MATTERS MUNICIPAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4561, 17 April 1942, Page 5

MATTERS MUNICIPAL

THE TE AWAMUTU COUNCIL FORTNIGHTLY MEETING The Mayor, Mr L. G. Armstrong, presided at the regular meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council on Monday evening. There were also present: Crs F. Parsons, V. A. de Cork, G. Dalton, E. R. Olsen, W. J. North, L. S. Armstrong, C. J. Spiers and A. R. Hill. The Borough foreman, Mr R. H. Close, and the Town Clerk, Mr D. Bockett, also attended. NEW STOCK ROUTE The clerk reported that some difficulty had been experienced in contacting the former Borough engineer (Mr R. Worley) who was engaged on military duties, for the return of plans of the proposed stock road to the railway. The negotiations for the raising of the authorised loan had accordingly been delayed. It was decided to press for early action. WATER WORKS TUNNEL The Works Committee reported having made application to the Building Controller for the allocation of cement to meet the conditions existing as a result of the collapse of a portion of the tunnel at the waterworks. The same Committee also reported that i' was inquiring for details of street name plates. Further to the report, it was explained that information was being obtained regarding the availability and cost of pipes and cement so that the Council could then decide what course of action was best to be adopted at the waterworks. A preliminary estimate of a deviation was that it would cost £lBOO, compared with an estimate of £l5OO for strengthening the tunnel. Just which of the two al ternatives would be best was for the Council’s consideration when full information and estimates became available.

URBAN LAND ASSESSORS The clerk reported having conferred with the assessors who had acted under the Council’s direction on the urban Lands Assessment Committee, and that the nomination of a fee of £1 Is a day was agreed to. TELEPHONE POLES The acting Postmaster (Mr A. S. Prisk) advised that, as the local lins staff had been withdrawn for urgent telephone construction for Army purposes, no definite date could be given for the removal of poles at the Alex-andra-Tawhaio Street intersection. As soon as circumstances permitted every effort would be made to complete the removals necessary at various points in the Borough. RETURN OF DEPOSIT Mr Les. S. Armstrong recalled having paid £6 10s to the Council in anticipation of a concrete footpath in Puniu Road, but so far only a crossing had been put in which was to cost £1 15s. As there appeared no prospect of the work being completed, a return of the amount over-deposited was requested. It was decided to make the refund. RESIGNATION WITHDRAWN In withdrawing his resignation as foreman, Mr R. H. Close thanked the Council for a fair hearing at last meeting. The method agreed to for the future would give the whole staff a fair hearing before the legal committee and would remove the possibility of injustice of unfair allegations. Mrs R. Eyre, Ngaruawahia, thanked the Council for its message of sympathy in the bereavement caused by the recent death of her husband, who had represented the combined Boroughs of Te Awamutu, Ngaruawahia, and Huntly, on the Waikato Hospital Board. CLEARING FRONTAGES Cr Dalton drew attention to the state of the footpath along Kihikihi Road. This path was overgrown with noxious growth and a good deal of public inconvenience arose. It was said that the adjoining property owners were responsible and the Council decided to draw their attention to the matter. The Works Committee had already asked property owners throughout the borough to recognise the position created by the shortage of labour and to co-operate with the Council in keeping frontages clean. CONSIDERATION DEFERRED Cr Les. S. Armstrong, who had given notice of motion to move the setting up of a special committee to report on the Council’s affairs, asked that his motion be put forward to next meeting.—This was agreed to. f THE BALANCE SHEET The Town Clerk presented the balance sheet for the year ended on March 31st last and gave an outline of the balances standing in the several accounts under the Council’s jurisdiction. The Finance Committee will now prepare the estimates for the current year. FALLING OF TREES Speaking as an individual and not as a Councillor, Cr Parsons asked permission, to fall trees, where such was not avoidable, from his property on to the Council land adjoining. He would repair any temporary damage to fences.

Permission was granted according-