TEMUKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16829, 26 May 1919, Page 5

TEMUKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. ' The monthly meeting of the Tetnuka borough Council was held on evening. 'Lb ere were present —The Mayor (Mr T. Gunuion), Councillors P. X. Aeheson, J. Burns, G. B. Cartwright, S. Douglas, W. F. Evans, P. Lynch, T. Sheen. T. Trezise. Councillor .■Jlre'et sent an apology for unavoidable ,:l.:c-iice. - ' ■ The Mayor stated that the, credit ■ alai.ee was scarcely so good as last .year but they, had had some fairly big •>penses, including a donation to the i.:>-d Cross and £3O to the Peace Celebrations Committee, besides purchasing • tai boiler. These items would not 19 .recurring." As the option to negouite with the Gas Company for the cquirement of their interests expires ii October 1920* and twelve months' 9 .otice must be given, tthe Council mosi 'ecide this question. He would suggest ■ bar- a committee be formed to go into he matter and report at *the next teeting-. The Mayor, then referred to is visit to Wellington on the proposed '■•nsumption sanatorium and said the j Linister had been very favourable, j ~-xl something would be done in the j lear future. j CORRESPONDENCE. . : I Correspondence was received and -ealt with -as follows — Mr C. J. Talbot, M.P. wrote acknow.<?dging receipt of resolution passed by Council, urging the Government to >orm a mercantile fleet and expressing lis sympathy with the motion. The Chief Electoral Officer,, Wellington, wrote replying to "complaints that oldiers were disfranchised through being discharged before 10t!h April, stating that no soldier was so disjharged.—lt was agreed to leave tiiu matter in the hands of Couucilloi Street and the Town Clerk. Town Clerk,- liunanga, wrote asking support for a resolution urging the Government to proceed with the development of Seven to Nine Mile coal seam.—On the motion of Councillors iheen and Trezise, it was agreed that m view of the serious shortage in the coal supply of the dominion, and the > consequent famine prices of eoal, this.Council urges the Government to at once proceed with the development o! the Seven to Nine Mile coal seam. The Palmerstbu "North Chamber pi Commerce wrote asking co-operation in a resolution urging the Government tc put the main arterial roads in such permanent condition as"; to carry motor vehicles.—Councillor Cartwriglit said that the, haulage l of .'grain .and motor traffic was very: severe, on the mair roads. He-'was '. not "in 'favour of thr Government taking ;cotitror of the roads, but thought that!--local bodie- 1 should be. subsidised to enable them tc lay permanent roads.T—Councillor Sheev spoke in favour ,of the Governmen' controlling the arterial, roads.—On the motion of Councillors Trezise and Evaii r it was finally resolved ■."'•'That thetimf has arrived when the Gpvernmeu) should control the main arterial road 1 of the dominion; with a view.to thr formation of -perftiainent'' highways."

; OVERSEERS -'REPORT.; Mr; E. Booth ; reported that tl« foreman had been oil', leave siiipe May Ist, and would resume duty,,:on tht. 29th inst. The staff had been employee on various jobs during the month. Ter tons of cement, 100 bushels of p/its anr 100 bags of :'cl!aff;' r fo'F'.'^ffieT[r:' : '-%ender:. were accepted, have' been - ■■..delivered The Defence Department having signec. an agreement for lease of gravel pit in the rifle range reserve, tho work of opening np the pit will lie undertaker as early as possible. The report concluded with detailing the authorised works which are still on hand ':'. FINANCE.. The Finance Committee presented ;. paysheet for £bbo 8s o'd. Rates outstanding were £B7 3s lOd. Receipt, from all sources during the monti, amounted, to' £l4 os/ Oct. The credu balance of the several accounts to date was £1154 18s 3d . " The Committee recommended that I-a days' notice be given the tenants in arrears with rent, .and failing payment the amounts outstanding' be proceeded for. The Committee also drew attention to the credit balance of the genera, account which was only £l7- 2s'2d, anu strongly urged on the Council the necessity of carrying out only most essential works during, the next feu months until a fair amount of rates has been collected. It was agreed that application be made to the Bank of New Zealand foi a.renewal for the current year of the overdraft limit of £ISOO. Councillor Cartwright drew attention to the item on the balance sheet, contractors' deposit £29 3s 4d. He was always under a misapprehension regarding this, but recently found that this money had been deducted from the Council's employees' wages in terms oi t; ne agreement on being engaged. .As* this represented almost £lO per man lie considered it- unfair, and ■ gave notee that he would move at the next meeting'that the money be refunded to the men. . _The* paysheet'amounting to £360 B'6d was. passed for payment, and the report was adopted. '' : GFJNEIRAL..

