PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 7 June 1923, Page 3

PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

'ihe monthiy meeting of the Patea Borougii Council was neld on Monday evening, his Worship the Mayor (Air. o. J. Jrloltham) presiding.

A letter from jjorougu Solicitor re proporties occupied by Mrs. A. Mcivenna and Mr. D. Jones, stating that Mrs. McKenna had not replied to them and that i). Jones was accepting the Council's terms.—Resolved, that the solicitors be instructed to take the necessary steps to terminate Mrs. McKenna's oecup-.ncy.

The Borough Solicitors wrote stating that the notice served on McComisky Bros, to quit possession of paddock had expired, and asking for instructions.

The Mayor stated that this matter had been hanging over for several years, and it was about time that it was cleared up. Cr. Jones thought they were at a "dead end." MeComisky Bros, had taken legal advice, and were advised that they were in the right; the Council had taken legal advice, and had been similarly advised. He hoped the matter would be settled amicably.

At the request of the Mayor the Town Clerk explained the history of th« case. It was resolved that the Borough Solicitor be instructed to take the necessary steps to re-enter on the premises. Mr. J. g. Gunn wrote objecting to the valuation placed on his property in connp-tioii -.-ith the issue of' a building permit.—After discussion the Town Clerk was instructed to proceed with the mat+flr of procuring ■ payment for the building permit is^o:! W Mr. J. S. Gunn at a vi^e of £900, and to' bring fame to a finality. GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. The General Purposes Committee reported: That the letter from Rev leather Pheian thanking the Council for donating a war trophy to the Convent S hool be received ; that the letter from the Minister of Intern .1 Affairs stating that the matter of fixing a maximum speed for motorists would be dealt with during the next session of Parliament be received; that the letter from the Huntervitle County Engineer offering metal of different .sizes for sale at ap° proximately os per yard be received, and the matter be referred to the supervisor of streets for consideration ; that the Council's opproval to a subdivision of sections na'rt 9, 10, 11 and 12, block 43, owned by lir. F. W Grainger, and situated in Middlesex street, in accordance with section 335 or the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, he granted, s.ibject to a right-of-way from Egmont street to the back of the sections being shown on the nlan, and that the Mayor and Cr. Kerrisk be appointed to ?ign the necessary certificate of approval; that a renewal of its slaughterhouse license. No. To. begranted the Pa tea Butchery Co.. Ltd.; that the renoYt of the supervisor of streets as read be recommended for adoption; that the spervisor of streets be instructed to effect repairs to a hole in Egmont street opposite the Church of England, and also a hole near the County Council Office in Chester street: that with regard to the Heads road the supervisor of streets he instructed to get into tour-h with Messrs. Lockrun-t and Amo-i. and arrange with them to pff'e'.t some temporary repairs to the road. * [

Cr. Dunkley mentioned the very bad state of the ronrl at the Domain, and hoped the same would receive attention.

Cr. Xnismitb tlwieM-, tint* Council shonld get in touch with the other carters who are ear tin a- heavy loads over the Heads ro.irl. Tt was not fantn evyiect Tookhnrt and Ainon to do all the renair "-ovk.

Tt wns (W.^Tprl to wri'o to Mr. C'!gii!T>' 'in tVe irv* ++er, and the report v.-is adopted on the motion of the

Mayor

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND WATER

AND DRAINAGE COMMITTEE

The report of the Electric Light and Water ; \nd Drainage Connnittee was as follows: That the light-in the Patea Harbour Board office be disconnected, ss rerii'.eiste-.t by the "County Council; that the electrical engineer be instructed _to inspect the wiring at the Fire Brigade Siatiuii and do any nece>.s:..ry v.oik that may be required; that the letter from the electrical engineer, New Plymouth, notifying that it' would be necessary to completely rewind the g«.s plant exciter be received-, that with regard to the purch so of meters reported on by the electrical engineer the Finnme Committee he instructed to procure meters as quoted oh the ex-t-eii'lecl terms basis; that consideration of that poition of the electrical' engineer's report from the words "in

