BOROUGH COUNCILS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20907, 14 July 1933, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCILS

GERALDINE. The monthly meeting of the Geraldine Borough Council was held on Wednesday. Present were the Mayor (Mr B. R. Macdonald), Crs. J. R. Lack, E. H. Logan, M. Campbell, A. J. Bell,, and G. H.. Patrick, and the town clerk (Mr B. Hayes). ■ Cr. J. R. Lack,- chairman of the finance committee, reported that the receipts for the month totalled £l3B 15s 9d. There was a debit balance at the bank of £902 17s Bd, and accounts for payment amounted to £326 0s 6d, leaving a deficit of £ll7B 13s Id. Cr. Lack added that the finance committee was not in favour of the conversion of the borough's loans. The registrar of motor-vehicles (Mr G. McNamara) wrote about the licensing of the council's truck, and stated that under the present legislation the council would have to pay. an annual license fee for the vehicle for the carriage of rubbish. It was stated that exemption from the payment of annual license fees might be legally granted only for motor-vehicles owned by local authorities and used exclusively for the maintenance and construction of roads and streets. After a discussion it was decided to license the vehicle so as to enable the council to cart away the rubbish to the Orari riverbed..

The South Canterbury Hospital Board wrote advising that the department of health required the board to reduce the items in the estimates, "outdoor relief," by £IOOO, which had necessitated an alteration in the levies. The Geraldine borough's statement would be as follows:—Government valuations £190,384, total levy £l4B 2s Bd, and four instalments each amounting to £37 0s Bd. The library committee (Crs. E. H. Logan, G. H. Patrick, and the Mayor) was asked to bring down a report to the next meeting about the disposal of old books at present in the library. It was unanimously decided to make application for 2000 trees from the Forestry Department for planting in two borough sections.

The librarian (Mrs K. E. Pierce) reported that there had been 972 books issued during the month. One new subscriber had joined for a quarter. Subscriptions had amounted to £4 3a.

WAIMATE. The Waimate Borough Council met on Wednesday. Present—The Mayor (Mr G. Dash), Crs. T. Twomey, A. W. Good, R. H White, J. T. Hay, W. F, Boland, S. I. Fitch, and W. G. Paul. The South Canterbury Hospital Board advised that the Department of Health had required a reduction of outdoor relief by £IOOO, and this had necessitated an alteration in the levies. An amended statement was enclosed showing the Waimate Borough, 1933-34 levy, to be £382 19s 4d, and the Waimate County £4659 Is 3d. Borongh Gardener's Report. The borough gardener (Mr A. White) reported that the wall-garden extension had now reached the tennis courts. All winter pruning had been, done and 27 specimen trees planted. Regarding the inspection with Cr. Hay, of the borough reserves to ascertain suitable areas for tree-planting, the following had been considered suitable: At the High School sports grounds, the continuation of the present plantation to the west boundary, and also to William street, and the enclosure of the experimental plots to south, east, and west, and the old septic tank site. Ap* proximately 2000 trees would be required.

It was decided that a copy of the tree-planting report be supplied to the High School Board of Governors, and that the reserves committee inspect the septic tank area. Town Improvement. Brigadier A. Scotney, property" secretary of the Salvation Army, wrote to the Mayor stating that his board wished him to proceed with the'cleans ing and beautifying of the section in Steward street. Sixpence would-be' accepted as payment for the borough's use of the section until it was required for other purposes. Possibly, later on, when the beautifying scheme had matured sufficiently, his Worship might be able to supply a photograph to serve as a comparison with the on 6 of the section in its old state.

The Mayor reported having forwarded photographs of the state of the Army section and making, suggestions for improvement. The letter was the reply. The rental of 6d put the council in a proper position, , The Mayor's action was approved. . On the suggestion of the Mayor it was decided to make a collection on next health day of goods discarded by householders which might be of use to others in more needy -circumstances.

Cr. Good remarked on the removal of the traffic domes in Queen street and the replacement of each with four white discs at the street lines. He would suggest that lines be drawn up to each disc, which could not be seen from a distance, to direct the attention of the traffic. The suggestion was ap-. proved. Accounts amounting to £6BB 18s 2d were passed for payment, including relief wages £2OB.