ELTHAM BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 December 1927, Page 8

ELTHAM BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. At the monthly meeting of the Eltham Borough Council held on Friday even-, iug, there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr I. J. Bridger) and 'Councillors L. Nairn, A. <C. Ricketts, A. Kemp R. L. Garden, G. W. Tayler, A. C. 'Sorciis'on, and G. W. Peebles. CORPORATION RECEIPT BOOKS. The Stratford Borough Council submitted the text of a remit for presentation to the next conference of the Municipal Association: “That all receipt forms required by municipalities be requisitioned through the audit office. ” It was pointed out that should the remit be enacted, it would provide a complete check: on all receipt forms, issued, which would bear a distinguishing mark uniform throughout New Zealand, thus guaranteeiug the stamp ofgenuineness to persons paying moneys to municipalities, besides simplifying the duties of the audit department and guarding against the use of duplicate books. It was anticipated that the audit office would welcome the proposed system. On the motion of the Mayor and Or. Taylor it was decided to support the remit. QUESTION OF HANDLING MEAT. The Taranaki Master Butchers ’ Association wrote, again- protesting against the practice of abbattoirs employees cutting up meat, citing the fact that this was not permitted at either the Ha worn, New Plymouth or ‘Stratford municipal abattoirs. It was noted that in the case of Eltham the council delegated its powers under the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, but notwithstanding this the executive held the opinion that, the council could institute the necessary action to meet their requirements. —Received. MEETING TIME SATISFACTORY. The motion, “That the resolution passed at the October meeting of thq council, fixing the time for holding meet : ings of the council during the operation of 'The Summer Time A'et, 1927, ’ be rescinded and that the council meetings commence at 8 p.m. during the aforesaid period,” notice of which Had been given by Cr. Kemp at the last meeting of the council, formed the subject of

discussion. It was demonstrated clearly that the majority -of members were quite satisfied with existing conditions in regard to time of meeting. In moving the notice of motion, Cr. Kemp said the council was at present at a “loose end” between 730 and 8.30 p.m. Cr. Garden seconded. Cr. Ricketts opposed the motion on the ground of inconsistency —the first motion was carried almost unanimously, only one voting against it. Cr. Peebles 'considered it was not right to practically enforce the resignation of a councillor (Mr R. Lewis') by the adoption of the “8.30 p.m.” rule and then go back on it. Cr. Tayler said if he were in exeouneillor Lewis’s position he would feel hurt in the event of Cr. Kemp’s motion being carried. In this view, Cr. Tayler was supported by Cr, Nairn. The "Mayor said- the mover was encouraged to bring down the motion by some of the council. Personally, he did not wish to inconvenience any of the councillors and he thought they should fall into line on the decision of the majority. The -motion was lost on the voices. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. Reports on 'the month’s operations, by responsible heads of various departments, were submitted: —• BOROUGH OVERSEER, Roads. —King Edward Street: -Building the sides and widening this street has been completed. Bridge Street West: The widening of this street is being carried out and is nearing completion. Clifford Road: Tar patching has been done on the western end of this road. Bridge Street: From Bed-

ford Street to Stanners Street (has been resurfaced. Mountain Road South: A water table has been formed on the Avestern side, a distance of 10 chains, and the existing Avater table from end to end on the western side has been cleaned out. Meuli Street: Footpath on the eastern side has bleen cleaned. The cleaning of water tables and footpaths in York Street is receiving attention. All the long grass in Stanners Street, Cornwall Street, Burke 'Street, Railway Street, York Street, London Street and High Street has been moAved Avith the horse mower. The public school football area and playground has also been mown.

