HOKITIKA AMENITIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1925, Page 2

HOKITIKA AMENITIES

BOROUGH COUNCIL DSBATE. (Our Own Correspondent). /' HOKITIKA, May. 23. The Hokitika Borough' Council met-' last evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr Geo. Pcriy), and Cis. H. M. Couls«xn, A. R. Elcock, W. Jeffries, S. F.Orr, G. tleinz, IT. T. Parry and G. H. Blank. The Mayor apologised for the absence of Cr D. J. Evans. Sir F. Bell wrote expressing, gratitude for message of sympathy with the Government in the death of the Hon. AV. r. Massey. ; The Manager of the 1 Hokitika .Savings Bank wrote .stating that authority had been given for donating £4OO to Wards repairs to the Public Library. Received with thanks. The Hon. H. L. Michel wrote thanking the Council for appointing him to the Fire Board. ■<’ *J. Lloyd,'AV. D. Mackay (ey-cquncil-lots) wrote thanking the Mayor and .Council for letters of appreciation. The Minister'of Public )Vo.rks wrote re Highways Boards, stating that assistance in some cases Will’ be gi' 7 ® 11 ; AV. Duncan and Co. wrote re division of sections in Upper-Sewell Street. , I’. Goodfellow wrote asking for water connection in Park Street. Referred to the Public AVoiks Committee to act. The Minister of Public Works wrote re the completion of the BrightonGreymouth road. . Tne Treasurer reported Receipts £5l 15/,' payments £37 2/, debit £422 17/3, credit' loan' account £lO9B 2/5. Accounts amounting to £153 14/ were passed for payment. Cr Coulson, on behalf of the Finance Committee, stated that they had no recommendation to make respecting the payment of wages fortnightly and finding oil coats for workmen. 'UF'Blank referred to the apparent ' large amount for trap hire. Cr Heinz - explained that this had beeii incurred in having the auxiliary water supply pipes fixed at Kanieri Forks. . < . ■ Cr Coulson raised the question of the Council obtaining a one ton lorry, • which might be used in conveying workmen as well as material about k town. , . Cr Coulson read a statement of estimated revenue, apd'expenditure. .He pointed out, that the Council, would have, to proceed very warily, or there, would be a big deficit at the close of the year. To complete the programme mapped out would mean an overdrafts £lO4O at thq close of the year. The Council would have »to economise wherever it could. • . The Mayor referred to the visit mf the members of the Board of Health, and the Council’s promise to deal with the matters. The first question was the removal of house refuse. He read a report compiled by the Inspector obtained from each hotel in. the borough as to_the disposal of their tabic refuse. Several of the hotelkeepres utilised the table refuse to feed fowls, while in other instances collectors called regularly to take the refuse away to feed pigs. He (the Mayor) felt convinced that the position was grossly exaggerated. 1 It was different here from large towns, where the accumulation of rubbish was a menace to public health. The rubbish question was negligible, but he thought that the Council might make a trial of the borough’ dray collecting rubbish ’ periodically. The chief question was that of sewerage, arid in that they felt their responsibility as much as the Board of Health, They, however, ( must first have a good and permanent water supply, which was essential.

Cr Heinz said that he was conversant with most of the homos about Hoki-

tika, where the yards were much cleaner than the backyards in Greymouth, with which he was also well-acquainted. He sconded the Mayor’s motion to give the diist cart a trial.

Cr Coulson regretted that he was not present oh the occasion of the visit of the Board, but he saw eye to eye with the Mayor. He w<is £lad, however, to see the. Board of Health enthusiastic about their work. ‘ The Mayor’: “They surveyed the whole district down to the Glacier Hotel.” (Laughter.* The Council does not want to be put to ,any unnecessary expense. They did let a contract once for collecting the rubbish, but there was none to collect rind the contractor gave it up. Cr Jeffries counselled the Council to gp warily. The Counciljiad powers to compel ratepayers to clear their owi» rubbish away. They must not creak* a precedent which might run them into unnecessary expense. . ■ The Borough now Ipid an Energetic inspector, who would see that the backyards were kept clean. He appreciated Cr Coulson’s warning to the Council respecting economy during the coming year. Economy could be practised, he added, instancing the Westland Hospital Board.

It was resolved that the Town Clerk reply to the Board uf Health to the effect that the Council would proceed with the sewerage works as finances pennit. The Mayor’s motion was carried. ' Cr Jeffries referred to the street lighting, which he said was unsatisfac r tory, and he moved that .li committee consisting of the Mayor, Crs Elcock, Heinz and Parry be sot up to go into the Question -of reinstating the gas lighting. The Mayor: “Oh, no/'that would be retrogression. I We are under contract with the company supplying the light.” Cr Coulson said that the light was not what it should be. The regulations allow of a, fluctuation of 5 per cent. He believed that there would be an improvement .shortly, but ho felt sure the neighbours' about the power station would prefer the bad light to the noise and smell. '

Cr Jeffries’ motion, amended to read that the sub-committee endeavour to have the light improved, was carried. Cr Parry said that the Council had just discussed light; he would refer to sight, and he pointed out the unsightly appearance of old wheels lying about* Fitzherbert and Stafford streets and the nuisance created .by wandering cows down Brittain Street footpaths towards the Central Factory. Cr Heinz thought that cows saved the Council the expense of cutting the grass on the streets. They were a good ’mower. Cr Parry said : “Why not increase flic revenue by letting the streets for grazing, as he understood one town on the Coast did?” - “Westport,” suggested the Mayor.