HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 November 1938, Page 12

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING fOUB OWN CORBESPONDENT. J HOKITIKA, November 22. The Hokitika Borough Council met last evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Perry), Crs. A. R. Elcock, G. Heinz, J. Fox, J. L. Turner, Robt. Stopforth,. F. Freitas, C. Caliari. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. H. T. Parry and H. L. Michel. Cr. H. L. Michel was granted leave of absence to January 31, owing to illness.

The Mayor eulogised the services of the late Mr. James King for many years a member of the Council. It was decided to send a letter to his relatives expressing the members’ condolences.

Receipts totalled £406/13/8. Expenditure £2,127/14/9. Accounts amounting to £668/10/10/- were passed for payment.

The Abattoir report stated: Stock slaughtered for month of October amounted to 29 cows, 38 heifers, 38 bullocks, 2 calves, 202 sheep, 6 lambs, 4 pigs. Condemned: 1 sheep. Fees collected for October amounted to £55/10/-, compared with £5B/16/8 collected for the corresponding month last year. The tender of J. A. ; Jamieson for repairs to the roof of the Town Hall was accepted.

~ It. was decided to obtain a supply of bitumen for use with tar for sealing, purposes.

It was decided to extend the water supply in the cemetery as far as the supply of pipes in hand would permit. On the recommendation 6”f the Finance Committee it was decided to buy a section offered £6O. It was decided' that a meeting be called when the representatives of the various churches would be asked to discuss the Church property rating proposals. CORRESPONDENCE From the N.Z. Refrigerating Co. advising that the following quantities of meat were delivered into Hokitika during the month of October, 1938, viz. 176 sheep, 1 lamb, 6 pigs. From Municipal Association of N.Z. advising that the Association is now a member of the British Water Works Association and inviting Councils who are not in a position to employ their own qualified engineers to refer questions regarding water supply on which preliminary information is required. From Minister of Transport stating that in regard to Town Carrying Services that the Government is anxious to keep such services on a level that will give the public a satisfactory service while insuring a reasonable standard of life and working conditions for those engaged in the industry and pointing out that Local Authorities have no power to refuse applications for additional licenses except on the grounds of character unless their bylaws provide a maximum for the number of licenses to be issued as authorised by Section 364 (9) of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933, and unless the Council already has such provisions in its by-laws an amendment to the by laws may be necessary. From Minister of Internal Affairs stating that under Section 10 of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, 1937, provision is made for the Minister of Internal Affairs to declare any area to be a district for the purposes of the Act for which there shall be a district committee consisting of such members as the Minister appoints. It has been decided that a committee should be appointed in each local governing district consisting partly of members of the Local Authority and partly of persons appointed by the

Minister with the Mayor as one of the members and chairman of the District Committee. The maximum personnel of the Committee in the case of Hokitika is between six and eight members. The Hon. the Ministei’ asks whether the Council is agreeable to -eo-operate in setting up the District Committee on the lines suggested.—Agreed to co-operate. From the Commissioner of Transport forwarding particulars of proposed traffic sign (slow to 10 m.p.h.) to be used at the intersections of roads carrying a limited amount of traffic in conjunction with roads which carry a great deal of traffic. From the Canterbury Employers’ Association forwarding copy of N.Z.

Local Bodies Drivers’ Award which operates from October 28, 1938 and in the case of this Borough increase the wages by 5/- a week, the hours remaining at 425. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands stating that in regard to the amount being paid as compensation for Lots 18, 19 and 20, D.P. 737, part Reserve 492, Whitcombe Square, that the Government had directed that the money being paid as compensation of the three sections taken under the Housing Act should be held in trust as being still an endowment fund for the benefit of the district and that no part of this money should be spent on any undertaking without the approval of the Controller and Auditor-General.

From the Director fo Housing Construction stating that the State houses fronting Stafford Street are nearing completion and it is desired that the surroundings and footpaths be put in order. The Housing Department is debarred by law from expending any money on dedicated roads except in regard to drainage and water service and the Department looks to the Council to provide a suitable footpath fronting the new houses and the Government can assist with Scheme 13 labour if application is made in the usual manner. —Referred to Works Committee.

From Mr. Herbert Lawn and other residents of Park Street asking that the side of the road on the north side of Park Street, between Hall and Brittan Streets be cleared and graded and rolled and if this is done the residents are prepared to keep the grass cut along the frontages. The footpath also required clearing of weeds and the surface graded.—Referred to Works Committee.

From Mr. W. F. Keen stating that there is a deep hole on the road at the front and side of his house, which is a danger to traffic and asking that this be filled and also for a few loads of gravel at the approach to his property in Spencer Street as he has had the approach dug out at his own expense.—Referred to Works Committee. From the Commissioner bf Transport advising that the Department will accept the sum of £BO per annum l offered by the Council for the control I of motor traffic in the Borough, the first payment covering the period from December 1. 1938, to March 31, 1939,1 amounting to £26/13/4, to be paid prior to the end of the financial year. I —Arrangement approved. From Messrs Park, Murdoch and James forwarding a cheque for £2l

10/-, being a refund of the purchase p.ice of sections, Lot 1. of Section 52 and Lot 1 of Section 20 which the Council has decided not to acquire and stating arrangements have been made to grant to the Kanieri Electric Ltd., the easement in regard to their transmission line over Lot 1 of Section 20 and Lot 1 of Section 52 and a drainage easement in favour of the Council is now submitted for completion over the foregoing sections; —Easements to be executed.

From D. C. Streeter applying for drainage from new premises on S. Revell Street. —Granted. v From W. S. Howson applying for drainage from premises in S. Revell Street. —Granted. Mr. Howson to be responsible for keeping clear. From Hokitika Beautifying Society asking attention to street frontages. Also asking that the picket fence round Mac Andrew Square be removed. —Agreed to. Fence to be removed. Cr. Turner urged attention to the streets, saying they were a disgrace. He suggested that a poll bf ratepayers be taken for a loan for street improvements.