BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1939, Page 10

BOROUGH COUNCIL

LAST EVENING’S MEETING The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council, last evening, attended by the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) and Crs. R. J. Williams, J.. Saunders, J. Anderson, F. F. Bctfstridge, J. B. Kent, G. R. Harker, C. Neville, H. Herring, and A. H. McKaiie.

The Canterbury Education Board wrote stating that it was- unable, at the moment, to carry out improveiriefits to the storm water drainage at the Grey :Main School owing to shortage of funds, and the fact that the Board was faced with a formidable list of urgent works. The riiaty/pijld be reconsidered in the near futiireT'

Gr. . Kent moved that the Board should be Tvritten to again', pointing cut. that, the storm water was doing coirsidefable damage, and that the Couficil could net allow the matter to stand over. He said the Board was creating a nuisance, and the Council hdd power to do the work itself and charge the cost to the Board. —The motion was carried.

.A letter was received from the Greymouth Surf Life-Saving Club ask-l ing the Council for a donation tovdrds the Club’s work—lt was decided to make the usual donation of £575/-.

The usual annual donation of £lO was.; made to the Greymouth branch of .the Pluuket Society.

The West Coast A. and P. Association wrote applying for the Council’s usual grant toward the special prize fund of the Association’s Show, next February.—lt was decided to make the usual grant. Greymouth Theatres, Ltd. wrote applying for permission to screen pictures oil Christmas night in the Opera House and Regent Theatres, screening to commence at 8.30 O'clock at- each theatre. On the motion of Gr. Saunders, seconded by Cf. Anderson, the application was granted.

With regard to the Chautauqua hiedals. the West Coast School Committees’ Association wrote stating that arrangements had been made with the West Coast Primary Schools’ Association to conduct races for boys and girls, eligible to compete for the medal;-, during the course of the primary schools’ S’tvimming carnival, to be held on 'February 12, in connection with the Centennial Celebrations. Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, Medical Officer of Health, Christchurch, wrote statipg. that he was relinquishing control of the West Coast Health District as from December 1, and that Dr. K. J. H. Davies'v.-ould be Medical Officer of Health for Westland from that date. He expressed thanks and appreciation for the co-operation and courtesies which be had received from the Council during the many years ho had been in charge of the district.—lt was decided to reply reciprocating Dr. Telford’s sentiments and wishing him a long and happy re-

tirement. On behalf of residents of Millon Read. Greymouth, Messrs. J. F. Lain? and A. L. McKay wrote drawin" the attention of the Council to the un-a-tiifactory state of the road, especially on the eastern side. The footpath on that side required attention after the laying down of pipes, the grass required cutting, and the water channel cleaning to allow storm water to run away. They hoped that members of the Works Committee would pay a visit to the road at an early date, and, if possible, in wet weather. Cr. Jlonstridge, chairman of the Works Committee, said that probably something would be done to Milton Road in the near future 1 .

..The letter was referred to the Works Committee, for a report. The Director of the Live Stock Division, Department of Agriculture, wrote, asking whether the Council had given consideration to the. matter of an increased remuneration for. the services of the abattoir manager. Cr. Boustridge said that the position was that the Department paid a portion of the manager’s wages and the Council a portion. If 'the Depart-■ ment was considering increasing their portion, the .Council would probably increase its portion. It Was decided to refer the letter to tile Abattoir Committee. - '. , . A number of residents of Lydia Street wrote asking that a light be fixed on fhe last pole overlooking Sawyers Creek, at the end of Bridge Street'.—lt decided that the light be provided as requested. , Mr. M. Minehan, Bright Street, Cobden, wrote complaining of the state of the drainage in front of his property. On the recommendation of . the Works Committee it was decided that Mr. Minehan be advised that the Council would endeavour to have a suitable drain connection made in Ward Street to the pipe drain constructed by the Housing Department, but that any drainage work would have to be carried out by himself;

