ELTHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1933, Page 8

ELTHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL

RATES COME IN WELL. RESIGNATION OF CR. VALINTINE. There were present at the Eltham Borough Council meeting last night the Mayor, Mr. I. J. Bridger, and all councillors except Cr. Penhall. The granting to the progress committee of a picture benefit night was referred to the town hall committee with power to act. The Eltham Athletic Club was granted the use of Taumata Park for the season on the usual conditions. An application for assistance from the Plunket Society was declined. The New Zealand Co-operative Rennet Company was granted a temporary building permit for a temporary structure to house machinery during alterations. The permit was granted at the pleasure of the council. The matter of procuring rnamaku fems was referred to the reserves committee with power to act. The gas manager was authorised to .purchase sufficient hedge plants for a hedge at the back of the gasworks residence. An application from Mr. W. Moller for rent adjustment in connection with his lease of the cemetery reserve was referred to the finance committee.

The Mayor stated that it was pleasing to see that rates had come in so well since the last meeting. The sum of £4334 had been received of £7364 struck, and in additiod - £729 of arrears had been collected. He thought this was an answer to the adverse criticism of the borough finances and showed that Eltham was a solid town.

Arising out of the confirmation of the minutes of the ’general purposes committee Cr. Gawith raised abjection to the proposal that a delegation of the council visit Tangarakau with a view to inspecting old Public Works cottages with the object of their utilisation as residences. He considered it was useless to inspect shacks that would prove unsuitable, and he was opposed to the expense on principle. The Mayor replied that it had been decided to make an investigation and to report only. They were not committed to any action. The cost of inspection would be very small. x The finance and reserves committee recommended that the lighting of Taumata Park be proceeded with at an expenditure of not more than £25 per annum. The clerk reported at length on negotiations with the Taranaki Power Board concerning a proposal to make the present temporary lighting at Taumata Park permanent. Cr. Whiting said the committee estimated the annual payment would not exceed £25.

The Mayor explained that it had been felt that it was desirable to have the park lighted so that night sports and band concerts be held. Last year the sports club had temporarily erected plant and it was now thought a good idea to take this over as part of the borough equipment. He thought it would be £25 per annum for three years well spent, and he supported the committee’s recommendation. ;

Cr. Trask also supported the proposal and the recommendation was adopted. Cr. Valintine said he regretted that he was compelled to resign his seat on the council as he felt that he could not give the time to borough work. He very much regretted to have to terminate his associations with his fellow councillors but his private affairs did not permit of him devoting the necessary attention to borough business. He would, however, be able to continue his work on the Hawera Hospital Board, in which he was specially interested. He added that he considered local government in New Zealand was too costly and the time was coming when expenditure on local administration would have to be curtailed. He believed it would be in the interests of ratepayers if the county and borough combined. The hospitals in New Zealand were without exception extremely well run, and he had nothing but favourable comment to make on them. He said there was to be a plan whereby the Taranaki hospitals would afford treatment to patients of other districts and interchange of admissions. The Mayor said he regretted very much that Cr. Valintine felt it necessary to resign from the council. His friendship and work had been much appreciated. Cr. Trask and Cr. Gawith also spoke with regret at the loss of Cr. Valintine’s services on the council. Cr. Lewis complained of bottles being broken on the streets constituting a danger to children and motor-car tyres, and suggested that an example be made of any offender who was discovered. , The matter was referred to the inspector.

GENERAL ITEMS. Stratford Tennis Team. A team from the Stratford Tennis Club will visit Pukekura Park (New Plymouth) Club on Monday. The selection is: Hale, Hale, Gaw, Sharrock, McCready, Lawrence, Miss Best, Mrs. Seyb, Miss Walker, Miss Laurence, Mrs. McKay and Miss Furrie. Stratford Cricket Teams. Cricket teams to represent the Stratford club to-day have been selected as follows: A team v. Kaponga at Stratford- HaU, Wilson, Walker, Sandford, Gatton, Beere, Kivell, F. Young, Gover, Lay, Cottier. B team v. Manaia at Manaia: C. Young, Faulkner, Francis, Thomson, Mclnnes, Latham, Robson, Collins, Harligan, Jenkin, Hancock. Mayor's Relief Fund. With the £l7 received as Stratford’s share of the last art union, the amount collected for and donated to the Mayor’s relief fund was brought up to £270. From that £2OB, consisting of payments to the Women’s Central Relief Committee for distribution, expenses of functions held in aid of the fund and the cost of carting wood to every person on the list of the women’s committee has been taken, leaving a balance of £62 in the fund to-day.

Croquet Competitions. .. Competitions conducted by the Avon Croquet Club on the occasion of the opening on Thursday were won as follows: Golf croquet, Mrs. North 1, Mrs. Clark 2 (after a play-off with Mrs.

Moss); ring the bell, Mrs. Fletcher (Hawera) and Mrs. Hughes equal 1; hitting the peg: Mrs. Mills 1, Mrs. O’Connor 2 (after a tie with Mrs. Macßae and Mrs. Burke). PERSONAL ITEMS. A motion of sympathy and condolence with Mrs. T. H. Penn and family was passed by the executive of the Taranaki

Dairying and Farming Industrial Union of Employers at a meeting at Stratford yesterday. Mr. T. L. Penn was appointed secretary in place of his father. Mr. S. Murray, Eltham, has suffered an injury to the ligaments of his shoulder which will incapacitate him for a fortnight.