BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1926, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

LAST EVENING’S MEETING. The Groymouth RbroUgll 6oUnell met last evening; present: Tile Mayor (Mr.W. H., Parfitt), Crs J. W. Greenslad’e, H. F, Doogan, R; J; F. A, Kitchingliarffi G, R. ttai’kbiS J; B. Kent, j. McGinley, J, O’Brifeii and G. Perotth . The Director General > Health notified that the New SZealaiid Sanitary Inspectors' Association will hold its annual conference from January *24 to 28 next. It was decided to grant Mr E.M. Bettel permission to dttfeild the conference, - A letter from the Acting-Prime Minister, stating that the resolution of the Council regarding broken time at the State Mines would receive careful consideration, was forwarded by Mr H. E„ Holland, M,P. - • Endorsement Of the Council's resolution was advised by the Cobden Town Board and the Buller Progress League, but the Greymotttll Harbour Board wrote cßkliig for further in-, formation. • ’ Ct Greonslade hlovfed that nd further action be taken In i ; egai’d to the Harbour Bod,rd-. J.h doing 'so, he expressed the opinion that the members Of the Board, with their local knowledge, should be fully conversant with the position. It struck him as being rather peculiar on their part to ask for further information aOOUt h hifit ter that had been gif Oil fitil publicity; Even a body eh hte away aS the Duller Progress League had the intelligence to understand the position, it Would bo a Waste Of time to white any iuh ther to the Board, it fcoehied that some good had C’uine out of the Council’s resolution,. as the Government had Sent the “heads” to the Coast, and it looked as if some of the Council’s suggestions might be adopted-. The resolution WUS Seconded by Cr O’Brien and carried. The InadeUliate lighting of Gerald Street and the dangerous state of the footpath was complained about by Mrs A. E. Wifck, who stated that she had written to the Council bn the subject in AUgdst; Cr Doogan said that the lighting was being attended to, and would be referred to in the report of the Lighting Committee. Cr McGinley moved that the footpath be referred to the Works Committee and the Engineer, With power to act. The resolution was seconded by Cr . Kiltchingham and carried. A protest to the effect that nothing had been done to improve the footpath to his residence on Kilgour Road was received from Mr R. B. Smith, who pointed out that the Council had referred the matter to the Engineer and Works Committee, with power to act, on June 25 last. Cr Williams said that the work had been authorised, and was practically in hand, now being the third or fourth on the list of dozens of small jobs of a similar nature. Cr O’Brien moved that Mr Smith be informed that the work would be done as soon as practicable. The resolution was seconded by Cr Greenslade, and carried. The British Imperial Oil Company requested permission to. erect d bulk petrol depot on Lots 9 and 15, Block 28, Greymouth (Herbert Street rubbish dump, next to the Star Club's shed). The Deputy Chief Inspector of Explosives forwarded copy of a letter authorising the company to erect the depot, providing the Council gave permission. Cr Greenslade said that the matter should receive serious consideration. In fome towns there had been great controversy on the subject, from the viewpoint of safety, and the depreciation of adjoining properties. The people whom the Council was representing should be protected. He moved that the question be referred to the Works Committee and the Engineer for a report. The resolution was seconded by Cr ; Doogan and carried. < The Secretary of the Gas Institute wrote stating that the annual confer- , ence will be held at Wellington on February 9 next. The same permission as granted last year was given to the Gas Manager (Mr J. Kennedy) to attend the conference. The Greymouth Harbour Board wrote asking if the Council would bear part of the cost of widening Mawhera Quay, by asphalting the railway line at present laid there. After discussion, it was decided," on the motion of Cr Doogan, seconded by Cr Kent, that the Engineer prepare ; an estimate of the cost of the work, and submit it to the Board, with an offer from the Council to pay onethird, provided that such