BOROUGH OF WAITARA

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1928, Page 10

BOROUGH OF WAITARA

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WEAKNESS IN WATER SUPPLY". SMOKING IN PUBLIC HALLS. The monthly meeting of the Waitara Borough Council was held last night, when there were present: The Mayor (Mr. E. A. George), Councillors J. Hine, H. Wakeley, H. A. Brabant, T. Taylor, L. H. Sampson, H. Spurdie and T. B. Ewens. The secretary of the Fire Board wrote recommending that the council should take some steps to assure that there was a supply of water on the occasions when the intake was being cleaned outlie also asked that a by-law ’be introduced prohibiting smoking in public balls. Cr. Spurdie pointed out that on the Sunday during each month that the intake was cleaned out, Waitara was without water practically all day, and the matter would be very serious in the event of a fire occurring. Superintendent Hugo and the members -of the Fire Brigade concurred in this. Inspector Hugo, he said, stated also that unless the council had a by-law prohibiting smoking in public halls, no action could be taken by the fireman on duty to prevent it. Cr. Hine said the owner could prevent it. Cr. Sampson said that such a by-law would prove hard in the case of smoke concerts, etc., but Cr. Spurdie said it would not apply to such functions, Cr. Hine said the matter was entirely in, the hands of the proprietors of the halls, concerned. When letting, them they should make it a condition that there was to be no smoking. The Mayor said it was a pity the matter had not been brought forward when the by-laws were revised. He considered the matter of providing for water supply during such time as the tank was being cleaned out was a most important one. Cr. Taylor said the council had gone Into the matter some time ago and it was estimated that it would cost £4OO, which was too much. Mr. Linnet had informed him that it could be done for £lOO. The Mayor understood that £lOO was the cost of the material, and that the fire brigade would do the work. The Mayor stated that he was quite agreeable to meet the Fire Board on the spot and go into the matter. The estimates would be drawn up next month.

After further discussion it was decided that Messrs Dowsett, Kendrick and Superintendent Limmer visit the locality and give an estimate. REBATES GRANTED. In connection with an application by the Theatre Royal Company for a rebate on their electric light account, on the grounds that for one period last . year the reading was abnormal, the electric light committee reported that it had decided to refer the matter for the consideration of th® full council. Cr. Ewens at once moved that the council could not see its way clear to make any rebate. He considered the council would be creating a dangerous precedent if it acceded to the request, as they received numerous complaints. After a brief discussion the motion was being shelved for want of a seconder, when Cr. Taylor seconded. The Mayor favoured meeting the consumer on a 50 —50 basis, and moved as an amendment that the council accept half of the £4 9s in dispute in full settlement of the account. Cr. Spurdie seconded, as he was given to understand that the extra 100 units had not been consumed, Cr. Hine realised the difficult position the council was in regarding creating a precedent, but if any councillor* was satisfied that an injustice was being done he would be justified in brushing aside all fears of creating a precedent. He, however, was not quite satisfied and therefore he wished to ask the clerk whether he knew of any case where it had been admitted that there had been a mistake, and the account had been amended. The clerk could -not remember such a case, but he stated they had numerous complaints. Or. Ew'ens asked whether the Mayor realised what, lie was doing before he put the motion. The Mayor: Of course I do! Cr. Ewens: Then you may as well throw all the meters out. They are our official reasons. The engineer, noticing the abnormal reading, had gone back and satisfied himself that the meter was reading correctly, The amendment was put and carried, Crs. Ewens, Taylor and Hine voting against it. It was carried similarly as the substantive motion, Cr. Ewens asking that the vote be recorded, as that was not the last the council would hear of it, Mr. Kendrick (waterworks overseer) reported mat he had made an inspection of water services with a view' to checking leaky taps and the use of hoses during the day time. Prosecutions were [lending. If the consumers did not waste the supply there was no fear of any shortage. The intake grating required renewing. He also drew attention to the necessity for repainting the town bridge. The report was adopted, and the matter of repairs to the grating was left in the hands of the overseer. The works committee was authorised to go into the question of encasing the trellis work on the Waitara bridge, wherever possible, with concrete. The electrical engineer (Mr. Oswald Smith) reported that the plant had operated satisfactorily during the month. The output through, the sub-station had fallen considerably, being 16,330 units, as compared with 148,009 for the same period of 1927, and 17,800 for the month of December. Two new installations had .men made, uuu there were three applications for connections. ■The ranger reported having impounded 13 cows and two horses. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. Mr. B. N. Gillespie waited on the council regarding improvements desired in Parise Street. It was stated that the council had already met the ratepayer to some extent, and that the works committee, having recently visited the locality, was of opinion that more populous parts of the borough needed prior attention.

The borough solicitors notified that the Native Land Court had assessed the compensation for land taken at the Manakoriki Hill for road purposes at. £2 17s 6d ; with costs 335,

The Clifton county engineer notified that the cost of work carried out for the council was as follows:—Princess Street £153 10s 6d, Mouatt Street £ll, Grey Street £27 Os lOd. Airs. SI, Olsson wrote asking to be allowed to surrender the lease of two sections in Waitara east.—-To be acceded to if practicable. The Green Island Borough Council asked support to a remit urging that arterial roads be taken over by the Highways Board. —No action was taken. The application of X N. Blackhall, Lepperton, for a water connection near Oliver’s slaughter-house was left in the hands of the waterworks engineer. The matter of procuring a crusher to deal with 50 yards of metal from the beach was referred to the works committee, an amendment that it be left to the next financial year being lost. The Grey district jubilee committee forwarded an invitation to the Mayor to attend the diamond jubilee, to be held from February 26 to March 2. Crs. Wakeley, Hine and Ewens were appointed a committee to go into the question of fixing the upset of leases shortly falling due, bearing in mind that the system of rating has been altered. The matter of representation at the local bodies’ conference was left in the hands of the Mayor.