BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1929, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL

•MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council, held last " evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr J: W. Greensl'ade), and Crs J. B. Kent, F. A. Kitchingham, R. J. Williams, G. Perotti, J. McGinley, A. M. Carroll, J. S. Robertson, and C. C. Gleeson. An apology for absence was ‘received from Cr J. D. Wingham. A request was made by W. Hughes, abattoir manager, that his residence be painted, as it had not been done for eight years. The Mayor pointed out that it had I been decided to economise wherever possible, and to postpone any nonessential works. “We have got to preserve our pro- . pert’y • somehow,” objected Cr Kitchingham. The request'was referred to the Finance Committee.®

Access to his section, Byron Street, was requested by J. L. Patterson, who .stated that he contemplated building, and pointed out that his section is only 114 feet from Nelson Street. On the motion, of Cr Kitchingham, seconded by Cr Perotti, the request was referred to the Works Committee and the Engineer to report. The bad state of the open drain in front of his Marsden Road property was the subject of a complaint made by Edward Richardson, who asked that, in the interests of health, the drain should be attended to. Cr Kent said that the matter should be attended to. Qther houses had been built in the locality, and the drain was creating a nuisance. He moved that the Engineer submit a report. The resolution was seconded by Cr Carroll. The Engineer stated that the question of the Council’s liability was involved. The Mayor said that Mr Richardson did not ask for anything unless it was urgent. He (the Mayor) believed that a very bad nuisance had been created, and it was likely to become serious with warmer weather. 5 Such things were allowed for in the defeated loan proposals, and it was impossible to carry out many new works out of revenue. A hard and fast rule must be laid down, and too much new work must not be undertaken, otherwise tlie Council would be in difficulty at the end of the financial year.

Cr Kent said that something might he done to abate the nuisance. What did the reference to the Council’s liability mean? The Mayor: I understand it is the taking over the control of certain drainage. Cr Carroll objected that the Council were getting away from the resolution. Cr Kitchingham stated that the proposed report should be made to cover the whole of the open drainage in the Marsden Road locality. Altogether, it was a pretty complicated affair. The resolution was carried. That Morice Lane be metalled and made available for use, was the request made by Westland Breweries, Ltd., to whose section at the junction of Turumaha and Herbert Street the lane gives access. The Mayor said that the lane was public. His suggestion, that the matter be referred to the Works Committee for a report, was agreed to. The Canterbury Education Board advised that Mr ft H. J. Bignell had been requested to confer with the Council and the School Committee, with reference to the proposed exchange of-land at the State School. An invitation to the Chairman of the Reserves Committee and the Superintendent or Curator of Reserves, to attend the conference to be held at Napier in January next, was received from the Park Superintendents’ Association of New Zealand. The Mayor stated that Cr Kitchingham (Chairman of the Reserves Committee) was likely to be at Napier, and he had consented to represent the Council, without remuneration. Thanks for the use of the museum room for the annual conference, and for the hospitality extended to the delegates, were received from the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation. The Mayor: I am afraid they were rather,a close corporation. We have not heard much about what -they did at their conference. They are.rather like our Finance Committee. . “Just the same,” agreed Cr McGinley.

Miss M. L. Cunlift'e, librarian, ap-. plied for annual leave from December 17, stating that Miss Haglund is available for relieving duty. The request was granted. ENGINEER’S REPORT The Engineer (Mr. A. J. Fairmaid), reported as follows: — Streets. —The weather has been such as to render impossible much tar-sealing work, only a day and ahalf being suitable for operations. Shakespeare Street footpath, first coat, was completed to Marlborough Street, and the second coat was applied to part of Herbert and Leonard Streets’ footpaths. Asphalt mixing has received attention and the stock in hand is sufficient for immediate requirements. Gravelling and binding work has been in progress on Omoto Road, and Alexander Street has received a coat of fine shingle from Murray Street to Chapel Street. Murray Street is now receiving like treatment. At the corner of Doyle-,and Collins Streets, 20 feet lengths of concrete kerbing have been put in 'in each street to keep vehicular traffic from cutting the corner. The mower is employed cutting grass and noxious weeds in various streets. Some slips 'on Omoto Road near the Borough boundary have been attended to. Railway crossing signs have been erected in Herbert and Tarapuhi Streets as required? by regulations and the erection of others is in hand. The decks of Shakespeare Street and Arney Street bridges have 1 had to receive considerable attention, particularly the former, where a heavy vehicle went through the decking. A street gulley was put in at the corner of Chapel Street and Alexander Terrace and in Perotti Lane a similar sump and the formation of a water-table has overcome the former difficulty of flooding.

