BOROUGH MATTERS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXV, Issue 8903, 11 April 1936, Page 2

BOROUGH MATTERS

MONTHLY MEETING OF WAIHI COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Waihi Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening, there being present the Mayor, Mr W. M. Wallnutt (presiding) and Councillors C. F. Butcher, (deputy-Mayor), J. J. Callaghan, F. ,T. A. Campbell, J. Mitchell, J. F. Robertson and A. J. Pollock. The town clerk, Mr E. C. Westbury, the borough engineer, Mr M. F. Haszard, and the borough inspector, Mr J. Spence, were in attendance. lION. E. DYE’S APPOINTMENT

Acknowledgement of the council’s message of congratulations on his appointment to the Legislative Assembly was contained in a letter received from Wellington from the Hon. E. Dye, M.L.C., of Waihi. After asking Mr Westbury to convey his thanks to the council Mr Dye said it would be his desire to help carry out and put into effect the ideals the Labour Party had stood for for years, and added that at any time he could be of assistance to the council or the town in general, he would be only too happy to help. The letter was received. INVITATION TO COURSING

The lion, secretary of the Waihi Coursing Club, Mr M. Allen, invited the Mayor, councillors and town clerk to attend coursing on the club’s plumptou on Easter Monday. It was decided to thank the club for its invitation. BILLIARDS LICENSE

Renewal of his billiards saloon license was sought by Mr J. Talbot, who also asked permission to keep the premises open on Good Friday. Similar requests were made by Mr 11. W. Butler.

The requests were granted. MINE WATER FOR BATHS

Stating that arrangements could be made whereby the department would carry out, free of cost, a chemical analysis of water from the Martha mine, which it was proposed to use in the municipal baths, the medical officer of health at Auckland, Dr. J. Boyd, stated that it would also 1)0 necessary for bacteriological examinations to be made, as the hospital laboratory charged the department for such work. The charges would be at the rate of £2 2s a sample. It was agreed that the necessary bacteriological examination be made.

USE OF FOOTBALL FIELD Use of No. 1 ground on the Recreation Reserve during the coming season was sought by the Waihi Rugby Union and also by the Waihi Rugby League, which stated that it was intended to start League football in Waihi this season. The Waihi Association Football Club also asked for the use of a ground, preferably No. 1. Cr. Callaghan, in moving that the applications be deferred until the next meeting of the council, explained that the sporting bodies which had had previous use of the grounds had not yet held their annual meetings.

Cr. Robertson seconded the motion and it was carried.

HOSPITAL LEVY Payment of the hospital levy at the rate of £l5O a month until the estimates of the Waihi Hospital Board were approved by the Department of Health was requested by the managing secretary, Mr W. G. Collier, who said it would be a convenience if the cheque for April were ready by April Oth. This suggestion was agreed to.

ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL At the request of the Waihi High School Committee, the chairman, Mr J. B. Beeche, wrote stating that the rockery that had recently been erected along Moresby Avenue by tlie school authorities required to he cemented, and as the completion of the work would not only beautify the street frontage, but also serve the useful purpose of making safe the sloping sides of the tramline so far as pedestrians were concerned, he asked the council to supply six bags of cement and one yard of sand. The request was granted. REQUESTS FOR GRANTS

Application for an increased grant towards the maintenance of the Waihi Federal Band (Inc.) was made by the secretary, Mr I-I. L. Bougliton. In the past the council had granted £0 0 annually, stated Mr Bougliton, and it was this payment that had enabled the band to function. This year, however, the organisation had undertaken a very heavy liability in respect of new instruments —the old instruments having served their purpose for at least 25 years—and the amount the band would have to find this year was about £2OO, which set it a hard’task. Because of this be asked the council to increase the grant to £7O, which would still leave £l3O to be found. The lion, secretary of the Waihi Beautifying and Tree Conservation Society, Mr J. M. Wrigley, asked the council for a subsidy of £2O in respect of expenditure for the current? year and expressed appreciation of the helji that had been given during the financial year just ended.

Both requests were deferred for consideration when the estimates are being prepared.

DRAINAGE AT THE BEACH Mr Trewin, a property owner and resident at the Waihi Beach, wrote complaining of the delay on the part of the council in carrying out certain drainage improvements affecting his propertv.

