BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1924, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

LAST EVENING’S MEETING. Nearly a month ha£ elapsed since tlie last meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council, an ordinary meeting of which took place last evening. The Mayor (Mr W. H. Parfitt) presided, and there were present Messrs J .W. Greenslade, J. McGinley, A. C. Armistrong, G. R. Harker, R. J. Williams, T. B. Baty, and F. A. Kitchingham. An. apology was received for the absence of Cr H. F. Doogan. Cr. McGinley questioned the right of the Council to allow a garage to b<« erected in front of the residence of

Mr J. W. Hannan with doors opening on to the street, contrary to the newlyintroduced by-law affecting the question.

Cr Williams said that the matter might be adjusted by the erection of sliding doors. It jvould be a. hardship to have the garage shifted back. Crs. Baty and Harker supported Or. McGinley’s remarks, objecting to the deviation from the by-laws. Cr. Kitchingham said the matter should have come before the Council in the ordinary way. The building apparently had been erected without a permit. Garages, of course, were what he might term a modem invention, and most houses had been erected before the days of garages, and no provision had been made for the erection of them. It was in that way that hardships arose. Cr Greenslade said that a slight mistake had evidently been, made, but liq was of the opinion that as the

chairman of the Works Committee, in the absence of the Engineer, had granted the application, the Council should back him up oh this occasion. The Mayor concurred with this view and the matter dropped. A telegram was received from Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., stating that he had succeeded in getting the petition from the Council regarding the protective works at Omoto referred to the Government for consideration. Acknowledging the Council’s suggestions regarding the Motor Vehicles Bill, offered with a view of securing better treatment 1 for local bodies, Mr T. F. Martin, secretary of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, said that the Executive of the Association had already discussed the Bill, and he would have been glad if the Council’s letter had arrived in time for the meeting. He would be meeting the Minister on behalf of the Association, and all suggestions received by the Association would then be brought under the Minister’s notice. The feeling of the Executive was that the Bill should be placed on the Statute Book, and later amended Acts could be passed to meet the difficulties arising. Mr J O’Brien, M.P., promised to support the Council’s representations. Mr E. Noble, drover, of Runanga, applied for the title of three acres of land on the beach side of the Borough Abattoirs, for use’ as a holding paddock for stock. The matter was referred to the Reserves Committee. A application on behalf of the promoters of a projected tennis dub connected with St. John’s Presbyterian Church, was made by Mr G. A. Pollock, for permission to enclose and improve a portion of the reserve near the Town Belt, and te lay down courts. The promoters intended, if consent were given, to lay down two “chip” courts, drain and level the land, build a pavilion, and establish later some scheme of beautification. The matter was referred to the Reserves and Works Committee to report to the Finance Committee at its meeting on Thursday next; Appreciation of the Council’s action in returning to the West Coast Agricultural Association the prizes won by the Borough Council’s team of horses at the last Show was expressed in a letter of thanks received from the secretary of the Association (Mr C. H. Rose). ' An outline of its superannuation benefits was submitted by the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia, Ltd., for the information of the Council in the event of it adopting a superannuation scheme for the borough employees. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee. An offer of 23 flags for £lO/10/- the lot was made by Mark Sprot and Co. The Mayor said that a new set would cost a good deal more. The town had no flags at present and the manager of Mark Sprot and Co. (Mr J. D. Lynch) had been good enough to lend the flags on. different occasions for decorative purposes. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee.

The use of the museum room at the Town Hall was granted to the Westland Football Association on the customary terms, for use as a supper •,room at the ball in honour of the visiting Chinese team.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Recommendations contained in the report of the Finance Committee, read by the Chairman (Cr. J. W. Greenslade), were adopted as follows: — That it be an instruction to the acting Borough Engineer to pay workmen at the rate of time and a half for work performed on the following holidays, viz: Xmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Sovereign’s Birthday, and Labour Day. That annual holidays (one week) on full pay be granted to the following employees, if permanent: —Foreman, dray drivers, refuse cart, maintenance men, head stableman, water-works engineer, caretaker of reserves, turncock, sexton, in. spector of nuisances. Sanitary . cart driver and Acting Borough Engineer two weeks. The foregoing annual holidays are in addition to the statutory holidays. Permanent employee shall mean one who has been in the Council’s employ continuously for three j r ears or more. That annual holidays, if taken, must be taken yearly. That the matter of improving the lighting of Tainui Street, between the Opera House and the Gas Works Office, also Palmerston Street, be left in the hands of the Gas Works Manager and the Chairman of the General Committee, with power to act. That the Gas Works Manager be authorised to obtain a quotation for descriptive booklets relating to gas and its uses and report to next meetin" of the Finance Committee. That the question of installing an asphalting and stone crushing plant in the Gas Works yard be referred to the Works Committee and Engineer to confer with the Gas Works Manager

