HOKITIKA NOTES*

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1939, Page 12

HOKITIKA NOTES*

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

[OUB OWN COBBESeONDENT.J

HOKITIKA, June 20

The monthly meeting of the Hokitika Borough' Council was attended by the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Perry), Crs. G. Heinz, A. R. Elcock, J. Fox, J. L. Turner, C. Caliari, W. H. Stopforth and D. P. Stuart. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. F. D. E. D reitas and 11. T. Parry.

The financial statement showed:-— Receipts £9Bl/7/6, and expenditure £ I'l3/10/3. Accounts amounting to £1,147/6/2 were passed for payment. Considerable discussion took place on the hawking nuisance, and it was resolved to tighten up the regulations and to write to a number of offending firms.

The abattoir figures for May were: 26 cows, 17 heifers, 90 bullocks, 393 sheep, 109 lambs, 8 pigs,’ll calves; condemned, one bullock. Fees collected for the month amounted to £B9/2/-, compared with £B7/13/6 collected in May last year. The Hokitika Brethren Assembly was granted the use of the Town Hall, on Sunday afternoons and evenings, the Assembly to pay all costs. Mr. W. C. Handisides, builder, was granted permission to erect a suspended verandah at a new shop in Weld Street. The following matters were referred to the Works Committee: —

Application from Miss M. J. Potts, Park Street, asking that the drain along the frontage of her property be cleared to allow the water to reach its outlet and also that the street be levelled where the water mains were installed so that a roadside lawn could be made. Letter from H. W. G. Park, Fitzherbert Street, asking that the path leading from the main road to his residence be re-gravelled as it had become badly worn. Letter from Mrs. E. Bade, pointing out that the road leading off Fitzherbert Street towards her house was in a very bad state of repair, and also that the gorse obscured the strfeet light and should be cleared. Letter from Messrs. A. R. Broome and C. J. King asking that the open drain along the frontage of their properties in Stafford Street be piped. An application from Mr. G. O’Brien, asking that Park Street, between Davie Street and Jollie Street, and also the footpath be placed in a reasonable condition as at present it was in a bad state through traffic. Letter from Mr. 0. J. Fowler, junior, asking for the completion of the road at the corner of Park and Jollie Streets, as the tradesmen made use of the footpath and also the incomplete state of the road was keeping a considerable amount of water on his section, as the drain was overgrown. Request from three loads of gravel in front of his Mr. E. Straight, asking for a further house in Livingstone Street. If this was granted he would uudetrake, to spread the gravel. Applications from Mrs. R. Butler asking for access to a section in Hoffman Street; from .H. Kortegaest, asking that the footpath in front of his dwelling in Rolleston Street should be raised, and from Mr. C. Caliari. asking that the drain in front of his house be piped. An application from Mr. Straight, Livingstone Street, asking that a street light be erected near his dwelling in Livingstone Street, was refused. The assistant Public Works Engineer, Hokitika, was granted permission to raise the level of the footpath in front of the Customs House, Gibson’s Quav, approximately two feet. ’ Subject to the health regulations being complied with. Mr. J. A. Monk was granted permission to instal a septiq tang on his section in Sewell Street. The Hokitika Beautifying Association wrote recommending the removal of the picket fence round Macandrew Square. 'lt was decided to defer consideration of the matter in the meantime.

PUMPING PLANT

The Superintendent, Kanieri Electric Ltd. wrote suggesting that, as the Council was only using the pumping plant occasionally, it would be advisable to arrange to have all the electrical equipment in connection with the pump house disconnected from the company’s lines, except when required for use, and that the company would be prepared to do the switching mi and off, without cost to the Council, provided they were given one hour’s notice or alternatively it could be arranged for one of the Borough staff to do the switching when necessary. It had been found that the electric supply for pumping had at times not been immediately available owing to the automatic protective apparatus being previously operated to cut the supply off during electrical storms. — The suggestion was agreed to. The Hokitika Businessmen’s Association wrote urging the necessity for numbering houses in the Borough. It was decided to defer the matter for consideration.

Mr. H. W. G. Park (as agent for Mr. S. J. Preston), wrote, stating that at present a building was being erected at the rear of Section 225, adjoining the right-of-way leading to the beach, off Weld Street, but that, if the building was allowed to proceed, it would reduce the width of the right-of-way and requested the Council to prohibit the erection of such building. The matter was referred to Crs. Turner, Caliari and Elcock for a report. The Westland Provincial Council of the New Zealand Centennial wrote advising in regard to the Centennial Scholarship Fund that the payments were originally to be spread over ten years, but, in order to ensure the Government subsidy, it tvas asked that, if possible, the balance (in the case of the Hokitika Council £24) be paid as soon as convenient. The amount was passed for payment. The Westland Hospital Board wrote advising that their estimates had not yet been finally approved, but that it was expected that the Council’s proportion of the levy would amount to £2,299/17/4, payable in nine instalments, the first being due on May 31 last and asking that, pending approval of the estimates, a progress payment be made of £255/11/4 —lt was agreed to make the payment as requested. The Medical Officer for Health, Christchurch, forwarded the Government analyst’s report on samples of water taken from the Borough water supply. The water from the Lake was higher in organic matter than when last examined, but the water from the pump was of satisfactory quality. It was resolved that representations be made to the Government regarding the large and increasing levies paid by .the..local, bodies to the respective Hospital- Bpards, and suggesting a larger subsidy should be paid by the Department.

A licence to station a. pie cart at Truman’s corner was granted to Mr. James Thompson, at £3 per year, with the right of renewal. The Council agreed to the sale of three sections of reserve held by E. Stoop, to the Housing Department. It was agreed to sell five sections in Whitcombe Square, to the Housing Department. at. £6O each, conditionally on the Council being given authority to spend the purchase money on improvements. such as roadways, drainage and footpaths. Cr. Turner reported on the work of the committee considering taxi stands at the theatres, and the recommendations were adopted. It was decided to obtain materials for carrying on tar sealing work, Hampden Street to be finished first.