The borough engineer's explanation as to the cause of the delay was accepted and on the motion of Cr. Callaghan, seconded by Cr. Pollock, it was decided that Mr Trewin be advised that the work would be carried out as early as possible. ATTENTION TO FOOTPATHS

Improvements to footpaths and drainage and the removal of noxious growth from the corner of Wilson and Mueller Streets were requested by Mr G. Wilkins. Attention to obstruction of the Prince's Street footpath by blackberries and grass was drawn in a letter from Messrs K. Roberts and J. Munro.

Both requests were referred to the Works Committee.

STREET LAMP WANTED

Cr. Mitchell, speaking to a petition signed by 14 residents ill the neighbourhood asking that a street lamp be placed near the Junction mine gates in Junction road, explained that some time ago light was sup-

plied by the Junction Company but this had long since gone and he hoped the council would give the matter its favourable consideration.

On the motion of Cr. Robertson, seconded by Cr. Campbell, it was decided that the request be placed before the Gas Committee. LOSS ON GAS SERVICE

When general business was called for Cr. Robertson said he had gathered that the loss sustained by the gasworks for the past year amounted to £1127, at which rate the council would have lost in eight years more than the capital value of the works. The position, he continued, warranted the concentrated attention of the Gasworks Committee and it should go closely into the matter. He would move to that end.

Cr. Mitchell, in seconding the motion, said he did not know that the figures as quoted by the mover were available. However, when they got the official figures they should deal fully with the question. The motion was carried. WHOSE SHEEP?

After hearing a report from the town clerk in regard to a mix-up in the carcasses of four sheep received from the abattoir by Mrs Radford and Mr W. Bottomley it was decided on the motion of Cr. Butcher, seconded by Cr. Callaghan, that the Works Committee should interview Mrs Radford with a view to arranging a settlement between the two parties. INSPECTOR’S ACTIVITIES

The inspector and poundkeeper, Mr J. Spence, reported for the period ended April 4th as follows: Seven cows and two horses were impounded' and three dogs were destroyed. Notices were served on seven persons to cut or trim their hedges. Proceedings were taken against live persons for breaches of the traffic regulations, two of which were withdrawn. Two were fined £2 and £2 10s respectively and two were dismissed. The notices re parking in Moresby Avenue and Seddon Street were now ready and would be erected in a few days. Motor drivers’ licenses to the total of GG2 had been issued to date. During the month 15 persons were tested for licenses.

The report was adopted. ABATTOIR KILLINGS

The abattoir report for February (with comparisons in killings for the corresponding month last year in parentheses) was as under:—Stock slaughtered: Cows, 123 (130), a decrease of 7; bullocks, 5 (3). an increase of 2; sheep, 270 (254), an increase of 1G; lambs, 17. (19), a decrease of 2; pigs, 25 (32), a decrease of 7; calves, 4 (5), a decrease of 1. Totals 444 and 4 43, a net increase of one animal. Fees received amounted to £77 Is Gd. as against £7 9 4s 6d, a decrease of £2 3s. The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT

The borough engineer reported on works in his department during the four-weekly period ended April 4th and other works completed to date as follows: —Main highway: A temporary bridge and road have been constructed by the contractors and a start has been made on the demolition of the old Tauranga road bridge. There has been a delay in the delivery of the necessary steel and little construction work has been done. Beach road: The Public Works Department has handed over the Moon’s quarry deviation on the exhaustion of funds. Though the cuttings have been completed there is still some further work to be done in cutting water tables, trimming of formation and metalling. This will be a charge on ordinary maintenance. Tarring: This work is practically finished for the season, the work completed to date being as under: One-coat road sealing—Moresby Avenue, 7 chains 18ft wide, 924 square yards, 24.7’ chains, 15ft wide, 2717 square yards, turn-offs, 527 square yards; total 41GS square yards. Kensington road —3B chains 15ft wide, 41S0 square yards, turn-offs, 524 square yards; total 4704 square yards. Gilmour Street —34 chains 15ft wide, 3740 square yards, turn-offs 300 square yards; total 4 040 square yards. Rosemont road —23 chains 15ft wide, 2530 square yards, turn-offs 1041 square yards; total 3574 square yards. This gives a total of 1G.450 square yards, which is equal to 150 chains of 15ft road. Footpaths: Moresby Avenue and School Lane, G 1 chains 12ft wide, 53GS square yards; Gilmour Street, 34 chains 12ft wide, 2992 square yards; Mueller Street, 11 chains 12 ft wide, 90S yards; Ilaszard Street, 5 chains, 12ft wide, 44 0 square yards; Rosemont road, 4 0 chains 12ft wide, 3530 square yards; Kenny Street, G chains 12ft wide, GGO square yards; Seddon Street, 8 chains 121't wide, 704 square yards; Seddon Street, 13 chains Oft wide, 572 square yards; total, 15,234 square yards. In addition patching was done on Seddon Street, Barry road, Kenny Street and Haszard Street, including widening and turn-offs in places. GENERAL WORKS

