ONEHUNGA AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18939, 10 February 1925, Page 11

ONEHUNGA AFFAIRS.

POSITION OF CONTRACTS. j TUNNEL TENDERS DECLINED. The Onehunga Borough Council met. last, evening, tho Mayor, Mr. J. L. Cowell, presiding. There were also present: Messrs. W. N. Mcintosh, W." C. I Cokiicutt, T. G. R. Gilbert, C. E. Goode, G. Hunter. R. G. Barnes. F. IT. Dodd, and A. J. Hipwell. There were also in attendance a record number of ratepayers. In repiv to a question by Mr. Barnes as to the state of the remaining contracts, the engineer, Mr. Hempleman, reported that No. 3 contract was ready for letting, and it was decided to call for tenders forthwith, to close, in a month, and for No. 4 contract a, fortnight later. The Mayor explained that the balance of the £75,000 loan would be available after April 1, and it was urged that as much progress as possible should be made before the winter set iti. On the motion of the chairman of the streets committee, Mr. Gilbert, it -was decided to invite the ratepayers to view the plans before the works are carried out, in order to avoid the friction that often occurs through ratepayers bringing forward objections afterwards, entailing extra expense. The council decided to accept the recommendation of the committee, that the engineer construct the tunnel required in connection with the drainage of Beresford Park end St. George's Etate at his estimate of £3360, and that all the tenders be declined. The council adopted the recommendation of the committee endorsing the action of the engineer. Mr. Hempleman, in appointing a man to supplv numbers for alt the houses in the borough, at a cost of 9d a figure. The city tramways department is to be asked to receive a deputation from tho council on tramway matters. The engineer is to give an estimate of the cost of bitumimsing all the new roads in the borough. The recommendation of the engineer was adopted, that a foreman be appointed to take charge of all borough road works, on loan account and otherwise, in lieu of the three foremen now engaged. It was urged that this would result in economy, through one person being able to co-or-dinate the different works. . The nuisance created by the dust at the quarry is to be abated by regular spraying. Notice boards are to be erected prohibiting any person from swimming or walking horses along the foreshore. The Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association wrote suggesting, in lieu of the proposed allocation of the motor license fees on a population basis, that they be allocated on the following basis, population 30 per cent., traffic 30, area '20,. road mileage '2O. This will be considered in committee. A complaint in regard to the condition of Turama Road will bo reported upon by the streets committee. An application from the Association football clubs to be allotted the same grounds in the reserve as they had last year was defeated on the casting vote of the Mayor, and the allocation will be deferred until all the applications are in from the other clubs. Mr. Dodd supported the claims of the applicants on the ground that they had incurred expense last year in improving their area, and were, therefore, entitled to recoive first consideration. In accordance with notice of motion, Mr. Cokiicutt, moved that in future tho council chamber should be reserved exclusively for council business. Tim motion was seconded by Mr. Goode, and carried with one dissentient, Mr. Dodd. This was the sequel to the application of the Ratepayers' Association for the use of the room for its meetings.