TE AWAMUTU TOWN BOARD.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 327, 30 June 1914, Page 4

TE AWAMUTU TOWN BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the Te Awamutu Town Board took place at the Board's offices on Friday afternoon, there being present: Messrs A. S. Wallace (chairman), W.Taylor, J.B. Teasdale, S. Mathews and Dr Reekie.

After routine business had been transacted the chairman reported the following matters arising out of the decisions of the last meeting :

That the engineer had been approached with reference to the footpath levels at the Golden Boot Buildings, and had reported that when the work is completed there will be practically no alteration.

That a suitable fire reel had not yet been located, and consequently nothing had been done. The engineer and turncock operator had been requested to make special endeavours to locate a suitable reel, and it was hoped that something would be done at a very early date. That tenders had been invited for the formation of a short length of footpath along Bank Street. The lowest tender, that of Mr C. Bygrave (£7 10s), had been accepted, and the formation work was practically completed. It was resolved that Mr Mathews have the path rolled and sanded.

Of the entrances to the properties along the Frontier road only that of Mr T. Mandeno had been attended to. The others are to be attended to early. That Messrs Taylor and Teasdale had inspected the drainage reserve and locality of the right-of-way required by Messrs Clark and McMillan. . Permission had been -granted for the right-of-way being formed. That he and Mr Mathews had inspected the property adjoining the Town Hall with a view to having a fence erected as requested by the School Committee. They had arranged to provide necessary material, and the committee had agreed to have the fence erected. The secretary of the School Committee (Mr Bray) wrote thanking the Board for what it had agreed to- do, and asked when the material would be on the ground. —The material to be immediately procured.

LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE. It was resolved that Mr J. Fisher, in the event of a member of the Board not being present, be asked to represent the Board at the local bodies' conference to be held at Wellington on July 14th. Two remits were received, one from the Raglan Town Board urging an amendment of the legislation as affects the separation of town districts from the jurisdiction of county councils, and the other concerning the law as at present framed, and urging an amending clause to the right of Town Board members to participate in contract or other work for the local authorities Both remits were received.

INVITATION. The Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce sent an invitation to the chairman, members, and clerk to attend the third annual dinner on July Bth.—The invitation was accepted with thanks. CEMETERY SITE. The Board's solicitors forwarded the certificate of title of the recently acquired cemetery site. LIBRARY SUGGESTIONS. On behalf of the Te Awamutu library committee Dr Hall and Mr H. Y. Collins waited upon the Board, and were introduced by Dr Reekie. Mr Collins explained that the library committee, recognising that the Board was in search of suitable office accommodation, had asked the deputation to lay before the Board a proposal that a new brick building, to house the business of the contrplling local authority and to provide accommodation for the library, be erected on the site upon which the present library is situated. They had not, come prepared with any definite scheme, and desired only to submit proposals for the Board's consideration. The section was large enough, and a two-storied building would undoubtedly provide ample accommodation. The proposal was well worthy of full consideration, as the erection of suitable public offices on the lines suggested would be good business for the town, and at the same time would be beneficial to the library, which was the property of the town. The Chairman : The matter of accommodation will most certainly have to be considered at this meeting. It was necessary for them to look to the time when more accommodation would be required, and there was no doubt that, whatever they did, it must not be sufficient only for presentday requirements, as the growth of the town was proving very clearly that in a few years double the present accommodation would be required. Mr Teasdale : The suggestion is certainly a very good one, but it would be useless to talk of other than a brick or concrete

building. He went on to talk of the fire risk.

Dr Reekie keenly supported the proposal and expressed the opinion that no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining the ratepayers' sanction to a loan of say £3,000 for this purpose. Accommodation for the fire reel could be provided at a most convenient and central spot. Messrs Mathews and Taylor also supported the proposal, and it was agreed to inspect the property so as to become conversant with the actual boundaries.

RAIKES' SUBDIVISION. Mr Collins reported the purchase of this property by Mr Hole. He was therefore not in a position to accept the tender submitted by the Board for road formation. The purchaser of the property was prepared to carry out the works in'terms of an arrangement, and it was asked that the Board sanction this arrangement being carried out, the work to be done to the satisfaction of the engineer. The chairman and clerk were deputed to confer with Mr Collins with a' view to completing negotiations. A REQUEST. Mr S. H. West made application for permission to cut the grass in Victoria Park. —Granted. . RAILWAY BRIDGE The Railway Department forwarded copy of deed by which the Board was given the right to lay water pipes across the bridge at the southern end of the Te Awamutu railway station. — Received. ELECTORAL QUALIFICATION. The Te Awamutu Young Mens' Institute wrote asking that Mr. H. H. Smith's name be added to the electoral roll to vote on behalf of the Institute. Clerk to reply stating that one of the appointed trustees could only be recognised on the rolls. PROGRESS PAYMENTS. Progress payments were approved by the Engineer and sanctioned by the Board to T. Williams £BO (supply of pitchers), C. Bygrave £66 9s. 3d. (Frontier Road Formation), and Mclnnes £55 lis. (sewer construction, final payment and deposit). POST OFFICE APPROACH. Letters from the Postmaster, Te Awamutu, and from the Public Works Department, stating that it had been agreed to pay half cost of the formation of the approach to the Te Awamutu Post Office were received. —It was decided that the department be notified as soon as the work was completed so that an inspection could be made. Mr. Teasdale expressed himself as being very disappointed with the work. To his mind it looked like a " pig with one ear." The general arrangement could have been much improved at a much lesser expenditure. WATER SUPPLY.' The postmaster, Te Awamutu, wrote asking the terms of water connections to private properties, and enquiring when connections may.be made.—The clerk to reply that connections will be made to the boundary line of properties only, under the Board's supervision, and that connections may now be made. SALE OF PROPERTY. Messrs Souter and Co. notified the sale of property near the Te Awamutu railway station to Miss J. A. Graham, and asked that the transfer be recorded in the rate books.—Clerk to notify Valuation Department • HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTION. The Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board asked for payment of the Board's contribution, £l2O 15s lid Payment authorised in quarterly instalments. ENTRANCE. Mr C. F. Battson asked for permission to fill in a portion of the drainage reserve alongside his property, so as to provide an entrance. —Deferred. WATER FOR RAILWAY. The Railway Department wrote stating that it could not accept the Board's offer to supply water at Qd per 1000 gallons. If the price were reduced to 7d—the cost of pumping as at present—the supply would be availed of. Some discussion ensued, and Dr Reekie moved and Mr Teasdale seconded that the offer be accepted. Mr Taylor moved and Mr Mathews seconded an amendment that the Board adhere to the original terms, viz., Qd per 1000 The' chairman declared the motion carried. EARTH FOR PATHS.

