HAVELOCK TOWN BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 194, 16 August 1912, Page 2

HAVELOCK TOWN BOARD.

At the monthly meeting of the HavelockTown Board, held on Wednesday last, all the members were present. • The Secretary informed the Board that the revised valuation roll had been i-eeeived, and that it was desirable that the rate should be ■struck as early as possible.—On the motion, of Mr Reader, seconded by Mr Buokman, it was resolved that notice be given, /in accordance with the Acfe, of the Board's intention to levy a rate 6f l|d in the pound. » A request was received, signed by thirteen electors of the Havelock town district, that a poll of the electors in the said district be taken in order to test their feeling on the question of altering the weekly half-holi-day from Thursday to Saturday.—Mr E. H. Smith moved that as -the" request appeared to beTicn order, having moro than. the required number of signatures, it be complied with.— The re was some discussion ,as to whether any resolution was necessary, as the electors were quite within their rights, and all that was necessary was for the secretary to attend to ifc. Eventually Mr Smith's motion was seconded and carried.

The finances of the Board were next under consideration, and Mr Reader moved, Mr Pickering seconding, that the limit of the Board's overdraft, if required, be fixed at £150. This was carried.

The Pelorus Road Board wrote asking for a further payment on account of the Wairau bridge. A total sum of £5250 had been expended, and 5 per "cent on £2625 amounted to £131 ss, leas £88 15s already paid by the' \ Board. This left a balance of £42 \LOs due.—On the motion of MaReader, seconded jby- ; *Mr Pickering, payment of the amount was authorised.

Mr Vorbach applied to have water laid on to section 76; also for assistance to put in a crossing from the road.—The Inspector said that about 14 pipes would be required for the work. It was customary for work of this, nature to be paid for by the Board, and the applicant. As aa awkward1 gap would be left between the-proposed crossing and thecrossing lower down the street, which about 11 extra pipes wouldremedy^, he su.e:gested that the extra pipes be put'ja and the drain covered tihe whole distance.—lt was resolved that it be left to the Chairman and Secretary to make the best .arrangement for the requiredl work, a

The Secretary said he had been asked what charge would be made for; the use of the Town Hall one night a week (Tuesday) for drill purposes..— After some discussion Mr E. .H. Smith moved that it be offered at' 10s per night, and that if the "offer,, be accepted the hall be : retained every Tuesday night for drill purposes. was duly carried. y Mr A. Read© wrote asking ilie: Board's charge for the use of the Town Hall one night per week for six consecutive weeks, for dancing-class purposes, from 7 till 10 p.m.—lt was decided that Mr Reade.be offered tJie use of the hall as stated at £1 per night, and that he be informed that if the offer is accepted the hall must be closed not later than 10.30 p.m. A request from the same gentleman to be allowed to proceed with certain work in the cemetery was acceded: to. Advice was received that the loan required by the Board for the town gas lighting was now available, the amount being £500 less £4 Is 6d commission and certificate fees.—The contractor for the work wrote stating that the tank was being made, and forwarded the necessary letter of guarantee from Messrs Rattray and Son, Ltd.. Dunedin, also specimens of the iron lamp-posts. Carbide, etc., would be sent by s.s. Manaroa. The Secretary stated that on receipt of the card with specimens of posts he had consulted with the Chairman, and had written the company on'the matter.—lt'was resolved that the action of the Chairman and Secretary be approved.

In reply to a query from Mr E. H. Smith, the Secretary stated that he had not yet obtained the opinion required by the Board regarding a closed road.

Owing to the rapid spread of n. weed called tut«en in the town, MiReader moved that the requisite steps be taken to have it proclaimed a noxious weed. It appeared to be raoidly spreading:, and to deal with it ■effectively "rubbing would be necessary—Mr E. H. Smith seconded tSie motion, which was carried.

The stai/o of the road in front of Mr Couper's residence, which was in wry bad order, was brought up by Mr B. H. Smith. Mr Reader also drew the Board's attention to the condition of that t>prtion of the same road between Mr Coiiper's and the parsonage, and moved that th« Inspector examine i£ with a view to its improvement^—lt was decided that the road be inspected. Mr E. H. Smith said that a telephone bureau was being started in

Havelock, and that a number of peo- { pie were having connections. He ; moved that, as tihe duties of the Sec- ! retary of the Pelorus Road Board and ; the Havelock Town Board were filled \ by the same person, the Road Board j be. written to and asked to join the j Town Board in having a connection put on to the Secretary's office. —The ; motion was carried. \ Mr E. H. Smith said that in view of ! impending alterations in the local post and' telegraph office and the absolute absence of secrecy in the present telephone arrangements, he i thought the wj-hole of the present j building was necessary for the effi- j cient working of the staff;, and he j would suggest that .the Secretary writa to the Department on the matter. The time had no\v arrived when an addition to the building should be made for the purposes of magisterial work.—lt* was resolved that this be done.

The necessity for further work in the matter of trees overlapping the roads was gone into, and it was decided that notice be sent to Mr W. E. Dive, or his agent, to cut the branches of trees overlapping the main road at Mr Phipps's residence, and that the Education Board be written to asking that the eucalyptus trees on the north side of the, public school bo cut down. .

The Chairman said that the late Mr Richard Jones was one of the earliest settlers in Havelock, having arrived in the town in 1864. He had also occupied the positions of Inspector and of Secretary to the Havelock Town Board for many years, and was of material assistance in getting the Havelock Public Library placed under the control of the Board, besides having proved himself a ffood citizen in many other ways. He moved that a vote of sympathy be extended by the Board to the family of the deceased.—Mr Pickering, who seconded the motion, also eulogised the deceased, whom he had known for a great many years.—The motion was carried.

A vote of sympathy with the members of the family of the late Mr Thos. Brown was also passed.

Accounts totalling £109 14s lOd were passed for payment, and the Board rose. .