AFFAIRS OF INGLEWOOD

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1931, Page 16

AFFAIRS OF INGLEWOOD

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETS MANAGEMENT OF THE RESERVES REPORTS ON WORK DURING MONTH. The monthly meeting of the Inglewood Borough Council was held on Tuesday night, when the Mayor, Mr. J. Gibbs, and Councillors F. Spurdie, B. Larson, E. Crossman, E. 11. Braybrooke, G. C. Tait and R. B. Sutton were present. The reserves committee reported that the improvements to the railway reserve between Matai Street and the railway were completed. Thanks were due to the donors of trees and shrubs. At Trimble Park the granting of the cropping rights had upset the proposal to allow the basketball club playing space, which was regrettable from several aspects, but at present unavoidable. The croquet club’s request for the cleaning up of the southern end was favourably considered on the condition, that the club maintain it in future. It was recommended that the fence be shifted out a few feet to facilitate matters. The original application of the basketball club for court space on Jubilee Park had been gone into and, although there were difficulties to overcome, if labour was available a great improvement could be effected to the park, besides acceding to the application of the club. j The committee made a proposal to pipe the “donga” on the easterly side; form a terrace 2ft Gin lower than, the football ground, use some of the loam for raising sunken parts of the grounds, cut, fill and level from the edge of the present playing field northwards, and ask the club to plant a holly hedge along its southerly boundary. It was recommended that the dangerous drain intersecting the most northerly bend of the Humphries Street reserve be slabbed (concrete) and that the central water-course (Chard’s drain) be cleaned, wood-slabbed and filled to prevent cattle bogging. ELECTRICITY GENERATION. The electrical engineer (Mr. H. Winter) reported that the number of units registered at the sub-station for the past month was 43,624, and the maximum demand register for the) quarter ended September 30, 1931, was 135 k.w. During the month four installations had been re-conditioned and a great number of repairs to installations had been attended to. The Claude Neon sign had been installed at the Inglewood Hotel. Several repairs had been carried out on the distribution mains and the .whole system was working satisfactorily. The librarian (Margaret A. T. Evans) reported that during the month five new subscriptions were opened and 22 cancelled, leaving a total of 195 subscribers. Thirty-four new books were purchased, six ‘being replacements and one non-fic-tion. Twenty books were mended. It was suggested that more shelves be obtained as those in use were again being overcrowded.

The borough, overseer (Mr. H. Winter) reported that the work of stripping the quarry was being proceeded with. That work was necessary as the quantity of metal that could be procured without stripping was . very small. The . trees which required cutting in Jubilee Park had been disposed of and the work 1 of cleaning up the domain and planting new trees was finished. Trimble Park was being ploughed and it was expected that the work would be finished within the next few days. The culvert and roadway into Mr. G. Butler’s section in Brooke Street was completed. The sowing of grass seed on the new reserve at Matai Street was almost finished and would be completed as soon as the weather permitted. The paths at the cemetery were being re-turfed, the old asphalt paths being removed and replaced with new turf. HOCKEY GROUND IMPROVEMENTS. An application was received from the Inglewood Hockey Club asking that the Hockey ground be levelled as at present it was not conducive to good hockey. The club stated it would donate £5 towards the cost. The Mayor reported that the grounds would shortly be closed for hay but he thought the council should do its best for the club. The matter was left to the reserves committee. Councillor Larson recommended to the reserves committee that the drain in Humphries Street should be continued through the park to prevent flooding of the street The reserves committee report was adopted. The council thanked the promoters of the Ragwort—Blackberry Rugby match for their efforts and the donation of proceeds, £4 10s 6d, towards the park funds. A letter was received from Mr. G. Ward stating that while he was rolling Jubilee Park with the borough roller his horse had met with an accident. The letter was discussed in committee. In view of the attitude the New Zealand Municipal Association had taken in regard to the help it had received from the Inglewood council in the case of payments of rates, the Mayor said he was of opinion that the Juglewood Borough Council should withdraw altogether from the association. Councillor Spurdie stat-' ed that lie was partly of the same but he thought the council should meet the association until at least the next municipal conference, at which he hoped Mr. Gibbs would represent Inglewood and place the council’s complaints plainly before the association. The Mayor stated that it should not ibe forgotten that Mr. J. W. Winfield, the previous Mayor, had been specially sent and had placed the matter before the association. The matter was left over for discussion until the annual membership fee of £6 6s becomes due. An invitation was received from the Inglewood Croquet Club for the presence of the Mayor and councillors and their wives at the opening of the green. The Mayor stated that lie would like all councillors to be present. The remission of water rates for the State school and Convent school was granted. In reply to a letter sent to the Municipal Association asking to what extent the council would be liable for any accident to human beings or stock caused through running into the fence recently erectejl along the side of the main road to protect shrubs and lawn recently planted under the improvement scheme, the association stated that if the footpath was in use between the road and the fence the borough council would not be liable. The Mayor stated that he thought there was no need to move the fence back as a footpath would be of no use there. If the posts were painted white it would obviate the danger. Mr. McLaggan tendered for the painting of window sashes of the council chambers. The Inglewood bachelors applied for the use of the town hall on October 22

for the purpose of a dance in conjunction with the hockey club. The application was left to the hall committee. The finance report stated that strict attention was being paid to the finance and no expenditure other than for essential material or repairs was to be authorised. The borough overdraft would be fully taxed until a large payment of rates was made between now and the end of the year Every effort was being made to recover outstanding rates and accounts. Building permits were granted 'W. H. Peters, G. Butler and J. Wilson. The appointment of I. Longstaff as poundkeeper and ranger as from October 1 was approved, the wages to be £1 Is per year and half the pound fees collected. Considerable discussion was held on the letting of a certain borough reserve and the reduction of certain electrical chargers. Councillor Crossman stated that two, street lights were needed and would be a great asset to the town —one halfway along Qutfield Street between Brooks and Kelly Streets and another in Richmond Street below the fire station. The matter was left to the electrical committee. He also stated that the fire plug indicators needed painting and should be immediately attended to. He drew the attention of the council to people parking cars in front of the fire station and other places where they had no right to be parked.