PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume XLV, 11 May 1921, Page 2

PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING. ; • The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held on Monday night, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. J. Holtham) presiding. Councillors Horc, Honcyfield, Godfrey, Williams, Finlayson, Watson, Grainger and Dunklcy were also present. An apology was received from Cr. Naismith for his non-attendance owing to his sister’s death.

It was unanimously resolved that the sympathy of the Counc.il be tendered Cr. Naismith in his bereavement.

The minutes of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed.

His Worship said he proposed an innovation with regard to committees with a view to giving greater publicity to Borough affairs. He would move that a Financial and Legal Committee be formed, consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Horc, Honcyfield, Grainger, and Finiayson. The Water and Drainage Committee, he proposed, should consist of the whole of the Council, with Cr. Grainger as Chairman. The only other Committee he would suggest was a General Purposes Committee comprising the rest of the Council, with Cr. Williams -supervisor of the street work.

The resolution was seconded by Cr. Grainger and carried.

It was decided that the Council meet on the first Monday and the General Purposes Committee on the third Monday in each month. GOEEESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read as under: The Bank of New Zealand wrote stating that the Council’s application for an overdraft of £OOOO, had been granted. The letter was received, Councillors remarking - it was more than satisfactory and showed the Bank had confidence in the town. The Taranaki Progress League wrote enclosing nomination paper for member of the Executive of the League. Received. The Chief Inspector of Explosives wrote asking the Council to reco.isider its decision not to become a L •easing authority under the Explosives Act. It was decided that the Council adhere to its original decision. The State Forestry Department wrote asking for particulars of poles required by the Council each year so that they might arrange for treeplanting accordingly. Referred to the Engineer for reply.

‘The State Advances Office wrote stating that the loan of £SOOO for ex-' tension of water and drainage works had been granted, and that on the debentures being signed the money would be forwarded at once. Received.

Messrs. Audcrsons, Ltd., wrote quoting the sum of £IOO for the new combustion end for the gas engine. Cr. Grainger moved that the offer be accepted. Cr. Horc seconded.

Cr. Godfrey moved that the matter be referred to the Electric Light Committee for report. Cr. Grainger pointed out that the matter was one of urgency, as the Council was running a risk while the plant was in the state it was. Cr. Godfrey admitted the necessity for the part required, but urged that it be more fully discussed by the Electric Light., Committee. Cr. Dunklcy seconded the motion, pro forma, and said £IOO was rather a large sum to spend off-hand. However, he was quite willing to take Cr. Grainger’s word to the effect that it was a fair price, and if so he would support the motion. Cr. Grainger said the position was that they had to go to the maker of the engine for the new part, and it was absolutely necessary that it be procured. There was an element of risk every day the plant was run, and the sooner the risk was eliminated the bettor.

Cr. Finlayson said the sooner the part was procured the better, as the present straps might give way at any time.

Cr. JDunklcy said if the proposer agreed he was quite prepared to withdraw.

Cr. Godfrey said he had only brought the matter up so that it should be fully discussed. As this had been done he was quite prepared to withdraw the amendment.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. The Minister of Public Works wrote enclosing a copy of the Chief Engineer’s report on electric power supply for the Taranaki district. Received. Mrs. O. Sedgman wrote complaining of the fence in Surrey street erected by Mr. D. Calder, which it was alleged was encroaching on the footpath. It was decided that the Town Clerk notify Mr. Calder to have the fence removed. The. Patea Fire Brigade wrote asking for the sum of £3OO to be placed on the estimates for Fire Brigade material for the current year. Referred to the Finance Committee. A letter was received from Mr. Stanley T. Gilbert with regard to his claim for £43 15/- for loss of personal effects at the hydro dam accident. The Town Clerk explained that Mr. Gilbert was not in the employ of the Council when the accident occurred. It was decided that the letter be received. Messrs. Boving and Co. wrote acaekowlcdging the Council’s acceptance of their tender and confirming, their acknou lodgment of liability in connection with the transit of the plant for the hydro and its erection. Received. Mr. C. F. Pulley wrote in reply to ■the letter of the Engincer-in-Ohief, Public Works Department, re the hydro plant, and giving details with regard to the work required. The letter was referred to .the Water and Drainage Committee to deal with.

