BOROUGH OF STRATFORD

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1933, Page 8

BOROUGH OF STRATFORD

MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPALITY. MEETING OF WORKS COMMITTEE. The works committee of the Stratford Borough Council met last night, the chairrnan (Mr. C. R. Finnerty) presiding over a full attendance. The engineer (Mr. L. B. Davis), reporting upon the work of the month, stated that general maintenance work had been done to streets and footpaths. Metalled roads had been patched, and general repairs effected to all tarred roads. Binding with chips and sand was done during the hot weather. The stone crusher was worked for two days, when 180 yards of river shingle were put through. All the 2in. metal from this shingle was dumped near the sprinklers at the septic tank in Swansea Road. A start was made on the reforming of Celia Street, but owing to bad weather work was delayed for a few days. Good progress was being friade and it was hoped to have the formation work completed early next week. It was then intended to proceed with certain bitumen work on the highways and Warwick Road east so that subsidies could be collected this year. Alterations to the culverts in Regan Street were made to suit the alterations at the railway yards. From Regan Street to Pembroke Road, Brecon Road was causing some anxiety. That road was becoming rough and it was almost impossible to effect improvements by patching. The engineer suggested that the road be scarified, trimmed, rolled and given a coat of light metal which would make a good surface and would i keep the road good until such time as it could be properly graded and the banks cut. A similar position existed in Brecon Road south, but there the grades ’ were much better. In referring to Brecon Road, Cr. Harkness said it was of no use making a piecemeal job of the road by patching it. He suggested that it be regraded and the surplus spoil used to fill the depression in Hamlet Street between Regan and Seyton Streets. That depression, he said, was an eyesore and a disgrace to the town. The chairman said the programme of works drawn up some years ago : was being adhered to and it would be senseless to take the men from Anel Street, leaving the work half finished, to put them on Brecon Road. The scheme proposed by the engineer would provide a good surface for the winter, and after that the work could be taken in hand properly. , The engineer was instructed to proceed as he suggested. The matter of a footpath for the south side of Opunake Road was deferred until the estimates are being prepared. The librarian (Mr. C. S. Kelly) reported as follows: Number of books issued for the month, 2098; books returned, 2128; odd books issued, 134; new books adedd, 36; new subscribers, 17; subscribed not renewing, 9; total number of subscribers, 208. Hie abattoir manager (Mr. R Jenkins) reported that during January the following stock was slaughtered: 84 cows, 59 heifers, 6 oxen, 3 calves, 345 sheep, 57 lambs and 70 pigs. ELECTRIC SUPPLY. An uninterrupted service had been given and voltage regulation at this time of the year was very satisfactory, reported the electrical engineer (Mr. A. E. Moss). The peak reached on December 24 of 378 had again been reached on two occasions but not exceeded. Units purchased for the month were 155,300, as compared with 149,500, an increase of 4 per cent. The completion and shifting of plant to new premises, a renovation with an increase of points, a new residence with stove and hot water, and a water installation to an existing residence comprised the additions to connected load for the month. The revenue for December, with figures for the corresponding month of the previous year in parentheses, was: Outstanding £3Ol (£266), gross £1143 (£1177), discount £254 (£262), cash £876 (£949), outstanding £314 (£232). ■ The Newmarket Borough Council forwarded the following remit for consideration, with the advice that it was intended to be presented at the municipal conference to be held at Rotorua next month: “That, in view of the disproportionate representation of the smaller boroughs on the executive committee, the constitution of the Municipal Association be amended by making provision for a definite number of seats on the committee for representatives of affiliated boroughs with a population of less than 6000.”

The Mayor (Mr. P. Thomson) said it was desirable that the smaller boroughs should be more adequately represented, and support was accorded the remit. The Rotorua Borough Council wrote stating its willingness to assist in arranging accommodation for delegates attending the forthcoming municipal conference.

He had perused the order paper for the conference and was convinced that the council should be represented, the Mayor said. He could not go, and’ he moved that the town clerk represent the council. The motion was adopted. A request that the council facilitate the attendance of the town clerk at the annual meeting of the institute at Rotorua on March 1 was conveyed by the secretary to the New Zealand Institute of Town Clerks.