The ac:ion- of the Mayoi; in proceeding .to Wellington as a member -of a deputation to urge the Government to establish a eomsumption sanatorium at Tekapo was confirmed. It was deeded to hoM a special meeting on Friday evening to consider the adrisabiity of p>urciiasing the Temuka Gas Go's works. The. Mayor and Councilors Evans and Cartwright wi-re appointed 'a committee to inspect "the Council's reserves on the wet* side and report at next roeetingi ' ' ' . The Council' meeting then terminated. KATES. At a special meeting of tihe Council, held prior toj the ordinary meeting, for j the purpose of levying rates for the ; ensu ng year. Councillor Evans, ehair- | man: of the Fis'Rnee Committee, moved j that the drainage ■ maintenance-rats ba I not collected this year.. ■ Thqv.2 was a i balance of £317 12s (id standing to iha | cr<\iit of this rate, and as it only yielded £250 per annum he thought it was their duty to relieve - til e ratepayers! of this burden. The motion was agreed to. TEMUKA. DOMAIN BOARD. The Council then sat as the Temuka, Domain Board. i Messrs C. H. Street. J. Burns, T. Sheen, Gr. B. Cartwright and the. Mayor were appointed the visiting committee. . It was agreed that the Board's architect be askad to furnish a report on the caretak-'.'r's qottage at the earliest possible date. Messrs Brickell and Lee waited on the Board 1 on behalf of tho Tennis Club, drawing attention to the condition of the tennis coiu-ts. Mr Br'ckfll said that no repairs liad been dim* sino* the beginning of the war, and 1 'if the courts were nf t seen to imme;Tiate 1 y they would rvot bv fit tio p'ay oil. Mr Lee said h-e hatl interviewed sev-fra 1 eontTa/'tors whn eorpidered the- courts ' iii vurr bn.H order. The cost, was £2O. Th-3 club would probably <yjn:tribnti -1 £TO tAwni-'vs exwns»»s. ■ Mr L'-nrth if tV considered it «. fair- deal for the xatcs

payers to P»y f° L ' the upkeep oif a tennis court for the benefit of a few individuals. Mr Lee pointed out that, the courts wire open for any one, visitors or rosidijut-;, who liked to go and use them. The deputation having withdrawn, after ;• discussion it was finally agreed that the £lO be granted : for improvement to the tennis courts, Mr Lynch dissenting. Mr J. T. Smart, on behalf of the Golf Club, waited on the Board, regarding golf links in the Domain. He pointed out that it would be handy for the townspeople, and would also be a source of revenue towards the upkeep of the park which was one of the principal assets of tlhe tow.n. ; —After discussion it was finally agreed that the visting committee meet the Golf Club deputation and discuss the matter. (Messrs J. T. Smart, C. J. Bilton and Dr. Curtis representing the Golf Club, have since met the Board's Committee and discussed the matter, and also inspected the Domain, and with the exception of a few minor details the Golf Club's request has practically been granted.) Mr Burns, inquired if anything had •been, done'regarding-the 100 cords of willow to be cut in the park.—Mr Sheen pointed out that the winter was near and urged haste. He suggested that tenders be called for cutting ! immediately. The chairman (Mr Gun- ! nion) explained that owing to the eleciion tiie old Committee had been disbanded, but n& promised that the. matter would be pushed forward without delay. The paysheet amounting to £385 lis was parsed for payment and the meeting terminated. AROWHENUA DOMAIN* BOARD. \ The Council then met as the Arowhemia Board, when the paysheet, amounting to £lO was passed for payment. CEMETERY TRUSTEES. The Council also-met as the Arowhemia Cemetery Trustees, when the paysheet amounting to £ll, was passed for payment. Messrs P. A. Aeheson, S. Douglas, P. Lynch and T. Trezise were appointed Visiting Committee. v The meeting then terminated?