Mr, A. McEobbic wrote claiming a month, 's pay in lieu of notice. Mr. O. Tristram, electrician, wrote ashing for an explanation as std his dismissal at a moment's notice.

His Worship said it was just as well that the Council should know what was going on. The Council had an Engineer and should not interfere with him. Cr. Watson said it seemed to him that any employer was within his rights in dealing drastically with any employees who refused duty. If appeared they wanted to ‘ ‘ boss the show.” Cr. Grainger moved that the letters be received. Seconded by Cr. Williams. Cr. Godfrey said in the case of T’risv tram the Council did not know why he was put off. Cr. Grainger said the letters should be dealt with in Committee, if necessary. His Worship said he was quite prepared to take the responsibility of not answering the question, as they ought not to interfere with the action of the Engineer. If they interfered with him then there would bo chaos. Cr. Godfrey said he would like to know why Mr. Tristram was dismissed and he would move as an amendment that Mr. McEobbic's letter only be received. 1 Cr. Dunkley seconded the amendment pro forma. The amendment was put and lost and the motion was then put and carried.

WAR MEMORIAL. A deputation from the Domain Board waited on the Council with regard to the War Memorial. Mr. Cronin, as Chairman of the Board, stated that the late Council had promised to consider the question of supporting the memorial. The Committee had the sum of £3OO in hand and required £350 all it old to complete the work. Mr. Strouts said that there were a few more pounds over and above the £3OO in sight. If they had a little more the memorial would be worthy of the town and district. The estimate for the work was £3OO, but a little more was required to complete the work in a thorough/ manner. *Tu reply to Cr. Honcylicld, Mr. F. Locker said the plan was rat present being enlarged to show the public. Mr. .Strouts explained that there would be four pillars with separate tablets district on each pillar. Cr. Grainger said t iha,t,/whilst the Council were in sympathy with, the movement, they were in the .position of not knowing what the forthcoming estimates would be. Ho agreed with the idea that the,memorial should be erected by voluntary subscriptions. He did not think the Council could do anything that night. Mr. Harrison explained that the Committee were not asking for £SO. 'There were good times ahead, and possibly ithe Council could grant, say, £ls, and the Committee, with the aid, of subscriptions coming in, might be able to complete the work satisfactorily. His Worship said at the present time ■they had to think with the head and not. with the heart. His sympathies were with the deputation, and he thought there was no doubt the Council were in sympathy, too, and would do .their best. They could not say more at the present juncture. In reply to Cr. Williams, Mr. Cronin said that possibly a little more could ■be obtained by a further effort, but some country districts were erecting memorials of their own. The deputation then withdrew. FOREMAN 'S' REPORT. The Borough Foreman reported as follows; — I have to report that during the month of April general maintenance has been carried out. The main street and side streets arc in very fair order with the exception of one or two, which require some metal for patch work before the wet weather sets in. I estimate it will require about 10yds. of metal for this work so as to hold them for the winter.

Water Tables. —All the water tables have been cleaned out from one end to the other and on side streets with the exception of one or two streets, which will be done in due course.

Tarring. —Further tarring has been been carried out on the main* street north, but as the weather is so unsettled I think it is best not to carry out any more for this season. As the street to the boundary is in a good state of repair, only one or two holes require patching with a few chips and tar. . Footpaths (Tarring).—Further footpath work has been carried out during the month but has not been satisfactory on account of the wet weather not allowing it to set. Rubbish Clearing. Three more names have been added to the list for the month to have the fortnightly cart call at their homes, which makes it a long day's work to complete. I would like to receive instructions with regard to the back streets and footpaths, as some of them require attention to make- them passable for the winter months. The report was read and adopted. Cr. Dunkley urged that the Council should concentrate its energies on the footpaths. Cr. Godfrey urged that the rubbish removal should not be left to the Foreman, who had more than enough to do on the streets. Cr. Finlayson said he had been struck with the time taken up in impounding and releasing stock. Cr. Williams explained that the Foreman had been appointed Ranger because no one else would take the appointment. It was understood that impounding should only be done after hours. Personally he did not approve of the* Foreman being Poundkoeper, but there seemed to be no other solution of the problem. His Worship said he intended bringing the matter before the next Committee meeting.