Water ancl Drainage.—A one-ineh water service has been laid from Castle Street along the Mangawhero Road for a distance of 28 chains. Three connections were put in along this road. The intake was flushed out during the month and all manholes and septic tanks received attention. All dead ends have received special attention; several drain blockages have been attended to. The concrete roller for use on sports ground, Taumata Park, has been delivered on the spot in working order. ABATTOIR ’S MANAGER (Slaughterings at the El'tham Abattoirs totalled 744 head of stock, as follows: 101 cows, 15 heifers, 201 sheep, 32 lambs, 395 pigs. Two cows and ten pigs were condemned. HEALTH INSPECTOR. Infectious Diseases. —One ease of lobar pneumonia was reported during the month of November. No other cases were reported during the period. Sanitary Inspections: Attention has been given to the more confined areas with regard to sanitary appliances, and nuis auce elimination. Plumbing: Three renewals were seen and found to comply with the by-laws relative to same. RANGER AND INSPECTOR, Pees were collected for the release of five head of stock impounded off the borough streets, and nine notices in respect of repairs and hedge trimming were served and complied with. Numerous warniugs, personally and in writing, have been issued to riders of motor cycles and drivers of motor cars failing to show a rear light at night, and all such have been advised that a repetition of the offence will not be tolerated. No prosecutions have been instituted for breaches of by-laws, though several offenders were cautioned against a recurrence. The inspector suggested the trausfeience of a street near the'County Council Chambers to a position nearer the parking area a‘t the lower end of Stunners Street. FINANCIAL. Receipts for the month totalled £3537 14s Bd, the principal sources of revenue being rates (£2928 6s 2d), gasworks (£26l Os 8d), and town hall (£IS7 3s 9d). The chief items in a total expenditure for the period of £1366 2s 4d were allocated to the following accounts: Gen-

erai £551 13s 10a, gasworks £164 10s lid, street lighting £240 18s fid, town hali £l5O 11s 9d, hospital levies £lO9 14s, sinking funds £IOO. A statement of bank balances as at November 30 showed all accounts in credit as follows: District fund £1383 7s lOd, domain £2B 18s 3d, cemetery £7B 5s od, sewerage loan £2 17s lOd, sewerage loan (fixed deposit) £ISOO. Accounts amounting to £961 3s 9d were passed for payment. GASWORKS ACCOUNTS. Comparative returns of receipts and expenditure for the corresponding periods from April 1 to November 30, in 1926 and 1927, tabled by the treasurer showed: — Receipts. —£2578 12s lOd (1926, £2702 12s 7d); revenue derived from gas consumption for the respective periods was £1953 3s 6d and £2023 0s 6d. Expenditure, —£2076 13s 7d (1926, £2097 3s od or £253 12s 9d less than for the preceding period). ; Sales of coal, coke, tar, fittings, etc., realised £BO 14s lid during the past month. GENERAL. On the recommendation 'of the finance committee it was resolved to adopt the inspector’s suggestion for the transfer of a street light to a position nearer the Stannors Street parking area; to notify property owners that proceedings would bo instituted for non-com-pliance with the Noxious Weeds Act; to grant the usual annual subsidy towards the upkeep of the school bal/hs; to lift at the expiration of the current term the sewerage loan moneys now on fixed deposit, with the Bank of New Zealand, and re-deposit £IOOO of the amount for a further term of two years. The overseer Avas instructed to resurface that portion of Bedford .Street situated between London Street and ConAvav Road. The use of Taumata Park on Thursday, January 26, was granted to the Taranaki Caledonian Sports’ Association an the following terms: For gross gate-takings not exceeding £2OO, 7-} peT cent., and 10 per cent, of grass gatetakings exceeding £2OO. The abottoirs committee reported advice from Messrs J. C. Hutton that the re\ r ised conditions in regard to the abattoir working agreement ha s been put into effect as from November 1. The Eltham branch of the Plunket Societv was granted permission to eonduet a street day on Wednesday next. It Avas resolved that the council offices be closed from December 34 to January 7, inclusiA-e. The Mayor extended the usual Christmas greetings to councillors, thanking them for their support. He also made 'complimentary reference t’O the publicity accorded by the Press t'O council mutters and assured representatives present that their efforts were much appreciated. _____