BOROUGH COUNCIL

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 66285, 2 October 1925, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Te Aroha Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Coulter) and Crs. Ada Gordon, Sellars, Woodroofe, Kennedy, Hedge, McMahon, and Mr F. Wild (Town Clerk). Leave of absence was granted Cr. Hamilton, who was reported to be indisposed. Before proceeding with the business the Mayor moved a vote of sympathy to Mrs Manners and family in the loss sustained by the death of tre late Mr Manners. When the Council met three weeks ago they little thought that so soon they were to lose one of their members. The late Cr. Manners, though only a few months a councillor, had shown that he was a useful member, and the Band and Social and the Legal and Finance committees had appreciated his services. The loss was a severe one. The late Mr Manners was of a quiet nature, and was always gentlemanly, but was also very determined. They would be pleased to know that as a result of the late Mr Manners foresight the widow and family were provided for. The Council could only deplore their loss and sympathise with the relatives. He asked the Council to carrv the resolution in the usual way. This was done.

The quarry foreman (Mr Pilling) reported for the periods July 24th to August 21st, and August 21st to September 25th For the first period 1225 yards of metal had been crushed at a total cost of £224 9/1. For the second period 733 yards had been crushed at a total cost of £224 13/10. The hopper had been re-built, and most of the men had been engaged stripping and breaking metal down during the latter period. Cr. Sellars, in moving the adoption of the report, said the cost had been a little high for the second period, but this was due to the fact that there was no crushing for eight days and to the time spent in stripping. The motion was carried.

The Mayor mentioned that Mr Dal ton, the electrical engineer was laid up with influenza.

The General Committee recommended that Messrs Heathcote Bros.’ tender of £2725 for the new abattoir be accepted, and also that the tender of the National Timber Company be accepted for a supply of timber for abattoir fencing, the price being about £65. With regard to the “Ideal” well the committee had found that neither Cr. Hedge nor the architect had authorised the sinking of the well, and Mr Warner had been advised that he was at liberty to remove it.

Cr. Hedge said it had been admitted by Mr Warner before the committee that he (Cr. Hedge) had not given any authority to put the well down, and by subsequent admissions the committee was satisfied that Mr Burmester had not given any authority. The report was adopted. Replying to a question by Cr. Kennedy, the Mayor said that Mr Warner had asked for permission to remove the materials from the well. The Town Clerk said he had called a meeting of the committee appointed to prepare a suitable article on Te Aroha for distribution as advertising matter at the Dunedin Exhibition. Mr Behm and Mr Strange had attended, and it had been stated that the Tourist Department was issuing a pamphlet that would meet the case. The Mayor, looking at the pamphlet, said it may be all right, but he did not like the beginning—“ This little town” (laughter). After examining the pamphlet further the Mayor said the attractions of the town were fairly well covered and the pamphlet would fill the bill. The Town Cerk: It does not say anything about the country. The Hot Springs Company wrote advising the Council that it had been found after several tests that the water from the Weld Street spring was unsuitable for their purposes. The analyst’s report showed that there was an excess of lime. The Council’s permission was sought to prospect for another spring at the top of Weld street and Boundary street. If successful in locating a mineral spring which would meet with the approval of the Dominion analyst it would be an asset to the Borough, especially if suitable for export. The Legal and Finance Committee recommended that the request be granted subject to the work done being approved by the foreman. The recommendation was adopted. It was stated that divining was to be the method employed. The Mayor: We will have to be careful to see that there is no boring lest it should interfere with the properties of the present springs. The Auckland Education Board wrote stating that a sum of £35, being the Board’s contribution towards the diversion of a creek in the new school site, had been remitted to the Council. The Auckland Lands Board had agreed to contribute a further £25 towards the cost. —The Town Clerk said he had written to the Lands Department but had had no reply yet. It was stated by the foreman that the work had been done about six months ago. The secretary to the Massey Memorial Fund, Auckland, wrote acknowledging contributions from To Aroha amounting to £lO 13/-. Cr. Hedge: Cambridge sent nothing. The Mayor: Te Aroha did better than most places. Mr Hy. Warner wrote stating that he had decided, with the Council’s permission, to withdraw “Ideal” well and remove same. His price was £l6 for the job with the usual guarantee of 400 gallons of water per hour for 12 months. —Received. Mr B. E. Boles, motor lorry proprietor, wrote stating that the Department had selected a bad time of the year for collecting fees, as expenses were high during the winter and

it was difficult to get in money. Several lorries which are domiciled in the borough were mentioned which had not yet paid any fee. The Mayor said that the Council should collect the fees, and he thought that they should press for payment. Cr. Woodroofe moved that the owners of lorries garaged in the borough who have not paid their fees be notified that they must pay. Cr. Kennedy: What is the position if a man leaves his lorry in the street. The Mayor: The street then becomes his garage. Cr. Kennedy did not agree with that, but thought that those who left lorries in the street were exceeding their rights. It was rather a bad time for lorry owners, but there was the Council’s point of view, and these men should pay. The motion was carried. The Hospital Board notified that the Council’s second quarterly levy of £337 17/9 was payable on September 15th.—To be paid. Mr A. F. Burton asked for permission to construct a box culvert at the entrance to his property at Herriesville.—Granted. Mr Burton also requested that the town water supply be extended along Follas street to the boundary of his property at Herriesville. The required extension was about a chain and a half. The foreman said the cost would be 5d or 6d ,per foot. The Mayor: The first year’s revenue would pay the cost. The request was granted. The Town Clerk reported that two nominations had been received for the vacancy on the Borough Ciuncil, Messrs Firkin and McKibben. It would not be necessary to have more than one polling booth. Cr. Kennedy: Is the Council providing a motor car for its nominee? The Mayor: As the Council has no nominee there will be no need to provide a car.