STRATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXI, Issue 18, 10 August 1920, Page 2

STRATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL.

GENERAL MEETING. The Mayor (Mr J. W. McMillan) presided afc the meeting ol the Council last evening, and there were also present: Crg 11. H. Cameron, W. H. H. Young, A. Stewart, J. H. Thompson, C. Jackson, T. Lawson, W. J. Newton, C. B. Walsh.

COBB ESPONDENCE. Mr 11. Masters, M.P., wrote enclosing the reply of the Prime Minister as Minister of Mines regarding the request made by the writer on behalf of the Council for a geological survey of the Tangarakau coa'fields. Phis was to the effect that when present surveys in other parts of the Dominion wore concluded, Tangarakau would receive careful consideration. In the meantime, application could bo made to the Government for the hire of a Government drill to prove such coal by boring.. Tire Chairman of the Auckland Boilways and Development League asked the Council to appoint the member for the district to represent them on a deputation to Wellington if a delegate was unable to ff°, as fh e time had come when the north should have their fair share of the loan expenditure compared to the southern bodies. It was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of Mr Masters, M.P. after consulting with other Taranaki members. The Secretary to the Stratford Hos. pital Board stated that the Board proposed t(s~*make a supplementary levy of 3} in the £ capital value upon local authorities for the purpose of purchasing a residence for the district nurse ah Whangamomona; the Comicil’s quota would amount to £75 12s, the monthly insta’ment (£l2 12s) being du e on August 31. The Nelson Town Clerk forwarded a resolution for endorsement, pointing out to the Government that it was not within the province of local bodies to provide funds for education, the duty being wholly a national one to be undertaken by the Government, The Minister of Lands, replying to the Town Clerk, w'th regard to raising money for fhc improvement of the Domain, that Section 3,27 of the Land Act gave permission to do so ;■ if, however, it was desired .to raise a spec al loan for the■ purpose, special legislation would probably bo necessary to provide for it. Agreed to. The Eltham Town Clerk asked f° T the endorsement of a resolution drawing attention to the rapid influx of alien immigrants into the Dominion.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. , MV-. .C, ; S' ,£v fl p 9 ..ATportea ( |) S , falhjs : As soon as instruments are procured, a start will he made with the survey work in the domains. Four hundred and thirty-seven cubic yards of metal have been crushed, and several streets patched, a part of Began Street having been scarified, blinded aid rolled, which certain footpaths had been repaired. Calverts had been placed across some footpaths, and channel crossings attended to when applied for. The footbridge at Hamlet Street has been repaired, Three sewer connections had been laid and two waiter connections. Rubbish hag been removed from th e business premises in Broadway. It was recommended that this work bo extended to the private houses where necessary in other parts of the borough. It was suggested that the iron fenc e at the hack of the municipal buildings, also from around the sepfc tank, be used for roofing the shod in the borough yard. WORKS COMMITTEE.

The committee reported as follows; Sanitary Contract.—-We are of opinion that the Council should directly control this work, and therefore recommend that the contractors’ plant he purchased, and that applications bo called from men willing to undertake the work at a wage of I'C per week. ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE. The committee reported as follows: Street Light (Portia Street between Regan and Soyton Streets). —We recommend that application from resi. dents in this street for a light • he granted, the work to be done in turn with other lights authorised. Material Requited—We recommend that Engineer be authorised to purchase material and meters mentions in his report. Mr Aitken’s Fence.—This question has been satisfactorily settled. Electric Light Premises—ln accordance) with Council’s instructions, this question has been consider* d by your committee, and we heg to rocorn mend as follows: That the Department bo removed to the two rooms in the Borough Chambers at present occupied by Mr Pow. cr, one room to be Engineer s oflice, and the larger one as show.room and sales department. That the Engineer prepare plans and estimate of cost for work-shop and hulk store on Miranda Street section, together with door in proposed showroom to give accosg to store and workshop—approximate cost £250.