view" down to the word "hydro, ' both I inclusive, be held' over until tile next j mectiiig of this vjonunittee to enable ; the -engineer to see if better terms can j be arranged with Messrs. Carey Bios, for the purchase of their timber; that the electrical engineer he instructed to bring down a -report on the present lighting- .system and the possibility of arranging to cut off the lights during the d;ty; that o new ti-an.-'iormcr for the north end of Kgmont street be purchased at once at a cost of approximately £!(> 10s: that the ropoit of the eler.-trieal engineer as read be recommended for adoption ;. that with regard to the letter from the' Presbyterian Church Committee with, leferenee to purchnEe of switchboard and charge for lighting, the report-of the engineer recommending that a switchboard' be procured by the church and a meter installed by the Council be adopted ; that in view of the report of the electrical engineer regarding the conduct of Mr. M. W. Cox, hydro assistant, Mr. Cox jbe notified immediately th.it his services are no lomrer required: that the resignation of Mr. H. F. Meleod as electrical engineer be accented by the Council : that applications for the position of electrical engineer on the eavrx? conditions ns rtrevinnslv drown up he called, closing; on the dnfe of the July Council meetintr: that the ""ontrnetor for the Vivdro dam ])p asked if he would undertake to oxien and close the sluice valve. Tlie Tpnor^ \vn<: adopted, 071 the motion of the "Mayor. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT The electrical engineer reported:— Water department: A water supply has been maintained satisfa-torily during the month, the pumping hoars being 180 with the 17-h.p. pump, using 2790 electrical units. Tenders have been called for painting the iron work of the tower, the necessary paint bemg i now on hand. Several of the diagonal cross stays under the tank are showing signs of rusting, fractures appearing at various parts. Hydro: The hydra has run successfully during the past month, and for the moiuh of Mny will have run 711 out of 744 hours and all night on 28 occasions. Messrs Carey Bros, have now finished their contract in erecting the spillway extension, the water difficulty having been successfully overcome. They hay© made a very satisfactory firc'sh. the work being entirely to my satisfaction. Some excavating was necessary to form a new

course for the stream, to avoid a bend below the spillway end. Messrs C-isy have a quantity of timber used for A-.e concrete shapes, viz., 600 feet run of 9k by 1 pine, 66 feet run of 3 by 2, and 36 feet run of 4 by 2. In view of it being necessary to erect a fence on that portion of the dam where thesand drift is apparent, I suggest that this timber could be usefully employed for this purpose. Messrs Carey are asking £3 os for this; they also have a complete shed vrhich they are willing to leave for £4, and this would make a, valuable" asset to the hydro. Gas plant: The exciter, sent to New Plymouth tramways department for repairs, was found on inspection to need complete re-winding. the approximate cost of this being £20. The internal cup casting and disc retaining s;tow collar had been cracked when this armature was removed by Mr. Forbes, which accounts for the coils shorting. Withdrawing clamps should have been used to take this armature oft", whereas it was hammered off. Lines: Progress has been made with the lines in Egmont Street when weather permitted, and the new transformer house has been fitted up and is now ready to receive the transformer from the site adjacent to Mr. Taylor's. A line has l>een erected temporarily to Mr. Rossiter's house and a connection made to Mr. Read's house in Hadfielcl Street, he being agreeable to accept.-conditions ns the-' are until the line in Hadfiekl Street is re-erected. Meters: The attached report of quotations received for meters covers the whole of our requirements.

On . the motion of Cr. Rnrasbottom it was resolved to give the electrical en< ri'ieer n reference now, and not wait until the end of his engagement.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT

* The Finance Committee's report recommended that accounts as per schedule be passed for payment —general account, payments £60 15s 2d, accounts £169 7s 6d; electric light department, payments £50 11s lOd, accounts £64 16s sd; that meters as per schedule be ordered at once.

