TEMUKA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18652, 22 August 1930, Page 13

TEMUKA.

BOROUGH COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Temuka Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening. Present:—The Mayor (Mr T. E. Gunnion), Councillors A. W. Buzan, C. Davidson, E. B. Cooper, E. J. Chapman, L. F. Robins, R. Jamieson, J. Gourley, A. R. Beck and A. E. Smith. When the minutes of the previous (special) meeting were presented for confirmation, Councillor Davidson lodged in objection. He maintained that they were incorrect, and that half of the minutes were not there. Discussion of the unemployment and water scheme questions was not fully detailed. The Mayor: “Surely you didn’t expect to see all that was in the newspapers in the minutes?” Councillor Davidso.i: “I’ve lodged my objection.” The Mayor then referred to the deaths, since last meeting, of Mrs Henry, Mrs Carr, Messrs T. Chapman, Milliken and P. Burke. The Council passed votes of sympathy with relatives of the deceased. The Mayor then referred to the illness of Mr A. Lowrie, and hoped that he would soon be back at the Press table. Mr Gunnion went on to say that the amount of rates received, on which discount was allowed, was £1309, against £l7uß last year, when a further two weeks had been allowed. Referring back to Councillor Davidson’s remarks as to the minutes, the Mayor said he thought it was a good job the minutes did not contain all that appeared in the newspapers. Councillor Davidson was reported as having said, in regard to unemployment, that some people were starving in Temuka, and he (the Mayor) was convinced from inquiries made, that there was not one person starving. Such remarks should not have appeared in the Press. Mr Gunnion then referred to Councillor Gourley’s reported remarks, in regard to the foreman at the waterworks. He had referred to the foreman as being inexperienced. If such a remark was meant for the foreman, Mr Gunnion considered it a slander. The foreman’s job was merely to put up lights, attend to the engineer, and supervise generally. The speaker considered the statement was wrong. If Councillor Gourley was referring to the engineer, it should have appeared that way.

Councillor Gourley said he would stick to what he had s~ : d. He was referring to the man who had charge of the men who were working there, not the man who attended to the lights. The Mayor: “That’s the engineer.” At this stage, Councillor Buzan expressed pleasure at seeing the Mayor again at a meeting of the Council, after his recent illness. The Mayor returned thanks, and said that he had been very pleased to receive a letter from fellow-Council-lors, while he had been in bed. Correspondence. The Commissioner of Stamp Duties, Christchurch, wrote asking for a list of halls and other places of amusement in the borough, which had been licensed as places of amusement.—The Town Clerk said she had given the information desired. The secretary of the Local Government Loans Board, writing in regard to proposed alterations to the east side drainage scheme, advised that the matter was one for the Audit Department’s consideration. The Auditor and Controller-General, Wellington, advised that the construction of sewers through the centre of the blocks, if underground, and for the drainage of part of the eastern portion of the borough, would come within the terms of the loan proposal, and moneys raised under authority of a poll taken on that proposal could lawfully be expended on such work. The letters were received. A letter was received from the Municipal Association, asking the Council’s support for allocation of 8 per cent, of the pelrol tax for local authorities; and Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., advised that as yet it was not proposed to alter the status of boroughs with a population under 6000, in the matter of petrol tax. The Town Clerk said the Borough previously received 8 per cent. Unsuitable Premises. At the last meeting of the Council, the Inspector of Health forwarded a letter stating that improvements were necessary to the premises occupied by Mr C. B. Norton, as a butcher’s shop. As requested by Mr Menzies. the Council notified Mr Norton of the requirements requested. At Wednesday night’s meeting. a reply was read from Mr Norton, stating that part of the work had already been done. The balance of the improvements he intended to put in hand as soo nas he saw his way clear, not within twenty-one days, as requested. Mr Norton also asked for an apology from the Council for failing to notify the Health Inspector of such building, as he contended the Inspector could have stated what was required, and thus save expense. The Inspector reported having visited the premises on August 14. Improvements had been carried out, and Mr Norton promised to proceed with the necessary work as soon as the plan (a copy of which was enclosed) was submitted. The Medical Officer of Health, also advised having inspected Mr Norton’s shop, and stated that it would have been wiser to postpone the granting of the permit until the necessary alterations had been made. Councillor Buzan said that nothing had been done at which Mr Norton could take offence. The matter had certainly not been broadcasted. Councillor Robins inquired if the Council should receive such a letter. They should draw the line somewhere. The Mayor: “He didn’t even put a stamp on the envelope. We have to expect such things now-a-days.” The letter was received. The Water Race. In reply to a letter from the Council, the Geraldine County Council advised that they could not. in the meantime, agree to the removal of the Temuka Borough’s responsibility in regard to the water race on the main road. The Council suggested leaving the race as at present to ascertain the result of the next heavy flood before anything was done to fill it in.—Received. General. A petition, asking that the footpath in Whitconibe Street be asphalted was received. The petition was signed by Mrs F. Beri. Mrs H. Bremner, Mrs E. Hope. Miss C. Coughlan and Mr T. E. O’Connor, and pointed out that this street was the main thoroughfare from the station to the domain. It was decided to do the work from Denmark to High Streets. Mr F. J. Chapman wrote drawing the Council’s attention to the state of Studholme Street, between Denmark and High Streets. He stated that his portion had been graded and lowered, and in wet weather it was practically impossible to drive any vehicle off the crown of the road without being bogged. He asked that * few loads of shingle be placed there. Councillor Cooper said he would

