GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1940, Page 5

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL

LAST EVENING’S MEETING. The Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) presided over last evening’s meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council, and there were also present Crs. H. Herring, J. B. Kent, R. J. Williams, G. R. Harker, F. F. Boustridge, J. Saunders, C. Neville, J. Anderson, and A. H. McKane. Greymouth Theatres, Ltd., applied for permission to show pictures on Christmas night, at the Opera House and Regent Theatre. The Mayor said that pictures had been shown in the Opera House for many years on Christmas night, and the application was to extend the permission to the Regent Theatre. The request was granted. E. J. Chunn wrote, regarding road access to a section in Spring Street, owned by Mr. F. Chunn, on which it is proposed to erect a dwelling.—Referred to the Engineer, to report at the next meeting of the Council. . The People’s Warden, Church of the Resurrection, Cobden, wrote, requesting the water be connected to their, premises, York Hall, in Sturge Street, as the tank system is beyond repair.— Referred to the Engineer, with power, to act. .

The Greymouth Surf Life-Saving Club applied for the annual donation to assist in the life-saving work on the Blaketown beach. It was stated that the club has £9O in hand towards the erection of a rescue-station, which would house the equipment, and provide a meeting-place for members.— A donation of £l5 was approved, on the understanding that the building would be proceeded with. The Council donated £lO last year, and £2O in the previous year. The Greymouth Branch of the Plunket Society requested that the usual grant be made to the funds, this year.—A grant of £lO was approved. The Greymouth Fire Board forwarded a copy of its report and bal-ance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1940. The Blaketown and Preston Road Ratepayers’ and Citizens’ Association wrote, requesting that the following matters receive early attention: Footpaths, kerbing and channelling of block bounded by Achilles, Blake, and Reid Streets; tar-sealing of roadway and footpath on the north side of Coakley Street, between Doyle and Blake Streets.

Cr. Boustridge (Chairman of the Works Committee) said that the tarsealing of the southern end of Blake Street would be resumed as soon as the weather permitted. An endeavour was being made to have the whole of the bus route tar-sealed, but it was doubtful whether it could be completed this year, as the tar supply was limited. The Committee was at present drawing up a scheme providing for a considerable increase in kerbing and channelling and road servicing in Blaketown. It was decided to advise the Association as to the work being done, and that to be done. The Association also asked if the Council could assist in connecting the Citizens’ Hall to the sewerage scheme, by supplying and laying the earthenware pipes. On the motion of Cr. Kent, seconded by Cr. McKane, it was decided _ that the request be granted. The Engineer estimated the' cost of the additional pipes at £4. The Westland Master Butchers Industrial Union of Employers nominated Mr. G. J.. Dick as its representative on the Abattoir Committee. Messrs. Guinness and Kitchingham forwarded memorandum of transfer, Lot 1, D.P. 570, part Subdivision 26, Municipal Reserve 51, Block 12, Greymouth, J. H. Mack to D. H. Mack, for consent. —Approved.

TOWN-PLANNING SCHEME. “That the motion passed on November 7, as follows: ‘That Mr. R. B. Scandrett be given permission to use the building on Sections 247 and 248, Cobden, as a plaster-board factory, on condition that he puts up a bond ot £lOO on the understanding that the industry will be discontinued at the end of five years, if the Council so desires, be rescinded, and that the matter be held over until after the public meeting in connection with townplanning and zoning proposals.” In accordance with notice given, the Mayor moved the foregoing motion. It was seconded by Cr. Neville and carried. It was decided that the public meeting be held next Thursday evening. Speaking for the Town-planning ‘Cr. Boustridge said that he would like to get the proposals explained to the public, before Christmas.

HEAPHY STREET. On the initiative of the Mayor, the debate on the proposed widening of Heaphy Street was reopened. At the meeting of the Council on Novembei 7, the Finance Committee recommended: “That a letter from Rev. A. W. Macauley and a petition from the residents of Heaphy Street, regarding the proposed widening of tne street, be received, and that, when it is desired to widen the footpath on the north-east-ern side, the widening be effected by taking land from the frontage there.” The Mayor explained that, on an amendment, the recommendation was put to the vote, and, on his casting vote, the clause was allowed to stand as part of the Committee’s report. He did not wish it to be said at a later date that the clause had been approved on his casting-vote, when all the Councillors were not present. He therefore deemed it proper that the matter should be reconsidered. Cr. Kent moved that the clause be deleted, and explained that he intended to bring a proposal regarding Heaphy Street before the public meeting to be held in connection with the town-planning scheme. The motion was seconded by Cr. Neville, but he later announced that he did so pro forma, and that he intended to vote against’it. Cr. Boustridge said that he was strongly against any suggestion that the street should be widened on the Sawyer’s Creek side. They had a beauty spot on the creek side, and they should keep.it. Cr.- Herring said that he was opposed to taking part of the residents’ frontages. If that were done, a lot of beauty spots would be destroyed in their front gardens. Cr. Anderson said he was opposed to widening on the residential side of the street, because it would be a job for the “dim and distant future,” .whereas they could widen the street on the crbek side at any time. Cr. McKane said that if there were .any possibility of doing the job on the .residential side at one time, the proposal might have some merit, but they (were intending'to take a piece at a 'time, as each house was demolished

