TOWN BOARD MEETING.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 208, 28 November 1896, Page 2

TOWN BOARD MEETING.

At the nsual monthly meeting of the Town Board on Thursday afternoon Mr S. T. Brent, in the absence ofMrMalfroy who was confined to his house by a slight indisposition, took the chair. D'r Ginders and Mr Dansey were also present. Tue Wat isTt Rati!. Amongst the inward iorrespondenco were several letters in regard to tiie action of the Board in cutting or threatening to cut off the water supply from those whose rates were in arrears. The clerk stated that the ac'ion. of the Board had had a most salntory effect and had resulted in a suni of over £oo being received within the last few days. Mr Dansey said that there seemed to bo some misapprehension in the minds of the people as to whether the fee was to be collected by the clerk or received at the office. The cleric stated that the accounts had berti tendered to those' who were in arrears and that a notification had been inserted in the CilnoxicLE stating that if the' eiime were not paid before a certain rfatfi tli b supply would be disconnected. Tii oiio instance where such a course had been necessary the charge of 5s for reconnecting after the arrears had been paid had not, been levied. Mr D 111 soy tliotigl i that was a mist ike Dr Ginders thought that the water rat-papir'i should git • the information as to the charge for reconnecting, and also that the money had to be paid at tins Board office. This would avoid all complications; At a later stage a letter was read from the manager of the Grand Hotel complaining that the Geyser. Paiaue and Lake House Hotels had been threatened with a stoppage of the supply unle'ss the rates were paid. A cheque was at the same time waiting collection for the amount due. As far as the Grand Hotel was concerned lie had been as yet unable to obtain any information as to the rate to be charged save what he had seen in the local paper.

In the discussion which ensued the opinion was expressed that the notification in the Chromcle together with the rendering of the accounts was sufficient notice to anvone.

The clerk stated that exception seemed to have been taken in regard to his action in the matter. Jto had simply adhered to his instructions; ho hud given the Palace Hotel an hour's notice that the water would be disconnected so that they might prepare for it,- but such was unnecessary as the rate had been paid. The water had not been cut off from any of the 1 hotels. More Water. The manager of the Grand Hotel also complained in Irs !,• tor that the water had been sunt ui. l iVu.ll the reservoir \vithout due notice having been given. This was extreitiely dangerous in those lioiisas which were fitted with ste'atrt superheaters, and if an accident happened the Board wonld certainly be held liable, lie also referred to the resolution passed at the previous meeting of the Board re watering the streets from the stand-pipes which though necessary on several occasions had not been done.

In regard to the first matter it was elicited from Mr Purcell that a .slight stoppage' had taken place'a fe'w days ,'igo owing to the necessity for clearing out the water-race.- Dr Ginders said lie understood there were printed, forms for use on such occasions, and if that were so consumers should have boon notified. Touching' the watering of the streets Mr Danscy considered that when a resolution was passed by the Board it should Tin given effect to. He would move to that effect and would add that hotel and boarding-liouse keepers should be notified of the hour so that their employee's might familiarise themselves with the' working of the apparatus. If the hose was in it faulty condition as Mr Malfroy seemed to fear it would be as well to know it now instead of waiting till a fire broker out only to find that it was useless. If there was 110 Government man available to look after the hydrant a Town Board employee could be detailed for the work. Mr Dansey's motion was carried. Dkaixage Matters. Mr Boulton also wrote asking that {be offer of his firm to supply 1,500 feet of drain pipes on condition that the Board would lay the same from the Grand Hotel to a point in Eriiera Street should be reconsidered. It was Unlikely that any system of drainage would he introduced for some time to come. The Chairman thought that the offer should be' accepted. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to postpone the consideration of this and other matters touched on in Mr Boulton's letter until the Board of Health meeting next week. It ceemcd to bo the general opinion of t lio - members present that the offer of the pipes should be takch advantage of as' it was unlikely that the underground scheme propounded by Mr Ilay would be carried The Ti-tbee Nuisance. A letter from the Lands Department gave the information sought for in regard to the ownership of certain sections ■which ;t was considered should be cleared of ti-tree, and stated that in most of those the necessary improvements had been made. Dr Ginaers said it was not a question of what improvements had been made. It was simply for the Board of Health to determine if the existence of the ti-trae was injurious to the public health and if so to order those sections to be cleared. Mr Danscy suggested that 'he work should bo done at once on those fccctions still unleascd and the account sent into the Government. The matter was postponed till the meeting of the Board of Health. Miscellaneous. In consequence of the license of the Rotorua Hotel having been removed it was decided to rate the house as a boardingliouse so far as the charge for water was concerned, viz., at £3 per annum. The Colonial Secretary's Department wrote stating that there was no objection to the Board making their own arrangements for leasing the right to bottle the water of the Kuirau spring —Dr Ginders thought there would not be much demand for it for drinking purposes now as the natives bad been bathing in it for some time past. It was decided to further extend the footpath formation in Arawa Street when the funds would permit of it.

The secretary of the Brass Band wrote ! asking that certain stands should be ere'c- | ted and that :i small subsidy should be granted by the Board. It was decided I tnat the Band bo informed that there was a doubt as to whether the funds of the Board could be so applied but that the position would be ascertained, and everything- possible done in the matter. Mr Dansey drew attention to the manner in which the street trees were being neglected and the clerk was instructed to see that those whose duty it was to look after them attended to the matter. POUNDKEEI'ER AXD ItANGEIL Applications for those offices were received as follows. For Poundkeeper: A. Tait, W. Henshaw, and Akapita to Toa Hamuera. The first-named was appointed. For Ranger: Akapita te Toa Hamuera, Rawiri, A. Tait, Joseph Henshaw, and C. Wood. The first-named was appointed. Mr Dansey hoped that animals in the pound would be properly attended to in future in regard to food. The state of affairs previously in existence in that respect were disgraceful. FINANCE. The following accounts were passed for payment:—E. Porter & Co., £4 10s 9 1; Ji. Robertson & Co., £1 los 9d ; W. 11. Corbett, £4 ,3s Gd. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £44 3s 7d. The meeting then closed.