agree with the contents of the letter, as he himself had been bogged there. The matter was left to the Works Committee. Cattle on Road. The poundkeeper (Mr J. R. Bradshaw), wrote as follows:—“As Councillor Jamieson is allowing his boys to herd his cows on the North Town Belt, and adjoining streets, will I make a case of it if he continues to do so?” Councillor Robins thought the Council should not interfere with the poundkeeper’s duties. Councillor Smith considered the letter should not come before the Council, as the poundkeeper had his schedule to work to. Councillor Buzan said that cows, if being driven to water, must travel at the rate of five miles an hour. It was decided to leave the matter to the poundkeeper. Orari Water Scheme. As decided upon at a recent visit to the scene of the supply, Mr G. A. Bridges (Timaru) forwarded a report. Mr Bridges stated that the most urgent necessity was to have the pipeline watertight. It should be opened up until the cemented joints, then the clay joints, should be cleaned out, and replaced with cement or lead-wool joints. With the water level as low as it is now, he estimated the cost of rejointing below the ten chain mark at £SO. To lower the upper ten chain would cost £2OO, and to rejoint but not lower, he estimated at £IOO. He recommended that the line be made watertight, and then if another drought came, instal the pump at the point to which the line had been made good and pump into the pipes. The lift would be very small, so that the cost for electricity would not be heavy. The principal cost would be the installation of the pump. In answer to a question, Councillor Smith (chairman of the Finance Committee), said that, for any large undertaking, they would have to raise a loan or arrange for an overdraft, and then strike a rate. He stated, however, that it would be possible to carry out the first part of Mr Bridges’s report, at a cost of £SO. Councillor Cooper moved that the work of re-jointing, as suggested by Mr Bridges, be gone on with. This was seconded by Councillor Beck, and carried. It was decided that Mr Bridges have control of the work. Tilbrook Maternity Home. Councillor Smith referred to the correspondence that had appeared in the Press, in regard to the Temuka Maternity Hospital. A suggestion had been made to have the hospital named “Tilbrook Maternity Hospital.” Coun- ' cillor Smith referred to the wonderful work done by Mrs Tilbrook, in Temuka, in hospital work, and to the time and money she had spent in this work. He moved that it be a recommendation to the South Canterbury Hospital Board that the hospital be named as suggested. The motion was seconded by Councillor Robins, and carried unanimously. The Mayor thanked the Council, on behalf of his sister. He said that if Mrs Tilbrook had not been his sister, he would have moved in that direction months ago. General. It was decided to make a grant of £ls towards the funds of the W.C.T.U. 1 The Timaru District High School i were granted the use of the Domain on September 11, to hold a football and basketball tournament. The report of the Domain curator (Mr A. E. Uden) was adopted, and thanks were accorded the Mayor (for quantity of plants and bulbs), Councillor Buzan (assortment of anemones), and Councillor Chapman (for two dozen Oregon pine trees). The paysheet of the Board, amounting to £57/14/-, was passed for payment. The paysheet of the Cemetery Board amounting to £lB/17/9, was passed for payment. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr G. Hancox, and to the Geraldine County Council, for assistance given in work done on the river front at Cass Street. Councillor Buzan said that the work was done in one day, and a good job had been made. An invitation from the Mayor, to Councillors and their wives, to be his guests at afternoon tea in the new Fire Brigade rooms, on August 28, was accepted by Councillors. Too Expensive. In the report of the Works Committee, it was stated that an inspection had been made of the work done by unemployment relief labour, and the Committee was of the opinion that the work required speeding up, as the present method was much too costly, the preliminary preparation of the streets costing approximately 20/- per chain. It was said by Councillors that the cost should have been in the vicinity of 5/- per chain. It was hoped, however, that strict supervision would result in more work being done in a more expeditious manner.