BOROUGH COUNCIL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3791, 5 August 1936, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. GENERAL BUSINESS DEALT WITH. His Worship the Mayor. Mr G. Spinley, presided at the fortnightly meeting on Monday evening of the Te Awamutu Borough Council, and also present were Crs A. Brown, H. C Rainey, W. J. North, G. O. Jourdain, G. Gifford and J. C. Montefiore. The town clerk, Mr D. Bockett, and works foreman, Mr R. H. Close, were in attendance. Cr D. Wallace was granted leave of absence. , ~ Cr Rainey remarked that when the Mayor and Council attend the Methodist Church on the 16th inst., the local branch of the St. John Ambulance Association would also attend. The Works Committee reported negotiations with several property owners for provision 'of concrete crossings Into their premises. The Mavor said it was understood the road surface widening in Kihikihi Road would be sealed, by arrangement with the Main Highways Board, in about two months’ time. Messrs R. L. Pepperill and F. Verner (Atta Cabs, affiliated) applied for a space to be set aside for one cab at the present site of the bus stand opposite the Bank of New Zealand. It was pointed out that, this stand has never been used by the buses, and as a taxi stand it would be a benefit to the public.—Declined. The Te Awamutu branch of the N.Z. Educational Institute wrote pointing out that at present there are no traffic notices near the four school buildings in Te Awamutu to warn motorists of the possible presence of school children. For the safety of the pupils and also for the benefit of motorists we feel that suitable signposts are most desirable. I have been requested to place this matter before you, and to ask you to have suitable signposts erected. Cr Jourdain said there used .to be a school sign near the infant school. He did not know it had been removed. The Mayor said four schools were concerned. The cost would be about £lO. He thought a little more instruction atathe schools would lessen the danger. He had frequently seen pupils “fooling about” on the roadway, many of them with bicycles. If motor traffic was dangerous near the schools it was even- more dangerous near Armstrong's corner. Good footpaths were provided for the children to walk on, and they should be made to keep off the roads except when crossing. Several councillors expressed a desire to avoid accidents if possible, but agreed that children could benefit by tuition in traffic observance. The Mayor said many motorists would not notice signposts In the borough streets. The position was different in the country, where footpaths are not provided. No action was taken. The secretary, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, wrote re the various publicity schemes to attract tourists to the Waikato, emphasising the territory between Ngaruawahia to Raglan, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua and Te Aroha, and favoured a combination of local and public bodies in any publicity scheme. The Council was asked if it would indicate what financial contribution would be forthcoming for such a scheme. The Mayor said the local Chamber of Commerce might be approached, and offered co operation.—Agreed to. Mr B. G. Candy, Young Street, wrote applying for a portion of the cost of a fence between his property and the Council’s section in Brady Street. —Granted. The Prime Minister wrote, through Mr Broadfoot, M.P., acknowledging receipt of the Council’s resolution urging that the present system of hospital administration levy should be altered. He said the matter would receive consideration by the Government at the earliest opportunity.— Received. Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., wrote stating that since his arrival in Wellington for the adjourned Parliamentary session he had been urging strenuously the clearance of the Waipa river and its tributaries. It was probable that action would be taken by making available a gang of unemployed men from Hamilton, and perhaps other Waikato centres. Local bodies, and especially the drainage boards, were interested. It was suggested that a deputation should be sent to Wellington to for--ward the project, by waiting on Cabinet Ministers.

The Mayor said Waipa County Council had dealt with the matter some months ago. He agreed that it would be desirable to have any such work under one control. One drainage board seemed to be the most practicable idea. Only one tender, that of Mr O. O’Brien, at £5 per annum, was received for the lease for 21 years of section 6, Brady Street. —Accepted. The solicitor for Mrs H. Y. Collins wrote re her property subdivision in College Street approved by tlie Council at a recent meeting, pointing out a slight error affecting lots 7 and 8, and asking for approval of the alteration. —Approved.

Mrs Teddy, Puniu Road, again wrote re the storm water overflowing from her property to the street. She claimed that in reconstructing the road existing pipes had been removed and never replaced, so she contended the Council was responsible for the damage. Cr Rainey said the position was the same in respect to Mrs Baxter’s property adjoining. He said the owner understood the Works Committee chairman knew all the facts, and had promised to have the matter attended to.—Referred to the Works Committee.

Argument ensued as to liability for legal costs in a transfer from Mrs Collins of a portion of her property at the junction of College Street and Frontier Road to round oft the corner. Mrs Collins gave the land to the borough, but suggested that the Council bear the costs of transfer.— The Council agreed to bear the costs.