TE AWAMUTU TOWN BOARD

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 171, 13 December 1912, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU TOWN BOARD

The regular monthly meeting of the Board was held in Bockett's Buildings on Thursday, the following members being present: Messrs A. S. Wallace (chairman), W. Taylor, S. Mathews, f. B. Teasdale, and Dr. Reekie.

Minutes,

The minutes of the previous meeting wereread and confirmed.

Finance.

' The chairman announced the debit balance at the bank to be £223 ss. It was resolved that further application be made for the Government grant of £2OO, which was long over-dye.

Road Grader.

The chairman reported that the road grader had been put together, and that the tender of Messrs Tickelpenny and Prescott at 37s 6d per day for working same had been accepted by Mr Mathews and himself. —It was resolved that their action be endorsed.

Town Hall

Mr Groves’ resignation was announced, and it was resolved that Mr Blackburn, the bowling green caretaker, be appointed in his place on 14th inst. Gas v. Electricity. Mr Wallace and Dr. Reekie reported that the current from Hora Hora could be obtained and would cost £9 per horse-power — that is, the current sufficient to develop one horse-power would be furnished all the year at that cost. In addition to this there would be the cost of construction of the line fo carry the current, which-is estimated to be £4OO per mile. This for 20 miles would be £BOOO. Running, or working expenses would involve the employment of a patrolman man at £l5O per annum, and travelling expenses, and of a town electrical engineer at an annual salary of £250. The local expenditure would include a reducing station, and reticulation of the town at a probable cost of £2OOO more., Thus it would be seen that £IO,OOO at least would be required to instal the Hora Hora scheme, and in addition to the cost of the current at £9 per annum per horse-power, £430 in wages will be paid. Estimating that 50 horse-power would be the least that could be used, and that 5% would be needed to pay interest and sinking fund on the, capital expenditure, it will be seen that the minimum annual cost of electricity from Hora Hora would be £I3BO. The manager of the Waihi Company considered that the scheme would not be feasible unless 500 horsepower could be taken. After considerable discussion it was resolved that Mr Black, electrical engineer of Wellington, be asked to give an estimate of the cost of installing a local plant and also of the Hora Hora scheme, and that these reports be laid before the ratepayers. Roads.' A list of works decided on at the inspection of the roads on 24th ult. was read, and it was resolved that these works be taken in hand at once, the order, of precedence being left to the chairman, and that the work be done to the satisfaction of the chairman and Mr Mathews. V

It was resolved to inspect the town roads not hitherto inspected on Saturday at 8.30 a.m.

Town Hall Exits

It was resolved to inspect the Town Hall on Saturday with a view to the construction of proper emergency exits.^ Teasdale Settlement.

Mr Teasdale reported having interviewed the Commissioner as to the £ISOO grant, and it was resolved to write asking for authority to spend that amount at once! Correspondence.

A letter was received from the Waipa County Council stating that it would have no objection to the Board’s expending money on the County roads before they, were taken over.

Messrs Lawson and Swain applied for a rebate on their auctioneer’s license which amounted to £4O. It was resolved that th# clerk be instructed to reply stating that the charge was fixed by law and could not be altered by the Board. > v A letter was read from the Te Kuiti Racing Qub asking the Board to make ‘Thursday 6th February a holiday instead of Wednesday sth, to enable townspeople to attend the races. Held over.

A letter was received from the Rev. Wofiiass stating that Mr Spinley would give £3 p.a. for a 5 years’ lease of the library section with right of renewal or compensation for buildings. Dr Reekie and Mr Matthews were appointed to represent the Board on the Library Committee, and the leasing of the section was left in their hands.

Mr Pettley wrote offering the Board 198 acres on Pirongia mountain at £lO per acre. Received.

Mr W. J. Bickerstaff wrote offering to give his services in a volunteer fire brigade. The clerk was instructed to reply thanking for the offer, and stating that it would be better to leave the matter until the water supply was installed.

Waterworks.

Mr H. Munro Wilson, the board’s engineer, reported, progress, dealing with several matters in connection with the water supply. It was resolved that the clerk be instructed to write the steamship owners on the Waipa River for a quotation

on the shipment of from 500 to 1000 tons of pipes from Mercer V__, to Pirongia.

Accounts. The following accounte were passed for payment: —Groves £4 3s, Merry weather £lB 4s. In closing the meeting the chairman stated that as this would be their last meeting this year he would like to wish the members a merry Xmas and a happy New Year.