Cromwell Borough Council

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXI, Issue 3166, 8 June 1931, Page 5

Cromwell Borough Council

•♦« The monthly meeting of the above ivas held on Thursday evening. Present: Crs Parcel!, Partridge, Bell, Campbell, MaiVey, and Varcoe. .'n tlie unavoidable; absence of both the Mayor and the Deputy-Mayor, Cr Parcell was voted to the chair. .Apologies were tendered on behalf, of these two and Cr Brown wrote to the same effect.

Minutes of last meeting were confirmedj and outward correspondenceapproved. Inward correspondence was read and dealt with as follows;

Cr Brown wrote making some suggestions regarding the money collected for Victoria Park, the former resolution being hardly * in order. He suggested that this be rescinded and the handling of.the money left with the subscribers. —The clerk explain ?d that the suggested method of handling the money might complicate the annual audit. On notice of motion Cr Vatcoe moved that the former motion be rescinded. This was seconded by Cr Campbell and carried.

The secretary, Cromwell Racecourse Trust, wrote granting the - of the eastern and southern areas of the reserve as a landing ground for aircraft, with the condition that any damage to property or stock be compensated for.—The letter was received and the offer (accepted. "

Mr J. Chalmers asked the council to top ' the large trees north of his residence, as these , shaded his house in winter and kept it cold and damp. —The council agreed that the request was .a most reasonable one, and the work wad left with the chairman of the Forestry Committee to act as r;oon as possible. The chairman of the local Unemployment Committee wrote draAving attention to the need for better provision for handling stock at Cromwell Railway Station, and sought the cooperation of the council in representing the matter to the Railway Department. The writer suggested that if the Railway Department supplied she necessary material the Unemployment Committee could, through the council, supply the labour under scheme No. 5. The need of increased holding and drafting yards was supported by the local Stock and Station Agents, and it was considered in the interests of the town' and district that some "m----provement should* be made. It was further pointed out that 31,700 sheep passed through the yards in 1930, and that 35.000 had been handled this year. The support of the council was sought in the matter.

The question opened up a general discussion on the programme of wor< in view in the borough and its surroundings with the assistance of l' o Unemployed scheme. Included tlnvein were proposals for cleaning out Firewood Creek reservoir and constructing- a reservoir on the Mount Pisa service. Members agreed that the proposed work at the yards was essential. Finally it was decided to forward the application to the Vine slit County Council for .favorable conthe- railway station 'ring withiin the County. The clerk *v as also instructed to write urging Iht Minister, of Railways .-.to -provide the for. The Postmaster ', Cromw>j|, •' wrote acknowledging the application by the council; for a "stamp-vending machine at the Cromwell . post office. This had been Fbrwarded;>to ith'e Chief Postm'liter', for consideration. He also noted the remark that there was no licensed stamp dealer in Cromwell, and pointed out that Mr L. 1. AnO'jrson was a licensed dealer and had a notice, to that effect' on his shop.Received. '*■

Mir Burrows, postmaster, wrote handing- over all pa nor* in .connect <.n with the Cromwell' ("jh£v>,iV»oymtM»i Committee. The clerk explained that i.t was previously decided that the postal officials should carry out the work, the counciT being- responsible for a payment of f.Oo per annum therefn*. It had iinw been found that this could not ho allowed. On tW evo of the Mayor's departure for . Dunedin. ho had called on the clerk, and the latter acrreed to art asain in the meantime. The wo»-k had increased to a remarkable extent, as the committee was operating- for the whole district. The clerk had practically ennlicd on + ho work for the past five months. and all that had been paid for this .wis .£,l to his daughter as assistant. In reply to questions it was stated that the Unemployment Commissioner would- not allow more than one committee to operate locally. The work could be done as formerly. It « r :is merely a matter of remuneration. The. opinion was expressed/ that the local bodies deriving benefit from the scheme should adont a definite basis for payment of salary. The county chairman was agreeable to this. Finally the matter was referred to the Unemployment Committee. The application of the Cromwc'l Brass Band for the annual subsidy of /!?o was granted. Renlying to thrt council's application for a reduction in charges for postal boxes the Chief Postmaster pointed out that the present chaise was the same as in all parts of the Dominion and was considered reasonable. No reduction could be mode. The secretary. Cromwoll Fire Brigade, wrote asking that the annual surprint ion to the T'.T'.B.A.. and the accident insurance policy on members be naid.—Passed for pavment. TW» prcretarv also complained of madonna to psli-tins on one nroper+.v in tl<~ tr. M-n —Th<> mntte" was J off yri+l. the clerk and Cr Parcell to interview the owner.

A letter from the Health Pepmtment iirginir eronoim- wherever possible was received and noted. . . REPORTS.

Cr Partridge (Water Committee), reported that everything- was satisfactory, and the supply was keeping up well. The Firewood Creek reservoir was overflowing. It was the practice to turn out the head water on the Mount Pisa race during the winter to eliminate the danger of breaks, and arrange with Mr Bradley for water from another creek- This had previously proved quite sufficient. The caretaker was going to do this the following day, if Mr Bradley was agreeable. A small piece of four-inch pipe was requjred to carry the water clear of the relief valve, Another suggestion was to turn off the water from several of the reserves to overcome the danger of burst pipes in winter. In some of. the streets the existing- mains had been lowered. The cleaning out of Firewood Creek reservoir would i,e considered at the first favorable opportunity, and a proposed reservoir on the Mount Pisa supply would be considered. This would be a great benefit to ratepayers. In cciii«j< tion with the application of R. Walker for an inch tapping- he thought this might be granted as the council had the water to spare now. The same appU-

cant had asked for the use of the water from the relief valve but ho (the chairman), thought the applicant would have some difficulty in landiug this oji his property.—Received. The council did not favor making a grant from the relief valve. The application for the extra -to* inch service created a long discussion. It was pointed out that there was already a two-inch and a one-inch tapping from the main in that locality, and additional grants would react mi the domestic! supply in the town in dry periods. It was suggseted that Mr Walker might be left with the present half-inch service to the house, and granted a one-inch tapping from the main at the highest point in his property. A previous one-inch service there had discharged a big volume of watei. Finally; the matter was deferred pending an inspection by the council in company with the applicant. Cr Harvey (Forestry Committee), reported' that he had collected the young trees and placed these in a inu'sery row. These Mould be planted out early, and somu would be used for replacements on the hospital road. The timber on Victoria Park had been practically all carted) away and what was left could be burnt. The committee would meet at an early date.

Cjl Partridge submitted an offer of 5s for a tree in the New Cejmetc.-y, but the matter was left with the chairman of the Forestry Committee. Accounts amounting to 4s yd were passesd for payment. Cr Harvey asked what was proposed in connection with Victoria Park. He thought} it advisable to go* on as soon as possible. A meeting of the Forestry Committee could be held at any time. lie understood Mr G. J. Rattray had agreed/" to peg off the area in accordance with the plan.— The committee was instructed to inspect and report.

In connection with tables for the lire brigade the matter was le-ft with the clerk' to make inquiries and act.

Instructions were issued to have the street taps attended to at onco, and also ai tap discharging water on co the footpath at the western end of Inniscort street.

Cr Partridge drew attention to the state of the footpath from the Council Chambers to Bowies' store. This had an uneven irregular surface and after rain/ was a succession of pools of water. He thought the surface should be improved. The clerk said the work was in sight. A sample. of a new preparation was to hand and was to be tried on a section at an early date. The meeting closed with the l usual vote to the chair.