Mr J. Marshall offered the Board the right to enter his property to obtain earth for forming the footpaths.—Accepted provided it is found necessary. WATER TROUGHS.

The Chamber of Commerce wrote urging that a water trough be provided at or near the Te Awamutu railway station.—Matter will have consideration when a general system of water troughs is being dealt with.

SUNDRIES. Grass seed is to be obtained and the embankments at the reservoir to be put down in grass. Messrs Wingate and Co. wrote asking that all accounts and deposit cheques be paid before 30th June. —Engineer to take necessary action. Messrs Dalgety and Co. forwarded half years' rent for saleyards. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:—C. Bygrave £29 os 6d, Garvey Bros, (waterworks) £46 5s 6d, Garvey Bros. (Alexandra Street) £36, Garvey Bros. (Arawata Street) £l3 5s 9d, Garvey Bros. (Teasdale Streefj £sl 14s, Ticklepenny and Baxter £l9, waterworks wages £76 4s 3d, railway freight £l6 6s 3d, A. and T. Burt £4 I/s 7d, Wingate and Co: £sl 18s, C. Bygrave (Bank Street) £7 10s. The meeting then adjourned until I p.m. on Saturday. ADJOURNED MEETING.

All the members were present at the adjourned meeting on Saturday afternoon.

BOARD'S OFFICES,

The main business before the meeting was that of suitable accommodation to house the business of the Board. Messrs Cox and Luxford wrote 'notifying the Board, on behalf of the Union Bank of Australia, that they (Messrs Cox and Luxford) had purchased the property, and that the Board was called upon to vacate the offices by July Ist.

Dr Reekie advised that he had been requested to approach the Board on behalf of the Young Men's Institute. The Institute was desirous of obtaining tenants, and as soon as approved tenants were assured would build on the section in Market Street without 4 delay. Being a public Institution it could not afford to speculate, and only desired a guarantee of tenancy to go right ahead with building.—Further consideration of the proposal was deferred until the question of the proposed erection of public offices on the library section was dealt with. Mr Wallace expressed himself as being favourable to the erection of permanent buildings. The' business of the board has shown very marked increase of recent years, and the public servants should be provided with adequate accommodation. Recent experience of moving from office to office had hampered'the Board} and it was quite time that some definite accommodation was sought. Dr Reekie concurred with the previous speaker. The .library site was a most central one, and was well deserving of theerec-' tion of better buildings in the form of public offices. Some, ratepayers may complain that the Board is over-eager to spend money, but it was sound business to erect permanent buildings on the lines suggested. Mr Teasdale concurred with the proposal. He was rather doubtful as to whether the land' was now vested in the Board.

Some discussion ensued, and it was resolved that the clerk take immediate steps to have the title searched and call a meeting to further consider the proposal immediately the information is obtained.

BOROUGH. : Dr Reekie asked if the petition ; for the constitution of the boroVigh . had yet been sent forward. —The chairman replied that the necessary number of signatures had been obtained, and,the petition sent forward ten days ago. BOROUGH FOREMAN. Dr Reekie introduced a proposal that the appointment of a borough foreman be considered. After some discussion this proposal was deferred. ROADS. It was decided to have roads now being metalled blinded with sand immediately. • Mr Taylor was empowered to have any • necessary repairs carried out in Arawata Street and Te Rahu road. ' GRAVEL. After some discussion it was resolved that the tender for the supply of Otorohanga gravel be terminated on account of the inferior quality of the gravel supplied. METAL SPREADING. Complaint was made that the metal was not being properly spread.—The spreader to be cautioned. ( ', YOUNG STREET. The chairman reported that the Presbyterian Church authorities had received two additional tenders for the formation of Young Street.—These had been handed to the engineer for report. SALEYARDS. £ Mr Teasdale was empowered, to have the pathways at the IV Awamutu saleyards attended to and metalled where necessary.

A red heifer is impounded at the local pound.