BOROUGH COUNCIL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4046, 11 May 1938, Page 12

BOROUGH COUNCIL

FINAL MEETING OF PRESENT TERM. "WASHING-UP” BUSINESS. The final meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council as at present constituted was held on Monday evening, his Worship the Mayor- (MrGeorge Spinley) presiding, and also present were Crs J. C. Montefiore (deputy Mayor), W. J. North, G. Gifford, A. Brown, H. C. Rainey, D. Wallace, G. O. Jourdain and J. A. Maxwell. The town clerk, Mr D. Bockett, and works foreman, Mr R. H. Close, were in attendance. STATE HOUSING. The Director of Housing Construction, Mr A. Tyndall, wrote in regard to the roading of the Depytment's housing block between Manoe and Mangapiko Streets: “At the junction with the former street, where there is a kerb and channel, it has been suggested that an open dished concrete channel crossing, in lieu of a 6in steel pipe, is preferable. I shall be interested to have your views on the matter, also on a suitable crossing at the junction with Mangapiko Street. If the open dished crossings are adopted, would your Council construct them at this Department’s expense? If so, please supply an estimate of the cost.” The Mayor said the Council had indicated that it preferred the open dish crossing. The request was referred to the incoming Works Committee for attention. MOTOR HORNS. The Commissioner of Transport, forwarded two resolutions unanimously passed by the New Zealand Road Safety Council on the subject of controlling the use of motor horns, and asking if the Council had any bylaws bearing on the subject. TAXI SERVICES. The Minister of Transport wrote in regard to the taxi services, stating that draft amending legislation bringing the taxi services under the provisions of the Transport Act had been prepared. These proposals would be considered by Parliament when more important items on the Government’s legislative programme had been dealt with.” The Te Awamutu Power Board made application to erect poles at the following intersections: Alexandra and Goodfellow Streets, Goodfellow and Laurie Streets, and Burchell’s | corner, Alexandra Street. I The Mayor explained, in reference to the Goodfellow-Laurie Streets pole, that it was proposed to shift the heavy line to the other side of Goodfellow Street. The application was granted. BANK STREET. Reference was made to the proposal to seal Bank Street for its full width from kerb to kerb. The Mayor said the Public Works Department was prepared to subsidise the work for 20 chains—to a point just over the rise past the park gates. Continuing, the Mayor said that other work on main highways in the borough should be done. In his opinion the borough was not getting its fair share of the taxation on petrol and motor vehicles. Promises were made but there was too much delay. ® A LEASEHOLD SECTION. Cr Rainey directed attention to the provisions of the lease of a section in Brady Street, and asked the position, as it seemed to him the conditions were not being observed. The Mayor said that the lease would have to be cancelled if the provisions were not observed. The clerk said the lease provided for a £5OO building by July Ist. The attention of the lessee is to be called to the position. FINANCES. The clerk-treasurer tabled the draft balance sheet, which, he said, had not been audited. The year had been a satisfactory one by comparison with preceding balance sheets. Among assets were £7lO for rates outstanding and £5lO for water charges—a good deal of which had since been paid. The credit in the water account was £259, as compared with £399 at the commencement of the year. Comment was made that the new Council would probably have to take drastic action against two or three water consumers who were greatly in arrears with their payments. The clerk mentioned that there had been considerable expenditure on streets improvement. The Mayor said that had there been no Government subsidy on wages very little of that work could have been done. To a question, Mr Bockett. said the public debt of the borough now stood at £114,988. The Mayor remarked that of a ratepayer’s annual payment of £5, the greater part went to pay interest, and sinking fund on loan moneys expended. To Cr Jourdain, the clerk said expenditure on streets was £ll9l on labour, £1623 on material, and £633 on vehicles and equipment (including oils and petrol). The Government subsidy received was £1595. The Mayor expressed the opinion that it would be sound business to go into debt to obtain the Government subsidy, as it seemed probable that that subsidy would not be continued after the present financial year. STREET LIGHTING. Cr Rainey directed attention to the need for better street lights. The winter season was near at hand, and no progress seemed to have been made since the matter was raised months ago. The Mayor said inquiry had been made, and he hoped some definite decision would be reached at an early date. MISCELLANEOUS. Regarding the proposed subdivision of Mrs Robcke’s land in Puniu Road, the Mayor said the plan appeared to be in order. Two sections were to be made, and Mr Crotty was arranging to acquire the land at the back. The plan was approved. The Department of Lands and Survey, Auckland, asked approval of the

Housing Department’s plans for subdivision of properties in Kihikihi Road (three sections), and sections fronting Mahoe and Mangapiko Streets.—Approved. The manager of the Bank of Australia called attention to splashing of tar on the newly-painted fence on the bank’s Market Street frontage, done during tarring operations on the footpath. The Mayor explained that the spray hose had burst, thus causing the splashing. Renovations had been effected. The Mayor stated that the works foreman had the matter of removing or improving the manhole for the sewer in Miss Mandeno’s property in College Street in hand, in co-opera-tion with the health officer. To a question, the clerk said a suitable dog registrar had not been found and therefore the registration fees were not being paid. The Mayor reported that the Works Committee had asked the proprietors of the Commercial Hotel to contribute £25 towards the cost of putting the footpaths in order again. This money had been paid, and the work was being done. Referring to the proposed new road to connect Alexandra and Mahoe Streets, the Mayor reported progress, and said that two of the property owners had stated their views, but he had not yet seen the third.