BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Northern Advocate, 5 August 1924, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LAST EVENING V >IKIITING. The Whangarei B< Council met | last night, the Deputy Mayor, Mr W. U. Timewcll, presiding over tin attendance of the following: Crs. W. Simpson, L. J. Brake, W. Lees, J. E. Holmes, A. D. Jack, A. H. Curtis, E. G. W. Tibbits, A. T. Brainsby and Messrs J. D. Whitinore, engineer, and C. L. Grange, town clerk. BOROUGH REVALUATION. Advice was received from the ValuerGeneral that preliminary work is in hand to make a revaluation of the borough. It is hoped that the new valuations will be available for the rating year 1925-26. Cr. Tibbits moved that the letter be received, and when seconding, Cr. Brake said that he considered it desirable from the Council's point of view that the Council should have a representative working in eon junction with the valuers. The Deputy Mayor said that although most of the valuing was done in the Council Chamber, the Council had no authority in the matter, but ad- | vice was sometimes sought, j Cr. Holmes added that Mr W. j Thompson did the valuing in Whanga- | rei and he was a most efficient officer. The letter was then received. A LETTER REJECTED. In reference to a 10 per cent, penalty on last year's rates, Mr J. W. McGregor wrote to the town clerk as follows:—"I think I explained to you at the time how it occurred, thinking the rates were not due till the encl of February, as previously. However, you had better consult your Council in the matter. If they insist, I shall expect full value for any land they may require in connection with the widening of Rust Lane. Two can play at being sharp. If the amount has to be paid, if you let me know by return you may have a cheque in settlement." Cr. Jack moved that a notiec be sent to Mr McGregor pointing out that the penalty had been imposed and would have to be paid. Cr. Brake, however, moved as an amendment, that the letter be not received as he held that any letter that was threatening and that insinuated that the Council participated in any sharp 'practice should not be accepted. Cr. Jack agreed, and withdrew his motion in favour of the amendment, which was carried. COMPULSORY SANITATION ORDER A requisition was received from the j ' Board of Health calling upon the Coun- J cil to provite certain sanitary con- 1 veniences at the Municipal Gonccrt Chamber. The items were a six-stall I urinal and four water closets, three of ] which were for women. The cost was J not to exceed £350, which amount the . Deputy Mayor pointed out was the original estimate, but for less work than was now stipiilated. It was decided to receive the letter and the town clerk was advised that the meaning was that he should take steps to raise the loan necessary to carry out the demand. " HIGH SCHOOL ACCESS. A letter received late, but deemed to be of sufficient importance to be read, w T as from the Board of Governors of the Whangarei High School relative j to the effort to have the proposed road running alongside the railway line and [ giving access to the school ma do 40ft. ! wide instead of 66ft. as recommended ; by the Minister. It was pointed out j that such lesser width would suffice for ' a long time to come. It also contendd j that there was little chance of build- j inos being erected fronting it, and that j the Board of Governors was averse j from giving an extra 26ft. from the ' existing playing fields. If such time j did come as the full chjiin wide road I became warranted, the additional width could then be taken. j Cr. Jack agreed that the 26ft. strip was of value to the school property and ; the playing areas. Support of the Council was sought to the application that the decision of tho Minister that the road should be 66ft. wide should be reconsidered. A motion to that effect was carried, Cr. Tibbits voting against it because he was opposed to 40ft. roads and felt that the additional area could be given. | PUKENUI TIMBER CARTING. In accordance with instruction from i the Legal and Finance Committee the i [ town clork had interviewed Mr J. Norris, Whangarei county engineer, with reference to the claim for maintenance of the Three Mile Bush and Ivamo Roads during timber carting by the Council. Mr Norris admitted the settlement on the termination of the carting, but stated that the present claim was in respect of repairs carried out during the currency of the carting,

and whicli was overlooked in the final settlement, as the then existing condition only of the road was dealt with. Tho engineer said that he had considered the settlement made as final. He had already advanced on his origi nal figure, and the settlement was a fair one. Cr. Brake then moved, seconded by Cr. Jack, that a reply bo sent that the claim was not entertained, and the motion was carried. WRACK STREET. Mr V. J. Owens wrote at length regarding the need of a. footpath on the; north side of Wrack Street to obviate discomfort and danger to residents of the six dwellings on that frontage and to others using the road. Credit was due to Mr A. Bray for having cleared away blackberries and having improved the street by erecting attractive houses. Cr. Lees considered that the footpath should be attended to, and his motion that the letter be referred to the Works Committee was carried. MANSFIELD TERRACE. Cr. Jack referred to the state of Mansfield Terrace, a right-of-way in a bad way. He moved that property owners be called upon to metal, curb and channel the street, and the motion was carried without any comment. WARO ROCKS. It was decided on the motion of Cr. Brainsby to forward the Council's thanks to the Minister of Lands for what was being done in regard to having part of the Waro limestone rocks reserved for scenic purposes., PUKENUI RESERVE. j

Cr. Tibbits moved that the town i clerk ascertain whether any area of t the Pukenui Forest had been set asidfl f as a scenic reserve. The investigation s was referred to the Works Committee < after it had been pointed out that the s special area referred to was adjoining j the borough water reserve. 1 WATER STREET BRIDGE. c The engineer suggested that the ; time had arrived to consider appoint- 1 ment of an overseer for the Water Street bridge. < Cr. Lees held that it was unneces- t sary to -appoint one, and it was d<3- ! ( cided that the engineer should instruct j his foreman to keep an eye on the eon- 1 struction of the bridge. t FOREST BEAUTY PRESERVATION. < Some five years ago, said Cr. T'b-bits, 1 the Council had bought some bush as 1 a scenic reserve from Mr -Tas. D. Mc- < Kenzie. He had 30 acres left and had < been offered a chance of selling the 1 timber upon it. Before doing so he . wished to know whether the Council would consider its purchase at £25 , < per acre as a reserve. , ' The Deputy Mayor reminded Cr. Tib- j < bits that it would be a matter for a loan and the question was then re- : ferred to the Parks Committee for in- ; vestigation concerning the area. KENSINGTON PARK. ' Speaking of Kensington Park, Cr. ' Lees suggested that the newly grassed ] area be rolled when the weather picked 1 up, but other councillors favoured hav- ] ing sheep being put on by tho Parks ! Comimittee in preference to rolling for j ' consolidation purposes. No definite i 1 policy was laid down. j '