and report. Regarding an application made by the Public Trust Office on behalf of a person who owes overdue rates to the Borough, it is recommended that a reply be sent stating that the Council cannot agree to reduce the amount owing, and requesting the Pub 1 !'. Trust Office to make arrangements for pavment as soon as possible. That an application for reduction of an account for water supplied by meter be not entertained; the account must be paid in full.

That the Department of Health be informed that new .sewerage systems for the southern portion of the Borough and extension of the existing system in the vicinity of the Trotting Club’s course are being considered. Plans for the southern portion have

, ■—. ■ — been prepared, and plans for Tidai Creek and Blaketown are in course of ’ preparation. That a sub-divisional plan of section 64 and part section 63, Block X., Greymouth, Native Reserve, subm.it- ' ted by the Public Trustee on behalf of the estate of M. J- A. Foote, deceas- ' ed, for consent of Council, be agreed ' to, and that the plan be signed by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor (Cr. Greenslade). That the newspaper, “Board and. Council,” be purchased for one year. That a sub-committee, consisting of Crs. Greenslade, Baty and Harker, and the'Acting Borough Engineer, be appointed to collect necessary information in so far as it affects the Council’s works, in anticipation of electrical power being available within the Bor-!

ough. Re Motor Inspector’s report, which ■was referred to the Committee, ft is recommended That the Automobile Association be written to for suggestions as to suitable parking places for motor cars. That each application for an omnibus stand be dealt with on its merits. That the matter of providi”! an office for the Motor Inspector be left in the hands of the Chairman oi Finance and the Town Clerk to arrange. That the taxi stand be left where it is at present. That an application for a taxi driver’s license be not granted. That the fences of the residences of the Abattoir Manager and Sexton be re-erected, the choice of the type oi fence to be left in th e hands of the Chairman of the Works. Committee. That accounts totalling £1296/7/9 be passed for payment. Accounts which were paid since last meeting were examineci by the . Committee, the amount being £2486/12/0; bank balance, 31st July, 1924, creed £1244/10/11; receipts, July, 1924 £2336/3/7; expenditure© £2235/12/8. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer (Mr E. M. Williams) stated in his report that the work of metalling and formation of ovals in Buccleugh Street was almost completed. The formation of the west side of Palmestron Street was ready . for tarring and sanding. The watertables in Albert Street and Mawhera Quay were being re-graded and put in i order. The various binding materials 1 used on the streets of Chirstchurch, continued the Engineer, referring to istreet ?formation, were . obtained by the distillation of ordinary tar. The, use of distilled tar resulted in a better'i wearing surface and wet weather had ; practically no effect on newly-tarred I streets. He strongly recommended the! use of distilled tar on/our main streets jf and footways. The estimates and 1 plans of the sewerage and drainage works would be available for the next finance meeting. The average depth in the reservoir was 13ft 6in. Minimum depth lift 6in. The average gas consumption was 18,030 subic feet, and the average number of hours worked daily 14-g. . Two building permits had been granted. Cr Greenslade spoke of the unsightly appearance of the rails in Mawhera Quay, and asked who was responsible. The Mayor said that it was Harbour Board property. Ci* Greenslade added that there were dumps of litter along the rails, and these ought to be cleared. ' Cr Williams said that the shop people or their assistants used the quay and the river as a dumping ground. t On Cr Williams’s motion, it was . decided to ask the Engineer to report fully on the question of improving I street kerbings. r Cr J; McGinley asked for a full report from the Engineer on the cost - of the improvements to Buccleugh Street. } “I shall ask that the cost of the - beautifying work be kept separate,” - said Cr Kitchingham. c The report was adopted.