PAHIATUA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 63, 12 February 1936, Page 4

PAHIATUA.

PAHIATUA, Feb. 10.

At a meeting of the Pahiatua Borough Council, last evening, the Mayor (Cr. J. D. Wilson) presided. Also present were Crs. W. 11. Mui'eh, J. E. Murphy, J. E. Sturton, F. Britland, S. K. Siddells, W. T. Brown, A. D. Donald, T. W. Watts and W. A. Carthew. One building permit for £355 was approved. Accounts amounting to £371 8s were passed for payment. A letter was received with reference to the Wellington district builders’, contractors’ and general labourers’ award, setting out the conditions under which the council may employ labourers. The Mayor pointed out that at the present time. the overseer and teamster were on a weekly salary, but that the gardener and sexton, was employed on day labour and would therefore come within the award. After a discussion a motion was carried: —That a recommendation bo forwarded to the cemetery committee recommending that the sexton be employed by the council at a weekly wage of £4 10s to' work as a general labourer and gardener and sexton and that his scvicos may bo called upon at any time by the council. It was reported by the town clerk that application had been made to the Valuer-General for the special subsidy provided by the Finance Act, 1935, on rates levied for the current financial year by the council on lands used exclusively or principally for agricultural, horticultural or pastoral purposes. The amount of such subsidy claimed was £2l Os 6d. A further application had been made for a special subsidy, if any, on all urban farm lands in the borough which arc not included in the urban farm lands roll. It was resolved to engage an office junior at 12s 6d per week. In reply to a question from Cr Siddells as to what action was being taken in the matter of fallen trees in the Recreation Ground as the result of the recent storm, Cr Watts said that iic knew of someone who was prepared to clear the trees at no cost to . the council. Cr Blown thought that the heart of the timber should bo used in providing posts for a new fence at the, swimming baths.—lt was decided that the recreation committee should make the necessary arrangements to clear away the trees, the heart of the timber to be used for the new fence. It was decided to j offer the trustees of the Balfour Estate J the sum of £25 for one-eighth of an acre) of land ill Tiramea Road, recurred by the council for water supply purposes, and in the event of the offer not being accepted tile council to take the necessary steps to secure the land under the provisions oi the Public Works Act. The overseer reported on general work done. The treasurer (Mr J. Hutton) reported that the amount of rates struck for 1935-36 was £10.363 12s lid, and that £3373 11s 3d had been collected. Rebates amounted to £46 14s Id, leaving a balance outstanding of £6943 7s 7d as at January 31. Arrears outstanding at March 31, 1935, had been £667 Os 7d, and £135 Is 9d of this amount had been collected during the year. There was still £531 18s lOd due under tins heading. Olio town clerk brought, to the notice of tiie meeting that as the first Town Board was formed in 1886 ami the first Borough Council in 1892, councillors should now decide when the jubilee celebrations should be held. As councillors were not certain whether the borough’s tenure dated

from when the Borough Council took office or from the Town Board’s occupation, it was decided that the Mayor obtain au op nicn on the matter. In connection with tlie jubilee celebrations, tlie Mayor expressed the opinion that nil photographs hanging on the walls of the council chamber should lie suitably inscribed with the names of tho respective Mayors and councillors under tenure of office, in recognition of the good work they had done.—The clerk was instructed to attend to the matter. It was also resolved to instruct tlie clerk to communicate with other boroughs on the question of public risk insurance and to report to tho next meeting of the council. The matter was brought up in eonnnection with the council’s liability in the event of an accident at tho swimming batlis.