BOROUGH OF TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10181, 17 December 1927, Page 3

BOROUGH OF TEMUKA.

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Temuka Borough Council was held on Thursday - evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor {Mr T. E. Gunnion), Councillors A. H. Fenn, E. B. Cooper, L. F, Robins, J. Cook, G. H. Clements, A. W, Buzan, J. B, Sinclair. Councillors Taylor and Hally sent apologies, the former owing to being detained elsewhere, and. the latter on account of illness. The Mayor said they all sympathised With Cr. Hally in his illness, and it was agreed that the Town Clerk should convey to him the Councillors’ sympathy, and wish him a speedy recovery. Before commencing the business of the meeting, the Mayor referred to the loss the town and district had sustained since the last meeting by the deaths of Mr A. Mathews, Mr Gorman, and Mr Charles Mansou. The first-named was a retired school teacher who, since his settlement in Temuka, had. taken a great interest in the Navy League, and in church and Sunday school work. The late Mr .Gorman was a reporter who had reported their meetings for some ‘time, and was well and favourably known to them all; and the late Mr Manson had lived in the district for some years, and was well-known and highly respected by all who knew him. A resolution of sympathy with the relatives of the deceased was passed in silence, members standing. MAYOR’S STATEMENT.

The Mayor briefly traversed the business to come .before the meeting, In the course of his statement he said. Cr. Cooper, chairman of the Finance Committee, had prepared a statement of receipts and expenditure which showed, that the Council must be very careful as regards the expenditure, ifl they were to end the financial year without a debit balance. Twelve months ago the Council- had a credit balance; now the balance was a debit one. Probably by the 19th a good many of the rates ..would come in, and this would put the account in a better position. CORRESPONDENCE. The Prime Minister wrote replying to the Council’s letter re petrol tax, and advised that he had forwarded same, for the consideration, of the Minister of Public ’Works.— Received, 1 The .chairman War Museum Committee, Department of Internal Affairs, advised that the supply of trophies available- for distribution to local bodies has for some time been exhausted, and asking if the trophies that were sent out are being cared for, and whether there is any possibility of any being made, available for past unsuccessful and future applicants.—Received. Messrs F. Martin and T. H. Gill made application to keep their billiard saloons open until 11 o’clock on the following nights;—Christmas Eve, 24th December; Boxing Day, 2'6th, Tuesday, 27th, -New Year’s Eve, 31st, and New Year’s Day, January 2, 1928.—'Applications granted. • , Mr L. J. O’Connell wrote asking for the amount of rates owing on Mr W. J. J. Benhow’s property. The same officer wrote asking if the Council would consider the remission of the fines imposed for the years ending 31st March, 1926, and 31st March, 1927, respectively, and

further .stated that if this could be •done the action, would be greatly »appreciated by Mr Benbow. Mr W. J. Benbow wrote asking if there is any possibility of the Council writing off his rates owing for the last two years. If this could be done it would greatly help him in getting a fresh start. —Councillors spoke regarding the requests, and after a short discussion it was decided to remit one year’s rates and fines; Mr O’Connell to be reminded that the 10s per cent, fine will be added to the present year’s rates if they are not paid by the 19th inst. 'The secretary Temuka Fire Brigade (Mr Allfrey)- forwarded an account amounting to £9 16s 6d, being the price of two fire extinguishers;—lt was pointed out that some time ago the Council had asked that before any plant : was purchased, the matter should be brought before the Council. The Mayor said there was nothing wrong abqut it, but the Council had not been consulted.—lt was decided to return the, letter, and ask the Brigade why the matter had not been brought before the Council before the purchase was made. Mr J. R. Bradshaw reported having impounded for the month nineteen cows and six horses. —The report’was received. Rev, R. H. Blair wrote thanking the Council for granting his application; for sewage connection. —Received., The following applications were received for drainage permits:—Mr W. Jones, Birkett street; Mr A, Calder, Davie street, one King street and one Allnatt street; Mr A. W. Buzan, Allnatt street; Mrs J. Nicholas, Allnatt street; Mrs C. M. Donnithprne, Davie street. —Granted. •The following applications were received for W.C. connections also; Messrs A. Calder, W. W. Jones, Mrs C. M. Donnithorne and Mrs J. Nicholas. FINANCE COMMITTEE. • The Finance Committee (Cr. E. B. Cooper, chairman) reported:— “Herewith we hand you the paysheet of the District Fund Account amounting to £368 2s 3d, and we recommend that the accounts contained therein be passed for payment, The items are chargeable to the several accounts as follow: General Account £325 16s 6d, Sanitation £25 IBs. Drainage Maintenance £1 4s 9d, Drainage Extension £1 13s 4d, Water Works Maintenance £l3 8s 8d; total, £368 2s 3d. The following sums have been received during the month: —Rents £3O 7s 6d, rates 1 £325 7s sd, licenses £24 15s 4d, Treasury .fees and fines £1 7s 6 d, refund account work £6 18s 6d, waterworks maintenance -£2 14s, outside' water charges £l9 drainage extension 40s; total; £3ll Os 3d. - The balances of the several accounts are as follow; —Dr., General Account £506 7s lOd. Cr., No. 8 Loan Account £B4 Os 3d, Sanitation £3B 18s 6d, Drainage Maintenance £4 19s lid, Drainage Extension £3B 3s lOd, Water Works Interest £92 6s 94 Water Works Maintenance £137 2s 7d; total credit, £395 11s lOd. Dr. bank balance, £llO 165.” The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee (Cr. A. W. Buzan, chairman) reported:—‘Your committee, have to report having met on Tuesday morning last, the 13th inst., there being present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr T. E. Gunnion), and Crs. A. W. Buzan (chairman) and J. B. Sinclair. We beg

