KUMARA COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1921, Page 6

KUMARA COUNCIL

LIVELY DISCUSSIONS. (Own Correspondent.) KUMARA, August 12. The Kumara Borough Council met last evening; present: The whole Council with the exception of Or Fensom. - Speaking of the minutes as read, Cr Spiers said it was a totally different report- to what had appeared in the morning paper. It was not a correct report of what transpired. Cr , Batson: What paper are you referring to ?

Cr Spiers: The “Argus.” The Mayor said his attention had been drawn to the report of the Council s pioceedings in the “Argus,” and he considered it the most disgraceful that had ever appeared. It was not a repoit of the Council's meeting at all. It was simply a report ot an attack upon the Town Clerk by Cr Batson, and even then things were reported which never transpired. Personally, he liked to give re- ! orters every facility for reporting meetings, but he would not allow false reports to be spread about. Cr Batson said that he told Mr Paminent the amount he was receiving from the “Star.”

Cr Spieis moved that the minutes as read be confirmed. —Seconded by Cr Sai aty.—Carried. The Manager of the Grey “Star” wrote stating that M.’ Pamment (Town Clerk) had never received one shilling by way of commission <m account of Borough advertising, and the statements which had been made were contrary to fact. In justice to the Town Clerk, it was only fair that the matter should be cleared up. Cr Spiers said in order that the charge made by Cr Batson against the Town Clerk should be cleared up, he made a special trip to Greymouth and saw the Managei of the “Star.” The Town Clerk did not receive one penny by way of commission lor the Borough advertising. Cr Batson said that Cr Spiers seemed to take a deal of interest in the matter. He (Batson) had not accused him of anything wrong and he should mind lus own business. His reference had been made to the Town Clerk. Cr Spiers said that it was his business as a Councillor. He had no axe to grind ;\,r the Town Clerk, but he considered .the attack made by Cr Batson most cowardly and unjustifiable. H he considered die Town Clerk had done wrong, he would be Ihe first to say so. Cr Batson said that he must have been misinformed over the mattei. Ik was

rhe incident then ended. Gaidiner Wilson wrote re purcha.se of timber.—Offer accepted. Mr T. E. V. Scdon, M.V., wrote stating that the Warden’s Court had not been closed. In connection with this the Mavor stated he had been approached bp a number of business people m connection with the alleged closing, of the Court in Kumara, and had asked tne town Clerk to wire the member for the district. —Action of Mayor approved. Mrs A. McGlone wrote thanking the Council for letter of sympathy. , The .Chairman -of Public Works reported on various works carried out. Cr Spiers said that it would be wise to suepend any further works until such tinue ( as u-rrangements JJ id been ma e with the bank. The Mavor said that he would not be rash and suspend all works. In order to keep the man to attend to the cemetery, it would be necessary to find him a certain amount that required doing about the town.

Cr Spiers said that only very necessary works should be gone on with. Cl- Batson said that as Chairman of Public Works he should know what wanted doing, and would like to ask Cr Spiers if he thought he (Batson) did not have sufficient sense to know what was

required. Cr Spiers said he did not have much confidence in Cr Batson as Chairman of Public Works and at the same time considered Cr Batson’s remarks quite uncalled for. Cr Burrell said the discussion that had been going on was not needed; the Borough would have to have a man to do

necessary work. The Mayor moved that Mr W. McMahon do all necessary work required in the meantime. Or Batson seconded.—Carried. Cr Brayshaw (Chairman of Reserves) said the cemetery fence required a good deal of attention on three sides. Cr Berry said the Recreation fence was in a bad state. Resolved that the day labour man do

the necessary repairs. Cr Berry also drew the Council s attention to the bad repair of'a number of culverts.

The question of (Sunday football again cropped up. Cr Berry said he was not against football, but was certainly against it being played in the Borough on Sundays. He considered it disgraceful. I r Burrell said I hat he would like to know if there was anything in t he by-laws with r pf ( .| ( n to Sunday amusements so that the Conned would have something to go Upon the by-laws being produced it was found that there was nothing therein ns. e ting Sunday amusements in the Bmouuh, and the discussion was allowed

b> drop. (• r Berry brought up the proposition of li lit,lii'g the town by electricity. Ihe i-,. e-ciiry power, he said, was to be had , h'-ap'v in the town, and he thought tho H-' etne a good one. Cr Spiers said he h.;<- nr into the matter pretty thoroughly, and 2,400 horse-power was available now, without any alterations being made to the pipes. It would be a good suggestion, he thought, to get the Grey people to come in. The price of the water would be 16/8 an hour for 80 heads. He considered the power sufficient to light Grey, as well as Kumara, and the Council would be well advised to go into the matter. Cr Berry said he had mentioned the > matter to a number of Grey people, who, spoke favourably of the project. Cr Burrell said it would cost £20,000 to £30,000 to instal instead of.£looo as had been suggested. The Council would need to go into the thing thoroughly before anything was done. Cr Berry moved that a committee comprising the Mayor, Crs. Spiers, Batson, Burrell, Brayshaw and the mover be ap--1 pointed to go into the matter at any eaily ■ date. Cr Spiers seconded.—Carried. Cr Spiers gave notice to strike the annual rates for the current year.—Seconded by Cr Brayshaw and carried.