BOROUGH COUNCIL

Waipa Post, Volume 36, Issue 2145, 17 April 1928, Page 5

BOR OUGH COUNCIL

ADJOURNED FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. GENERAL BUSINESS TRANSACTED. The adjourned fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held on Monday, evening, when there were present, Crs,G. Spinley (Deputy Mayor), J. G. Gtfford, C. Bygrave, W. Swain, J. Marshal], W. J. North and C. A. Reilly. Cr Montefiore telegraphed from New Plymouth asking for leave of The town clerk (Mr D. Bockett) and borough engineer (Mr W. D. R, McCurdie) were in attendance. The Council considered a recommendation* of the Works Committee that; an order be placed forthwith for 500 yards of metal from Te Kawa Quarry Co. and stored.—After consideration it was decided not to order the metal. The Works' Committee's recommendation that the engineer be instructed to proceed with the kerbing and channelling of College Street on both sides was discussed. Cr Gifford argued that there was no need to kerb and channel both sides r of that street for the whole length; nor

was it provided for in the original es-

timate. 1 The Deputy Mayor said College ' Street extends to the junction with Teasdale Street. Cr Gifford said he would, favour work on one side only. There was no real need for both sides. Cr Spinley said there was : money available for this work. The kerbing and channelling would end at the. junction of Mutu Street. Cr Gifford said it would be like Mandeno Street, where kerbing was done from Carlt-on Street to Kihikihi road, and then neglected. The recommendation was adopted. When the Works Committee's recommendation in favour of asphalting the northern end of Alexandra Street footpath was under consideration Cr Gifford protested that the cost was too great. It was all very well to provide such a wide footpath, but . other footpaths needed attention. The Deputy Mayor said he had, with the chairman of the Works Committee', inspected the footpath, and was convinced it was the best course. The money is available and it is for permanent work. Cr Gifford expressed the opinion that the telegraph staff would soon be tearing up the footpath to lay underground cables. The engineer estimated the eost at about £750, whereas last meeting work to cost £4OO was approved. He did not approve such a large increase. The chairman said the Legal and Finance Committee had recommended providing £SOO out of general fund to supplement the loan money in hand for improving the streets and footpaths. All that money was for permanent work. v Cr Bygrave considered the first expenditure should be, on asphalting Sloane Street from Holmes' garage to Cr Gifford said the footpath in front of Rickit's ironmongery needed attention. The Deputy Mayor said that would be paid for out of general funds. Cr North said he would sooner see

•/the money tepent on kerbing and from Mr .Dunn's, residence to the racing stables in Kihikihi road. To a query by Cr Gifford, the engineer said the kerbs already in hand were being used in various parts of the town. He could not say how many kerbs are in stock. Cr Bygrave suggested kerbing Bank street from the monument to Victoria Park gates, ; Cr Gifford remarked that Kihikihi road and Sloane street are the most dangerous ones for pedestrians. The footpath is narrow and kerbing would generally improve it. On the motion of Cr Spinley it was decided to kerb and channel Sloane Street from Dunn's corner towards the stables, and asphalt both sides of Sloane Street from Holmes' garage to Park road, asphalting to continue on one side only towards the Kihikihi road stables until £3OO is expended. At the same time a short length of kerbing and channelling in Park road, on both footpaths, will be done. The Deputy Mayor said the Finance Committee recommended that money advanced to certain ratepayers to assist them to install sewerage should be recovered, if necessary by legal process. He explained that while some of the borrowers had carried out their obligation to the letter, whereas some others had consistently ignored their obligations. Some had not paid a jjfenny off the principal borrowed, or interest; others had paid interest but not principal. The time was long past when the whole of the sums borrowed should have been repaid. The recommendation was unanimously approved. The Auditor General returned the balance sheet for the year ended March 31st, 1927, duly approved.—Received. The Valuer General forwarded the revised valuation roll for public inspecticjjk Mr R. 3. Hammond, ex-director of town planning, advised that he would like to confer with the Council on Thursday next, to go fully into the question of cost of preparing a town planning scheme for the borough. On behalf of the Te Awamutu Fire Board, the secretary (Mr G. 0. Jourdain) wrote that the Board has no bylaws governing the removal of rubbish as requested by the borough en- ■ gineer. The board suggests that the Council's own by-laws be made applicable, as it quite agrees that such a danger should be removed. The Board also directed attention to the low water pressure on several occasions recently, and inquired what steps afe being taken to improve it. The Board also requested that white marks, be plaaed on the kerbs in Alexandra Street to denote where the fire plugs are. . The town clerk said that tests at the borough office varied from 601bs in the day time to 1701 b at night time. Cr Reilly said that during the dry spell the Council itself issued warnings to householders not to waste water, as consumers on the higher levels could not get sufficient water.

Councillors tbnsidered that many people wasted water, but at present there was,3in ample pressure. Re the removal of rubbish at the back of business premises, it was stated that some shopkeepers allow ■ a large number of empty packing cases to accumulate, thus constituting to grave risk of fire. This practice was foolish and dangerous. It was suggested that the by-laws might* be altered to cover such offences.

Mention was made of the growing practice of non-residents dumping rubbish at the municipal pit, and it was eventually decided to lock the entrance to the tip and keep the keys at the town clerk's office.

The engineer was also instructed to make periodical visits o£ inspection to backyards of business premises. The president and executive of the N. Z. Farmers' Union requested the pleasure of the company of the Mayor at a smoke concert on Saturday evening, 28th inst.—Received. The Inspector of Health advised that Mr L. J. Hooper had failed to comply with notices to carry out certain work and improvements at his premises, Mutu street. He asked what steps the Council proposed to take to enforce the requirements, as the work is necessary.—lt was decided to institute legal proceedings. The Commissioner of Taxes asked for a list of all firms to whom the Council has let contracts during "the year ended March 31st, 1928. The borough solicitors advised that they are arranging for a certificate of title to be issued in respect to the section behind the Town Hall, allotment 100, village of Te Awamutu. This will enable the Council to deal with the land by leasing it by public auction or tender with the consent of the Governor General, on terms approved by him, and for a period not exceeding 21 years with right of renewal for a further 21 years. An application for a billiard saloon license, on behalf of George M. Blair, was reported on very favourable by the police.—Approved. ' "