to make the following recommenda-tions:—-That sufficient tar be procured for top-dressing footpaths constructed from No. 8 loan; up to • £IOO be .spent on this work. That the offer of the British Pavements - Co. Ltd., be accepted, and that the i work be gone on with. That A. 3 Uden be employed in the Domain - to tidy up before Christmas.” The County Engineer, Geraldine • County Council, advised that the , British Pavements, Ltd., are coml xnencing work for that Council im- ' mediately, and suggested that if • the Council intends sealing the • length of borough boundary to ■ Fraser street, .arrangements could , be made with The company to do 1 the work. The -Council would have ! to prepare the surface for the company under its direction, find labour up to four men, also find approved . gravel and stone chips and land them on the ground; also find all transport of plant to ground. Cr. Cooper said before the Council considered the recommendation that £IOO be spent on tar, he wished to submit a rough balance-sheet he had’ prepared, showing probable receipts and expenditure to the end of their financial year. This he read, showing estimated receipts at £1747 7s 6d, and expenditure (including wiping off the present debit balance of £507 6s lOd), £lso*l 14s Bd. This left only about £250 to ■work on for the next three months if they wished to come out square. The Mayor said Councillors knew the stale of the asphalt, and the work should have been done when they had the loan. Now the money must come out of the general rate. The Overseer said it would cost £250 to do all that should be done, but the worst parts should be done and the rest taken later on. It would be a pity to let the asphalt break up. During a discussion, the Over'seer was asked how far 25 barrels of tar would go on. the footpaths. The officer said he was not prepared to say without a little time to go into the matter. Finally Cr. Buzan moved, Cr. Fenn seconded, and it was carried; ‘‘That the matter be held over until next meeting; in the meantime the Overseer to .give an estimate of how much tar would 'be required to do the footpaths, and it be ascertained whether Ashburton tar can be procured, and the cost of same.” The recommendation in regard to the offer of the British Pavements Co., Ltd., to bitumenise the untarred section of King'street between Fraser St. and the town boundary, caused another long discussion, owing to the state. of the finances. It came out in the course of the discussion that the actual cost to the Council (allowing for assistance from the Highways Board) would only be about £4O to £SO;. and it was decided that if the stock of 18 barrels of asphaltum which had been found unsuitable for.the Council’s work (owing to lack of suitable plant) can be disposed of to advantage, the work shall be done. With these alterations, the report w r as adopted. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The Overseer (Mr G. Judson) reported for the month as follows: — “The staff have been employed at the water test at Orari, fitting new stop-cock on water trough Railway terrace, building new concrete water trough for Domain Board, making high-pressure water connections Springfield road', balance of shingling on Whitcomhe, Princess, and Hamilton streets. Forming Ormshy street: One footpath on this street has had ,a coat of shingle put on. The material has been - carted from the creek deviation on Gammack street. The boundary roads : have been graded, also several streets. The team has been kept at the work of shingle repairs when not otherwise employed. King, Wood and High streets have had a light coat of gravel, and this will require constant attention if it isto be kept in the line of traffic. The previous coat has given a lot of work, owing to the natural drifting into the water channels and culverts. The grass mower has been going as constant as possible, and will he fully employed for the next ten days. The sewer outfall on Mr , Burtenshaw’s property has been attended to. The inspection cover has been sealed with cement., The stock of half-inch pipes require renewing. Cost of forming Ormshy street, £4l ; Is 4d. ‘ Cost of high-pressure water ; connection Springfield road: Labour and material £l6 7s 7d, 10 per cent. £1 12s 9d; total, £lB 0s 4d,” Cr. Cooper asked what was the estimate for the work in Ormshy street?