or burnt. The houses would be there for years. He contended that a track for pedestrians and cyclists could be constructed on the other side of the creek, near the old Technical School, and that would relieve the traffic in Heaphy Street. There was no need to widen the street. Cr. Saunders said that he supported -the views of Cr. Boustridge. They should look to the future widening of •the • street. Cr. Harker also supported Cr. Boustridge, saying that if the street were widened on the creek side, it would make a bad approach to the Shakespeare Street bridge. Cr. Williams said that it would be wasting the ratepayers’ money to widen the street at the present time. It was wasting the Council’s time to talk about doing work 20 or 30 years hence. There were more important things in ■the. town requiring attention than Heaphy Street. The Mayor said that he would support the clause. If they were going to have a town-planning scheme in Greymouth, they had to consider the problem of narrow streets. If the time argument were to prevail, there would not be a single street for the widening of which provision could be made on the town-planning map. .From the viewpoint of long-range planning, the clause should stand. Cr. Kent said that the section-hold-ers should have some consideration -and they had not been consulted. He agreed with Cr. Williams, that it was ,not necessary to widen the street at .the present time. The scope for widening on the residential side was so limited that it would be an uneconomic proposition. The time might come when Greymouth would be so big that a large arterial road would be required there, and the creek would become a “glorified sewer,” and would .be covered in. The sections were -practically on the street now, and if any land were taken, the Council would possibly have to pay the full value of the sections as compensation. Cr. Kent’s motion, that the Finance Committee’s recommendation be deleted, was taken to a division, the voting being even. Ayes: Crs. Kent, Herring, Anderson, McKane, and Williams. Noes: The Mayor, Crs. Boustridge, Saunders, Harker, and Neville. The Mayor gave his casting vote in favour of the recommendation. Cr. Kent expressed his intention of again testing the matter, at the next meeting.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.* The Finance Committee’s recommendations were adopted, as follow: That accounts amounting to £1,322 16/8 (£135/15/7 Sewerage Loan Account, and £1,187/1/1 District Fund Account) be passed for payment. That accounts paid since last meet ing amounting to £4,041/3/10 District Fund Account and £8,812/15/3 Sewerage Loan Account be approved. That the responsibility of framing the new loan schedule be placed on the Works Committee. That the motion already on the books, that Perotti Street be proceeded with, after Cobden work is done, be immediately gone on. with (The Mayor recorded his vote against the motion) That Crs. J. Saunders, Neville and Anderson be appointed the Outstanding Revenue Committee.

WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee, which met yesterday, submitted the following recommendations, which were adopted:—That towards the improvement of the street frontages- of properties, when residents so request, top-dress-ing and grass seed be provided. That the sewer under the Greymouth railway station yard, from Smith Street, be re-laid. That the south-eastern end of Monroe Street be lowered as arranged with the Department of Housing Construction, which agrees to contribute £l4O. That the Borough Engineer interview the property owners affected by the proposal to carry a storm-water sewer through the block between Puketahi and Murray Streets from Tainui to Alexander Streets. That the District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, be advised that the Council is prepared to provide tar-sealed footpaths, complete with concrete kerbing and channelling, along the Paroa Road and Shakespeare Street frontages of the Railway housing block, conditional upon the Department finding the cost of the materials required. That the line of kerb on the eastern side at the intersection of Tainui and Heaphy Streets be defined by the painting of a traffic line. That the application on behalf of the Seventh Day Adventists congregation for permission to erect a dwelling on the site upon which the church is at present under construction, be declined. That the Public Works Department be approached concerning the improvement of the area in front of the Court House, Guinness Street. The Chairman of the Committee (Cr. Boustridge) explained that the size of the church section was 23 perches, • and it was definitely too small to allow the erection of a dwelling as well as the church.

ENGINEER’S REPORT The Engineer ( Mr. A. J. Fairmaid) reported as follows: Streets: The season’s tar-sealing programme has been commenced. Paroa Road from the Cemetery entrance to the Borough Boundary received a maintenance coat, and the area of Gresson Street in the vicinity of the good-sheds has received two coats, this last work being by arrangement with the Railways Depaitment. The foothpath approaching the footbridge at Shakespeare Street bridge has been surfaced, using bituminous emulsion. In Bright Street, the short length of concrete kerbing and channeling near Sturge Street has been completed, thus providing continuous kerbing and channeling along the footpath from Cobden Bridge to Blackett Street. The dry stone wall along the left bank of Range Creek has been completed on the straight, and stone is being prepared for the curve approaching the bridge. The cutting in Monroe Street is making good progress since the provision of tramline and trucks for the shifting of spoil on the longer haul. A narrow through roadway has been formed on the road to connect Rochfort Street and the Town Belt North and widening is now in progress. A recent heavy rain revealed an underground water-course discharging on to their work, and a branch of the sewer will have to be of larger size than was the first intention, in order to accommodate the flow. The reformation of Shakespeare to Milton Road is now completed and attention is being given to preparation for tar-sealing towards the end of the season. Two motor-lorries, the tractor and the grader have been painted. Other vehicles and road plant will receive like attention in due course. Waterworks: The reservoir has been

