PATEA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 7 May 1924, Page 6

PATEA.

BOROUGH COUNCIL

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The monthly meeting of the Patea Borough Council was held on Monday evening last, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Pinlayson) presiding.

A letter was received from Messrs. MqOonrisky Bros, asking for an extension of seven weeks in which to pull down the premises now occupied by them, and notifying that they would not- now require the building permit as they had decided to leave the place. Cr. Peacock moved that an extension of time to the end of June next be granted, and that no further action in regard to the demolition of the building be taken until after the end of June. Seconded by Or. Jones.

Or. Whiteford moved as an amendment, that if the demolition of the building is proceeded with prior to the 21st May, court proceedings bo suspended for the present.

Cr. Kerrisk thought it would be rediculous to go on with court proceedings, as he felt sure no magistrate would give judgment against McComisky Bros, when informed that a contract ka^. b&en entered into tQ have the building pulled down.

His Worship said he was rather, inclined to second the amendment, as he felt it was in the direction of ridding the town of insanitary buildings, but in view of the facts, he -agreed with Ce. Kerrisk that the council would not win its case if brought on this month, as McComisky Bros, could show that a contract had been let to Gunn Bros, to pull the place down.

The building inspector reported that he had issued a permit to Mr. D. Calder for certain alterations to the house owned and occupied by Dr. Simmons.

Or. Ramsbottom moved that the building inspector be informed that in future no 'permits are to be issued until plans and specifications of any proposed work have been laid before the council and approved as set out in the. by-laws. In speaking to the motion, Cr. Ramsbottom said his reason for moving in this direction was to prevent the by-law becoming a dead letter, and also to safeguard the owners of buildings. Under the system that now appeared to be creeping in an owner might have extensive alterations effected to a building only to have i.o alter same by order of ths council to comply with the by-laws. Cr. Jones said he was under the impression that the council had first of all to authorise the issue of a permit before the inspector could issue one, and if so, there was no need for the resolution.

His Worship isaid that permits should not be issued unless and until approved by the council, and the. inspector has no authority to issue them without the authority of the council. The resolution was carried.

Messrs. HaMwell, Spnatfc and Thomson, solicitors, of Havvera, wrote on behalf of the Misses Williamson with reference to the pollution of the stream running through the council's and their clients' properties by the Kakaramea Dairy Company, and notifying that they had joined the council as codefendants with the- dairy company in the case to be brought Before the court.—The letter was received. The following reports were read'and adopted, stating inter alia: — General Purposes Committee.—That the letter from Mrs. E. C. Homer asking for permission to. remove a pine tree growing in the triangle opposite ker residence be referred to His Worship the .Mayor with power to act. lhat the following matters; be referred to the supervisor of streets for attention : (a) Meredith Street channel iormed m middle of road through rain wasnout; (b) Kent and Cambridge Street corner, footpath being used by vehicular traffic (supervisor sucmestfvl erection of posts to prevent troubleV; (c) burrey and Egmont Street corner cv.vert broken, suggested replacing same in middle of street; (d) Egmont Street and Bedford Street comer treatment to prevent slipping. That the action of the Mayor in granting the Hospital Board permission to remove two pine trees growing on their boundary line be confirmed by the council ,

Electric Light and Water and Drainage Committee.—The committee recommend : That the re.nort of the electrical engineer as read be adopted by the council. Various matters in connection with the t< \nvt yore discussed, including the matter of the Kakaramea line but no action was taken. The engineer was instructed to look into the question of an extra light in Hadfield Street, between Egmont Street coiner and_ Warwick Street. The electrical engineer was complimented on the efficient manner in which the electrical i service had been maintained during the [dry spell, and while the overturn! of the hydro plant was being carried out. Appreciation of his work especially duirng the Easter holidays was also -expressed. His Worship the Mayor roported_ that the purchase of the hydrodam site had now been completed ', but that the council had no easement giving it the right to carry its lines over private property to the" hydro station. It was resolved that the borough solicitor be instructed to make the necessary

arrangements for the granting of an easement over private property on which the council's eloetnc u.-ies are erected.