expenditure is passed by the Audit Department. ( Cr O’Brien moved that the Town , Clerk prepare and submit to the Coun- , cil data showing what jurisdiction the J Council had over Mawhera Quay. This resolution was seconded by Cr Me- . Ginley and carried. j The Municipal Association of New ( Zealand advised that all remits should be handed to the Secretary before j December 9, for the conference to be < held at Palmerston North in Feb- , ruary next. ? On the motion of the Mayor, sec- . onded by Cr Greenslade, the matter J of remits was referred to the Finance 2 Committee. { That the Council provide surface } drainage, sewerage, gas, and water in T Ida Street, was the request made by r Mr L. T. J. .Rohloff and five others. Cr O’Brien moved that the matter < be referred to the Works Committee. A The resolution was seconded by Cr Harker and carried. j The Council’s consent to the transfer of the lease of section 66, Reserve 51, to Thomas Sotheran from Thomas William Johnston, also a transfer , from Richard Thomas Knowles . to Thomas Sotheran, Was requested by j Messrs Hannan and Seddon. Consent * was granted, subject to everything 1 being in order. The Grey Progress League wrote re- ; questing the Council to advertise the 1 Gas Department in the League’s booklet, at £5 a page, and also requested the Council to continue to grant the League the use of a room in the Town . Hall building for its meetings, for a little while longer. The League was ' willing to meet any additional expense 1 involved by the extra work put on the caretaker. It was decided, on the motion of Cr O’Brien, seconded by Cr Kitchingham, t to forward the League’s advertising T proposition to the Gas Manager, with t a favourable recommendation. | Cr Kitchingham suggested that the r League be allowed to use the room ( for meetings, without payment, until j the end of January; No doubt the . League would then be on its feet and would be able to make other arrange- j ments. A prebedent need not be-es- t tablished by" such action. j A resolution granting the use of c the room as suggested was moved by f Cr Doogan,’ seconded by Gr McGinley, ( and carried. ■< i THOSE. BUSES 1 < 1 . r-'h. ■ 1 Since competition became keen be- c tween rival bus-owners, the Council « and. its traffic. Inspector-.,(Mr.-. A.-J. 1 Sloss) have been'trying unsuccessful- i ly to bring about satisfactory con- i ditions. The trouble was again re- ( ferred to by the Traffic Inspector, who E reported.:—- . .. ... : “ t Certain complaints have been made 2 \yith regard to the speeding of the buses owned by Messrs Kennedy Bros, and Hahn, running between Grey-. 1

moiith and Karoro. I aid informed that this is done after the pictures, but I may say that those who complain don’t care to coms forward and substantiate their statements, dlthotigli I krioiV fbr Certain that even at brdinaty limbs thfey travel up to 25 miles an hoiir. Iri fact, I Was ifi ° ne buses and was watching the »pa®dometef; which was showing 25 mile§. But the trouble is to prove that they ai’b speeding, and tiding to one aiiother f it is a very difficult for ode person to prove. I would like to deli that, a meeting of the Traffic Committed bO (SUilted to see what can bb .donO. The matter 6i stopping tiidcßS: Wliicli both proprietors asnek! for has not betm edrtied out ;' dlso the matter of not stopping tions which is repeatedly benig aotitf, although they have been asked to stop either one side or the other to allow Other ti’hffie ts pass around. It soeijl. 9 that Sighs will hate to "be eificted notifying ths plffite to stop; ftegafding tlte inilttef bf dllOwihg Bute’s; OhaliigO their route; it seems id. mb thbjr dte bulling in and out of every crb.Ss street, which in my opinion should be Stbpped, as instead of being omnibuses trtey are mbte like taxi cars. Cr. Kent: I think Hhe only cure is for the Council to run the buses themselves# Cr. Kitchingham said he did not think racing took place during the d*Cn b’Brieri: Tiffin gbt iid W 85 01' 90 miles per hour; . . Cr. Kitchingham: Quite, date. No ttehhite action was taken regarding Ute fttettef; . Tlte Ti'aSte liispebterS. tOpdrt itlSO contained the foliowihg OlatffiO:— Another matter 1 wish to, draw yduf Council’s atthhtiOii t 8 te Uiaf. I Have lidd Obhijliaiilts trOni Messts RuStf-.qiid db.) tlhtl also from Mi* Moss, the side entrance to places off Mackay Street, and that they have been obstructed frbni backing into these laned thrbiigh the taxi proprietor hot moving their, eats wheii feliiiested to du SO; t lid vised them ip telioft the matter to tile dounCil. 