kept full by an average daily pump run of 13.39 hours. General: A covered pig-pen has been built at the abattoir. The grass on the aerodrome has been cut. The report was adopted. SEWERAGE SCHEME Reporting on sewerage loan, works, the Engineer stated: The Marsden Road main branch sewer has been completed to Palmerston Street and the whole of the main underground sewer work comprised in the sewerage extension scheme has now been completed with the exception of a small area, in the vicinity of Packers Quay, which will fall to a . small pumping station. In Marsden Road a short length of 6-irich sewer is to be laid to obviate several' cuts across the roadway, but this is in the nature of a multiple sewer connection. The sewer syphon at Bridge Street is in operation, and that at the lower Marsden Road bridge will be in operation by the time of presentation of this report. With the exception of the pumping area referred to, and the Preston Road pumping area, the extended system is now available for full use, the outfall from the southern area of the town being, meanwhile, in to the tidal reach of Sawyer’s Creek pending completion of the main, above ground, sewer across Karoro Lake. This latter work is progressing favourably also. Between Sawyer’s Creek and the Hokitika railway all concrete supporting piers have been completed, 56 in all, and the work across the railway towards the work, advancing from Preston Road will be in hand next week, preparations being now under way. On the Preston Road section of the work 11 piers have been put into Erua Moana towards Reid Street, and towards the railway 89 piers are now completed, five having been placed on short concrete piles sunk into the underlying sand fed to the shingle bottom by means of pressure water jets. ± . The financial position to date is that there is a sum of £B,OOO on fixed deposit and in current account a sum of £2627/13/- to meet charges to February 5, 1941. The Mayor said that the sewer connections had slackened up in number, but, now that the sewer was available, he thought that connections would go in as fast as the plumbers could handle the work.

ABATTOIR FEES. The Finance Committee recommended that the proposed fees for the Municipal Abattoir, as submitted by the Abattoir Committee, be adopted, as follow: Cattle 8/-, calves 4/-, sheep and lambs 1/5, pigs 4/2. The 6d inspection fee on pigs includes the special fee of 2d recently imposed by the Government. The Westland Master Butchers Industrial Union of Employers wrote, stating that it considered the increased fees were unwarranted, and suggested the following charges: Cattle, 7/6 per head. Vealers, 3/3 up to 300 lbs, 5/- over 300 lbs. Sheep and lambs, 1/5 pei’ head. Pigs, 3/5 pei head (including the special Government fee of twopence). Cr. Harker said that a meeting had' been held with the butchers’ representatives, and the Abattoir Committee had decided to adhere to the proposed charges. If there were any surplus, the money could be returned to the butchers. The letter was received, and no action was taken. It was stated that the proposed charges would have to be sent to Wellington for approval.

CR. BOUSTRIDGE’S STATEMENT. DECIDES NOT TO RESIGN. Cr. Boustridge (Chairman of the Works Committee) made the following statement: — “I think it is incumbent upon me to make some explanation of my position here to-night in view of my declaration of intention to resign at the last Council meeting. The remarks I made then were not caused by the loss of my motion to demolish the footbridge in Bridge Street, but they were caused by the apparent intention of the Council, firstly, to ignore its own by-laws, and also to permit irresponsible parties to convert Borough property to their own use without proper action being taken to uphold our authority and dignity as the representatives of the ratepayers of this town.

“Following that meeting, I was invited to discuss the position with the Mayor and later with the whole Council. At that meeting, a full discussion took place and certain facts, perhaps not previously known by all Councillors, were explained. A course of action was agreed upon, and is covered by the resolutions passed and the apologies received from the parties concerned. Further action is being considered by the Council, and I have every confidence that the matter will in future be considered from a standpoint of adhesion to our bylaws and regulations. In consequence of this action, and at the request of the Council, I have now much pleasure in withdrawing my previous statement of intention to resign, and of assuring you of my earnest desire to co-operate in the future as in the past in the interests of the ratepayers generally. “May I also express my thanks and appreciation to the Mayor and Councillors for the courtesy and consid - eration shown to me. I felt, and still do, that I have acted in the best interests of the district as far as I could see them at the time. I hope that if any unfriendliness has been caused on that account, all Councillors will do as I have done —forget it and let us be friends.”

The statement was applauded by Councillors., The Mayor said he knew that Cr. Boustridge had been very upset over the apparent laxity in the enforcement of the by-laws and the townplanning proposals, and the apparent general laxity in the enforcement of policy, which was, in his opinion—and in the Mayor’s opinion also—not in the best interests of the town. However, the whole incident was happily ended. He could say, from his experience, that all Councillors were anxious to co-operate for the benefit of the town. There must always be differences of opinion as to the extent or severity with which the by-laws and policy should be enforced, but they were honest differences. He was glad to know that the Council was now in a very harmonious frame of mind.