LOAN PROPOSALS AT ROLLER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22335, 24 February 1938, Page 3

LOAN PROPOSALS AT ROLLER

Three Local Bodies POLLS TO BE TAKEN A large-scale borrowing scheme is being considered by three local bodies in the Buller district, which promises to provide employment for many men for a considerable time if the proposals are sanctioned by the rateP3 The S Westport Borough Council has recently had the streets of Westport almost completely tar-sealed, and will now hold a poll of ratepayers in the near future to sanction the raising of loans for £IO,OOO for footpath sealing and £11,500 for a new Town Hall. A sum of £I2OO has been given for an electric clock for the hall by two residents, Mr H, Morgan and Miss E. Morg£The present hall is totally inadequate for the needs of the staff and other purposes for which it is used. The Government Local Bodies Loans Board has agreed to loans being raised to carry out the schemes. The Buller County Council will also place a proposition before the ratepayers in May—to borrow a large sum for tar-sealing the county roads. The traffic on these highways is considerable and frequent complaints of tne dust nuisance have prompted the council to have the roads sealed as soon as possible. The County Council will also try to obtain a loan for a new office building, which, it is estimated, will cost about £SOOO. Hospital Facilities The need for greater hospital facilities has been made apparent to the Buller Hospital Board for some time, and plans have already been considered tor improvements to the wards, staff, and porters’ and domestics quarters at the hospital. It is expected that the total cost . will be about £20,000. Another big item of expenditure which is being considered is the provision of maternity hospitals at Granity and Karamea. The Commission of Inquiry into Maternity Services, which investigated the maternity facilities in the Buller district, recommended that these institutions be provided, and the Buller Hospital Board is ready to comply with the commission s recommendations as soon as finance can be artotal debt of the three local bodies mentioned is very small, when compared with others m New Zealand, and it is confidently expected that the proposals will meet with the full endorsement of the residents of the district. The Hospital Board is ma ny dependent on the Borough and County Councils for its upkeep.

CRIPPLED CHILDREN SOCIETY MEETING OF WESTPORT BRANCH Evidence of the great work the New Zealand Crippled Children Society was doing in this country, and the Buller district in particular, wa iven by the president of the Westpoit branch (Mr F. N. R. Downard) at a meeting of the branch on Monday evening. _ ,„„ Tlie Buller County was fixed as the territory to be covered by the westP Sub-committees to further the work of the branch were set up as follows: Executive committee, Messrs Downard, J. Kilkenny, and the Rev. H. L. Wilkinson, Mesdames E. D. Dunn, F. O'Gorman, and Miss M. Harkness; finance committee, Messrs Downard, Kilkenny, A. Anderson, Mesdames W. Bennie and Baillie, and Miss Beatson; vocational committee, Messrs Downard, Kilkenny, Mrs Dunn, and Miss E. Findlay: discovery committee, all members of the branch. The president reported that Dr, Will, of Christchurch, would probably be visiting Westport on March 6, when it might be possible to arrange for him to attend a meeting of the branch. Comment was made that in 1936 £l5O had been paid out of the general fund in the district and the branch subscriptions had amounted to only 10s. MAGISTRATE’S COURT SITTING HELD AT WESTPORT In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr R. Ferner, S.M., Walter O’Keefe, who did not appear, was fined 17s 6d and ordered to pay costs on a charge of stealing a bag of coal, the property of the Westport Coal Company. James Butterworth, N. Comerford, •and W. Thurlow were all convicted and fined 10s, and ordered to pay costs for riding bicycles without lights. C. F. Turk (Karamea) was convicted and fined 10s and ordered to pay costs for using a motor-vehicle without a number-plate. For permitting three cows to stray on a Westport street, John R. Rayner was fined 10s and ordered to pay costs.

GORSE FIRES AT WESTPORT During the last week, with almost record high temperatures in Westport, fires in the gorSe and lupins near the north beach residential area have threatened two residences on different occasions before being brought under control by persons living nearby, FIRE BRIGADES’ CONFERENCE Advice has been received by Mr B. McDonagh (secretary of the Westport Volunteer Fire Brigade) that Westport and another town will be considered for the next annual conference and demonstration of the New Zealand Fire Brigades’ Association. A- vote will be taken among the 145 brigades in New Zealand.

SHIPPING PORT OF WESTPORT WESTPORT, February 23. The Rata sailed to-day for New Plymouth and Wanganui, and is due to return on Saturday. . „ . . „ The Wingatul sailed early this morning for Wellington. The Totara arrived yesterday afternoon from Miramar, loaded bunkers, and proceeded to Bruce Bay to load timber for New Plymouth. . . , . , The Kakapo sailed for Auckland early this morning. The Kaimal is expected to sail this evening from Dunedin, via Wellington, and is due here to-part load on Monday for Gisborne and Napier, completing at Greymouth. The Totara is due to return from New Plymouth to load bn Monday for Miramar. The Wlngatui is due to return from Wellington to load again early next week for Wellington.