Cr. Dunkley mentioned the matter of motor hire to hydro works, and thought that £9 for the month rather high.

The Mayor stated that the engineer had permission to hire n. car whenever ; he needed one to s»;o out to the hydro. >: works. He would point out that last ' month was an exceptional one, and not '■ likely to occur again. They contd not \ expect the engineer to go out on u'j bicj'cle. <^v. Dankley said lie did not mean it ! as a reflection on the engineer, but to j point out that he thought it would be j better for the council to purchase a car j for the engineer. !

Cr. Jones said there wa.s another ac- ! count for car hire for carrying some ; councillors out to the hydro-electric I stiitioi]; he presumed it wa.s an offi- > cial visit, a-nd if so «'ll councillors J shonld be notified. :

The Mayor replied that when it was ; necessary for him to visit the council's • works and a car was required, he would ! get one, and not wait for the council's) sanction. - i

Cr. Findlayson reported with refer- ■ enee to impioviiig the approach to the | Post Office. The idea of rounding crt I the corner at the Post Office was out I of the question on account of expense, ] and to round off at the Albion Hotel corner would cost approximately £60 . by the time the job was finished. An- j other scheme the committee- considered i was that of asking the nroprietor of \ the Albion Hotel to dedicate to the i council the na.rrow strip of land just j in front of the hotel, a'ncl then round ) off the corner right up to. the. hotel, but this, of course, would cost consider- j

ably move

The^ Mayor moved that the report be received.—Seconded by Cr. NaiJimith. [ Cr. Dunkley moved an amendment: "That the question,of ways and means be held over till next meeting of the Council.—Lapsed lor want of a secondei

>-""■»'' • j The question of Mr H. Wong's lease j was discussed. The Mayor stated that • Mr Wong had, through his represeu- j tative. asked for an extension of time i for lour months to fulfil conditions of j lease; it was now nearly six months, and nothing had been heard from Mr Wong. The council had brought the other lessees up to scratch and Wong should be treated similarly. He would move: "TJiat regarding the leosy oT property in Kgmont Street, occupied by Mr Wong, improvement clauses of which have not been carried out, the same steps be now taken as were taken in connection with ihe Iwrxis he'd by Mrs A. MeKennn ami Mr D. Jones.—Seconded by Cr. Finlayson and carried. The Town Clerk was apponUed tn represent the council at the Municipal Conference to be held next month. A letter was received from Ivh- C. j Pulley stating that in? r.-oukl not ■iiiiJerj t;\!:-e to ooe;i the sltiic..-. --.Ivo- at the hydro .station Cr. Xaismilh thought this V^lr-p----i gate matter v::ih most serious. Tiiey Iliad now a splendid i!nv;t ■" tl:" ;M ( ,>n i station, :-nd should tl:ere lie :i l.eavy iio'.-v of wr.tci at any tune ii- v<t.<<\ i-.e a l>ad look out for ihii!"-s ?•" :- ■ ' j gate cn;;ld not be opened. Tie thought '.they should get someone io .i en it; jin fact ho was prcMv-^i to uo :\--? <.w■ i; i himself on Sund-.iy i-ext ii! ,\e:ii!ipr ?r -- clitions are favourable, and he vould ask some of the couvsviU >rs 10 cu.u^ o"r Cr Jones thought it .-ns ;i b;ul state 'j of affairs if the conncil hud io o.it-! sid.o its staff to do a u.h of 1 hi.-- kid. j Cr. Whiteford thought ihat us ilit; '7>resent engineer wou!n not im<lertnl-e the work they had hettf"-' »"nt uir.il the new engineer was appointed anJ i see if he would under .ake ihe >\'civt. j .ft was resolved to accept Cr. IV aismitji's offer to do the'work. It Avns resolved -o ; ;et i;,foi i.i:\ton ' as to price, etc., of a suitable car icr . the use of ihe engineer. j The meeting then adjourned. . j