BUILDING A BOROUGH

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12406, 27 March 1926, Page 6

BUILDING A BOROUGH

.UPPER HUTT COUNCIL’S WORK WATER SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS MAYOR'S EXPLANATION The Mayor (Mr A. J. McCurdy) presided at the fortnightly meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council, when there was a full attendance of councillors. The Public Health Department proffered its co-operation in tho drafting of tho health by-laws.—Received. The Hutt County Council’s second protest relative to the Forestry Department's permitting timber to be removed under departmental supervision was “received.” The opinion was expressed by the Mayor, and endorsed by councillors, that the Forestry Department could he trusted to do tho correct thing in the matter. A proposed subdivision of land in the Chelsea block, Silverstream, .sub. iritted by Messrs Wylie , and Wiren, was approved. The Public Health Department is to he asked to suggest a competent engineer to report upon three sewerage proposals for the East Ward. The Wellington Education Board's lequest for a water supply for the new school now being erected at the junction* of the Moonshine and Main roads, was, on the motion of the Mayor, acceded to, and on his suggestion a general resolution extending free water supply to all State schools in the borough was adopted. The Upper Hutt Main School has been receiving free water for over a dozen years.

ANNUAL CHARGES FOR WATER The Mayor, pursuant to notice on the order paper reported verbally: “On water proposals of Upper Hutt Town .Board and resolutions relative to same.” He recapitulated the history of the incorporation . movement, and stressed the conditions of water Bupply proposed by himself and endorsed by the Town Board, the Trentham and Silverstream Ratepayers’ Association, and at all public meetings at Upper Hitt, Trentham, and Silverstream. Under those proposals—which were the foundation of the borough movement —households in the West Ward were to be supplied with 25,000 gallons per annum, .with a maximum charge of 2os per household, to produce £3OO. Should the number of households exceed 240, the. Mayor said, the annual charge per household would be proportionately reduced; thus, if'there were 300 houses, the .annual charge would he 20s; 400 houses, 15s; 600 houses, 10s per annum—the East Ward supplying an unlimited number of households in the West Ward with 25,000 gallons of water each for a total sum of £3OO per annum. Water in excess of 25,000 gallons, consumed by a household would be charged Is per 1000 gallons on the'excess quantity. Water sold to households south or west' of the West Wgrd would bp charged for at the rate of, £5 (now obtaining at Trentham) for 50,000 gallons per annum and. 2s per 1000 for water in excess of that, quantity. The proposed resolutions covered the whole of the arrangements made by the Upper Hutt Town Board as a basis of incorporation with the western area, and will enable Trentham residents already paying £5 per annum for 50,000 gallons of water to take advantage of the 25s for 25,000 gallons supply as from the end of tho present month.

"STAR CHAMBER METHODS" Councillor Johnston protested that the council was not a one-man show, and objected to “star chamber meth-. ods” being introduced. The Mayor pointed out that there was no “star chamber method” in what he had brought before the council. There never had been, was not now, nor, so far as ho was concerned, would there be, anything of the kindHe advised Councillor; Johnston to "cut out” all talk of “star chambers.” He, the Mayor, had merely brought before the council the decisions of the outgoing Town Board (of which he was the chairman) and placed before councillors the terms on which fihe electors had been induced to content to the borough proposals. He had also indicated hjs intention to supply each councillor with a typed statement of the position. BOROUGH STAFF A proposal to engage a junior cleric was refeired to the finance committee, as also was a motion to review the staffing arrangements. The Mayor suggested that an officer would be required to undertake building, inspection, sanitation, dog registration, patrol, and a number of other duties, which the clerk and other employees were now performing. With /such an officer there, would bo no .‘need for an office assistant. , A proposal to introduce a classification of ratable property and differential ratings thereon was ruled out of order, as not provided by law, but it was decided, to refer the proposal to the Municipal Association for an opinion.

A small road-bridge on the brickkiln road was reported to he on tho verge of collapse, and it was decided to replace it by a concrete structure, and to request the Hutt County Council to contribute to the cost of the work.

The captain of the fire brigade was appointed fire inspector, and it was resolved to inform the Railway Department that there was no fire prevention water servico in the neighbourhood of the 13 new railway employees’ cotta ere*

The finance committee has instructions to confer with the works committee relative to important works scheduled m the works committee’s report adopted at. the previous meeting of the council. It was decided to include a a metal-crusher and road-making machinery, and to embody the whole in a road improvement- loan proposal. A request from WEiteman Bros, that the council should enter into an ar. rangoment with them for the conservation of standing bush above the Upper Hntt waterworks propertv is to be considered by the works and public services committees.