MILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20075, 16 April 1927, Page 10

MILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. (Fhom Oob -Own Coebespondent-) MILTON. April 14. The final statutory meeting of the present constituted Milton Borough Council was held yesterday evening, and was attended by the Mayor (Mr L. W. Potter), Crs C. Grey, J. A. Stewart, H. E. Ransotne, Jas. Gray, A. Rennie, J. Littlejohn, W. J. Riddell. Jas. Carruthers and D. M’Donald. CORRESPONDENCE. The Secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association notified that Poppy Day would be held on Friday, April 22. and solicited the council’s co-operation in the disposal of the quota of poppies.—Tho Mayor intimated that ho had arranged with some local women to undertake the sale. — Approved of. Copies of a circular setting out the provisions of tho Town Planning Act, 1926, and the procedure to be adopted by borough councils were referred to the incoming council for consideration. The Clerk of the Roxburgh Borough Council wrote expressing the council’s personal thanks to thd Mayor and staff for supplying information to a deputation regarding the municipal pictures enterprise and its successful working in Milton.— Received. xhe Sccr<«lary to tho Otago Provincial Court at the Exhibition forwarded a copy of the court’s balance sheet, and expressed gratitude for tho support rendered by local authorities throughout Otago.—Received. The Palmerston Borough Council wrote asking foi particulars as to license fees charged in Milton for kerbside petrol pumps.—Tho information was supplied by the clerk. A quotation from the Smokeless Coke Company, Timaru, for supplies of bar oil was referred to tho incoming council. The Deputy Inspector of Explosives acknowledged the receipt of payment into (ho public account of tho proportion of dangerous foods license fees issued to 17 firms or individuals in Milton. —Received. It was decided to accord support to a resolution embodied in a circular letter from the Shannon Borough Council that boroughs with under 5909 of a population should co-operate in 7»ringing pressure to boar on the Main Highways Board for tho construction of main highways through boroughs. A deed of conveyance was received from Reid, Rutherford, and Marshall for the transfer of certain property in Dryden street from Unnoria Gibbons to Henry G. Curran. —The Mayor, Cr Grey, and tb> town clerk wore authorised to sign the deed and affix tho council’s signature thereto. A letter from tho Treasury Department, Wellington, was received, notifying (hat the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1926, fixes (ho maximum rate of interest payable at 5i per cent., but this rate may bo increased to 6 per cent., with the precedent consent of the Minister of Finance. The sinking fund provisions should ho sufficient to repay the loan within “life” of the asset. —Received. WATER SUPPLY- IX)AN. The Public Trustee, in response to the council’s inquiries concerning the proposed

loon of. say, £SOOO for a reservoir scuemo for a permanent water supply, wrote offering a Lan for 36$ years at 6 per cent, plus sinking fund of 1 per cent., or for 20 years, at 6 per cent., plus sinking fund of 2 per cent.; subject to approval by the Public Trust Investment Board.—The Mayor intimated that he purposed calling a meeting of electors to give an account of his stewardship and place the loan proposals before the ratepayers. —-Further consideration was referred to the incoming council, on the motion of Crs Grey and St«wart. FINANCE. The Finance Committee’s report was presented by the chairman (Cr Grey), and snowed that the financial year was closed with a credit balance of £720 15s Bd. The receipts during March were £2747 Is lid (including rates £2458 15s 6d), and expenditure £1291 2s sd. . , The Municipal Pictures enterprise showed receipts totalling £1326 6s 3d for the past year, and expenditure £1066 16 s'2d, thus leaving a credit balance of £259 10s Id on the 12 months’ operations. Accounts amounting to £1139 19s were passed for payment. WORKS AND WATER COMMITTEE. The Water Supply Committee’s report stated that another water mam had been repaired in Union street. The wire binding around the wooden pip® had rusted through, allowing the wooden staves to open sufficiently to cause a heavy leakag when pressure was on. Another leak was repaired on the District road. pumping machinery was working satisfactorily. The Works Committee’s monthly report referred to the drainage connection to a new shop property, the cleaning of certain ditches, the tuning' and sandmg of orosv ings on footpaths, also genera] maintenance work carried out by the daymen. A " tract for earths two yards of meta ‘ fr °“ the ouarry for Union street at 4s 9d per yard q was 7 being carried out by the contractors, despite the broken being the present Works and Water Committee’s final report of , lt ® { te A“ of office, a summary was presented of the principal works carried out during the past 12 months. Building permits had been issued for three new raises, four new dwellings, the Salvation A.rmy Hall, also several additions and alterations to premises, representing a total approximate value ot toOUU. The cost of pumping for the water supply was £l3l 17s during the 12 months, an increase of £SO on the cost of pumping prior to the water tower collapse. Reports have been received from an engineer regarding provision of continuous water supply, and it seems probable that the ratepayers will require to consider the question of raising an additional loan for a permanent Water supply. . . Included amongst the principal works carried out were the supply and spreading of 500 yards'of metal on certain streets, the cartage and spreading of 1300 yards of Manuka Creek gravel on to Union and Eden streets, the lengthening of a dram in Spenser street, the provision of two parking areas for motor cars, 60 chains footpaths tarred and sanded, the experimental tarring and sanding of a portion of the main street, and the forming of a new right-of-way from the main street to Spenser street. Work had been carried on intermittently at the quarry under the supervision of Mr O’Connell. Several improvements had been effected on the road leading to the quarry, from which 1400 yards of metal had been taken, and £B3 was received in royalties. The sanitary contractor, Mr George Bowie, had resigned after many years' service, and Mr A. W. Paul had secured the sanitary contract, combined with the contract for the removal of ashes and rubbish. GENERAL. An application by J. M. Casey, sexton and caretaker of the Fairfax Cemetery, for an increase in wages, also for annual holidays, was referred to the incoming council for favourable consideration. It was decided that the council’s seal be affixed''to the agreement with the Municipal Brass Band regarding conditions on which the subsidy of' £25 per annum is granted; also to the agreement between the council and the sanitary contractor. The Works Committee was instructed to draft a report on the ashes and rubbish removal service, for the guidance of the incoming council, on an equitable scale of charges to be adopted for this service to householders and larger business premises.