HOKITIKA

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 August 1920, Page 5

HOKITIKA

BOROUGH COUNCIL. MEETING LAST NIGHT. (Own Correspondent.) The Council met at 7.45 p.m. Present. : His Worship the Mayor (G. A. Perry, Esq.,) Crs. H. M. Coulson, G. A. Wood, J. J. Breeze, N Warren, H. Thompson, F.«McGregor, A. Parkhill, Jas King, 11. Blank. A request was received from the Waimate Hospital and Charitable Aid Board re amendment of Public Health Act ,and protesting against the responsibility of inspection being thrown upon local bodies. —Resolved that the matter be held over for consideration. From Canterbury Automobile Asso elation (Westland Branch) asking Council to improve the road near. Cemetery Hill. —Left with Public Works committee to attend to. . The Health Inspector reported on premises requiring sanitary arrange' incuts attended to.- —Referred to per sons concerned REPORTS.

The Treasurer reported receipts amounting to £49 : payments .£72 2s, debit District Fund Account £541 18s 2diCr. Coulson reported on the financial position of the Borough and stated the present debt amounted to £973 14s sd. During the year extraordinary expenditure for which no provision had been made included the Prince’s visit, Peace celebrations, Maliinapua Creek bridge, etc. The Finance Committee recommended retrenchment by Hie curtailment of expenses as much as possible. The committee recommended dispensing with the services of casual labourers till the financial position had recovered. Cr. McGregor said be failed to see what Sfeuld be gained by prolonging the work of completing the Hall Street drain by dispensing with the services of a man or two. The finance's were not in such an alarming state as some thought. The Hall Street drain should be completed at aU costs.

Or. Coulson stated that it is intended to dispense with only one hand. The Hall Street drain was already doing good service. Cr. Parkhill took the Tame view as Cr. McGregor.

Or. Blank stated it was not proposed to dispense with casuals altogether. Cr. Thompson suggested that if no pipes were available the ditch could be completed and left open till cement is procurable to make more pipes. Cr. iCoulso moved the report be adopted, which was carried. The Town Hall committee reported that as the estimate for repairs to the hall amounted to £4OD they recommend that the ratepayers be given an opportunity of considering lie question of a new Town Hall and Municipal offices.

The Mayen’ moved that the question be referred back to the committee ror definite proposals respecting 'site, material, etc. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining cement, etc., timber may have to be used. A councillor asked if timber could be procured. , The motion was agreed to. Gr. Blank brought up the matter of the flooding of Mr. Ceclerman's orchards by water from the Jolley street drain. It was resolved that the Public Works Committee investigate and report at' next meeting.