HOKITIKA NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 November 1939, Page 11

HOKITIKA NOTES

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

[OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HOKITIKA. November 21. A meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council was attended by Crs. A. R. Elcock (in the chair), G. Heinz, W. I-I. Stopforth, J. L. Turner, ' J: Fox, C. Caliani and D. P. Stuart. Apologies for absence 1 were received from Crs. H. T. Parry, F. D. E. Freitas and the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Perry). The financial statement showed receipts, £320/6/4, and. expenditure, £1513/9/3. Accounts amounting to £1637/11/6 were passed for payment. The Commissioner of Transport wrote submitting a. proposed time table for an extension of Air Travel (N.Z.) Ltd. Service between Hokitika-Greymouth-Westport-Nelson as the Cook Strait Airways Ltd. Service between Nelson, Westport and Greymouth would be suspended at an early date and for an indefinite period, and also submitting schedule of increased fares.

Idle N. Z. Refrigerating Co. Ltd. advised that the following meat was delivered into Hokitika abattoir area, during October; 139 sheep, two lambs. The District Railways Engineer, Christchurch, wrote advising that the matter of children cycling down the inclines of the railway bridge 1 at Hokitika had been referred to the District Traffic Manager. An application from Miss M. Tomlinson to instal a septic tank at; a section in Hampden Street was 1 granted, subject to the usual conditions regarding health, regulations.

. A letter was.'received from the Rev. M. H. Feist pointing out that the corner of 'the road at-the entrance to the Hokitika Cemetery was dangerous to motorists and suggesting that the position could be remedied at a small cost. It was decided to approach the Mental Hospital authorities in regard to this matter. ■ • The Hokitika Business Men’s Association wrote offering the Council its co-operation in any efforts l made to recognise the departure of local men about to leave on active service.— The offer was accepted with, thanks. A letter from the Automobile Association (Westland Branch) pointed out' the danger to school children in crossing Hampden Street, to and from the public ’ school and asked that a pedestrian crossing be marked across the street, opposite the main gates of the school. If this were done, the Association would co-operate with the school master in endeavouring to train the children to use 1 the crossing. —The request was'gfaiited.

■ Another letter from the Automobile Association stated that a deputation had interviewed the Minister of Public Works at Hokitika in regard to turnouts on the Hokitika railway bridge, and the Minister had agreed to increase the subsidy to £3 for £1 to enable one turnout to be completed, and that on the basis of an estimated cost of £550 per turnout each of the two local bodies would be required to contribute one-eighth of the' cost, namely £6B/15 —The Council decided to take no action in the matter. The Mayor and Crs. Turner and Stuart were appointed to represent the Council at a conference to be held in the Westland County Chambers to discuss ' the Emergency Precautions scheme for the district.

It was decided that a complaint from Mr. T. F. Stanley regarding surface water flowing on to his section in Rolleston Street should be attended tO’.

An application from Mr. J. L. Turner to have the footpath in front of his property in Sewell’ Street kerbed and 'tar, sealed, applicant being pretq pay half the cost, was granted l .

It was also decided to grant an application form' Mi’.' W- T. Kearns to have gravel placed on the footpath in front of his section in Sewell Street.

At' the'request of the Hokitika Beautifying Society, it was : agreed to have the fence ' round McAndrew Square removed. An application from Mr. A. Summer for attention to the footpath in Sewell Street was granted. The Director of Housing Construction advised that the Council’s tender for reading and servicing the Department’s Block (Reserve 445 Botanical Gardens) had been recommended to Cabinet for formal acceptance, and that as soon as the monetary authority was obtained the Council would be advised. In the meantime-, preparations could be made to start the work. —The letter was referred to the Works Committee. A letter was received from the District Public Trustee, Greymouth, stating that the late Mr. W. F. Bone was owner of Sections 650, 652, and 654, fronting Gibsons Quay, and it was, desired to transfer one of the sections, which ' constituted a subdivision, but as Gibsons Quay was not a public street, such action was precluded by the provisions of Section 125 of the Public Works Act, 1928. It was suggested that the Council pass a resolution exempting transfers of this land from the provisions of the section, which would enable- the District Land Registrar to register the transfers. — It was- decided to agree to this sug gestion. The abattoirs- report for October showed that 26 cows, 28 heifers, 88 bullocks, 266 sheep, 11 lambs, seven pigs and 3 calves were dealt with. Fees collected amounted to £73/18, compared with £6B/10 for the corresponding month last year. The Council decided to patch Weld Street with broken metal, and the Works Committee was instructed to report on other tar sealing work. The Traffic Inspector reported that six motorists- and one cyclist received notices for offences. The Health Inspector reported a clean sheet.

The question of the campers usmg Cass Square as a camping ground was referred to the Reserves Committee to make suitable arrangements.

Authority was granted the Town Clerk to close the office from December 23 to January 4.

The Town Clerk was instructed to ascertain the position of the Council with regard to sections on the western side of North Revell Street and he was also asked to enquire into the position of the Council with regard to Gibson Quay. The balcony of a building in Revell Street was reported by the building inspector to be unsafe, ami it was decided to send notification to th?, owners to have it repaired. The Town Clerk was re-appointed registrar of dogs and the usual registration fees were fixed. Cr. Elcock reported on an inspection of the municipal baths, and a recommendation of the sub-Committee tc appoint a Management committee was approved. FIRE BOARD. A meeting of the Hokitika Fire Board was attended by Messrs. A. R. Elcock (chairman), Braddon, S. J.

Preston, A. H. Box, Grant and W. E. Gaylor (secretary). The Secretary of the Hokitika Volunteer Fire Brigade wr'ote applying for a grant of £2O for a team to compete at the Centennial demonstration, to be held in March, 1940.—The request was granted. The Secertary of the Local Government Loans Board wrote stating that a reply had been received from the Public- Works Department notifying that the plans and specifications for the Board’s new building were not satisfactory; and forwarding the Government architect’s comments upon t]ie original plans. No further action would be taken by the Loans Board until suitable plans had been approved by the Public Works Department'. It was decided to ask'Messrs. Collins and West to prepare plans, and specifications. • ' A motion of condolence with the Superintendent, Mr. J. J. Mclntosh, in his illness was passed. The" secretary reported that two calls were received by the brigade during'the term, neither being of a serious nature.'

The treasurer’s report showed receipts £234/8/8, expenditure' £llB 0/4, credit-balance in'bank £l4l/10/6.’ Accounts ’amounting to £llB/13/4 were passed for payment.