HOKITIKA BOROUGH

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1939, Page 12

HOKITIKA BOROUGH

SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL (OUR OWN CORREBPONDENT.j HOKITIKA, March 1(1. A special meeting of the Hokitika. Borough Council was held last ('veiling; present: The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Perry). Crs. F. I). E. Freitas, A. R. Flcock. 1). P. Stuart, G. Heinz. C. Callari, J. L. Turner, .1. Fox and W. IT. Stopforth. The meeting was called to consider the. following notices of motion by Cr. S top for th: — (1) That lhe Council consider the purchase of a suitable lorry and equipment for tar-sealing and general work; also that a committee be set up to go into the question of the best type of lorry. This was seconded by Cr. Freitas, and carried.

(2) That the Council increase the outside permanent staff with a man experienced in road work and lorry driving.—Seconded by Cr. Elcock. Cr. Turner said the cart was being put before the horse —the money had to be found first. The Mayor said that the necessary work was not being obtained from the horses and drays. He agreed, however. that the matter should be investigated first. He said the major works undertaken for the year were almost completed. Cr. Elcock suggested that applications for the position of lorry-driver should be invited after the purchase of the lorry.’ Cr. Stuart said the special committee should also go into this matter. The motion was carried. (3) That. Hampden, Sewell, Weld and Tancred Streets be tar-sealed, piped and levelled, so far as revenue will permit.—Seconded by Cr. Heinz. Cr. Fox said he could not see why the meeting had been called. He thought the work would be carried out in time.

Cr. Stopforth said there were not two per cent, of the Council members who had justified their holding their seats. Some of them had not done one iota of work since being elected. Cr. Heinz objected to this, and said they had always had good intentions, but various things had cropped up to prevent them being carried out. The Mayor said that all the items had previously been arranged for. Cr. Stopforth reiterated that nothing had been done to carry out a definite policy. The Mayor said that all public bodies experienced delays with their programmes. He said the tar-sealing should be gone on with, and the councillors had done their best. Heavy rainfall had caused much delay, but he thought it would all be done in

time. The motion was carried. (4) That, if necessary, an extra rate, not exceeding threepence, be struck for the coming year, to meet the cost of the lorry, tar, etc. The Mayor asked the mover to withdraw the motion. He said it represented an increase of about 15 per cent, on the present rate, which was serious. Cr. Stopforth explained that it was a provisional measure and did not commit the Council. Cr. Turner, who did not favour the motion, said that the whole town should be cleaned up. The raising of a loan for this purpose would be well worth while and would be a great eventual saving. The motion was carried. The Mayor said that a considerable quantity of tar was available at the Hokitika gasworks. On his motion, it was decided to buy immediately, 7.000 gallons at sixpence a gallon. It was resolved to authorise the removal of two dangerous trees at the Cemetery. Crs. Freitas and Stuart and the Mayor, were appointed delegates to a conference with the County Council. Aero Club, Air Travel, and Public Works Department, regarding matters at the Southside Aerodrome. The Kanieri Dredging Company wrote regarding the deviation of the Council’s water pipe-line at Tucker Flat.—The Mayor, Crs. Stuart. Heinz and Freitas were appointed to consult with the company. The offer of £GS per section from the Crown Lands Department, for three sections in North Sewell Street was accepted. An enquiry was received from the same source, for the price of two further sections in Sewell Street. —It was decided that £9O each was a fair price to ask. Cr. Stopforth thanked the Council for its co-operation in passing all his motions.