MORRINSVILLE BOROUGH

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15353, 29 September 1923, Page 9

MORRINSVILLE BOROUGH

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Morrlnsvillc Borough Council met on Thursday night.- There were present the Mayor (Mr G. Howie) and Crs. A. Needham, .1. B. Thomas, 11. \V. Hopkins, F. W. Chadwick, B. Chapman and Mr C. H. McKay (clerk). Leave of absence was grantod to Cr. Ward. Warning to Parents. The engineers 'in charge of the sewerage scheme wrote: —“We notice that many of the sewer trenches now being opened up are filled with water up to two and three feet deep, due to the recent heavy rains. We consider a warning should be issued to householders to keep children away from these trenches. The loose clay is liable to slip, and If a child fell in a fatality might' occur before help could arrive."

It was resolved to notify householders -of this danger through the means of the local press. Removal of Railway Station. “Has any reply ever been received from the Railway Department re the removal of the railway station?” asked Cr, Chapman. The clerk replied in the negative. Cr. Chapman considered that the Department had not only slighted the Counoil but the whole of the borough by not giving to the community of Morrinsvillo any definite reply. The business people, he said, read of reports through the press, and yet no one in the town knows exactly what the intention of the Department is. The clerk was instructed to write to the Minister for Railways asking for definite information. Hospital Board Vacancy. The town clerk, Cambridge Borough Council, advised that at a meeting of his Council Mr 11. Alan Bell was unanimously appointed the Council’s nominee for the above vacancy. He desired to know whether this nomination met with the approval of the Council. —Left in abeyance until next meeting. Post Office Clock. The Mayor, who recently offered to donate to the town a clock valued at £2OO, reported that upon making enquiries it was found that for that sum a 4-dial timepiefe could be obtained. The clock, however, would be a nonstriking one. The sum of £4OO would procure a clock Which, if a further sum of £4OO was expended thereon at any time, could be made to chime. The cost of a chiming clock was £I3OO.

The matter was held in abeyance until next meeting.

Funds Available for Road Work. The clerk reported that the estimated expenditure for the year was £3590 Is 9d. The actual amount expended, as at 14/9/23, was £2493 5s 7d. The balance available was therefore £1096 16s 2d, of which sum £6BO was required for necessary expenditure during the curreht year. This necessary expenditure did not include public works. The balance (£416 16s 2d) was available for public works. As wages would approximately amount tp £2OO and cartage approximately £SO, the amount available for metal and freight was only £166 -16 s 2d.

“We shall have to be very economical," said Gr. Thomas. The report was adopted, the Council deciding to 'undertake only urgent works.

At the conclusion of the meeting Cr. Chapman gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting that an engineer be engaged to bring down a scheme for road improvement of Thames Street and any other streets that the Council may deoide. . General. Two ratepayers in Young Street and Terrace Avonue desired to have their properties connected with the town water supply. Councillors were not acquainted with the above streets, the Mayor suggesting they were “way up in Siberia on the top of the hill." (Laughter.) The foreman said the distance from the end of the present main was 36 chains. He recommended that a 2in pipe be laid to Brodie’s corner (a distance of 24 chains), then reducing to ljin to McGregor's house (a further distance of 12 chains). This, he said, would give a go\>d supply for domestic purposes. He estimated the total cost at £253 15s. It was decided to lay the main as suggested'by the foreman. The recommendation of the Finance Committee that the whole Council assist in the framing of the sanitary bylaws, and also that at the time of framing, the inspector of works be present, was adopted.—lt was resolved to hold a special meeting on Thursday evening next for the above purpose. New Counoll Chambers.

In the early stages of next year It is anticipated that the National Bank of New Zealand will be transacting its business in its new building in Thames Street. The manager of the local branch (Mr Jerrome) advised the Council that his general manager would be pleased to erect suitable council chambers for the Council, viz.: Council chamber 20ft by 20ft, and two offices 10 x 10 feet each in the bank’s new building to be erected on its section at the corner of Thames Street and Moorhouse Street, and finished by March or April It is proposed to lease to the* Council the chambers for a term of five years (with right of renewal for a further term at a rental to be agreed upon), at a rental of £2 per week plus an equitable proportion of the rates paid by the bank, according to the space occupied by the Borough Council Chambers. Plans for the new building are now being prepared by Mr W. H. Gummcr, of Auckland, and include the proposed accommodation for tho Council. They should come to hand very shortly for perusal. He would be glad to know if Lhe Council was prepared to accept a lease on the terms as set out. The Mayor considered the offer a very reasonable one. The discussion then centred round the question of the erection of a town hall, Cr. Chadwick considering that before paying £IOO a year for rent, that question should be fully looked into. The Mayor did not think the ratepayers would authorise the erection of a town hall, for the reason that the , roading scheme, which was more es-1 senlial, was defeated. In reply to a question the clork said the Council was paying 13s a week for its present room. Cr. Chadwick moved that the offer be declined. Cr. Thomas seconded tho motion, whiQh Cr. Needham supported. The Mayor thought the councillors were making a mistake in not accepting the offer. Cr. Chapman did not think the present room was suitable for the amount ol' work transacted therein, and moved as an amendment that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee for the purpose of ascertaining the cost of a town hall, etc. Cr. Hopkins seconded the amendment, which was carried by the casting vote of the Mayor, -