RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 11

RAETIHI

THE WATER SUPPLY TOO MUCH USED. I’he alientioii of the Ractilii Bor "ugh Council was drawn to the cost of waler pumping and maintenance last year by Cr. Vile, chairman of the Works Committee. I'he pumping of the water, etc., cost £405 I2s 10d. accord ing to the figures in the general ar count. This was considered excessive. ngineor reported that last month 1.713.432 gallons were pumped and distributed. It was stated that there were 219 i x ounect ions. Many of t hese households used rain water for drinking purposes. I The average p<*r connection for the , month was bl">9 gallons. One councillor declared that, people [outside the Council did not believe ih,at. the consumption of borough wate.was over SIOO gallons per connection. The reply was immediately forth coining that; members of the previous councils doubted the engineer’s figures and he made a. test and found that, the supply was over the amount, stated. •“I’here is no mistake in the figures,” declared Cr. Vile. Cr. Sandford asked if the Works Committee could not find any leakage. The Finance Committee knew the cost and the Electricity Committee knew the power was consumed. The enginer stated the cost was about; lAd for 590 gallons. “Are there any dairy farms or motor garages or stock paddocks using larger (plantities?” was asked, but none of the councillors knew of any It; was agreed that the Works Coin mittee should authorise the foreman ro make any tests of water running in the street or make an inspection for leaky taps or take steps to collect any data and report to the Council. It; was suggested that meters might be used to ascertain in which district the largest quantity was consumed. The borough foreman said he was satisfied there was not a leak of any unusual size\iu the mains. GENERAL The Health Inspector, Mr J. Swain, reported to the Boruugn Council that two cases of diptheria had occurred during the month. He had made an inspection uf food shops and eating houses and everything was satisfaeThe reduction in the size of some of the electric lights in the back roads and the curtailment in the number of hours a light has meant a reduction in cost to the Borough Council of over £3O for last year. At; the request of the hockey club, the Domain Board has agreed to make application to the Unemployment Committee to have the grass cut on the recreation ground by the unemployed under No. 5 scheme. Last month, three horses, six cows and four calves were found wandering, by the borough ranger, on public streets, and 37 dog collars were sold by him. In a letter to the Raetihi Borough Council, the Chamber of Commerce drew attention to the size of the holes on the, Makotuku bridge which had been made to allow the water to drain oc. Some councillors said they had noticed these holes seemed quite large enough for a sheOp or a calf to put its leg into and perhaps get it broken. Cr. Sandford said the pipes were the standard size to be found on nearly every bridge in the Dominion. The Works Committee was requested to inspect and report at; the next meeting. The annual report and balance sheet of the Domain Board showed that dur ing the year stumping and clearing has been done at the camping site on the Parapara Rond and the expenditure by the Board was £39 6s, which also included the removing of the old tenuis courts. It was staled at the meeting of the Council on Thursday that £2OO per year was paid out in charitable relief on behalf uf the Wanganui Hos pi tai Board. BOROUGH COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Raetihi Borough Council was held on I hursday, when there were present, the Mayor. Mr W. Harris, Crs. F. S. Fagg, G. H. Parkes, J- H. Stanley. R. Ciochetto. L. J. Vile,. ('. A. C. McDonald, A. E. Willoughby, Tom Shout, W. 11. Sandford, the electrical engineer, Mr W. Journeaux, the borough fore man. Mr C. Davis, and thb town clerk. Mr J. H. Lucas. Crs. C .A. C. McDonald and G. H. Parkes mado the usual declaration and took their seats. A hearty welcome was extended tu these two councillors by the Mayor. Tho Mayor said that at the meeting lor the installation of Mayor he had intended to refer to the work of his predecessor, Mr Littlewood, but he had overlooked it and he regretted he had no-t mentioned it. During the IS months he had been in office Air Littlewood had done much good work fur the borough. They all recognised that fact, and he moved that, the council place on record its appreciation of the services rendered by Mr Littlewood as Mayor. Cr. T. Fagg seconded tho motion, which was carried unanimously. It was decided that a special meeting be held to consider the work of the A. resolution was carried accepting the apology of the town clerk with regard to his statement' about the grant of £8 made by the I’numploy muni j .Remit to • unferenec. •'. |>andford, jin accordance with a statement irnole. i l>y him during the Mayoral election, proposed that a remit be. sent to the municipal conference to the effect that an addition be made to tho Municipal Corporations Act: that no Mayor or councillor who is in arrears with his rates should be allowed to take a seat at the council table. No countrx ratepayer was eligible for nomination Io tlie County Council who wa- in ar rears with his rates, ami he thought the same should apply to boroughs. The I fact that a councillor could nut take I part in the discussion or vote on the. <|Uc.'l."ii of outstaiid'ng rates when he was in arrears reduced the effective 'trength ot the council. Ln a council of 19 they might have only live not in arrears and that five would have to art and deal with the matter instead of the whole council. The motion was carried unanimously. A r<*.solution was passed to the effei t that an amendment bo made to the Main Street Improvement Bill to Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure Foi Coughs and Colds, nevei fails.*