General: The metalling of Canon Street west (0 chains) and Consols Street west (10 chains) has been completed. Footpaths have been cleared and gravelled in Connell Street, London Street, Evans Street and Clarke Street. Culverts, 14ft of 9"inch pipes were placed under the footpaths in Regent Street and a private crossing of 12ft constructed in Seddon Avenue. Crusher: The

crusher worked for 17 i days for an output of 354 yards of metal. A total of 094 J yards of metal was handled, distributed as follows: To Beach road 20 yards, streets 3381 yards, from creek IS4 yards, from tip 152 yards. Trucks: The following is

a summary of the working of the trucks: No. 1, days worked 171. number of trips, 15S, metal carted 35 yards; No. 2, 175, 104, 2031 yards; No. 3, 171, 10S, 330 yards" Sanitary farm: On April Ist I visited'

the sanitary farm and found that the noxious weeds have not been cut for some time. The whole area requires going over with the mower to check the blackberry. I saw Mr Henry

and he admitted that this work should be done and that he was liable for it. He promised that it would be all cleared within a fort- ( night. The area of road taken in has been cleared, ploughed, and presumably laid down in grass, but the whole is in a very rough state and I do not think could be termed as complying with the conditions of the lease. As the lessee has a number of cattle on the farm I arranged with him to carry on, on a weekly tenancy at 25s per week, until the pleasure of the council is known.

The report was adopted. BEACH CARETAKER’S REPORT The beach caretaker, Mr W. Wolherspoon, reported as follows: The

garage and toolsiied behind my housd has now been completed. I have had the gorse bushes grubbed out In the front paddock. The new guard rails have been put on the bridge. Pacific road has been formed from the top of Keatinge’s hill back to Mr W. Leggett’s corner, being graded to a depth of 12 feet in the deepest part. The recent storm, which caused high seas, washed away a considerable part of the sandhills, but caused no material damage. The low-lying parts around the swings have been levelled and all filled to a height of several inches. I have visited the sanitary dump several times recently and have found full cans.

The engineer added: “It will bo noted that the caretaker refers to the sanitary contractor leaving full cans at the dump. On the 30th ultimo I inspected the dump and found that the last pitting had not been covered and that there were 10 full cans standing a little south of Sea View road and that the empty cans and lids standing there were not properly washed.” The report was adopted.

WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT Following a tour of inspection and a meeting held on March 24th (Cr. C. F. Butcher in the chair), the Works Committee reported as under: (1) The committee has been asked to inspect and report on an application to fence in part of Margaret Street. As an objection has come to hand the committee has no recommendation to make. (2) The committee was also asked to make a report on Moore Street. The work necessary here is of such a nature that it could not be undertaken at present and it is recommended that the application of Mr R. J. Cook be held over for the time being. (3) The State Fire Insurance Office advised the committee that the house on Mr Henry’s part of the sanitary farm was of no insurI able value. This is now referred to ! the council for such action as it thinks necessary. (4) The committee considers that the time has arrived when the council should have a working foreman to take charge of the men on the outdoor staff. (5) Your committee has for some time been investigating the council’s metal supply and it now definitely of the opinion that the time has arrived when the crushing plant must be moved up Walmsley Creek. It is re-

commended that the member for the district, Mr J. Thorn, be asked to approach the Minister of Public Works wtih a view to obtaining Government assistance to build a road up the line of Walmsley creek, for the purpose of obtaining a plentiful supply of cheap metal for the district. In the meantime the council should put down several test holes to prove the extent of the metal available. The committee is of the opinion—even without testing—that there is at least ten years’ supply of good metal in the creek bed, without touching the old quarry at all. The report, apart from clause 4. which was held over for consideration in committee, was adopted.