BOROUGH COUNCIL

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6600, 16 May 1925, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL

ADJOURNED MEETING The adjourned meeting of the Te Aroha Borough Council was held last night. Present: Mr R. Coulter (Mayor), and Crs. G. Hedge, S. Sellars, V. Hamilton, W. C. Kennedy, Ada M. Gordon, D. McMahon, R. Woodroffe and G. L. Manners. The architect’s certificate that work on the Rest Room had been completed according to contract was received. Cr. Woodroffe asked if maintenance was provided for in the contract, the usual being three months from the completion of the work. The town clerk said that 5 per cent, of the contract price could be withheld for that period, and that a sum equal to 25 per cent, of the contract price can be withheld for a period of 28 days. Cr. Kennedy said that it was usual that if wages were paid up the contractor could get his money.

Cr: Woodroffe: It was not a matter of wages but sub-contracts.

It was moved and seconded that the balance of the contract price be paid, less the 25 per cent, which would be withheld for the stipulated period.— Carried.

The architects account for £34 4/6 was also passed for payment. The memorandum of agreement with Mr McConnochie for carting meta’ from the quarry to the railway hoppers at 1/4 per yard and to streets at 2/- per yard, was received and agreed to.

The Works Committee reported that tenders had been called for the supply of a mechanical road sweeper. The Farmers’ Co-op. Auctioneering Co.’s tender of £92 for a Duncan machine was the lowest tender received. Cr. Hedge moved that a sweeper be purchased and that the order be placed with the Farmers’ Auctioneering Co.—Carried.

Mr T. C.- May wrote requesting a reply to his application for mineral water rights. The Mayor said that this matter had been somewhat difficult to deal with and had been delayed on this account. The Council had to be safeguarded. The application was granted subject to a payment of £5. The Te Aroha Hockey Club applied for permission to play a match on the top ground of the Bridge Domain on May 16th.—Granted. An application by P. A. Caudwell for a permit for a building on Block 31, section 3, was referred to the Building Committee for a report. Messrs Ellis and Burnand, Ltd., (Hamilton), wrote suggesting that a fence be erected between the abattoir site, Stanley street, and their property adjoining. They were willing to erect a new fence, five plain and three barbed wires, at 7/- per chain for labour and charge the materials at cost price. If preferred they were willing that the Council should do the erecting.—lt was decided to refer to the Abattoir Committee with power to act.

Mr Jarrett, Ruakaka, wrote asking that the sewer through his section be completed as ageeed.

Cr. Woodroffe stated that Mr Jar-, rett had done his part of the work and the Sanitary Committee had agreed to relay the pipes.—The matter was left to the Sanitary Committee with power to act. Correspondence was received from the County Council objecting to the re-building of the traffic bridge. A letter from the Borough solicitor on this matter was also received. The letter stated there is no doubt that a tally of the traffic passing over the bridge should be taken by a competent person, and suggesting that a tally be made over a period of three weeks; also suggesting that the County Council co-operate with the Borough in taking the tally. On the motion of the Mayor it was decided to act on the advice given and to leave the selection of men to take the tally to himself and Cr. Hedge. Mr L. B. Campbell, chairman No. 2 District Council, wrote stating that the Main Highways Board had resolved that it could not comply with the request of the Borough Council that a portion of the road approaching Te Aroha be made a main highway. The Mayor said this was merely a result of the Borough Council not being represented on the Board. Naturally the Board acts on the recommendations of the local representative i who is a representative of the County i Council. Motorists were represented, County Councils were represented and the Borough Council were not. They could ’ not understand the Council’s point of view, and he thought they should protest against this decision. Cr. Kennedy said that they could

not ask the Highway Board to run two main roads parallel with each other. One road, the Waitoa main road, served a number of settlers, and the other road did not. Cr. Hamilton said that the soft road was not their affair, but wherever the main highway ran through the town they wanted a subsidy on work don?. Cr. McMahon asked that the letter to the Highways Board be read. He lid not quite see clearly in the matter.

Cr. Sellars said that the soft road saved a quarter of a mile of travel and maintenance,' and that was the matter put before the Highways Board.

Cr. Kennedy said that all the traffic did no go from the town, but a great proportion of the traffic would be coming from the Concrete road, and what Cr. Sellars said did not meet the case.

The Mayor said that two parties vere interested in the matter and one vas represented and the other was :ot. "Were they to sit down under it?

Cr. McMahon said that the Council hould have representation. It was aore their concern that the Council '.ad representation and a subsidy for he road, and not so much the directon the road took.