Waterworks.—For the four weeks ended the Ist instant, the reservoir was kept full with an average daily pump run of 7* hours. Since Saturday, the 23rd ultimo, the whole of the town supply has been drawn from the bore holes, with beneficial results so far as the quality of the water is concerned. Some little difficulty has been experienced in getting the suction sump thoroughly air tight, but this will be fixed up properly in the course of a week or so and after that the connection of No. .4 bore, as soon as the river conditions are favourable will see the completion of the scheme’ The laying of a 4in water main in

Marlborough Street, between Palmerston and Ida Streets, is in hand, but the inclement weather and the timber encountered in the excavation . have made the work slow.. (. Drainage.—The cleaning of the sew- . er from Johnson Street to William Street has been completed and the ‘ slabs have been put on the new manholes at the intersection of Williams and Leonard Streets and southwards ’ thereof in William Street. It has been found to be impossible to lower the water level at Guineas Street manhole Jas much as was desired, and it would

(appear that the invert of the.sewer down stream from the manhole is above the level of the invert at the manhole. The continued wet weather \of the past month has shown up the weak points in the stormwater drainage system and the observation of these has pointed out the steps to be taken to remedy matters. Reserves. —Weeds have been cut on the unformed portion of the Recreation Ground and the cutting is now in progress on the adjacent street boundaries. A concrete cubicle to contain a slot gas meter and gas ring for the

use o£ visitors to the Children’s Park has been erected and should be in operation before Xmas. The contractor has made a start on the erection of the seating accommodation at the baths, which were emptied, cleaned out and refilled ready for the opening day on Saturday last. It was hoped that as a result of the clean water now available the bath would have been filled with clear water, but, although a good preliminary flush was given the water mains, the rush of water to fill the po.pl carried in a considerable quantity of rust, etc., from the pipes and the result was disappointing. The next filling, will, it is hoped, show definite improvement. The Mayor said that the success of the borehole scheme was very gratifying. With regard to the William

Street drainage, he stated that one of the residents, Mr Stewart, had been in difficulties from flood water for years, and had to wade through the water in order to reach his premises after every heavy rain. He asked the Engineer whether the work referred to in the report would beneficially affect Mr Stewart. The Engineer replied that the improvement had not been great so far. A break in the end of the sewer under the wharf at Johnson Street had been found, and when that -was repaired, a greater improvement might be effected. It appeared at present that that was causing the trouble. Cr Kent complained that the report was very indefinite regarding the Guinness Street sewer. There seemed to be no need for the use of the word “appear”; either the invert was lower, or it was not. It was no use putting the word “appear” in the report. They expected something more definite from an Engineer. He (Cr Kent) could say that a thing “appeared” himself.

The Engineer stated that he had given all the information possible. The only way to ipake sure was to excavate. The trouble might be removed when a free outlet was secured under the wharf. The trouble was not seriously affecting the position meanwhile. The Mayor: It is a matter of opening it up to find out, 1 suppose. Cr Kitchingham said that there might be a “hump” in the middle of the sewer, and that would not be discovered by securing the levels at the manholes. He proceeded to give a demonstration of his “hump” theory, using the Council table for the purpose.

The Mayor: I am afraid the hump is not quite so distinct as the camel’s. We had better get along, or we might all get the hump!

