PUTARURU TOWN BOARD

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1240, 24 July 1947, Page 4

PUTARURU TOWN BOARD

FINAL MEETING HELD The final meeting of the Putaruru Town Board, which has since gone out of office, was held last week, there being a full attendance of members present. Mr. A. C. Anderson chaired the meeting. Transit Housing Plans for the transit housing that the Post and Telegraph Department proposes to erect in Putaruru to accommodate members of its staff, were received for the board’s approval. •It was felt that the borough council should be given the opportunity to discuss this matter, and it was held over for consideration by the council. Crockery for Hall The clerk, Mr. V. L. Drummond, reported that at the board’s request he had purchased three dozen cUps and saucers and three dozen cups only for use at the hall. It was felt that sufficient care was not taken of the crockery at the hall, and on the motion of Mr. N. Fitzherfoert, seconded by Mr. Freeman, it was decided that £1 Is extra be charged for the use of the hall and supper-room, this sum to be r eturned if no damage' was done to the crockery. Any breakages, etc., would be deducted from the £1 Is. Sanitary Contract One tender- only, from Mr. J. Owen, was received for the sanitary contract. The price tendered was 2s per service. At the present time the board is paying the contractor Is 6d per service, there 'being a total of approximately 100 services. It was decided to hold the matter over for the consideration of the borough council. Street Stalls The Putaruru Plunket Society and the Putaruru W.D.F.F. were given permission to hold a street stall each. Donations,. Donations of £1 is' each were iriade to the Putaruru Plunket Society and •' the Aueklarid ’ jailors’ Home.'' .. !.->;( tf (’ B±-V • > Borough Proclaimed The Internal Affairs Department advised that the Putaruru town district had been proclaimed a borough, and forwarded an extract from the New Zealand 'Gazette advising to this effect. Emergency Hospital Funds 'Mr, J. J. Shine, in writing to the board, drew its attention to the moneys donated- during the war towards an emergency hospital, and suggested that the funds could now be put towards some worthwhile effort. Mr. Drummond reported that it would be very difficult now to ear-' mark the money donated for the hospital. All E.P.S. money had been put into a general pool. Some, had been spent, and some of the expenditure had received Government subsidy. Mr. Anderson considered that the money should he kept in trust in case of any major calamity. Certain stocks were still held, although all perishable goods had been sold. 'Some of the equipment had been used in tho Taupo fire .disaster last year. Members agreed with this view, and it was decided to advice Mr. Shine that the funds were being kept in trust in case of any national or local calamity. Town Map Tho clerk advised that Mr. Paxton had been approached for • an approximate cost to have the town map brought uptodate. Mr. Drummond 1 considered that the total would amount to about £l6O. It was decided to hold the matter over for consideration by the council. ,/j Publicity Brochure " The Chamber of Commerce advised of a public meeting it was convening to discuss a publicity brochure for Putaruru and district. Building Permits [Building permits were approved, subject to the building inspector’s approval, for: A. E. Hakes for a laundry and drying room; V. R. Turvey for a shed; R. V. Jones for a dwelling; A. W. Horn for a work-

- "i"" shop and storeroom; Civic Theatre for a generator house;:. Putaruru: Timfoeryards for a storage shed for dry timber, and also for a showerroom and conveniences; J. J. Carter for part of a residence. Picture Berilefit A picture benefit night for the Putaruru Municipal Bland was approved. Bus Stop Tho matter of a bus stop for the Matamata bus was discussed. The clerk reported that the traffic inspector recommended that the stop be opposite the school, below the rest rooms, at least 20 feet from the comer. It was decided that as the inspector had allocated a stop, to leave the matter at that. Subdivisions Subdivisions for Messrs. N. Fitzhembert and E. Ward were approved. Brick Area The brick area was extended to include both sides of Commerce Street. . Estimates The clerk submitted the draft estimates for 1947-48. He explained the implications of' the serious reduction in revenue through the changed basis of allocation of heavy traffic fees, and indicated that on the maximum general rate which it was possible for the board to strike, there would be a substantial debit balance in the account at the end of the financial year. Estimates were also submitted regarding the fixed annual charges, and one tender which was considered in connection with the sanitary contract, necessitating an increase in the 1947-48 lovy from £4 to £5. Apart from this increase in the sanitary account the rates indicated, on the figures shown in the estimates, a total increase of id' in the £. It was to recommend the estimates as. submitted for adoption by the new borough council. Members Thanked A!t the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Anderson took the.. opportunity to thank all members for their vices over the past six years. He w also thanked the clerk Mr. Drummond, for ' the assistance ,he . had given him personally, arid also thanked him ori behalf of all the members of the board. 'Mr. Anderson stated that at this stage in the progress of the town, appreciation must foe given all those members who have sat on the town. boards, and who thus helped to bring the town to its position today. Ffom’ the beginning'" the boards had worked and had done what they could with what funds were avail-, able. Twenty years was really a short period in the life of a town, but the growth of Putaruru over the last 20 years must bo appreciated.

Mr. Drummond stated that he met the occasion with mixed feelings. It was natural that the district must move forward and that it should become a borough. On the other hand, from his own point of view, he had assisted the town boards over the last - 20 years. He had been clerk for the last 12 years, and it was with some regret more or less that, he watched the passing out of the town board. During the years he had watched tho growth of the district. The early boards had had very little to administer to there were finance troubles, no roads and footpaths, no parks, no hall; only a few houses and one or two shops. He felt the passing of the town 'board with a great deal of regret, and hoped that those members standing in the election would return on the council to continue their good work. Mr. J. A. Ranger stated he was ‘one of the oldest residents, and had known every member on the town board since its inception, and he honestly did not think that through the whole of that time that there had been anyone, who had done more to further the interests of the town than had Mr. Anderson. He sincerely hoped Mr Anderson would head the first council. Mr. Drummond had been always “the best clerk in the world,” and ho thanked him for all assistance given him while a member. ■The meeting closed at midnight.