1 liayb spdkdii to the taxi drivers sevefai times iiiid they informed me that when requested to do so, they have always inbved up. I think it was arranged between the Traffic Committee and myself regarding same, and on seeing the taxi drivers they agreed that they would leave all Opeiiiilg; Letters on the subject were received from Moss and Co., and Rugg and Co. Cr. Kitchingham moved that the Traffic Inspector be asked to attend to the matter forthwith, and that the whole question be referred to the Traffic Committee. The resolution was seconded by Cr. Kent and carried. Cr. Doogan said that the whole trouble was brought about by only one or two of the taxi men. Cr. Kitchingham: We will have to get a municipal gallows! (Laughter). WIG-WAG SIGNALS Advice received from the Railway Board stated that the erection of a ■wig-wag signal at the Cobden crossing will be considered. Cr. Doogan said that a strict interpretation was required concerning the use of railway crossings where such signals were installed. A number of people were wondering how they should act. Should they cross immediately after the train, passed, or must they wait until the bell stopped ringing? One would think that, traffic could resume as soon as the train passed. i Cr. Greenslade: But they do go over, don’t they? Cr. O’Brien: The thing was wigging and wagging there for an hour tonight, and there was no train near it! (Laughter). Cr. Doogan said that one motorist had stated that he was going to be prosecuted for crossing before the bell stopped, although the train was a long way past the crossing. There did not seem any sense in that. He personally had been in a car, and had to wait when the bell rang. Cr. Greenslade: Goodness, it might be the means of putting off a Council meeting altogether some night ! (Laughter). Cr. O’Brien: Is there any regulation? Cr. Doogan: Apparently you have to wait until that jolly bell stops. If something goes wrong with the works, and it rings for a couple of hours, you have apparently to wait there. I agree that the signal is a good thing, but it wants a not too narrowminded construction on it. Cr. Harker said that the Automobile Association had written to the Railway Department on the subject. One motorist had been held up at the crossing for 13 minutes after the bell started. It was only making a farce of the thing at present. Cr. Williams considered that the signal was really meant to warn the public, and relieve the Department ■ of all responsibility. • ; Cr. O’Brien stated that it was well j known to the Department that such < signals were not reliable, as they ; were affected by climatic changes/ * That was the trouble at Greymouth, < and the signals would never be re- ] liable in the Coast climate. He could 1 not understand anyone being prose- < cuted, and understood that the same < regulations applied to the crossing 1 now as was the case before the sig- 5 nal was installed. £ Cr. Kitchingham moved that the 1 Council write to the District Rail- 1 way Engineer, and ask what the regulations were concerning the crossing. J Cr. Kent seconded the resolution < and it was carried. 1 Later in the meeting, the Mayor re- t ferred to the effort beiiig made to i postpone the departure of the Royal t train to Hokitika by an hour in ( March next. ' i Cr. Kent: We might be able to 1 arrange the wig-wag, and keep them here all day! (Laughter). REPORTS. 