ROTORUA TOWN BOARD.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 170, 4 March 1896, Page 2

ROTORUA TOWN BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Town Board took place on Thursday afternoon lust when there were present Messrs C. Malfroy, (chair), Gerhard Mueller, S. T. Brent, R. D. Dansey and Dr Ginders. Sanitation. Dr Ginders, a propos of the special meeting when certain sanitary matters were' discussed, stated that he understood that some of the waste water from the Grand Hotel still found its way into the street channels. The Chairman said that both the Palace and Grand Hotels had been notified that the bar slop water was not to be emptied into the street channels and he understood attention had been paid to it. Mr Mueller pointed out that nothing decisive could be done in these matters until the Board were empowered by the Central Board of Health to take action; but it would be as well if the offending parties were again remonstrated with. This was agreed to. Mr Mueller referred to thchigh-boarded fence on the main road side of Pukeroa and the nuisance created thereby. He

| had even been spo'-en to on the subject j by persons in Auckland since the last j meeting. Therewasnoothcrreniedy inhis I opinion but toliuve tlie fence pulled down j and disposed of to the best advantage. ! He moved that this be done and a light I wire fence erected in its place. Mr Brent j was doubtful if tliey could take this step I as the fence belonged to the Government. | Mr Mueller contended that the health of | the town demanded itR removal and down | it must come. The Chairman suggested that every other board should be ta 1 en away. He would however leave the i matter in the hands of the Board. Dr j Ginders, in seconding the motion, spoke strongly against the continuance of the fence, and recommended its immediate removal. The motion was carried. The Chairman stated that he and Mr Dansey had visited Mr Sheriff's slaughter j yard since the special meeting. Mr | Sheriff was quite willing to move the yard to any position the Board might desire. and explained that the landlord, Mr V. Kelly, had informed him that he could erect the yard wherever he pleased. They had hesitated to select a new site as such might be objected io by any inspector of slaughter yards' who might be appointed. The yard was now perfectly clean and wholesome. It was agi-ecd to defer further action in the meantime. The Chairman stated that although he I had received a telegram from the Surj veyor-General stating that the Central ! Board of Health would probably notify j what had been done in regard to Rotorua | matters at its last meeting ho had so far ! received no advices. Mr Percy Smith would be in Rotorua on tlie following day. It was resolved to wire to the Sur-veyor-General's office as' ing for information. CLEAItINO Pukf.KOA. A copy of a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Crown Lands by Mr J. H. Taylor in reference to the claim of the latter to a certain portion of Pukeroa was read. Mr Mueller Stated that lie had made every enquiry and could not find that Mr Taylor had any light to the ground in question in any shape or form. It appeared that he Had been at one time offered compensat ion for his building and had not accepted it. Mr Brent stated that Mr Taylor was away at the time when the others signed the papers and had therefore not been forced to take | away his cottage. Mr Mueller said that I the first thing to be done was to clear the reserve. The question of compensation could be settled at any time. If Mr Taylor had any right to compensation he (Mr Mueller) would be the first to assist I him in obtaining it. It was Certainly the Board's business to see that Pukeroa was cleared and they had moved in the matter before. Mr Mueller considered there was too much of this waiting upon others. Any claim that Mr Taylor might have would not be defeated by the removal of the house. What Mr Taylor ought to do was to ask the Government to give him the compensation previously offered. In reply to a question it was stated that compensation had only been given for buildings—nothing for the land. It was thought that Mr Taylor had been offered £2o or £26. It was resolved that Mr Taylor be informed that after duly considering all the correspondence and the fact that any claim for compensation will not bo defeated by the removal of the building, he is expected do so by the date already fixed (February 29) otherwise the Board will take it down. Removal of a License. A telegram was read from the Lands Department referring to the application for the removal of the license of the Rotorua Hotel and asking if there were any reasons why the Government should object. to the same. The Chairman stilted there were objections. Ifc would mean tlie loss of the licensing fee of £25 and it would also jeopardise the income derived I from the rent of the section which was £3O. If the license were ta'en away it would be more than a boarding house could afford to pay. He reminded the Board of what bad occuired in the case of the Palace Hotel. If that license had not been removed there would never have been any trouble about the rent. There would very possibly be the same trouble j here. Mr Mueller said there was another j way to look at it. The removal of this license might be a way to have Pukeroa i entirely cleared. Many people would J consider it a good thing for the place to i got rid of one of its licensed houses. He j did not think it would look well to urge the loss of rervenue as an objection. The Chairman said that the Board was in the position of a proprietor and it decreased the value of the section. That was the manner in which they must regard it. Mr Mueller said that Was all very true I but still it would not look well for a health resort such as Rotorua to object to the removal of a license. It was decided in view of the arrival of Mr Percy Smith of the Lands Department who would be consulted in the matter that while the Board regretted tlie loss of revenue it did not see its way to lodge any objection. j Electric Lighting. At the Chairman's suggestion it was resolved to apply for an additional area of about 20 acres to the south of the present cemetery reserve. The ground was high and dry and easy of access from Ponton Street beyond the racecourse. Mr Malfroy also stated that while inspecting the ground just asked for he came quite unexpectedly on a waterfall and as some day they should no doubt want the electric light he thought the ground adjacent should be secured to the Board. The water of the creek at the spot referred to Howed through a gorge and there was sufficient fall to provide power for any electrical purpose. Resolved that the' necessary application bo made. Miscellaneous. The Chairman stated that a sample of cast iron seats from Messrs Birt of Dunedin had been received. It was not, however, exactly what was required. Mr Dowsctt had kindly made a diagram of what would bo suitable and this would be sent down and a price obtained. The seat sent had been placed outside the Blue bath for inspection. It was resolved to again apply to Messrs Hancock and Co for the arrears of rent owing on the old Palace Hotel and failing a satisfactory reply to at once place the matter in the hands of a solicitor. It, was stated that the levels of Fenton I and Hinomoa Streets had been received and the proper formation of the footpaths would be gone'on with as soon as possible.. The Rev. Mr Spencer applied for refund of portion of money he had expended in ditching and draining near his suburban section at a cost of £.">. Mr Brent moved that he be allowed £2 10s. Mr Mueller said if any sum were allowed it would establish a bad precedent. If