: ENGINEER’S REPORT ) The -Engineer’s report -was - as folL lows: — Streets: A commencement of the . seasonal tar sealing programme has ; been made by treating to a first coat 3 that part of Alexander Street between the Town Belt North and Shakespeare . Street, and that part of Shakespeare Street between the bridge and Buc- > cleugh Street. The approach to the ' High Street railway crossing has . been improved by extension northwards to Mcrice Street, the dividing > fence between the approach and the main street being extended in con- . formity therewith. Work proceeded . on improvement of the hillside roadway in Puketahi Street until temporL ary suspension to facilitate a general . Christmas clean-up. A portion of the r rough stone wall constructed at the ’ lower sharp bend came away on the 1 night of November 30. A short ap- ; preach. roadway was formed on the Town Belt North. On the creek side . of Winnie Street, upstream from i Shakespeare Street bridge, spoil deposited some time ago .was levelled off.' Watertables in Blake Street have . received necessary attention and 1111- , ing has been placed along the ragged edge of the sealed roadway. A pro- . tective fence has been erected on the upstream side of the Turumaha Street approach of the Turumaha Street bridge. Leonard Street, between William and Arney Streets and adjacent portion of Boundary Street, is being prepared for tar-sealing. In Bright Street the considera'ble improvement wc|rk north westwards . from Newcastle Street is showing steady progress, the work now being in hand as far as Hall Street. On | the south-western side, between' Blackett and Hall Streets, there has] been considerable encroachment of. fences and this matte’’ is being recti-i fieri. The ford, winch formerly cvi-ij ed at Richmond (Mr'mt., lias been <-] ( c i ed as its continued use would have' been detrimental to the mam im-' provement work, but a ford will he provided in Clofford Street ami the; final lay-out will be an all-round im-l provement as the present dead-end ofi Peel Street will he. obviated. The work in Bright Street, between Richmond and Clifford Streets, entails the lowering of the gas main. - I Sewerage Loan Works: .During the} montii, work has been commenced' upon the 3G-inch main sewer to the

Marsden Road area, work commencing at Cowper Street. The 24-inch sewer -in progress in Marsden Road Will be almost completed before Christmas. Work in Marlborough Street, and in High Street is proceeding at a steady rate. The main cutfall to the Grey River opposite the north end of Doyle Street has been completed, except for the wind flap and. certain attention to details. Of 113; notices served about connection to the sewers in the two blocks closest to the outfall in Blaketowm, five replies have been received, three of them advising that the work will be attended to by the property owners. The remainder of these on whom notices were served are being interviewed. Progress in sewer laying, to dat, is as follows: Total laid to date, 33,767 feet (6.4 miles); total laid last month, 2,633 feet. Manholes constructed total 113, of which five were done during the month of November. To date, of the originally designed length of 37,789 feet of sewers of six inches diameter and upwards, 82.9 per cent, has been laid. The men nowengaged number 49. of whom 42 are employed on a co-operative contract basis.

General Drainage Work: Sewer .•connections have been put .in in Nelson Quay and in Nelson Street, one in. each. A storm water drain was extended on the left bank of Sawyers Creek above. Shakespeare Street Bridge. This drain has existed as an open cut for a number of years, but latt'erly there arose a danger of a slice of the bank being loosened and slipping into the Creek.

•A manhole has been constructed in High Street on the upper end of the sewer between Buccleugh and Franklin Streets. The sewer which passes through tlie rear of the properties on the western side of Turumaha Street between .the Town Belt North and Elmer Lane- having given trouble, the manholes have been repaired as required, one having been rebuilt. The outfall to the Grey River .opposite the end of Tainui Street having carried away a box culvert like that at Johnston Street has been constructed. The 12-inch storm water drain on the south-western side of Bright Street'lias been extended from Blackett Street to Range Creek.