Electrical Engineer's Report.—A continuous supply of water has been maintained during the month, the 17 h.p. Ljump running 205 hoars and the 40 h.p. ' ,>u-mp 1-V hours, pumping approximately | 1,252,500 gallons. Two connetcions have Ueen made to the mains, one to the water trough in Stafford Street, the other in Essex Street for the Patea Butchery Company's Slaughterhouse. The hydro plant has run 536 hours during tiie month, and since the 4th has run continuously except two days during the overhaul which was carried out ' from the 18th to the 21st inst. Al- > though this was the first overhaul the plant has had since it was installed two years past, I am pleased to state that every part was found in good condition. The new casting was fitted oh the exciter and the commutator tuned up, j the alternator high tension coils given ( three coats of insulating paint, the end > thrust in the turbine taken up and all j bearings thoroughly examined. TJnder I ordinary circumstances this plant should ' not require any more adjustments for j another twelve months. The; gas plant [ was ran"- on the 19th and 20th 3 giving good results, taking the night load on both occasions. The cost of running the two nights, run worked out at approximately 8s 6d per hour, coal 2s- 4d and o;l Is 2d. Owing to the plant being phut down for some considerable time, jit was necessary to use mere coal and 'oil. This cost would be. considerably ! reduced if the plant were running continuously. The new belt was fitted and ,'feavo satisfaction during the run. No: ; applications for current have been re> j ceived during the month. The new ! jo.>»Lcin or SLx-cet lighting in Egmont I Street has been completed, and is con-1 i trolled by two switches. The brackets and shades that were taken down have been used to {replace old ones in 'various, parts of the town. The iron oo'e and bracket from the outside of the Town Kail has been re-erected at the top of the h.t?ps in Cambridge Street. Owing to the continuous renewal of lamps ! in Bedford Street, I would suggest that I this section from1 Levon Street to tiie ( stationmaster's residents be -nut on a ' j time-switch system. The cost "would be 1 approximately £20. including timeI switch, material and labour. The low i tension lines in Richmond Street have 1 bean renewed.

Finance Committee.—That the esti- ( mates for the year ending March 31, >:1925, as prepared, be approved and submitted to the council for adoption. That the following rates for the enP : suing year be recommended to be . . struck: General rate 2s 4d in the £, ' I water rate (domestic supply) 6d in the ' !.£, water rate (shops and offices) 3d in the ■£, £6000 loan interest rate 6id in , I the £, £20,000 loan interest rate Is 7d I in the £, hospital levy rate Id in the

j The Mayor pointed out that in the ■ proposed rates for the ensuing year was one of Id hospital levy. This, was I considered the fail est way of raising ■ the ne;essary money required to build j tne new nurses' home, and lie considered this by far the fairest way of getting the amount required for that purpose. The subsidy to the hospital and ; grant to library had been reduced, and that to the Brass Band struck out. It was resolved to hold a special i meeting of the council on the 21st inst. ,for the purpose of passing the estij mates and striking tne necessary rates tor ensuing year. Cr Kerrisk then moved the motion standing in his name: "That the busij ness of the General Purposes and Elecjtric Light and Water and Drainage I Committees be open to the press." In ! speaking to the motion, Cr Kerrisk said j his mam reason for moving the motion | was necause he thought it was in the i best merests of the borough and the ; council. Last month when the council ; was dealing with a somewhat similar motion the chief argument advanced against the abandonment of the committee system was that the Finance Committee had at times some delicate matters to deal with. He accepted that contention, and in the motion now before the council he had excluded all reference to the Finance Committee. it was the general impression among the electors that too much of the council's business was done behind c osed doors, and he quite agreed with that opinion. It was a well-known fact that little or no interest was taken by townspeople in borough affairs, and it was a difficult matter to get vacancies on the council filled, but if a little more light was thrown on council af lairs he felt sure the apathy of the pnbhe would soon be a thing of the past. Cr Jones seconded the motion and agreed with the remnrks of the mover He was quite satisfied that the present system was wrong, for it prevented the public from getting a fair idea of what was being done by councillors. It was true that copies of the various reports were handed to the press, but no del tails were attached.

The Mayor said that so far he had not heard any argument in favour of the motion that would convince him '■ Inat such a change was in the best interests of the town, and he would oppose the motion.

Cr HoneyfLeld said he would oppose the motion. He considered it a retro. £i-nde move. They should endeavour to follow the lead set' by larger towns, md not go backwards.* He failed to ccc what advantage would accrue by

passing the motion. If there was any budding M.P. in the council, let him take a soap box into the triangle. Cr Ramsbottom did not favour the motion. If they carried on in. open council the free and easy style adopted in committee he did not know what they would be called. They were now called "blatherskites"; what would it be if they cut out the committees ? In reply, Cr Kerrisk said he for one ; did not desire to see his name figuring in the newspapers. He had brought ; the motion forward simply because he thought it was in the best interests of the town and council, and he was sorry ; it had not met with a better reception. The press only received the bare reports, and the public had no idea of the \ opinions of the. individual councillors. I The motion was then put and lost by ' three votes to six. j Cr Jones tabled the following mo- ' tionj "That the Finance Committee i consist of the whole council." i There being no further ordinary busi, j ness, the council went into committee to open and consider applications for the position of Town Clerk.