TE AWAMUTU BOROUGH.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15319, 21 August 1923, Page 5

TE AWAMUTU BOROUGH.

MEETING OF COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of Uie Te Awauiutu Borough Council was iield in Uie Council Chambers last night, when the -Mayor, Mr L. G. Armstrong, presided, and there were also present: Crs. U. Spiuley, C. Bygrave, J. W. McCarroil, C. G. Dowues, P. W. Peate, W. J. JNorth, J. C. Montehore. The town clerk (Mr D. Bockett) and the foreman (Mr JArcher) were also in attendance. Leave of absence, was granted Ur. B. McGeohie, who is laid up with influenza.

Sitting as the Domain Board one tender was received for the lease or the grazing rights of Albert Park, A. Westgate tendering £lO per annum. — It was decided to call for fresh tenders.

Three tenders were received for the plumbing work in connection with the Council's house in Bank street — J. 11. Hamerton £l6 lus, L. S. Armstrong £l4, and J. B. Wilson £l3 10s.—Mr Wilson's tender was accepted. Fire Brigade. The local volunteer lire brigade attended for the purpose of being sworn in. The Mayor pointed out the facts of the case, and the town clerk read the correspondence dealing with the reasons for it. The Mayor read the declaration required to be signed by each member on being sworn in. The members were then sworn in. The Mayor then thanked the members of the brigade, on behalf of the Council, for the very eilledent way they had always undertaken their somewhat risky and arduous duties. /Tie also stated that the last time he . addressed them, he mentioned that v they did not expect them to be in their present position for a very long time, since then apparently nothing had been done, but he wished to assure them that every available source had been tried to raise the -loan authorised. So far they had been unsuccessful, but the Council were still trying, and sooner or later would be successful. However, he asked them .. to carry on in the way they had been doing, and instanced the bonus recently allowed by insurance companies as a token of the good work done by lire brigades generally, and concluded by telling them that the Council would support them on every occasion.(Applause.) Captain Harris suitably replied. Secretary ■ Haselden asked the permission of the Mayor and Councillors to bring up the question of the brigade room being used as a morgue, as was done last week, and on behalf of the brigade he entered an emphatic protest against the practice. The town clerk explained the particulars, and stated that he had distinctly informed the police that they were not to place the body in the brigade room. From what occurred it seems that Constable Mahoney had left the body in the Fire Brigade station room on his own responsibility. Secretary Haselden pointed out that it was not the first time this had happened. It was decided that the local police be written to, entering an emphatic protest against the practice. Secretary Haselden . thanked the Council on behalf of the brigade for &>,e action. ,M General. / A reply was received from the _ sewerage engineer (Mr Toogoocl), A giving details of the xeason wiiy they / had not completed the payment of Messrs Grinter Bros.' contract for the pumping station and septic tank; they Jl also gave an outline of what had to ■ be done. —Letter received. ~ ■ The Waipa County Clerk wrote that the matter of the Kawa metal supply had been left in the hands of the county engineer (Mr J. \V. Civil), with the power to act. —Referred to' Crs Montefiore and McGechie to see Mr Civil, and arrange details of the inspection by Mr Rothery with him. A further communication 'was received from the clerk of the Waikato Licensing Committee with reference to his salary, and pointing out that the Licensing Committee was only a judicial body, while as his office is an administrative one, he is only responsible to his department.—The Mayor pointed out that the Council had not declined to pay the claim, though they required the authority of the Licensing Committee before paying it. —It was decided that the quarter's salary be passed for payment, and the clerk be asked to state under what authority he was appointed. • The Medical Officer of Health, Auckland, forwarded regulations as to the cleansing, ventilation, sanitation and disinfection of theatres, picture halls, and concert rooms, which come into force on October 1, 1923. A further report was received from the assistant Under-secretary for Internal Affairs, giving fresh regulations regarding advances for the purpose of erecting workers' dwelling houses. — ■■ Received. An account of A. Bygrave for carting, etc., was received, amounting to £ll 6s, and was passed for payment. Four applications were received for the Council's assistance with sew-srage connections. —Held over. , It was decided that seven yer cent tper annum be tbe rate fo.- loans in Uhis connection, this rate co include sinking fund as well. . A letter was received from Messrs Thomson and Farrer, giving plan of subdivision of Mr A. G. Weatherell's property in Pakura Street, and asking for the Council's approval.—The plan was approved as far as what was lo be subdivided now was concerned. The Counciil's solicitors wrote that the trustees of. the late J. L. Mandeno estate had agreed to do what was required to the drain on their property.— Letter received. Heavy Traffic By-Laws.

Cr. Monteflore then formally moved the motion of which he had given notice of motion regarding the width of tyres in horse-drawn vehicles. He explained that it had been carefully enlarged on at the last meeting. It was then seconded, and carried. It was decided that the foreman be instructed to have a general clean up in the sheds, etc., in Albert Park. It was decided that the Council hold a special meeting next Monday to -discuss the estimates of the proposed loan.