BULLS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 246, 16 October 1937, Page 14

BULLS

TOWN BOARD MEETING The monthly meeting of the Bulls Town Board was held on Thursday evening. Present: Messrs J. E. Walker (chairman), A. W. Amon, F. A. Holland, C. C. Price, C. H. Edwards, J. J. Mansell and D. A. Lundy. Foreman S. Howard reported that during the past month concrete , water-tables in Bridge and High Streets were cleaned out, and a concrete path put down at Clifton Hall. Post and battens were cut on the Domain, and paths at the cemetery were kept mowed.

Correspondence was received as follows: From the hon. secretary, Bulls Tennis Club, re the state of the gate and path at the children’s playground. —The foreman was instructed to put in a stile, and to have the path put in order. From Mr A. E. Mansford, Mayor of Palmerston North, inviting delegates to a meeting to be held in Palmerston North on November 11, to consider arrangements for the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition. —Received. From L. Meads, hon. secretary, Bulls Cricket Club, thanking the board for the excellent condition in which the sports ground had been kept during the past season, and applying for the use of the ground during the coming season. The club also forwarded a donation to the Domain funds.—Permission was granted to use the ground, and the club was thanked for its contribution. From the manager, Bank of New Zealand, Bulls, complaining of the state of the footpath in Upper High Street.—lt was resolved to have the footpath attended to, and the foreman was instructed to attend to footpaths in business areas in High and Bridge Streets.

Finance. —Collections for the month: Rates, £69 10s 8d; rents, £l9 Is; heavy traffic fees, £33; library subs., £2 2s 9d; library rents, £2 4s; Domain (grazing £l2 17s, donations £2), £l4 17s; total, £l4O 15s sd. Accounts were passed for payment under the following headings: District fund, £216 13s 7d; library £6 4s 9d.

Works Committee.—Messrs Amon, Edwards and Holland were appointed a works committee for the ensuing month.

School Footpath.—A deputation from Bulls School Committee waited on the board in reference to the proposal to lay down a footpath from Turakina Road to the top of the school grounds, the deputation comprising Messrs F. C. Jurgens, F. F. Ralfe, L. W. Richards, D. M. O'Connell and L. V. Homes. Mr Jurgens thanked the board for the privilege of coming along and stating the case, as it appeared to the School Committee. It was proposed, he said, to lay down 9 chains of footpath, at a cost of approximately £7O, of which the Rangitikei County Council had agreed to pay one-half, and the balance would be paid, he hoped, by the Town Board. There are approximately 200 children attending the school, he added, and of these at least 50 per cent, are children in the Town Board area. In winter months the footpath is particularly wet and muddy, and the School Committee considered that it was only right that the children should have a clean entrance to the school. Mr Jurgens expressed the opinion that the Rangitikei County Council’s offer to pay one-half of the cost was a very fair one, but he admitted that the School Committee did not have such a comprehensive scheme in view when the question was raised. However ,it would probably be best to carry out the scheme in full. Mr Ralfe referred to the cost of grading, forming the path, kerbing and guttering, and said that the estimated cost appeared to be quite reasonable.

The chairman, in reply, said that the matter had already been discussed by members of the board, and it was agreed that the work should be carried out. Unfortunately the board’s finances at the present time did not allow of new expenditure, the rates having been struck before the proposal was advanced. The board was committed to the limit of its resources. Despite heavy costs of tarsealing, etc., the board had not raised rates, or if so, not to an appreciable extent, while the Rangitikei County Council’s rates har been raised nearly 100 per cent. The chairman assured members of the deputation that the board was willing, and even eager, to assist the project, but financial help could not be given this year. But when funds permitted—after March, and before next winter set in—the work would be undertaken.

Mr Jurgens thanked the board for the straightforward explanation, and for the assurance that the path would beput down before next winter. He thanked the chairman and members for the cordial reception accorded to members of the School Committee, and the deputation withdrew. Subsequently the board further considered the matter, and agreed to leave it in the hands of the chairman and clerk to make necessary arrangements with the Rangitikei County Council.