PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume XLV, 8 March 1922, Page 3

PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDIN ARY ME Ca N G

Tlio ordinary monthly meeting at the Patea Borough Council was held on Monday night, His Worship the Mayor presiding. Crs. Hore, Godfrey, Williams, Naismith, Dunklcy, Watson, Finlayson, Grainger and Honeyfield were also pres, ent. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read as under: — Messrs Boving and Co., wrote stating that a portion of the generator had yet to arrive, therefore the erection of the new plant could not take place as in-tended.-—Received. The War Memorial Committee applied for permission to concrete a portion of the footpath in Egmont Street in front of the Memorial Gates. — work to bo carried out under supervision of th« Borough Foreman. Mr G. Balmforth wrote givnig one month’s notice of the termination of his -tenancy.—Received. The Napier Borough Council wrote asking for support of a proposal to amend the Finance Act in the direction of allowing local bodies to set off credit balances on loan accounts against debit balances on other accounts. — Acceded to. The N.Z. Fire Underwriters wrote suggesting July as the month in which a re-inspection of tho installations in •the Borough will be made. — Received. Mr A. Edser reported on the roof of of the Town Halil and suggested ccr. tain repairs. It was decided that an estimate of the cost of the work be obtained and i.*' same is satisfactory, that the repairs be carried out. The Town Clerk reported that the amount spent on tar last year was £l2O/10/4 and this year £126/2/4. With regard to Mr Ferry’s building it was estimated that temporary repairs could bo carried out for say £lO. It was decided that the report be received and it was resolved that the matter of repairs to Mr Ferry’s building bo left in tho hands of the Town Clerk to have carried out at a cost not to exceed £lO. GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.

Tho General Purposes CommittM’a report was read and adopted.

ELECTEIC LIGHT EEPOET.

'The Electric Light Committee's report was read and adopted.

FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPOET.

The Finance Committee’s report was read.

Cr. Dunkloy questioned an account for envelopes from Palmerston North. Ho considered they should have been procured locally especially in view of the Council’s recent resolution with regard to trade being kept in the town.

Tho Town Clerk said he did not know that envelopes of the kind in question could be procured in the town.

The matter of an account for £S ( >r painting fire plugs was held ever for further consideration.

The report was then adopted

GENERAL,

Cr Watson drew attention to a defect in the wator channel near Mr Fraser's house in Victoria Street.

In reply to Cr. Naismith the engineer stated that ho visited the hydrostation whenever ho thought it necessary. Ho arranged a visit of once a week.

Cr. Naismith said he had visited the hydro-plant and found one bearing run. ning in water and another out of order. He would like the Engineer to give the matter his attention. With regard to the Engineer wiring houses he thought he had enough to do without wiring houses. In reply to a further enquiry from Cr Naismith the Engineer said the gas plant would be ready when the now hydro plant was being installed. With regard to the hydro plant he did not think it necessary to waste time on plant that was to be taken out in a ; vw days.

Or Godfrey said the fact that, ‘he bearings were being run without oil was a serious thing. The Engineer said that the fact that the machine was being run without oil was not with his knowledge. Cr. Williams said if the boy* wore not doing their duty they should be reported to the Council. The Engineer could not live out there. Cr. Naismith said that when he hand, cd over the plant to the Council it was on the understanding that every care should bo taken of it. He did not like to dispute the fact that the boys were giving oil to the bearing. The point was that water was getting into the beanng and the oil running out. Ho did not wish to complain but would ask ibc engineer to attend to tho matter. The Engineer stated that ho woui 1 go out in tho morning and attend to tho matter. Tho last time he was at the hydro there was no indication of a«y water. Cr Finlayson brought forward the iquostion of meters for electric light consumers. One of tho latter had offered to procure a meter if the Council would reimburse him for it by supplying him with current to the value of the meter.

Cr. Grainger said the matter was purely one for tho Finance Committee.

After a brief discussion it was do. cided to refer the matter to the Finance Committee for report. Cr Dunkloy moved that the guns outside tho Municipal Chambers bo handed to the Domain Board.

Cr Godfrey seconded tho resolution which was carried unanimously. His Worship brought forward the question of tho re.tarring of Bedford Street. The cost at present would bo £7/16/- and the chips were already on

out immediately tho cost would be far greater. He moved that the necessary tar be procured at once. Cr Williams in seconding the motion said he hud already piontod out the urgency of the work. Ho would have moved in tho matter but for the fact that he had been told both by the Town Clerk and His Worship that no further tar could be procured as there were no funds. The resolution was carried.

Cr Godfrey drew attention to the holes in Middlesex Street lea ting to the Domain. If these wore file t rip by the Foreman the danger wmld be eliminated. He would move that cfie roads supervisor do his best to have tho holes filled in. The resolution was seconded by Cr Finlayson and carried and the Council rose.