TOWN BOARD MEETING.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 182, 27 May 1896, Page 2

TOWN BOARD MEETING.

The usual monthly meeting of the Town Board was held in the Courthouse on Thursday last when there were present— Messrs C. Malfro'y (chair), Mueller, Brent, Dansey and Dr Cinders. COEEESrONDENOE. From ilie Colonial Secretary's Department in reply to the communication of the Board in regard to (he difficulty they experienced in enforcing collection of (he water rates without proper authority; the Department asked to be informed when the Board were asked to collect tho rate (

by whoso authority, and why they could not enforce payment; also a statement of the rates in arrears and how they were assessed. Mr Mueller considered that the Department asked for the information so as to be able to deal with the Board's suggestion. The reason that the Board could not enforce payment was that the pipes leading from the mains belonged to the householders and they had no means of cutting off the water without interfering yvith private property. Mr Dansey was. instructed to forward the information asked for. From Mr E. T. Dufaur, solicitor, stating that he was instructed by the native owners of ITuka Block No. 7, to give noticu that they claimed all buildings standing on it :tndall rents accruing tlnTefrom, and to inform the Board that tiiey had no right to same. He understood that the Board had received a considerable portion of the rents and asked on what basis they claimed the same in order to bo able to advise his clients.—Resolved that Mr Dufaur be requested to write more explicitly and forward sketch of the land ho claimed. From Messrs Hancock and Co. asking to be informed if Waiotapu was in the Thermal Springs District, and, if so, if the Board would accept fee for transfer of license. Mr Dansey stated that he had replied in the affirmative to the first clause but that the Board could not accept fees for licenses outside the town limits. From Mr J. Christie in reference to the likelihood o; an inspector of dairies being appointed ivnd asking that his application might be considered. —Resolved that he be advised to apply to the Department of Agriculture in whoso hands the appointment would be. Two applications for the appointment of inspector of nuisances were considered premature. From T. C. Urquhart, Lake House Hotel, complaining that the water had been shut off from the hotel on the previous Tuesday, and suggesting that a ball-cock be attached to the. standpipe in front of Lakin's shop. Mr Malfroy stated that the stoppage had been only of » temporary nature caused by the alterations going on at the head of the pipe line and that he would see Mr Urquhart and explain. From the Inspector-General of Hospitals in regard to the conveyance of Sanatorium patients to the new Sulphur Baths. Ho considered that the cost of same should come out of the bath receipts. Mr Malfroy held that as these patients did not pay anything for their barns the expense of their conveyance to and fro should properly be charged to the Sanatorium. The patients' money went into the public account. It yvas decided that the charge should be paid in this instance. Mr Mueller stated that he would probably be in Kotorua with MrMcKenzie, the Minister of Lands, in the following week when the matter could be represented to him. From Mr J. Dalbeth drawing attention to the fact that as, soon as certain fencing was completed he would be debarred from, obtaining access to bis farm and referring to a previous letter in which he offered to construct a road for the sum of £2o. It was resolved that Mr Dalbeth bo informed that was no money at present, available for the purpose, though a sum had been applied for, but that if he choss to go on with the making of the road under a proper agreement as to cost to be paid when the funds were forthcoming he could do so. From the manager. Grand Hotel, again requesting the Board to proceed yvith the levelling of the footpath and the formation of water-tables in front of the hotel; also referring to previous letter in which permission was sought to lay a wooden block footpath from the Fonton Street entrance to the kerb. Mr Malfroy stated that these things hud waited on the levels being obtained. A suggestion would be made later on in regard to surface drainage which, if adopted, might cause those places to be raised an inch or two. It was decided to inform Mr Boulton that his request in regard to the footpath would be attended to as soon as possible. General Business. Mr Malfroy reported that in accordance with the Board's resolution and at the request of the Library Committee ho had taken possession of the Library property in trust for the subscribers. He would advise that Mr Dansey should obtain a copy of the receipt given and place it on record in the letter book of the Board. This was agreed to. Mr Malfroy stated that the subscrip-. tions received on behalf of the sufferers bv the Brunner disaster amounted to £45 7s 6d. There were still a few lists to come in. It was decided that this sum be sent to the Brunner Committee and the remainder foryvarded as received. Mr Brent suggested that on the arrival of the Minister of Lands his attention should be drawn to the vacant piece of ground known as Wynyard and Purehas' block. It was now vacant and he thought the Government might be induced to resume it and hand it over to tho Board to be used as a recreation reserve. Mr Dansey agreed that the ground had been diverted from the purpose for which it was originally granted, viz., the erection of a large hotel. There would, however, be a difficulty in resuming it as the land was now sublet and those who held were not required to build. It was decided that tho matter should bo pointed out to the Minister as it would be a great acquisition to tho Parade. It was resolved that preparation be made for planting such streets as wore treeless yvith the young plants now in the nursery. Mr Mueller stated that he had received several roots of a South American tree the bark of which had been found better than wattle bark for tanning purposes. It was grown on a soil somewhat similar to that, existing here and he would much like to see it tried in the Sanatorium Grounds. He handed over ono root to Mr Malfroy to bo tried accordingly. Mr Dansey drew attention to the large body of water which accumulated at the foot of Tutanekai Street near the lake after every rainstorm and suggested that a pipe should be part down so as to draw I off the water from the roadway. Mr 1 Malfroy stated that it -would require a 12-in. pipe and unfortunately they had none on band. When the wharf vas proceeded with a proper approach would be formed unci tho lovel of the road at that point raised. It was resolved that 20 chains of the Cemetery road be lot to On-and Gallep in terms of their tender opened at a previous meeting. Finance. The financial statement for the month showed that there was a credit balance of £'l7-1 His 4d in the general account, and £lll 10s in the Pukeroa account; total £28(5 las 4d. Several accounts were passod for payment and tho meeting adIjournod.