1 1 The Finance Committee reported £ that accounts amounting to < £3590/15/4, were recommended for 1 payment and accounts amounting to £l9ll/7/7, which were paid since i last meeting were examined. Recommendations: —That the matter of the i economical working of the motor I truck be referred to the Works Com- i mittee and Engineer to go into. That 1 the State Mines Department be writ- i ten to regarding the price of gas coal. 1 That the lighting of the post office 1 clock be left in the hands of the j lighting Committee to make the best 1 possible arrangements. That the mat- t ter of renewal of expired leases of municipal sections be left in hands of the Town Clerk and the Borough Engineer to report thereon. That all outstanding revenue be sued for. That } the matter of a gas consumer’s account be left in the hands of the Gas Workg Manager with full power to act. That the Council forego half j cost-of the additions to the Municipal . Band buildipgs which .were ; carried . out this year. Accounts recommend-: ‘ ed for payment amounted to £782 r 7/10 arid accounts paid since last ‘ meeting amounted to £1928 15/5. It t is that . thq Borough Gardener’s salary be increased by 5/6 per week as from the Ist September last. Bank account as on October, 1926 i: :£ 2874-1/4. debit. : ‘ The report was adopted. The Engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid) , reported as follows:—Maintenance has,. 1

received, necessary attention during the ■ period. Portion of I’aroa Road was scarified and shaped up,. . and,- - after rolling, received a thin coat of fine beach shingle. The gravelled portion of Mawhera Quay has received the same coat. The places so treated appear to be standing . up to traffic somewhat better. Blaketown streets have been worked upon and water, tables cleaned out, this wert'k being still in progress. A' footpath llfi» been formed and gravelled on south side of Rigg Street. A further portion of Mackay Street has been tarred and sanded. The approach road to the swimming bath has been formed and gravelled and culvert put in. The bottom cord of the footbridge id the Children’s Park was rusted through In places. A strap has been put in to repair same. Several cases of blocked drains and sewers have been attended to. The laying of the running planks on Cobden bridge has been completed and the asphalting of the dfick; wiU be completed to-day. The bdttom fcorffi, and transoms are being cleaiiGl.- The ironvprk has bee.n ch p ped iiiid #ife brnMmo, and pdiiitefi in tlie' course of tnC. cO .-? l £f week. Tile' deAk Of the bridge xv u . 1 tarred , and saiidt'O Hl ini early dau,; and the bridge will thdil de ih an efficient state of repail*. < , Waterworks. —A number of leaks 10 the malilB have been reported and attended to. Lealta decurred in Nelson Street, under the railway line, in Cowper Street, and under the Street bridge. This latter placd i® a potential source of serious trouble, aS' tile iiiaiii Ihta sunk on either side of the abiitriieiits siiid Ute joints are now badly aligned. The taking. «P and laying of about three chains oi jnain is required. The. two inch mail! aiitiitaised is now being laid in Ida Stiefel; The! pillnping station is now prafetieaiiy feOiiWle'ted a trial run Will life; iriaitfe' this aftfertiooiL All being wfe‘ll lite iiew plant will be in operation as froffi tomiglit. - Building permits issued ftoip 2S.lffi26 to 24.11.26, inclusive.—F. E. Sieiif/ gatage) Doyle Street; J. Clark, garage, -Siakfe Dtfefet; E. Warnes, addition to washiidiisfe', Shakespeare Street, G. PattetsOii; garage, Slake Street; G. Pattei-sOri; dlteratioti to dwelling, Herbert Street; Ellery and Haasen, dwelling, Reid Strefei, W. Harililton, dwelling, Arney Street; .1. Drake, addition to store, Herbert Street; G. Patterson, repairs to dwelling, Leonard Street; C, Lamont, garage, Reid Street; J. Drake, shop front, Mackay Street; R. E; Bellaffiy, repairs to shop, Chapel Street; G. Kiiapp, garage, High Street; F. and T. Sothefaii, shop front, Mawhera Quay;W. Hamilton, repairs to dwelling, Shakespeare Street; R. Clarke, garage, Shakespeare Street; G. Hudd, repairs to dwelling, Chapel Street; C. A. Tilleyshort, repairs to dwelling, Chapel Street; J. T. Jacques, repairs to dwelling, Leonard Street. Cr. Kitchingham said that if anything went wrong with the Shakespeare Street main it would be very serious. The Engineer should be authorised to have the necessary repairs effected at the earliest possible date. The proposal was endorsed by Cr. Kent, and agreed to by the Council. The report was adopted. The Traffic Inspector reported as follows:—The traffic so far is still keeping very orderly, although a great part of my time of late has been taken up out of town on heavy traffic and other mattery. I am forwarding a plan of a silent .policeman for the centre of Tainui and Mackay Streets. It seems impossible to keep anything there very long. The two silent policemen have already done good work, but have been smashed up every time. I think it needs something more substantial. Should this not meet with the approval of the Council, perhaps it could suggest something that would serve the purpose. I would like to ask the Council if it would be possible to, have the domes in the centre of the intersection raised a little higher so as to make them more visible. Cr. Doogan moved that the Engineer confer with the Power Board’s Engineer, with a view to having a light-, ed dome installed at the Tainui-

