MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2642, 14 January 1908, Page 5

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Speci il and monthly meetings were held ou Xliui.vliy last, 9th. inst. Present: His Worship the Mayor, (M. •J. Gavin), and Ors E. Monson, G. T. Searle, A. J. Pope, J. Edgar, and A. Mayne. A special meeting of the Council was held to decide by resolution which working day in the week should be the statutory closing day (or half holiday within the borough. The Council resolved that the half holiday be observed on Wednesday as hitherto. Ordinary Mikting. Dr Douglas sent in eight notices concerning actual and suspected infectious diseases. It was decided, in respouse to a circular, to accept a free copy of ' The Herald of the Golden Age,' for the reading room. Thos Bell, sanitary inspector, reported that he had fumigated several residences during the month of December.—Report received. Mr W. Fraser, M.P., forwarded the following letter, received by him from Sir J. G. Ward, to the Council " With reference to your letter of 20th September last, forwarding a reso lutiun passed by the Queenstown Borough Council urging that the weekend excursion should start earlier this season and that the tickets should be available for return until Saturday instead of Wednesday, 1 have the honor to inform you that after having carefully considered the matter, I cannot see my way to accede to the Council's request."—Received. The Department of Labour, Wellington, forwarded a copy of the Factories Act Amendment Act, 1907, which is now in force. Attention was drawn to section 15 which provided that steps could be taken in any borough or town district, when it was desired to change the Saturday half holiday for boys under 18 and women to the day observed for shops. The powers for changing the day were given to the electors generally and not to factory owners only.—Received. The Department of Roads forwarded a printed circular relating to the exemption of roads and streets from the operation of section 117 of "The Public Works Act, 1905."—Received.

The Patangata Oounty Council forwarded the following resolution and asked for the Council's co-operation and approval: "It being reported that Mr Keir Hardie intends shortly to visit the Dominion of New Zealand and in view of his recont utterances while in India, this Council is strongly of opinion that he should receive no official recognition in his public capacity as a member of the British Legislature from any local in the Dominion."—This letter was not received by the Council. The Mayor reported that the Finance Committee had met and con sidered the application of the dayman for increase of salary and it was recommended that the increase asked for be not granted. The behaviour of the dayman for the last month or so was not such as to warrant same. The ratepayers were complaining and if a better state of affairs did not prevail the Council would find someone else to do the work. It was resolved, on the motion of Crs Edgar and Searle—That the dayman be notified that a continuance of his indiscretion will result in his being called upon to resign his position. C. E. Gudgeon applied for the position of dog tax collector for the borough for the year 1908, in terms of the Council.s advertisement. —Mr Gudgeon was appointed. It was resolved that the Council is not prepared to increase the dayman's salary. Refunds of half general and water rates were granted to Mrs C. Robertson o1 £1 2s on sections 1-11 and 14, block 29 and section 14, block 1, and to Mr J. Wenkheim of £1 3s 3d on section 15, block 14.

Cr Edgar referred to the fact of there being an awful waste of water daring the hat few weeks, thereby resalting in very little water reaching the higher portions of the town. He proposed that the dayman be instructed to resort to a practice which was in vogue last year, viz., to close certain mains in the principal streets during stated hoars so that the supply will be increased. Cr Searle complained that there was a great shortness of water for power purposes. He had to use kerosene in his hotel instead of electricity. Something would have to be done to ensure a better service. The Mayor stated that the dayman had visited the source of the supply and found that ail the water was going into the pipes. Unless they brought in more water it was impossible to increase the supply. Cr Edgar's sug gestion was a very good one. He (the Mayor) also thought that the time for watering gardens should be re stricted to certain hours so that there would be :nore water for domestic pur poses at hours other than those specified. The present state of affairs could be put down a great deal to selfishness on the part of many people.

Cr Searle endorsed the remarks of the Mayor. Cr Edgar said that the inspector should do his duty and so prevent a good deal of wast of water. The Mayor suggested that the water be used for watering gardens when necessary between the hours of 5 a.m. and 7.30 in the morning and between 6 p.ru and 9 p.m in the evenings. The suggestion of the Mayor was approved. Cr Monson referred to the necessity for having a few more seats on the breakwater and on the esplanade for the convenience of tourists.

It was decided to approach Mr Faris, local representative of the Tourist Department, on the matter. In reply to a question the inspector of nuisances stated that the willow trees in Mr Hotop's place alongside

the' bridge in Camp Street had been trimmed some time ago, but they required atteuding to again. He had not written to Mr Hotop in regard to the shade thrown on the road by the trees in his paddock on the one-mile walk. The inspector was told to get his instructions from the Mayor or Olerk in future. Cr Mayne asked who was supposed to keep the drain pipes at the breakwater in order. One of these (MrF. St Omer's) required attending to now. The Mayor thought that when each of the pipes referred to only served one house, the owners should effect all necessary repairs. Or Monson said that it was not the owner's fault in this case. The lake water had undermined the pipe. Or Edgar and Maync thought that the Corporation should attend to any repairs in the pipes outside private property. This was agreed on. Cr Searle referred to tho advisability of ziz-zaggingthehillsgoing up to Firth's and to the recreation grouuds and of planting a few trees alongside the tracks so made. A railing might also be placed alongside the path leading to the recreation ground. These improvements would contribute much to the advantages of the place. The Mayor said that he did not think that the Council could see its way to do anything in this matter at prosent. Or Pope made a few complimentary remarks regarding the work done and courtesy and kindness shown by the lown Olerk during the past year. He wished him a happy and prosperous New Year. v Cr Mayne, Searle and the Mayor endorsed the remarks of Cr Pope and a motion embodying the sentiments was carried. Cr Searle said that they had never wished their Mayor a Happy New Yoar. Seme of the members replied that they had. The Town Clerk thunked the Councillors for the kin'd remarks made. It was resolved that earthenware pipes for drainage purposes be purchased immediately, the Mayor to order suoh sizes as are necessary. Accounts amounting to £64 Is 9d were passed for payment.

A vote of thanks to chair closed the meeting.