TE AWAMUTU TOWN BOARD.

Waipa Post, Volume VI, Issue 261, 4 November 1913, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU TOWN BOARD.

The regular fortnightly m'.'ft- : ing of the above Board was holdon Friday afternoon. Present: Messrs A. S. Wallace (chairman), J. B. Teasdale, S. Mathews, W. Taylor and Dr Reikie. The Board's engineer, Mr H. Munro Wilson, was also present. During the day a visit of inspection had been made to the the headworks by the chairman and the engineer, and the progress made was reported to be very satisfactory. ELECTRICITY. The chairman reported that during his recent visit to Hastings, he had inspected the electric lighting plant installed there, and the following information had been kindly supplied by Mr H. J. M. Rogers, the electrical engineer:—We are selling our current for lighting at 8d per unit gross, and 6d nett. The price charged for power is 4d gross and 3d nett for the first socr units, all over 500 at nett. Our plant consists of 2-150 B.H.P. Deisel Engines Direct coupled to 2 100 K.W. General Electric Dynamos. We have just been running a year this month, and to date we have 560 consumers and average about 35 a month. We have 162 street lamps of 400 c.p. in the main business blocks, and lamps of lesser candle power in the other streets, the most of our lamps are of 50 c.p., which is quite sufficient for residential streets. We are charging the a low price for street lighting, i.e., 3d a unit as it is an assured load. Our fuel oil costs us, landed in Hastings, B%d per gallon, for which we produce 13 units of electricity. Taking all our running costs including fuel, wages, waste, and sundries, it costs us 1.45 d a unit. We also pump water to a reservoir 380 feet above Hastings, on the Havelock Hills, for which we only charge , i%d a unit, as we need a load for the early morning, and it pays us well at this rate. —On the moiion of Dr Reekie, seconded by Mr Taylor, it was resolved , that a letter of thanks be forward- . ed to the electrical engineer for ' the information. CONSIGNMENT OF PIPES.

Messrs Wingate and Co., Auckland, wrote stating that' acting under instructions they were forwarding cast iron sockets and Spigot pipes for the Pirongia reservoir, also advising the Board when further consignments of pipes were to be expected. On the advice of the engineer it was decided that a responsible person be authorised to take delivery when the pipes arrive. OFFER OF LAND. On behalf of Gerald W. Petley Esq., Messrs Lawson and Swain placed under offer to the Board 196 acres on the Pirongia hills for the purpose of a catchment area—Matter held over for the present. TENDERS. The following tenders were received for the carting of cement from the railway station to the Pirongia reservoir : —J. Douglas and Son 15s per ton ; Frank E. Hall 16s per ton; Andrew and Son 15s per ton ; C. S. Garvey 14s Qd per ,ton. Oh the motion of the chairman, seconded by MiTaylor, it was agreed that the lowest tender be accepted. The clerk was instructed to order 100 tons, to be sent out as required. The tenders for wrought iron work were submitted, and it was moved by Dr Reekie that the engineer be authorised to accept the tender which in his opinion is considered the best. TOWN HALL. Mr Jas. Langnuiir wrote applying for an operating box at the Town Hall for picture showing, and stating that the present mode was quite out of date. It was also pointed, out that there was a danger from the film catching fire, thereby causing a«panic. A request was also made for a water tank, and a reduction in the rent if the hall was taken for two nights a week. —The clerk was instructed to have the operating box erected and also to have an additional tank erected for the use of the Town Hall lighting and for the use of the picture show. The members regretted they could not see their way to reduce the rent of the hall. BAD ROAD. The attention of, the Board was called by Mr R. Kidd, to the bad state of the road running from the Methodist Church to the corner leading to the Kihikihi road. ' He also asked that the existing fence be shifted to its proper place, and the road put in a reasonable state of repair.—Resolved that Mr Fear be asked to shift the fence after he has taken his crop out. TAR. The secretary Auckland Gas Company wrote urging the Board to place their order for distilled tar early, as there was a prospect of a shortage for the season's output. STREET WIDENING. A. J. Hudson wrote stating that he could not see his way to give ten feet of his frontage in Alexandra Street unless he could get the equivalent at the back.—Received, APPLICATION FOR £BOOO LOAN. E. F. Warren, local deputy public trustee, Auckland, wrote stating that the application of the Board for a loan of £BOOO had been granted at 5 per cent., plus I per cent, sinking fund, for a term of not less than 36 years. He further stated that it is a con-