...'Waterworks: The Reservoir has been kept full by an average daily pump run of 12. G hours. The report was adopted. PAYMENT OF RATES The Cobden Lawn Tennis Club wrote requesting remission of rates, amounting to £3l/0/2 for the period 1936-39. The letter added that each year, on receipt of the rate account, the club had approached the Council and had applied for the rates to bo remitted. The club had always understood that the request was granted.

Cr. McKane said that the club ha 1 never paid rates, even in the Town Board days. They were given an assurance when Cobden merged with the Borough, that they vould not be charged rates. lie moved that the Cobden Club should be pul on the same basis as regards rates as oilier tennis < Inks >n the town. < ‘r. Hci rim-, said hr was not in favour of remitt mg the rates. The Conn'd m-rded. all the irveiinr it could gel? (''■riatji <huicli property was now paying rates, and ho considered th? churches were at least as important as sports clubs. j After some further discussion, Cr. ] McKane agreed to withdraw his motion, and it. was then decided to refer the matter to the Finance CotnisiUcr. Mrs. I'l. 11. Ihhlslrom, Nelson Quay, Cobden, wrote requesting a reduction of rates and sanitary fees on two houses, one having been unoccupied.

from. January 25 to June 10, 1939, and the other having been destroyed by fire, on July 22.—The Town Clerk was instructed to enquire into the matter and make any reduction of rates that was due.

The following recommendations of the Finance Committee were approved: That in connection with an application from a ratepayer requesting that the sum of £l/5/6 the 10 per cent, penalty on his 1937-38 rates be remitted a reply be forwarded stating that the Council cannot accede to the request. That the offer of a ratepayer to pay all current rates and to pay £1 per month off the arrears be accepted subject to the Council being protected by judgment if necessary.

Mrs. E. Lingard, Aratika, wrote asking for a reduction of the rent of land which she had lost on her lease through flooding.—The letter was received and it was decided to take no action. FINANCE COMMITTEE The following recommendations of the Finance Committee were appproved: That accounts amounting to £1584/17/10 be passed for payment. That accounts amounting to £3171 /6/5 (district fund account), and £1285/16/1 (sewerage loan account), as scheduled be approved. That the Gas Manager’s report be approved, subject to a report and estimate on the extension of gas mains to Geraldine Street and Leith Crescent being drawn up. That in connection with a letter received from Messrs J. H. Francis and Co. regarding the sewerage loan, that the Town Clerk write and enquire whether the £5OOO originally mentioned will be available on the Sewerage Extension Loan 1937. That Air Travel Limited be charged landing fees at the Greymouth Aerodrome on the same basis as Cook Strait Airways, namely £3O per an-; num. That the time table submitted by the Commissioner of Transport on be-! half of Air Travel Ltd., be received - and that a reply be sent stating that: the service and time table is satisfac-i tory.

The following memoranda of transfer, forwarded by Messrs Guinness and Kitchingham, were approved, subject to everything being in order: E. Reid to W. and E. M. Macnaughton, Aiderton to Johnstone, T. C. Outran to P. Outran, Stubbs to Mack. Messrs Hannan and Seddon wrote forwarding, on behalf of J. E. Williams, a subdivisional plan for approval. It was decided to refer the plan to the legal adviser of the Municipal Association for an opinion. Messrs Farnham and Thorn wrote forwarding for Council's approval plan of proposed subdivision, Lot 3, Res. 1485 Blaketown, A.S.C. Fong, owner, and also a revised plan of the Cottle subdivision. The Cottle subdivision plan was ap-1 proved and the other was referred | to the Town Planning Committee. I i l WORKS COMMITTEE i The following recommendation - of; I be Works Committee were anprov<-<i: 1 That the plan, dated June 9, 1928. for,the widening of Albert Street, between! Guinness Street and Petrie Avenue.! be adopted, the acquiring of the nor-, tion of laud shown thereon to re- 1 reive attention as the occasion might! make it advisable. | Concerning the application of Mr. (I. Patterson for permission to erect a< two-storey dwelling in brick veneer in < Albert Street, Mr. Patterson be re- I cnesWi io submit a complete plan and i that be no required to put in writing < the. purpose to which the building is i

to be put, also that he be required to make the Albert Street frontage parallel with the building line of that street.

