BOROUGH COUNCILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18389, 3 May 1923, Page 9

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

INSTALLATIONS OF MAYORS. NEWMARKET. The Newmarket Borough Council met last evening. There were present: The Mayor, Mr. S. Donaldson, Messrs. P. S. Boone, H. J. Cooper, N. Kelleway, A. Kent, F. J. O'Meara, W. T. Sawbridge, G. E. Smerdon, and T. J. Watts. The Mayer brought forward certain important loan proposals in regard to permanent street improvements, and it was agreed that the matter should be dealt with at a special meeting to be held on May 9. At the same meeting the suggested loan to meet extra costs incurred in connection with the- new municipal buildings would be considered. Mr. (>. E. Smerdon was elected as Deputy-Mayor. It was unanimously agreed that the honorarium to the Mayor should be £100. Mr. H. J. Cooper was granted six months' leave of absence in connection with his coming visit to the United States...';, •':"; ~ DEVONPORT. The : Devonport Borough Council met last evening. The retiring Mayor, Mr. H. S. W. King, who presided at the opening of the meeting, presented a report on the progress of the borough during his term of office. He stated that a loan . of £10,000 from the State Advances Office had enabled the council to make a start .with the concrete roading programme. The first section, which had been done 'by day labour, had'been completed for £143 above the engineer's estimate of £11,655. The second section was now in progress. The council had raised £50,000 in London. He considered that the taking over of the electrical service was in the best interests of the borough. The capital value of the borough was £1,812,260 and the unimproved value £804,305. The public debt stood at £247,144, and the sinking funds at £4740. Mr. T. Lamont, Mayor-elect, was then sworn in, Mr. King wishing him success in the office. Mr. Lamont said Mr. King's report gave, more information than some people had prior to the election. BIRKENHEAD. The Mavor-elect of Birkenhead, Mr. E. O. Walton, was installed at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening by the retiring Mayor, Mr. A. Hadfield, who made eulogistic reference to his work on the council. The newly-elected members of the council made the usual declaration, and Messrs. E. G. Skeates, C. E. Campbell, P. H. Hayward, A. E. Wood. L. R. L. Moller, F. A. Gilpin, W. Worthington, and T. Farrell took their seats. Mr. J. P. McPhail, an exMayor, extended his best wishes to Mr. Walton for a successful term of office. Mr. E. G. Skeates was unanimously appointed Deputy-Mayor. Bacillus coli was reported by the Government bacteriologist to be absent in 100 cubic centimetres in the water analysed from a tap in Birkenhead on April 18. The waterworks engineer reported that the water was chlorinating satisfactorily throughout the borough wf.th the exception of the bottom of Rangatira Road and Puriri Road. The council decided to notify the public that it was desirous to continue the war on rats in view of plague in India. TAKAPUNA. The newly-elected Takapuna Borough Council met for the first time last evening. The Mayor, Mr. A. M. Gould, presided, and there were also present: Messrs. A. H. Wilkie, J. W. Harden, T. B. Arthur. J. Collins, F. W. Suckling, F E. N. Gaudin. M. E. Thompson, M. L* Wilkins, E. G. Tucker. The Mayor and members of the council made the statutory declarations. The Mayor said the old council had been a diligent and capable body and had served the ratepayers well. Addressing the new members, he said their term of office would be an onerous one. Such questions as the water supply, sewerage, street improvements, recreation grounds, and fire-fighting apparatus, would have to be considered. He proposed to _ call meetings of the council once a fortnight, instead of once every three weeks as at present. Reports regarding the sanitary condition "of Lake" Takapuna watershed were received from the medical officer of health. The Mayor said the matter was one of detail and went through the condition of every property on the watershed. The reports were referred to the Public Services Committee. The Devonport Borough Council sought permission to connect the pumping station with electricity. Power would be available for Takapuna residents if desired. It was decided to seek further particulars as regards the price and condition-; of the proposed supply. It was decided to make strong representations to the Tram-Kays Company for an additional tram each morning" and each evening. The town clerk stated that criticisms of the borough office methods and cost of administration had been unanswered. His request that, a committee should report on the matter was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee. The Mayor and Messrs. Wilkie and Harden were appointed delegates to the Marine Boroughs' Association. A letter from the Health Department urging a campaign against rats w-? referred io the. Public. Services Committee.