under the Health Act. The' clerk stated that lie had replied to the police and pointed out that it was very improbable that the damage had been caused by logs, as nuts had been unscrewed from the ironwork at the intake, wine as impact from floating logs would have had quite a different res u 11.—11 ece i ved. HOSPITAL LEVY. The Hawera Hospital Board forwarded a statement showing apportionment of maintenance and capital levy for the year ending March 31, 1928, as applied to the Eltharn Borough Council, as follows: 'Rateable capital value, £543,717; total levy, £658 4s; monthly instalments. £54 17s. HIGHWAYS SUBSIDY. The Main Highways Council, Stratford, advised that the Main Highways Board’s subsidy is payable xo boroughs on tlie basis of the maintenance expended on the main highways adjoining the borough, irrespective of the •amount actually expended by the borough in any one year. The clerk said he had been notified of the early allotment of subsidise amounting to 1 £-162 Is in respect of the Eltham-O'punake, Kltham-Eawhitiroa, and Wellington main highways. SMOKING IN TOWN HALL. The borough solicitors (Messrs Syme and W?ir) forwarded a legal opinion in reference to- the powers of the council in the matter of prohibiting smoking in the Town Hall. The question was discussed in committee. MONTHLY REPORTS. The acting-overseer reported on work for the month as follows: Bedford Street was metalled and rolled and two coats of tar and sand put on. Metal patching was done on Moir Street, and asphalt patching on Bridge and High Streets. Cornwall Street had been cleaned and graded with clay. Other general maintenance work was done. The usual attention had been given to Vater and drainage mains. Abattoir slaughterings were: Cows 106, bullocks 4, sheep 189, lambs 29, and pigs 52. SPEED LIMITS.

In accordance with the inspector’s report and) Finance Committee’s recommendation it was resolved that notice hoards be set up instructing that the speed limit, for motor vehicles was 15 miles per hour through that portion of High street between Conway road and Moir street, and that portion of Bridge street between' Preston street and Stanners' street; also that stock route notices he placed at the intersections of North ami London streets and of Conway road l and Derby street. WORKS COMMITTEE.

The committee recommended replacing the post and rail .fence, on the. western side of the northern boundary on Mountain road with a. wire fence. The report was adopted, FINANCIAL MATTERS.

The treasurer reported that the receipts for the month were £2307 2s lOd, of which rates (£lO7l 5s sd), gasworks- (£371 13s 6d), Town Hall (£254 9s), workers’ dwellings (£122 19s 7d), and general (414 10s 7d) formed the principal contributing factors. Expenditure for the same period totalled £2675 7s 7d, the chief items being interest (£1405 2s lid), general (£529 6s 3d), Town Hall (£287 6s Id), gasworks (£l2l 9s 6d), arid hospital levies (£SO 16s 8d). Credit bank balances on various accounts as at March 31 were: Sewerage loan, £122 Is 9ds; sewerage loan (fixed deposit), £1500; district fund, £5 2s lid; domain, £4 4s 6d; cemetery, £3 7s lid.

The gasworks manager reported sales of fittings, coke, tar and ashes for the month of £129 5s lid. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT.

A comparative statement of receipts and expenditure for the periods April 1, 1925, to Maicli 31, 1926, and from April 1, 1926, to March 31, 1927, showed: Receipts—l92s-26, £4138 18s 111; 1926-27. £3929 3s 9d. Expenditure —1926-26, £-1501 16s Id; 1926-27. £3928 6s 7d. SUMMARY OF LICENSES.

Licenses issued during the same periods were as follows, those relating to 192-5-26 being shown in parentheses : Auctioneers' 3 (2), motor 310 (343), heavy traffic 19 (27), slaughter 2 (1). building 15 (22), dangerous goods—• benzine 18 (141, dogs 87 (84), taxi and delivery 24 (23). eating houses 20 (35). billiard! mom 1 (1), sundry 13 (9); fees colle ted £725 12s 5d (£734 12s lid). Accounts amounting to £1228 6s Ifkl were passed for payment. ' The district fund reconciliation statement revealed a, credit ha lance, per cash hook, of £5 2s lid. WORKS AND RESERVES COMMITTEES. Cr Nairn, chairman of the Works Committee, regretted that stress of business and the- intervention of Easter had prevented the presentation of a. report on the activities of his department, as had been his custom on the eve of previous elections, hut he promised that it would he forthcoming; if not returned as a coiinvillor he would forward it. Ho could, however, candidly state that the sum of £2960 allocated to the Works Committee' had been expended, and the programme, of work set had not yet been completed. Ho advocated a reduction of borough expenditure and a further reduction of rates (say .Rl in the pound). This’ was, in his opinion, the .surest method of popularising the town. Cr McWhirter. chairman of the Reserves Committee, joined the Mayor and Cr Nairn in appreciation of the assistance and good: fellowship of their colleagues throughout their tenure of of fi'-e.

At the con-lusion of the. meeting, on unci Hors and Press representatives were entertained at supper by the Mayor.