That concerning the application of Mr. A. H. Chunn for access to the section upon which he proposed to build in Puketahi Street the matter be referred to the Borough Engineer for a report as to cost, „the report to refer also to the provision of water, gas and sewerage.

That Mr. E. P. Heinz having enquired concerning the alteration and renovation of his premises in Mackay Street, the minimum requirements be as follow, namely: (a) That the western wall be re-constructed in brick throughout the whole length of the existing single storey portion, (b) That any other outside wall requiring substantial reconstruction be rebuilt likewise. (c) That the roof be reconstructed in gable form, (d) That any outside existing wall not built in brick be lined with approved fire retarding lining. Mr. R. L. x\nderson, Lydia Street, Greymouth, wrote stating that he wished to erect a concrete wall and garage on his section, but was unable to get access to do so on his own boundary line, on account of a hillside frontage belonging to the borough. He asked for permission to erect a wall on the. Council’s frontage, after providing ample room for the regulation footpath.

The Works Committee reported that ! it had inspected the locality and as I a result it made the following recommendations: That property owners on the hillside on the south eastern side of Lydia Street from Section 58 to I Bridge Street be permitted to erect I a retaining wall on the street, along [ the frontage of their properties, on a line commencing at the intersection of the boundary between Section 57 and 58. and the south eastern building line of Lydia Street, to a point on the extension of the boundary between Section 59 and GO, ten feet inside the face of the concrete kerb and channel on the south eastern side of the street thence on a line parallel to the kerb, s .but 10 feet inside the same, to the point adjacent to Bridge Street where the face of the kerb is 10 feet from the building line. That garage fronts be permitted on the line of the said Avail, or, alternatively, on the correct building line. That the Council do not itself remove, or permit to be removed the toe of the hillside as it stands on the street, at present except where slips have occurred and spoil is encroaching upon the footpath. That an annual rental of 2/6 per annum be charged for the area of street to be j enclosed by the said wall. That gar-i ages be of reinforced concrete with | flat roof and that the design of both i walls and garages be to the approval I of the Council both as to stability and j as to frontal appearance. !

The recommendations were approved. P E D E S T RIA N C R O S SIN G S With regard to the new regulations, recently gazetted, regarding pedestrian crossim’.s. the following report was ri-( civ,-,! froi." the Borough iraflic ii!spc':ior, Mr II I, am’: “Our present. I. ill" . do not c omply will’ those re rjijatiou'' in many respects, and it is also necessary under these regulations to erect or utilise a post or pole to indicate the crossing. I attach, herewith, a copy of the regulations aifd a covering letter from the Commissioner of Transport, in which he stresses the lesirability of an early review of the ‘.listing crossings in order that they uni bo brought into copformiiy with lit- new rcqiiirt im tr. - , - , Jr appears to a-. :;i v -cw of the regulations and t.akng into consideration that our present

crossings will, after December . 21, be ! no longer legal, that Ave nave no alternative but to comply.” Cr. Kent said that failure to comply with the regulations rendered a controlling authority liable to a penalty of £5O. The Traffic Committee recommended that regulation crossings should be put at the corner of Mackay and Tainui Streets, and that the police be asked help in instructing pedestrians in the proper use of the crossings at busy times. The committee would enquire into the question of other dangerous corners in the town. The committee’s recommendations were'approved. In another report, the Borough Traffic Inspector, Mr. H. Lane, stated that some years ago the Council made a practice of licensing horse-drawn carriers vehicles, but foi 1 some reason this practice was discontinued, though it was provided for in the Council’s by-laws. The license previously issued dated at from April 1 each year, and the fee was £1 per vehicle. He asked for the Council’s instructions on the matter. —It was' decided, on the recommendation of the Traffic Committee, that this license fee should be enforced again.