Meeting of Borough Council

Northland Age, Volume XVI, Issue 14, 15 November 1946, Page 4

Meeting of Borough Council

Both the Mayor, Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe and the deputy-Mayor, Cr. W. Marsh, were absent from the monthly meeting of the Kaitaia Borough Council on Wednesday evening. Nominations received for chairman resulted in Cr. F. Weber presiding over Crs. L. G. Thompson, C. B. McKinnon, A. E. Foster, P. G. Quilter and Mr. W. H. Atkins, Clerk. Cr. W. Marsh was granted leave of absence for three months. A letter from the Community Arts Service expressed thanks to the Council for the free use of the library rooms for meetings. The Council was informed by letter from Mr. F. Maurice Clark, act-ing-General Manager of the National Airways Corporation, that the first survey flight to Kaitaia would fake place on Monday, November 25. Councillors discussed the proposed visit of Mr. A. R. Cutler, V.C., B.Ec. Sydney, High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia, on Tuesday, December 3. Arrangements were put in hand for Mr. Cutler to address the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce in the Parish Hall that evening. The meeting will be open tc any person desiring to attend. Local body support was requested by the Waitemata Harbour Bridge Association for the erection of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Members spoke strongly on the subject, stating that an improved Kaitaia-Devonport highway was necessary before the bridge. The letter was deferred until next meeting. In the foreman’s report, Mr. Watts stated that the new Tangonge Road had had its first grading. The rubbish collection had been fairly satisfactory but many householders had placed their bins out too late. In order not to clash with sale day the collection day was changed to the third Monday of the montjp A temporary footpath had been formed from the corner of Worth St. to the corner of Bank St., reported Mr. Watts. Councillors felt this had been a long awaited job. The clearing vf Reservoir Hill had been started. A temporary barricade erected around a slip at the end of the Bank St. swingbridge had been tampered with recently. Councillors viewed this with alarm. Puriri trees blocking vision on the Church Rd. bridge will be cut back. A recent accident is believed to have been caused by these trees. Cr. McKinnon spoke strongly on the subject of the open drain running through properties at the south-east end of Commerce St. At present it was "a filthy mess,” stated Cr. McKinnon. The matter had been delayed far too long and it was time that something definite was done to inclose the drain. It was decided to obtain quotations for both pipe and square concrete

drainage systems. The costs will be presented at the next meeting. A letter from the P.W.D. through the Defence Department, asked the amount that the Borough Council was prepared to pay for the new site for the Parish Hall, adjacent to the Defence Dept. Councillors were, of the opinion that the property had been given to the Church. The P.W.D. is to be advised of this opinion. In future there will be at least one 4’ permanently sealed footpath next to the water-table on any roads that may be formed in the Borough through future sub-division. Everyone used the footpaths, said Cr. M»Kinnon in agitating for this demand. Cr. Thompson thought the matter should have been given more consideration. The Council should net saddle future buyers of property with the cost of the footpath when other people had footpaths paid for out of their rate payments. The Hospital Board advised the Council that their total levy on local authorities was £9114 12/- of which £1549 4/- was the levy on the Borough Council and to be paid in instalments of £387 6/-. A circular from the Hon.- W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, was tabled. This outlined Government plans for future war memorials. Cr. Thompson reported that on sev-

eral occasions lately he had received inquiries from people wishing to erect tents in the Borough area. The holiday season was drawing near and the position was becoming more serious. A County Council grader had been put out of commission in making a cut for the proposed road to Sunray Park, the future motor camp. Plans for the erection of conveniences and a cookhouse were discussed as well as the laying on of water. It is hoped that the job will be under way in the very near future. Representation from the Library Committee asked the Borough Council to delete from Library application forms the paragraph stating that a ratepayer must sign the form before a book was lent. The Committee stated that if the Council did not agree to this request they would resign en bloc. The Committee desired application forms to be signed up immediately at the counter. The present application forms were only a safeguard for the Council. They prevented the non-return of books. It was decided that Mr. Atkins interview the Library Committee.