The Mayor said that that was anther matter altogether.

Cr. Woodroffe said he could not ■upport the motion as it stood. Cr. Gordon asked if they could not nake two motions, one in protest and •ne asking for representation on the loard. The motion was amended as allows: “That the Council protest against the Board’s decision without ising heard in the matter and demand iirect representation of Boroughs on he Main Highways Board.” —Caried.

The British Imperial Oil Company 'Auckland) wrote quoting £8 2/- per on for “Mexphalte,” gross weight, sx-store, Auckland. Mexphalte is" used in the construction of roads. — Referred to Works Committee.

The New Zealand Railway Department wrote objecting to the basis on which the charge for water used at the Te Aroha station had been fixed, and stating that the account had been amended to read 31,000 gallons, £1 11/-. —Received.

A draft copy of the bylaws was received from the Borough solicitor.— Referred to Works Committee.

Payment of £27 5/7 for supply of electricity to the Tourist Domain was received.

Mr G. P. de Castro (Paeroa) wrote asking what method was adopted in making the apointment of deputy mayor.—lnformation sent. The manager of the Bank of New Zealand advised that the abattoir loan of £SOOO could be placed subject to a commission of 1 per cent, on the following terms: Currency 36i years, /ate 6 per cent., interest and principal to'be free of exchange to any part of New] Zealand.—Received. Mr Gerald Scanlon wrote inquiring the price at which chips were sold by the Council. —Information supplied. The Mayor stated that the Council had been offered a section of 97 acres which formed part of the water supply catchment area. The opportunity had been open for some time, but they had been unable to close with it owing to finance. Mr Gilchrist, the Borough solicitor, thought the Council should have the section and generously offered to buy the land and turn it over to the Council for the same price as he paid for it, at such time as the Council could take it up. The price was understood to be £2OO. His Worship said he considered they should have the section, and as they had sold a section in the town to the Power Board recently for £3OO he thought they should utilise that money for the purpose of acquiring the section under consideration. Cr. Woodroffe asked if it was freehold.

The clerk said he thought it was not freehold, but was not sure. His Worship said that the land might get into the hands of people who would destroy the bush and contaminate the water supply, and they should certainly purchase the block. Cr. Hedge said that Mr Gilchrist had actually bought the property and would turn it over as soon as the Council was ready. The motion to purchase was carried.

Authority was given for the purchase of furniture to the extent of £5 for the Rest Room. The matter of alterations to the Council Chambers was referred to by the Mayor. He said that by making one room out of two rooms at the back of the office it would give a much better arrangement, as a meeting during the day interfered with the office staff. The matter had already been arranged by the old Council and was

mentioned for the information of the present Council. The work could be carried out as soon as possible. The matter of purchasing a table for the new room was left in the hands of the Works Committee.

Cr. Hedge said they should not let the matter of the supply of bitumen drift along, and that they should place orders in good time so that it would be on hand when wanted. His Worship said it was a wise move. Cr. Kennedy asked if money was in hand and was assured that it was available. The motion that a supply be ordered was carried. Cr. McMahon brought forward the matter of rubbish in water tables in the main street, and suggested that wire baskets be purchased for the reception of rubbish. His Worship said that the main trouble was that rubbish was swept off the footpath into the water table. A motion embodying Cr. Mahon’s suggestion was carried. Cr. Woodroffe drew attention to ;he fact that the silent policeman had aot been placed in position lately. He. stated that an accident was narrowly. * averted that day, when two cars tra/elling at high speed touched one another. He moved that the silent poiceman be placed in position every lay.—Carried. In answer to the Mayor the town fferk stated that arrangements had been made for the control of traffic # during the trotting meeting to-day. Cr. McMahon called attention to the ~ poor copying of the minutes, and ask- , ed the causes. The cause assigned was the typewriter, which is an old one. Cr. Sellars moved that a new Remington typewriter be purchased for £4O 10/-.—Carried. Cr. Kennedy asked the position re Domain playing area. Had the footballers a chance of securing the ground right through the season? The Mayor said that no Club could be given a sole right to the ground, but if the Union would keep the Council informed well ahead of the . dates required there would be no trouble. •/' Cr. Kennedy formally made application on behalf of tfye Rugby Union for the 23rd and 30th of this month. —Granted. ' - . Cr. Woodroffe asked what fee or donation the Council would expect for the use of the ground. His Worship suggested that members of the Council and delegates from the Union should meet and discuss the matter. . . ■

The Mayor and deputy-Mayor were appointed to meet delegates from the Piako Union and fix the matter up.