Information regarding the bedrock price required by the council for the purchase of sections 864/5 and 902/3 was sought by the Roman Catholic Church committee, which advised that it consid-

ed the present valuation of £260 far too high, having regard to the fact that the valuation in 1925 (the “boom” period) was £l9O.

The committee will be advised that the council will accept £550. The Mayor pointed out that the annual revenue from the sections now, rents and rental, was £22, and as the proceeds from the sale of those particular sections would have to be placed on fixed deposit it was necessary for the council to get £550 so that at 4 per cent, the interest would offset the loss of rates and rental.

“I sincerely thank your Mayor and councillors for such generous testimony, which I regard as a distinct honour,” wrote Senior-Sergeant J. J. Power, in acknowledgment of the council’s congratulations upon his recent promotion. During his term of office at Stratford, continued the senior-sergeant, he had endeavoured to carry out his duties to the best of his ability, and it was most encouraging to know that his efforts had met with the approval of the council. Owing to the assistance so willingly rendered by the council his duties had been both pleasant and light. “I sincerely regret that my promotion necessitates my leaving Stratford, where I have spent four happy years.” Following a request of the council that the ownership of sections 717-8 should be transferred to the council, a reply was received from the Minister of Defence that the proposal could be entertained only provided other land of at least equal value, and suitable in all respects for defence purposes, was transferred to the Defence Department in exchange for thfe sections. The letter was formally received. REDEMPTION LOAN. The secretary of the Local Government Loans Board wrote that investigations were being made into the council’s application for a streets reconstruction redemption loan of £4990. The letter further observed that the redemption loan was to be raised on an instalment basis from the present holder, the Public Trustee, and information was desired as to whether the proposed terms had been agreed to by the lender. •It was also pointed out that the proposed rate of interest (5J per cent.) was in excess of that at present sanctioned by the board. The borough inspector was granted a week’s leave of absence to visit Dunedin. Mr. W. Power wrote asking for improvements to be made to Miranda Street north, which had no footpath on the eastern side in the vicinity of his house. ' The Mayor moved that the matter be deferred until the estimates were considered. Cr. A. J. Davey thought some improvement should be made. The Mayor said that some time ago the council asked the ratepayers concerned to consent to the lowering of the street level and Mr. Power was one of those who objected to the scheme. The motion was carried. A married unemployed man notified that he had been approached by the inspector for the balance due on his hawker’s license. He asked the council to remit the balance.. Cr. A. H. Nelson: “This opens up a big question.” Cr. R. F. Harkness moved that the request be granted. Cr. A. H. Trotter: “We instructed the inspector to collect these licenses, and now when he catches one we are going to let the man off. What is the inspector to do?” “Some of these cases should be considered on their merits, and this is one of them,” said Cr. N. B. Fletcher. The motion was carried and in future the council will not demand hawkers’ fees from local unemployed men. NOXIOUS WEEDS. “We gave instructions for the noxious weeds to be sprayed,” said Cr. Harkness, “yet ragwort is in full bloom through-

out the borough, blackberry is in a healthy condition and parts of King Edward Park are becoming infested with Californian thistle. It seems the council gives instructions which are openly flouted.” The chairman said the amount of ragwort might have increased a little in the borough, but the increase was far greater in the county, where thousands of acres would go out of production if steps were not taken to prevent its spread.

Experience throughout New Zealand showed that if Californian thistle was left alone it would die out, said Cr. Fletcher. The trouble in the country, he added, was that abandoned Crown lands and State-owned lands let on monthly tenancies were nothing in many cases more than flower gardens of ragwort. The inspector stated that there were fewer noxious weeds in the borough now than there ever had been. It was resolved that all borough property and parks be cleared of weeds. Tenders for driving a tunnel near the water intake were considered, but it was decided to do the work by day labour. TUNA DEFEATS TOKO. WEEK-END CRICKET MATCH, In a friendly cricket match between Tuna and Toko, played at Toko in the week-end, the visitors won, scoring in a two-innings game 97 runs against Toko’s 79. Tuna made 50 and 47 and Toko 14 and 65. ADVERTISERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS. The attention of settlers in the Midhirst district is drawn to an advertisement in this issue dealing with arrangements connected with the annual school excursion to Ngamotu beach.