ditio'.! of granting the loan that the Public Trustee is to be Sink- J ing Fund Commissioner, and that j the sinking fund ia to be invested in the common fund of the office; also that interest will commence not later than the Ist January, 1914, or from the date the money is paid over, whichever may be the earlier. It is the practice for the office solicitor to supervise the proceeding, and prepare and peruse the requisite documents at a fee of 2s 6d per cent, on the amount granted, with a minimum fee of £3 3s.— Proposed by Dr Reekie and seconded by the chairman that the loan be accepted on conditions set out by the Public Trustee, and that the clerk be instructed to proceed with the formalities necessary. EXCURSION FARES. The secretary Te Kuiti Ratepayers' and Citizens' Association wrote asking frr the board's cooperation in urging the Government to extend the privilege of excursion fares on the Main Trunk night expresses to passengers between Auckland on the one hand and Te Awamutu and Te Kuiti on the other.—The letter was received, the members concurring in the opinion that it was a matter for the Chamber of Commerce to deal with. APPLICATION FOR HALL. W. J. Dil wrote requesting the free use of the Town Hall for the production of the cantata, "Britannia and Her Daughters," and also asked that the use of the stage be given for practice purposes. —Granted, the cost of lighting, etc., only to be charged. The same concession was granted to the committee of the school concert. CLEANING OUT DRAIN.

A request was received from J. L. Mahdeno asking that the drain running through his orchard on the Kihikihi road be cleaned out. —The matter was left in the hands of Mr Teasdale to report at next meeting. STREET FORMATION. The chairman reported that he had visited New Plymouth in regard to inquiring into the kind of street formation being carried out there. He was informed that as yet it was only in the experimental stage. In Eltham they had in use a tar-spraying machine, from which they expected good results. —On the motion of Mr Mathews the clerk was instructed to write to the Eltham Borough Council, enquiring the price of the machine, and any other information that is necessary. Seconded by Mr Teasdale. OVERHANGING HEDGES. Mr Teasdale drew the board's attention to overhanging hedges on the Kihikihi road, which at present were dangerous to pedestrians. —Resolved that instructions be given to have them trimmed. DRAIN. C. T. Rickit waited on the board in reference to the drain running through his timber yard, and wished to know if anything could be done. At present the board had to keep the drain clean and the refuse was thrown on to his property. Mr Rickit also called the board's attention to the difference of the levels in the streets adjoining the property on which he intends erecting a building. —It was resolved that an inspection be made. . ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment: —Waterworks (wages), £lO4 us 6d; Agricultural Department, £1 7s 6d; Ticklepenny and Prescott, £l4 19s; G. M. Fraser, £2B 15s 6d. The meeting then adjourned till the following day.

ADJOURNED MEETING. The adjourned meeting of the Town Board took place on Saturday afternoon in Bockett's Buildings, all the members being present. Mr A. S. Wallace presided. J. Corcoran waited on the board, and stated that owing to re-forming and filling part of the road to the reservoir, the road was now bad for carting. He asked if the board could not see its way to do something in the matter of altering the contract. — It was pointed out that this was impossible. The chairman stated in reference to the drain running through Mr Rickit's property, that they were unable to do anything in the matter, and it was resolved that the clerk write to Mr Rickit to that effect. Also to inform him that the engineer's levels are to be the permanent levels in Redoubt Street. Mr Mathews gave notice to move that the question of permanent levels be discussed at the next meeting of the board.