FINANCE COMMITTEE. The following recommendations were submitted by the Finance Committee: —That accounts amounting to £1277/15/9 be parsed for payment and accounts amounting to £2166 11/5 paid since last meeting be approved that the financial statement presented by the Treasurer, Mr F. H. Denton, be received and adopted; that Crs Gleeson and Robertson be appointed to sign and seal all contracts for works to be carried out on behalf of the Council; that the report of the Gas Manager, Mr J. Kennedy, regarding Gas Department matters be received and adopted and that in future his report be handed to the Press for publication; that the request of the Greymouth Trotting Club to extend a 4inch main to a position near the water cart stand on Victoria Park, be acceded to; that the application of Mr J. Yaxley for an increase of salary be referred to the Borough Engineer and the Town Clerk to enquire into; that the lessees of Municipal Reserve No. 198 be notified of the rentals assessed by Mr S. B. White, valuator; that Crs Kitchingham and Robertson be appointed the Council’s representatives to meet Mr H. J. Bignell, the Canterbury Education Board’s representative, to discuss the question of the exchange of land at the Grey State School; that the action of the Reserves Committee in appointing Mr W. Davies, Caretaker of the Municipal Bath,' be endorsed; that all the insurance premiums payable by the Council be brought into line and become due on May 1 in each year. With reference to the extension of the water main at Victoria Park, Cr McGinley remarked that surely the Council was not going to do such work on private property. The Mayor explained that the whole of the cost would be paid by the Trotting Club. The report was adopted. MUNICIPAL BATH. In jonnection with the municipal swimming bath, the Reserves Committee submitted recommendations as follow: —• That the following be the charges for admission: —Children Id till 5 p.m. After 5 p.m. 3d unless accompanied by parent or guardian. Adults 3d a single swim. Tickets five swims 1/, season tickets 7/6. That the charge for the use of the bath for carnivals be £3/3/ per night and 15/- extra if the bath is refilled. That the following alterations to the hours of admission to the bath be made: —School children’s instruction: Monday and Friday 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., Saturday 9.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Women: Tuesday and Thursday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. That the following be the charges for the New Zealand Swimming Championships to be held at the bath in February next: —The West Coast Swimming Centre to pay the Council the sum of £2O for the use of bath with refill, and during the morning when championship heats are being swum o ordinary admission charge of 3d to be made and this retained by the Council. The report was adopted.

A CHRISTMAS CLEAN-UP.

Cr Williams said that the town required a general clean-up. It had drifted considerably of late, owing to the wet weather, and grass was growing “all over the show.” Those people who whizzed past in motor cars did not notice it as pedestrians did. An effort to clean up the town should be made. There was clover growing on a Public Works Department- footpath at the eastern entrance to the town, and there were dilapidated Railways Department buildings at the southern entrance, while the rubbish dumps in the vicinity of Victoria Park should be levelled. During the last trotting meeting, there was nearly an accident at the entrance to the Park. Motor-cars, horses, and' pedestrians all left by one gate. He understood that the Trotting Club contemplated forming another entrance, from tlie direction of Preston Road, and it would help the club considerably and do the Council no harm, if rubbish were dumped on the site of the proposed entrance. He believed that the Club would cover ovei- the rubbish with gravel. It would only mean the erection of a temporary fence, to prevent people tipping rubbish anywhere. He moved that the rubbish be deposited so as to facilitate the formation of the proposed entrance to the Park. Cr Kent: I think that if we attended to the potholes in Preston Road first, it would be a step in the right direction. | Cr Williams said it was nonsense to confuse the two issues. The potholes could also be attended to.

The Mayor: In this kind of weather you will get potholes anywhere. You cannot help it. Cr McGinley said that people coming to town from Preston Road used the short-cut along the track, and, at the Boundary Street end, there was only a width of 12 feet for all traffic. The rubbish should be placed in such a way that it would widen the track. The Mayor moved that the Works Committee go out with the Engineer and adjust such matters at once, without bringing them up at meetings of the Council. They were matters of ordinary work, and were not new. The Engineer could receive his instructions and could endeavour to carry out the work before Christmas. There could not be any lavish expenditure. Cr Kent seconded the Mayor’s resolu-

tion, stating that the rubbish should be dumped properly, instead of all over the place. The resolution was carried.

Pointing out that it would be the last general meeting before Christmas, the Mayoi’ extended the usual good wishes to Councillors. During the past twelve months they had endeavoured to serve the public, without thought of reward, and a sense of duty done should make their thoughts happier during the coming holiday season.

Reciprocating on behalf of the Councillors, the Deputy-Mayor (Cr Kent) also extended good wishes to the staff and the Press.