BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16003, 18 December 1923, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Thames Borough Council was held last evening, the Mayor (Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P.) presiding over Crs. E. N. Miller, J. E. Hardman, H. Eaddy, J. Morley. A. Christie, H. R. Bush, D. Mackay. Leave of absence was granted Cr Hetherington. BY-LAWS.

The Assistant-Undersecretary of the Department of Internal Affairs advised that the amending by-laws of the Council were confirmed on 26th. November, and these were duly gazetted. SEATS PRESENTED. The secretary Hauraki Brass Band advised they were able to donate four instead of two seats to the Council. Accepted with thanks. CHRISTMAS DAY PICTURES. The King’s and Queen’s Picture Companies applied for leave to show pictures on 'Christmas Day. Cr Allan moved that permission be given. He considered that as larger places were allowing pictures theie was no need to stop Thames from showing. Cr Mackay seconded.

Cr Miller hoped the proposal would not be carried. For the last four years the council had set its fac6 against picture showing on that day. There was a sacredness on 'Christmas Day and Good Friday that should be respected. No complaints , had been received about the council s action, and they should stick to the precedent. The Mayor said that if the right class of pictures was screened, it would be better than having so many idling about the streets. He saw no objection to pictures after chinch hours.

In answer to Cr Eaddy, the Mayor said they could stipulate pictures after church hours.

Pr Eaddy objected to the proposal

iCr Allan said that a section of the public were not being catered for.

■Cr Hardman agreed with Crs Miller and Eaddy. He had heard no complaints from the public at all. ■Cr Mackay asked that the motion be altered to read that a programme be submitted, and it should stait at 8.30 p.m. The motion was lost. MOANATATARI CONTRACT.

Mr D. Kemp wrote in reference to money due to him on the Moanataiari contract.

The Mayor moved this should be referred to the Finance Committee. ■Cr Christie said the council did not understand the position. McHarvie and Kemp had taken the contract at first, and later after the flood, an amended contract had been given to McHarrie Bros. Kemp had gone out of it, and it was not fair to hold up his money. iCr Baddy said the second contract was quite separate, and he did not see that Kemp should wait for his money. The engineer dealt with the matter in his report, and this was referred to the Finance Committee to find out how far it could meet with Mr Kemp’s wishes, and with power to act. MENACE TO HEALTH. The Department of Health wrote complaining of the state of the nightsoil dump. The pits were open and he asked who was to blame. He would have to report to his Department, unless it was remedied. He also asked that the carts leave the depot not earlier than 11 p.m. The Mayor said that a resident waited on him on Thursday last, and as a result he had got Mr Hayes to go out with Mr Franklin, and they found things were not as they should be. Instructions were given that the dump should be covered at once. Cr Hardman said there was some neglect somewhere.

Cr Miller said the matter was serious and should never have arisen. The council should make a thoiough enquiry and find who is responsible. The soil should be covered and the man in charge was failing in his duty. It was evident the men were not doing their work properly, and lie asked for drastic measures to lie taken. The Mayor said the warm weather had intensified the position. No blame was attachable to the Inspector of Nuisances, but some of the men were not doing their work as they ought to. In consequence of the complaint the measures taken had lessened the trouble.

A petition was forwarded signed by residents near the Parawai station. asking for the discontinuing of the place as a night-soil dump.

The- Mayor said the petition was simed by people miles a'va”

possibly all were users of Parawai

station. It was strange the Health Department had not made representations before, if they had known about the nuisance. The council had been prompt to improve the position. Cr Mackay said the position had been aggravated by departing from the original instructions.

Cr Eaddy said they should profit by Inspector Franklin’s suggestion that a kerosene spray should be used immediately the soil was dumped. The Mayor said the dump had now been sprayed. Cr Eaddy moved that the matter be left with the Health Committee with power to act. Cr Hardman seconded this, and it was carried.

The Department said the refuse should be covered according to instructions.

The whole of the letter was finally referred to the Health Committee to act at once. BUILDING PERMITS.

Building permits were granted for residences totalling £IO6O subject to the inspector’s approval.

RESIGNATION,

Mr H. Rose wrote resigning his position as engine-keeper to the Fire Brigade, as he was going farming.

The Mayor said this had been referred to a committee which would report. Later the report was read, which stated that as Mr Rose wished to get away eai’ly in January the Streets Committee had called for applications.

