WEST COAST NEWS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 22010, 6 February 1937, Page 4

WEST COAST NEWS

NEW AIR SERVICE FREE USE OF AERODROME FOR THREE MONTHS MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL AT GREYMOUTH A decision to make no charge to Cook Strait Airways for the use of the Greymouth aerodrome for the first three months of its service to the West Coast was made by the Greymouth Borough Council at its monthly meeting on Thursday night. The Mayor (Mr W. Meldrum) presided. The question of landing charges at the aerodrome will be reviewed at the end of the three months. The District Public Trustee, Greymouth, advised that the beneficiaries of the Joyce estate were not prepared to accept the cou' i-il's offer for the formation of the road until the road was formed and dedication accepted. The council decided that unless the beneficiaries were prepared* to accept the offer within 28 days it be withdrawn. , , „ ~ A complaint about the state of the street between Tainui and Herbert streets was received from Miss Florence Scott, Turumaha street. The matter was left to the works committee with power to act. Mr A. Kyle. Hotel Richmond, complained about the state of the footpath in Richmond quay. The matter was left to the works committee. Cr. J. B. Kent said that he had been asked by several ratepayers on Omoto road that they be permitted to do tarsealing there. The request was granted, subject tp the engineer's approval. Cr. R. J. Williams asked whether there would be enough money to complete the Cobden reticulation. Mr Fairmaid said that since the work had been authorised there had been an increase in wages and there would be a considerable shortage of loan money when they came towards the end of the job. It was decided that the engineer should make an approximate estimate of the money needed to complete the job. New Railway Station A deputation consisting of the Mayor, Deputy-Mayor, and Town Clerk were appointed to approach the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) and ask him to provide money on the estimates for a new railway station at Greymouth. x Reporting on the housing scheme for borough employees, the engineer said that the employees who were renting houses had told him that they would be verv pleased to consider the matter when further details had been placed before them. It was decided to invite the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) to visit Greymouth during his tour of the South Island. Accounts amounting to £1399 2s 9d were passed for payment, and accounts amounting to £3441 Is Id paid since last meeting were approved. The borough engineer reported on the elimination of railway crossings at the southern end of the borough. It was decided that the Grey County Council be asked if it was prepared to assist in the matter. A proposal to keet) open the reading room in the public library on public holidays was referred to the library committee. At a later meeting, accounts amounting to £B3B 3s were passed for payment and accounts amounting to £3699 7s 7d. naid since last meeting, were approved. Water Supply The Greymouth Fire Board wrote requesting that an efficient water supply be provided as early as possible to those areas in the town which were being rapidly built on, especially the hill sections between Sawyer's creek an' 1 Murray street, and in Marsden road and south of Nelson street. The Under-Secretary. Department of Internal Affairs, advised that Mr Hammond, until lately town planning adviser to the department, had examined and approved of the plans and report for the proposed civic square. The sum of £lO 10s was granted to the Grey Surf Life-Saving Club, with a reauest that it be retained for the building fund. It was decided that the works committee should have a special meeting and confer with the borough engineer to consider the disposition! of the whole of the outside staff so as to improve the system of work. HOUSING SCHEME AT GREYMOUTH CONSIDERATION BY COUNTY COUNCIL A sub-committee to investigate further the Government's scheme for providing houses for the county's employees was set up by the Grey County Council at its monthly meeting on Thursday. The manager of the State Advances Corporation advised that as soon as the council was in a position to submit a definite proposal the application should be referred to the corporation s board and the Director of Housing for approval, and when that had been received the council would move for the approval of the Local Government Loans Board, and thence take steps to raise the loan. The selling or leasing of the houses would be a matter for arrangement by the local authority concerned. Mr M. Keating, county clerk, said that two or three of the council's employees had already made enquiries about the houses, although they had not actually put in applications. Cr. J. Mulcare said that he thought that the letter from the State Advances Corporation altered the position from what they previously knew it. He was not aware that the houses could be sold or let. Assuming that a house cost £6OO/or £7OO, if an employee was prepared to put up £IOO the council would have security in his job, if it were permanent. The committee, consisting of the chairman, Mr J. Ryall, the clerk, the engineer, Mr J. Higgins, and Crs. J. W. Hannan and J. Mulcare. was set up. It was decided to hold over the calling of applications from the employees until the scheme was considered further by the council. WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL THREE NOMINATIONS FOR ONE VACANCY The following nominations have been received for the vacancy In the southern riding of the Westland County Council:—Mr A. R. Elcock. solicitor. Hokitika; Mr Wm. J. Searle, farmer, Herepo; Mr P. J. McLean, merchant, of Greymouth. The election of one member to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr Wm. Jeffries will take place on February 20. WESTPORT PERSONAL ITEM Mrs S. J. Atkinson, of Westport, returned on Thursday evening from a. iPacific Island cruise.- '

WATER SUPPLY AT RUNANGA DEPUTATION TO HON. P. C. WEBB ASSISTANCE FROM MINES , DEPARTMENT The need for a water supply at Runanga was emphasised by Mr R. McTaggart, Mayor, a member of a deputation which waited on the Hon. P. C. Webb on Thursday. Mr McTaggart said that he was satisfied that quite a number of people would live at Runanga if there were a good water supply. He said that the Public Works Department some years ago had estimated that the scheme would cost £23,000, but an Ashburton firm had made a quotation nearly £6OOO cheaper. The council could not meet the costs itself with the handful of ratepayers it had. He thought that the Mines Department should assist by giving half the money for the scheme. Even if the council wanted to he did not think it could raise a loan of £16,000. Mr McTaggart said that the tank water was not .pure. Another request made by the Mayor was that the council should be given a special grant for the maintenance of Herd street. Dunollie. A third request was for a fixed annual road grant from the Mines Department. There were some good sections vacant on the village settlement, but unless a man was an employee of the State Mine he could not get a section. There were several sections on the Seven Mile road, which, to make their title legal would require an Order-in-Council closing an old road and giving legal title to property-holders on the Seven Mile road, said Mr McTaggart. Mr Webb suggested that the request should be made to him through the borough council, and he would do what he could. Mr McTaggart asked for a grant from art unions to assist necessitous cases in the town. A further request was for about £l5O to clear a second playing area for the town. Those persons whose homes needed renovations should receive the same attention as those who needed new houses, said Mr McTaggart. Mr J. A. Lee, M.P., said in reply, that he thought that they would get the legislation that would enable them to deal with renovations. "I think the outstanding question is the water supply," said Mr Webb in reply. When he returned to Wellington he would arrange a conference with the Hon. H. T. Armstrong and the Hon. R. Semple. Thev would go into the matter very fully, and probably arrange a conference with the council later. .It would be very difficult to make a fixed annual grant for roads, Mr Webb said. There had been several applications for houses, and he had brought the matter under the notice of the Cabinet to let the Mines Department get money to build houses at Runanga. He said that they would probably have to revert to the old order of things. He would consider the mntter. but only for State mine men He nromised that he would bring the question of a grant from art union funds under the notice of the Hon. W E. Parry. Minister for Internal Affairs. He would discuss the maintenance of fhe road at Dunollie with Mr C. J StronKman. mine superintendent. He paid that he would consider the provision of another playing area.