j people came to the Bonn! first and pointed | out the v.'ork to he done it would be com- ] pijtenfc to allow them say two or three I years' thirds as the case might demand, but to do the work first and come to the j Board afterwards was quite another : thing. If they allowed anything in the j present case they would be flooded with similar applications. Mr Brent stated that Mr Spencer's case was exceptional ! as the wore he had done had caused the ; other sections to be taken up. The | matter was allowed to drop. A letter was received from Col. Roberts stating thai there v.*as no obj c(i >7l to tlie Board holding its meetings in the Courthouse when not otherwise occupied. Mr Dalbeth wrote drawing attention to the need of a road through the section lying between his farm and the town anil offering to construct the same for 12s per chain. Resolved that he be informed that the road construction will be con tinned ami eventually reach his farm. Hemi Tupara and other natives wrote asking the Boardi to urge on the construction of the road to tlie summit of Ngongotalia and slating that the Xg.iliwhalcaue were entitled to the work connected with the same. Resolved that . their claim should have consideration at the proper time.The Chairman stated that the surface ; men had been busy clearing the roads leading to the sections on the town side of the Taupo road. This had been done out of a special grant of £'2.3. To provide access to the other sections would necessitate a further expenditure of £1.") an: 1 , this i sum he thought he would be able to obtain. ! On the proposition of the Chairman j it was decided to transfer the Ban'! Ac- i count from Tauranga to Auckland; Fixance. The financial statement for January J was as follows : Receipts: Balance from! last statement, £lO4 2s 7d; bath fees, I £'B2 3s (Id ; Pukeroa rent, £5 IGs Sd ; I sundries, £2 10s; total. £244 los. Ex- ! penditure: "Wages, £7!) 3s; expenses over fire, £2 lis (id; formation Iluupapa j Street, £lB 3s; balance in bank (Town | Board account) £pl 17s 9d; (Pukeroa j account), £Bl 19s; total, £244 13.