TE AWAMUTO TOWN BOARD

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 151, 4 October 1912, Page 3

TE AWAMUTO TOWN BOARD

The first meeting of the new Board took place in Bockett's Buildings yesterday afternoon, the following members being present:—Messrs A. Wallace, W. Taylor, S. Mathews, J. B. Teasdale, and J. S. Reekie. • The chair was taken by the clerk, Mr Dudley Beckett, who after reading a list of members elected, called for nominations for chairman.' It was proposed by Mr Mathews, and seconded by Dr Reekie, that Mr A. S. Wallace be chairman of the Board. No further nominations being forthcoming, the chairman put the motion, which was carried unanimously. In accepting the position, Mr Wallace thanked the members for the honour they ' had done him in electing him for the office of chairman. He would have hesitated to take the position had he not known so well the men with whom he would have to deal. He was pleased to sec back two members of the old Board, and also to welcome Messrs Teasdale and Taylor. The former as they knew had for many years been a member of the Board, and the latter though not previously a member of the Tc Awamutu Board, had had valuable experience elsewhere. The new Board had considerable responsibility on its shoulders, and a lot of public money to expend. He hoped that they would always be able to get along without friction. Minutes.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Outward Correspondence. The outward correspondence was read and approved. Inward Correspondence. A letter was read from Mr E. Collins as to the tree in Mutu Street outside his house, which he declared to be unsafe.— It was decided that it be left to Messrs Teasdale and Reekie to do what they thought fit in the matter. A letter was read from Mr A. J. Blyth, the Town Band Secretary, desiring the Board to place a rail, round the band stanl—lt was pointed out that this application should have been made to _ the Domain Board. A letter was received from the Clerk of the Hamilton Borough Council stating that the Board's proportion of licensing expanses was £5 13s 6cl. —It was resolved that this amount be paid forthwith. ;•" Le'ters were received" from the Mt. Eden Borough Council and Ellerslie Town Board as to sanitary contract with local schools.—lt was resolved that the present amount charged the school committee for'sanitary contract (5s per week) be reduced by one half. Mrs Godlev's letter as to prizes for the senior cadets was referred to the chairman with a request that it be handed to Mrs Wallace. A letter was received from Mr Jas. Mandeno as to inadvisability of proceeding with water and gas schemes. A letter was read from the Rev. Woollass asking the Board to authorise the leasing of the library section, at the back of Spinley's for s'years at £3 per annum. —lt was resolved that the section be inspected by the Board before anything was done in the matter. Gas v. Electricity. Considerable discussion took place on this matter, and it was decided to let it remain in abeyance for one ,month, and that meantime the clerk be instructed to write the manager of the Waihi mine for information, including the approximate cost per mile of the cable necessary to supply Te Awamutu. It was pointed out by the chairman that this delay was solely in order to give those who had recently agitated in favour of electricity a chance of showing if there was any truth in their contention that it was superior and would be cheaper than coal gas for Te Awamutu.

The offer of Mr Wm. Taylor to make personal inquiries at Hastings, where gas has recently been supplanted by electricity, ' on his visit there next week, was accepted with thanks. Grader. It was resolved that a grader be purchased for £BB, being the price paid by the Waipa County Conncil for its last machine. Waterworks. It was resolved that Mr Munro Wilson, the Board's engineer, be asked to attend the meeting of the Board to be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday next.Visit of Ministers. It was resolved that the clerk write Mr J? A. Young, M.P., asking him if it would be possible to arrange for the visit of Ministers after the close of the session. ' Hall. It was resolved that the clerk draw up a new tariff of charges for the approval of the Board at its next meeting, and also write the caretaker as to complaints that had been made. Teasdale Settlement. It was resolved that the clerk write the Commissioner of Crown Lands as to the Board's recent application for £ISOO for roads and footpaths for the Teasdale Settlement. Widening of Alexandra Road. Messrs Teasdale and Reekie were requested to interview the owners of sections on that portion of the Alexandra Road that it was proposed to widen with a view to finding out what they would be prepared to take for half a chain of their land. Mr Teasdale said that this would still leave them a depth of two chains, which was the depth of the other sections on. the same road, and also that by this means atone it would be possible for them to be supplied with a footpath in front of their sections. Levels. It was resolved that Mr Chenery Suggate be notified that the Board must have the plan showing town levels without further delay. Finance. The chairman, clerk, and Mr Teasdale were authorized to sign cheques. The bank overdraft was stated to be £256, to be shortly reduced by £2OO Government grant already expended, but not yet received by the Board. The following accounts were passed for payment:—W. Groves, £4 6s 6d; J. Mclver, £7 7s; J. Merry weather, £l7 6s.