The Overseer said the estimate was £3 a chain for 12 chains and the cost had been about £5 above that. Included in the’ work done was a good deal of carting from High street. The report was adopted. LIGHTING, RESERVES, AND SANITATION. The Lighting, Reserves and Sanitation Committee (Cr. L. F. Robins, chairman) reported that everything was quite satisfactory. The report was adopted. TOWN CLERK-OVERSEER. Mr R, J. Cornwell acknowledged receipt of the letter appointing him to the position of Town. Clerk and Overseer to the borough, and stated that he was making arrangements to commence his duties on the Ist January, 1928. Mr Cornwell further wrote returning the schedule of duties, and advising that lie was making arrangements for fidelity guarantees.—Received. The Mayor said that since the last letter was received a wire from Mr Cornwell had come to hand, stating that he had been offered a permanent situation at a higher salary than that he would under the Council. Therefore, said the Mayor, they might consider that Mr Cornwell would not come, and they must take further steps to fill the appointment. H.e suggested that Mr D. Jeune, another of the applicants when the position was recently advertised, should be communicated with, to ascertain whether he Was still open to take the appointment. A special meeting could then be held to deal with the matter. The Mayor's suggestion, put in the form of a motion, was moved by Crs. Cooper and Fenn, and was adopted,..and the Town Clerk was instructed to write to Mr Jeune. PIONEERS’ SERVICE. Rev. H. R. Fell advised that it is quite convenient to hold the pioneers’ , anniversary service in the Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning, the 18tli inst. Further, asking if the Council could inform them how many are expected to take part, so that enouigh seats could be reserved. The letter was received, and it was -decided that the Town Clerk should send the information asked for. They had received answers from a great many of the pioneers

written to, stating that they would attend. The Pipe Band, to the number of fourteen, would be present, and he hoped that as many Councillors as possible would attend. THE PROPOSED NEW WATERHBADWORKS. The Mayor said he had seen the Railway Traffic Manager on Wednesday, and conferred with him for a short time regarding the proposed new site for the headworks of the borough - high-pressure water supply, which is on the railway line at Orari. The officer had promised to meet the Council or a committee and to visit the site and see what the Council were asking for. He said he did not see anything in the way of the Council getting the permission it was seeking if it decided to go on with the work. He (the Mayor) told the officer that what the Council wanted was practically a freehold. He had also been assured that the Council’s request regarding the erection of posts on the south sides of the Denmark street gates to allow of the passing through; of . pedestrians, would in all probability be granted, although the cost would be greater than the Council had thought. GENERAL. On the motion of Crs. Cooper and Fenn, it was agreed to transfer £SO to the Domain Board. • The Mayor said he had been approached in regard to the £SO that had been promised to the Library. The money was needed, and was on the estimates. On the motion of Crs. Sinclair and Cooper, £SO was voted to the Library building fund, Mr J. R. Bradshaw was reappointed registrar of dogs. On the motion of Crs. Fenn and Cook, the fees for the registration of dogs in the borough, was flxqd at 2s 6d for dogs (not exceeding three) the property of a shepherd or drover and solely used for tlip purpose of driving or herding cattle or sheep, and 10s for all other dogs.

Messrs Muir and Gonrley’s offer for the supply of dog collars was accepted.

Regarding the Christmas holidays it was decided, after some discussion, that the office be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays from the evening of 24th December, and re-open on sth January, 1927. The meeting then terminated.

DOMAIN BOARD.

A meeting of the Domain Board was then held, the same, members being present. ■ A letter was read from the secretary Temuka Business Men’s Association (Mr B. Hughes) stating that the dates granted for the Band Contest would not now be required.; —Received. A letter from the Kensington Methodist Church stated that the church picnic on the 10th December had been postponed, and therefore the use of the Park on that date would not be required.—Received.

From the hon. secretary Municipal Band (Mr G. H. Clements), applying for permission to hold a flannel dance in the Domain on New Year’s Eve, and to make a charge of Is at the gates.—Granted. .From the secretary Temuka Caledonian Society (Mr R. H. Taylor), asking that the date for which the use of the Domain had been granted for their annual Sports should be changed from the 26th to 27th December. —Granted. From Mr G. H. Clements, secretary Temuka Municipal Band, asking for the use of the Domain on Monday, 26tli December, for a united band' concert, with permission to charge Is for admission. — Granted. CURATOR’S REPORT. The curator (Mr J. McDonald) reported on work done during the month, and pointed out that the weather had made his work rather difficult. The cycling track had been patched up, and the drive from the memorial gates to the grandstand had been top-dressed. The swimming baths had been cleaned out, and the usual routine work of the Domain attended to. A reminder to clear land of noxious weeds was received. The secretary was instructed to get a price for the hay on the section to the south of the baths. , The paysheet, amounting to £57 12s lid, was passed for payment. CEMETERY BOARD. A meeting of the Cemetery Board was held, the same members being present. The caretaker (Mr W. Double)

reported that during the quarter he had been chiefly engaged in routine work, and keeping plots in order. At present lie was assisting in cutting the growth on the unkept graves. He had also prepared some pegs for plotting the new portion of the cemetery.

Mr Fenu reported that Mr Buzan and himself had visited the Cemetery and found everything in a very satisfactory state, considering the bad weather. The walks were in good order, and the state of the Cemetery was very creditable to the caretaker.

Accounts, amounting to £l3 15s 2d, were passed for payment. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS.

The’"business of the Council and Boards being finished, the Mavor remarked that this would he their last meeting this year, and, in a few well-chosen words, he went on to wish Councillors and staff ‘‘a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Cr. Sinclair, on behalf of the Council, said they heartily reciprocated the Mayor’s good wishes, and hoped he would have a pleasant and happy time during the holidays.