Mackay Street intersection and that the work be authorised on the understanding that the cost will not exceed £l5. The resolution was seconded by Cr. Kitchingham and carried. On behalf of the Lighting Committee, Cr. Doogan recommended the installation of 15 additional electric lights at various points, explaining that the Council would still be within its agreed upon number of 200. It was also recommended that two electric lamps, each of 250 candle power, be placed on the pillars outside the Town Hall, at an installation cost of £2O, and an annual upkeep cost of £9; also that twelve 40-watt lights be installed at a cost of £22 in the town clock, at an annual upkeep cost of £l6. The report was adopted. The Works Committee recommended that Clause 7 of the amended bylaws, 1924, regarding sanitary appointments in the sewered area, be enforced, provided that six months be allowed for the making of connections in the brick area,, and 12 months outside such area. Russell’s Hill and access to residences on hillside: It will be necessary to purchase portion of a privately-owned section, so as to make a suitable graded roadway up the hill. The owner of the, property offers the house and section for £650, or 12 perches for £lOO. In the meanttime, it is recommended that the present pathway be put in good order, and the matter of the land purchase be referred to the Finance Committee. The report was adopted. The Beautifying Committee recommended various improvements to the Children’s, Park, including the replacement’of some tracks by lawns; the conversion of the old lily pond into a sand pit; the old fish pond in the centre of the Park into a rockery; and the instalation of a penny-in-the-slot. gas meter at a suitable position. The report was adopted. Cr .Greenslade moved that a price be obtained from the owners (Phelan’s estate) for the small section at the corner of Mackay and Boundary streets. At present the ugly v-shaped corner gave a bad appearance to that portion of the town. Cr Harker seconded the resolution, and it was carried. Cr ■ Williams suggested ' that the white-painted posts at various corners be removed, as they were not now necessary; and that the repairs to footpaths cut up by the installation of water, gas, and power services should take precedence apd be carried out before the Christmas holidays, when many visitors would be coming to the town. The suggestions were referred to the Engineer. LATE LETTERS. Periodically. protests are , made at meetings of the Council regarding infringements of the rule passed to prevent new business, not on the orderpaper, being introduced. When the Mayor stated that a letter had come in late from the Progress League, and asked whether the Council wished to consider it,, Cr McGinley protested, and asked why the Council did not carry out its resolutions. Had certain people in town a right to preferential treatmerit? . . The Mayor:’ Certainly not! Cr McGinley: >You pass a resolution at one meeting, and .ignore it at the next. Cr Doogan said he agreed that nothing important should be sprung on the

Council. There . were trivial matters that might be dealt with, however, although they were new business. Cr Kent’s resolution that the late letters be considered, was carried. Cr McGinley: Will you not have to rescind the former resolution before you can consider them? The Mayor: No. We"can take them if we like. Cr McGinley: I will abide by your ruling, but it is bad, alLthe same! Cr Kitchingham: - One of the troubles of this Council is that it takes too long to get through its business. Last evening’s meeting commenced at 8 o’clock, and concluded-at. 11.45 p.m.