HAVELOCK NORTH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 197, 9 August 1930, Page 3

HAVELOCK NORTH

TOWN BOARD

USUAL MONTHLY MEETING. REVALUATION DISCUSSED. The usual monthly meeting of the Havelock North Town Board was held last evening. Present: Messrs J. J. Nimon (acting-chairman), J. D. Heenan, A Toop. G. H. Davies. W. Paton, and E. C. Stratton. Leave of absence was granted the chairman, Mr. H. R. von Dadelszen. Mr. Chas. Duncan wrote drawing the board’s attention to the state of the footpath in front of his butcher’s shop.—Left in the hands of the Works Committee with power to act. The secretary of the Havelock North Fire Brigade wrote that he had again been instructed to apply for a plug to be placed in the grounds of the station, the Domnin being unsatisfactory as regards practice owing to the distance the necessary gear would have to be carried.—lt was decided to give the brigade permission to instal a wet plug in their property. Mrs F. C. Lock Chambers street, wrote asking if a path could be made from her big gate to the front gate. She also asked if it would be possible to put something else on the clay where a culvert has l«on formed.— Roads Committee recommended that no action be taken in regard to the footpath, but that metal be laid at the gateway Mr. Lachlan Maclean wrote drawing the board's attention to the dangerous state of the pine plantation bounding the cemetery and along the line of graves.—The matter lias been taken up with the owner of the plantation. RATEPAYERS’ PETITION.. Eighty-one ratepayers signed a petition to the effect that as eleven years had elapsed since the present valuation roll for the Havelock North Town District had been prepared they were of opinion that a revaluation was long overdue, and requested the board to take immediate steps to have on made. The Valuer-General wrote asi follows: "District valuation rolls are revised at sueb date or dates as the Governor-General-in-Council directs. A revision of the Havelock North Town Board District would probably cost your board about £3O. In view of the fact that all ratepayers in your district were recently afforded an opportunity to object to the valuations on the existing roll and that very few objections were received, it appears that there is no urgent need for a revision of your district.” It was explained by the clerk (Mr. Anderson) that it was not a reduction in local rates that the ValuerGeneral objected to. but the fact that no protest was made when the .revaluation was carried out. Only about a month ago an advertisement had been issued asking for objections to the ratings and only six people had replied. Mr Davies was in doubt as to what effect a revaluation would have uuon the capital value of property in Havelock.

The clerk .stated that there were quite a few people in the 1 district not paying sufficient in rates, and the small man was shouldering the burden There were cases of people with houses valued at £lOOO rated on th. unimproved value of £9O and paying only about £2 in rates. They expected all the amenities the board could give them. Then something would have to bo done in regard to the water rate. Why should a man paying £l3 water rate for a small connection be rated so much higher than one who used water all day and only paid 10/- in rates? There was only one thing for it. and that was a revaluation of property in Havelock. Mr. Paton moved that an application be made to the Valuer-General for a revaluation of property in Havelock. It was seconded by Mr. Heenan and carried unanimously. REPORTS. The electrical engineer, Mr. S. J Ewart, reported as follows: —Plant and electrical equipment have been maintained in good order for the month. Supply failed on July 23 from 5.30 p.m., the cause being due to one of the bolts coming off , which meant closing down tlje plant for eight minutes. Supply was finally established at 6.8 p.m. A much stronger belt guard has been made and fitted which should prevent this occurring again. The new main contacts have arrived from America for the automatic regulator; as the old ones are now working perfectly the formei are at the power-house in case of emergency. Units generated for the month 27,100. Bulk Supply Area. This section has been maintained in good order for the month. Supply was interrupted on Saturday evening from 9.35 until 11.20, trouble being experienced on the Power Board area. Units purchased, 9,150. Water Reticulation: Number of gallons pumped for the month 2,404,000, consumption 1,958,000, giving a surplus of 446,000 gallons. Transmission Line: This work was recommenced on July 25 and completed August 1. General: To comply with the existing Public Works Department's wiring regulations an inspection numbering 41 premises was carried out for the _ month. As the time limit is drawing near it will be necessary to concentrate on these inspections. Consumers may have their residences inspected at any time independent of the routine inspections. Due to the greatly increasing load around Gallien and Selwyn roads heavier cables are required immediately around this area. I have at hand an application for an electric range and hot water service. The contractor advises connection for these are required on Monday. Permits: Ranges 2. reconditioning 19. The report was adopted.

The Works Committee reported as follows: The county grader lias been a week on the job and has made a wonderful improvement to all those roads which it has been over. We have given instruction that the following roads be graded before the grader moves off: Plassey and Crosby streets, Duait. Ellison, Lower Te Mata rnads. St. Hill’s Lane, and School road corner. We also authorised the metalling of Goddard's Lane. In regard to Archdeacon Maclean’s application that a footpath be formed outside the Vicarage, we recommend that Mr. Maclean be informed that, while realising thaj the

work is necessary, the board cannot grant the request as, if the work was done in this case then every ratepayer could claim to have similar formation work done outside his premises. Chambers Road Path: We haye instructed the clerk to splay back the corner at Miss Campbell’s property; we recommend that Mr. Houghton be advised that any culvert which may be laid outside his entrance will bo his responsibility. Mrs Lock’s Application: We recommend that no action be taken with regard to the suggested footpath but that metal be placed at the front entrance.

Mr. Wiggins’ Application: We ro commend that Mr. Wiggins bo authorised to level the footpath outside his premises, the finished work to be as directed by the clerk. Mr. Newrick’s Application: We recommend that a 7ft. path be laid from the horse rail at the hotel to the end of the far newly-erected garage, and that the board lay the necessary pipe culverts and charge the cost of same to the Napier Brewery Co. General Footpath Programme: The paths at Hay’s and Duncan’s and Trading Co. stores have been laid in Colfix. and a most satisfactory job has resulted: paths are being formed in Te Mata McLean, McHardy and Chambers roads and satisfactory progress has been made with the work. The Cemetery Committee reported as follows: We paid our usual monthly visit to the cemetery and found the whole grounds in a state most creditable to the sexton (Mr. J. Beaumont). We instructed the clerk to take the necessary action, to have the trees on the adjoining section topped and cut back as they are at present endangering some very valuable monuments. We also authorised the work of laying out the necessary paths, etc., in Block E, and have authorised the purchase of necessary shingle to form two paths in the upper portion of cemetery.— Adopted. GENERAL. It was decided to call tenders for a year’s supply of benzine from local retailers. The clerk reported residents in Simla Avenue had complained of the Board’s action in deciding not to cut down the bluegum trees, which were considered dangerous. He explained that now as the matter had been put to the Board, it would be liable for any accident that might occur through the trees not being felled. Accounts amounting to £4lB 13s 2d were passed for payment.