Cr Morley though the officials of the Fire Brigade should be brought into conference with the Council.

Cr Christie said if the man was qualified, a member of the Fire Brigade would be preferable. The Mayor said they could ask the superintendent’s opinion regarding the applicants. It was decided that the council should deal with the applications on Thursday at a committee meeting to be held on that day. VERANDAH BLINDS.

Cr Allan said that some complaints had been made regarding the neglect by shopkeepers to haul up their blinds each evening. The Town Clerk said an advertisement had been inserted warning them.

■Cr Miller moved that the foreman supply the council with the names of those shopkeepers who leave their blinds down, and that they be informed that unless the by-law is complied with their verandahs will be removed.

Cr Bush said this was an offence under the Police Offences’ Act, and shopkeepers should be forced to comply. He moved that the police be asked to prosecute.

Cr Miller withdrew his proposal, and Cr Hardman seconded Cr Bush’s motion, which was carried. UPPER ALBERT ST. WATER.

Cr Allan said people in Upper Albert Street had received no water for the last eight days. There was something wrong somewhere. Was the capacity of the new reservoir not sufficient?

Ur Morley said they were under the impression that the new reservoir would keep the Waikiekie at the same level. The Mayor said there were many things to be done yet regarding this. Cr Morley asked if the engineer could make Copper Albert Street water supply an urgent work.

The Mayor said the assistant-en-gineer would be working after the holidays.

Cr Miller said the Water Supply Committee should have met, and they should meet early in the year and go into these urgent matters.

The Mayor said the engineer’s report dealt with the matter, and the Water Supply Committee would meet and go into the matter. DIRECT ROAD /CONTRACTS. The council expressed the opinion that there had not been the “ginger” put into some of the direct road contracts as there should have been, and it was decided to ask the engineer to fix a reasonable time that these should be finished in. CONCRETE ROAD.

As. three had to be an extension of time for the tenders for the concrete road in Pollen Street, it was decided to ask the engineer to go into the matter of doing it by day labour. Cr Miller thought they should consider the acquisition of suitable plant for road-making. The Mavor said they no doubt ,-on]d obtain good second-hand plant ',ii trial, and if suitable purchase it. STRAY DOCS. ''•filler considered the Dog Registrar should be more active in db ti-! v dogs not registered, and ill's!’ ■'/ them. Cv Fiddy said something should ’h> don'' to clean up the town. i <■ ( Vi-ti ' moved that Mr Ilas-

tings be appointed dog tax collector. Cr Morley seconded, and this was carried. ;

It was decided to give the registrar an additional sum for every dog found unregistered and destroyed. Mr Dabb’s tender for dog collars was accepted.

COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON. The Mayor referred to the harmonious w T ay that all the councillors had worked in during the year. The treasurer’s report showed their accounts for the half-year were in a healthy condition. They had pushed on loan works as fast as possible. The expenditure on sewerage had been £6161, streets improvement £2853, direct road £2594 —a total of £11,608. Water extensions had cost £1536, the anti-syphon £2012, and Hood prevention £692. The district fuird was in debit £22SO, but nearly all the rates had yet to come in. The sewerage works were well under way and within six months they should be able to start linking up the houses with the sewer.

The chlorination of the water supply had been an important move. The risk of enteric and other fevers had been removed. The local inspector, Mr Franklin, deserved great credit for his help to the council. The Kauaeranga bridge was well under way, and with the two roads leading to it and the proposal to better the Coast Road, they - could lay claim to be a progressive district. The only fly in the ointment was lack of information regarding Kirikiri bridge, bub he hoped that the representations made to the Minister would bear fruit. Thames was getting out of a rut, and people had awakened to the fact that they had to make a move and show they were progressive. He concluded by washing them all a Happy ’Xmas and a Prosperous New Year. Cr Miller thanked the Mayor for his expressions. He assured the Mayor of the goodwill of the council. Mr Rhodes’ term of office had been a difficult one, and under the circumstances he had depended on the executive officers and the co-opera-tion of the members of the council which would hold in the carrying out of the future works of the council. He reciprocated the wishes for the festive season.

Mr Rhodes, in thanking Mr Miller, eulogised the helj) he had rendered as deputy-Mayor, and which had proved that his offer of assistance when he (the speaker) had been elected Mayor had been genuine. He also paid a tribute to the work of the Town Clerk and his staff for their help.