That the Engineer’s present assistants be transferred to the Town Clerk’s office, and that she be replaced by a junior (male) as mechanic and salesman. That if recommendation is carried, the committee bring down a final re. port in detail of new scheme. The reasons for the proposed cbang. es are as under: The present shop can be let for at least £2OO per annum (rent and rates inclusive) giv. ing the General'-Fund permanentlyincreased income to that qmount. Sales of lamps and sundries l , can be effected quite as readily in the Borough Chambers, especially considering that about 800 consumers are in touch with } I the Chambers each month. All the I? clerical work can then be located in t • the Town Clerk’s office. From a standV. j point of efficiency it ia imperative that I heads of departments should bo group- , ed in the Borough Chambers, and with the clerical work centred in the one office this should have the effect of considerably improving the general working system of all departments. The work.shop proposed in this scheme is most important, as the electrical department requires a central position for a lock.up store for all bulk goods, which ait present it does not obtain. Goods are now stored at jthc* isjtation, and at the present shop. One half of the building to bo used as workshop, and the remainder as a lock-up store-room, in charge of the sales department. At a later date it is expected that our head linesman will occupy C. Bridger’s house, and that will also assist towards having further protection of the electrical buildings and contents. The central position of the Miranda Street section makes it desirable for the location af pole dump, Cr Hunter, in a minority report, opposed the recommendation to trails, for the department to the rooms in the municipal chambers, and to the erection of workshop and store on the Miranda Street property, and advocated the business being carried on in i the present premises. In the event j of tho Council deciding to shift the department into the municipal chambers h 0 favoured cutting out the con- | tract work. j Mr Hollands reported as follows: | The electrical engineer’s report dealt with the state of the plant, and men* tions that a start will be made on tho foundation of the new engine shortly, the additions to the power liouso practically complete. Six new connections were made to the mains during July and a number of extra lighting and heating points. The junits generated were: 28,663, 10,540, j total 39,203, being an increase of 297 units on last month. Fifty more meters were required and should now bo jpuifc on indent. I GENERAL COMMITTEE. I 1 The committee reported as follows: Fire Brigade In accordance with j | the suggestion of the Superintendent j jWe recommend that the custodian’s , remuneration be Increased from £ls to £25 per annum. j Town Hall.—Mr Fox ha s notified bis ] intention of giving up tho lease of the j Hall ns from 14)tli inst. ’ Abattoir (Killing fees) In view of the letter received from the Agri. I cultural Department, we recommend the Council not To proceed further in tliis matt'”. |

STREET IMPROVEMENT LOAN. A long letter was read from Mr J. Sturroekj engineer, in the course of which he stated that after the clear and concise statement of the position of the loan as submitted by the Town Clerk, there was no occasion for him to add anything. He felt that, all things being considered together with the weather and rising prices in labor and metal etc., they could congratulate themselves that they had done so well.

Cr Jackson considered Mr Sturrock j should givel a fuller report on the whole business. Hi s idea was that the weather experienced during the loan work was good, with few exceptions. In places there were pot-holes on the road before it was tar.sealed, for which, ho laid the blame on Mr Sturrock. Still, he admitted matters were not so bad, and there was x>o use cry--1 . .ing over spilt milk. Now they iiad an excellent road in Broadway. Fenton and Regan streets had not boon done, j which was a pity, but altogether the loan money haj panned out well. The Mayor spoke brieflly and favourably in moving that the Town Clerk’s and Mr Sturrocks reports be adopted. Cr Young seconded. Cr Cameron said that Mr Sturrock should bo congratulated on the good road and the nay in which it was laid down. Burgesses had to remember that there had bean big increases in the price of metal from 5s to 8s per yard, that instead of the estimated 5000 yardg they had over 7000. Their wages rose from 12s to 15s per day. It had .not been plain sailing, by any 'means, for the engineer, and he was to be congratulated, j Cr Thompson also spoke in compliImentary terms of the work done, and J . ; saij that in future the Council and ratepayers could Congratulate them, selves on tthe fact that all the work would l)o under one authority, the present engineer, Mr Evans, j Cr Newton, the Mayor and others mlso spoke in. favorable terms of the ' work done, anj the motion was carried. j On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Young, the good services of ,Mr Sturrock and Mr T. D. Sullivan in connection with the loan work were recorded on the minutes. Cr Jackson expressed his intention not to vote, as he considered Mr Sturrock had been ■well recompensed for his work, and that as Mr Sullivan had left the Council, his name should not he associated with Mr Sfcnrrock’s. GENERAL. # The Librarian issued 'during the month. 1610 books, had returned 1587, odd ones 172 and 161 respectively; 22 now hooks wer Q added, and eight subscribers enrolled, making the total 192. ! The Borough Inspector reported that I ho had impounded for the month, 19 | head of stock. Backyards had been inspected at intervals, and were in good condition. i The list of stock slaughtered at the I Abattoirs during the month of July was us follows: Cattle 131, sheep 291, pigs 14, calves 1. Fees earned £6l 10s. | It was resolved lb hold over discussion in connection with the Electric Light promises owing to the absence of the chairman, Mr S. B. Hunter, until next Monday night. It was resolved to support the Wain;vri County Council in their resolution riving hospital hoards power to

borrow on permanent buildings, to receive subsidies on same. A good deal of discussion arose over the Fire Brigade. Mention was made of the delay in starting the engine on tho occasion of a recent fire alarm, and it was pointed out that the man who was expert with the engine was not available on that occasion. Various suggestions were made in regard to tho more efficient working of the engine in this respect, and it was eventually resolved that it ho a recommendation to the Superintendent to instruct more members in handling the car, especially in starting the engine.