GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 July 1941, Page 3

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL

LAST EVENING’S MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council, held last evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) and Crs. H. Herring, J. B. Kent, G. R. Harker, F. F. Boustridge, J. Saunders, C. Neville, G. M. Truman, P. Blanchfield, junr., and A. H. McKane. The Canterbury Employers’ Association wrote, inviting the Council to become a member.—Filed for reference. The Mayor said that membership would cost the Council about £l3 per year. The Greymouth Fire Board advised that the Council’s contribution of £154/7/6, for the quarter commencing July 1, is due.—Approved for payment. An invitation to attend the annual social of the Greymouth Fire Brigade to be held to-morrow evening, was accepted. Mr. A. G. McNeill, Cobden, wrote regarding the drainage of his pro--perty in Bright Street, stating that flooding was caused by water from the road, since an open drain was filled in during road improvements.— Referred to the Engineer, with power to act.

The “Greymouth Evening Star” Co. Ltd., advised that, owing to increased costs, it was necessary to increase the advertising rates.—On the motion of Cr. Neville, seconded by Cr. Saunders, it was decided to curtail advertising as much as possible. The District Engineer of Railways forwarded plan of the new sub ■ division in connection with the railway housing block at Cobden.—Referred to the Town-planning Committee. Mr. E. B. E. Taylor, writing on behalf of Mr. E. J. Rundle, stated that the latter suggested the drain in front of his section in Shakespeare Street be cleaned out, in an effort to prevent flooding of his property.—The Engineer said that the drain would be cleaned out. The Greymouth Branch of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) wrote, requesting that the Traffic Inspector should ensure that buses stop after passing intersections, instead of on corners or just before reaching intersections. The Association stated that its request was for some time observed, but recently the drivers had reverted to the old procedure. The Traffic Inspector (Mr. H. Lane) in a report, expressed the opinion that it was preferable for the buses to stop before reaching intersections, as in that case they would cross the intersections more slowly. This fact was recognised in all the centres, where trams and buses always stop before reaching intersections. Mr. Lane added that the arrangement at Greymouth is that the buses should .stop 20ft. before reaching intersections. After considerable discussion, Cr. Herring moved that the Traffic Inspector be authorised to act in accordance with his report. The motion was seconded by Cr. Neville, and carried. Cr. Harker moved that the Traffic Inspector take up the question with the Traffic Committee, but the motion was not seconded. Cr. McKane complained of the danger caused by cars passing buses when the latter were stopped to let j down or take on passengers. He moved that a by-law be drafted, prohibit- 1 ing traffic passing buses when the lat-. ter were stopped for passengers. ; Cr. Harker seconded the motion, | saying that the danger was particu- j larly great near the entrance to the hospital. Cr. Neville moved, as an amendment, that the question be referred to the Traffic Committee, to report at the next meeting*of the Council. Cr. Blanchfield seconded the amendment, which was carried.

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

Notice of a pending claim for damages against the Council was forwarded by Mr. E. B. E. Taylor. It was stated that on the evening of July 4, 1941, Mr. A. J. Pentecost, of Sturge Street, attended a function in the Hall at the corner of Sturge and Ward Streets. During the evening, he left the Hall with his brother, Mr. I. H. Pentecost, of Geraldine, for a smoke. They walked along the footpath on the west side of Ward Street, going south,. They were both unfamiliar with the locality, and fell into a ditch which crosses the footpath about 25 yards from the Hall. Mr. L H. Pentecost suffered shock and abrasions and his clothing was damaged. Mr. A. J. Pentecost also suffered shock and abrasions, and a fracture of his left ankle. The claim would be formulated when Mr. A. J. Pentecost has recovered from the accident and is able to return to work. It is expected that this will not be for two or three months. Cr. Neville: Are we liable? The Mayor: It might take the Privy Council to decide that! On the motion of Cr. McKane, seconded by Cr. Truman, the matter was referred to the Borough solicitor. HIGH STREET Cr. Herring initiated a long debate on the work in High Street, contending that the proposed installation of kerbing and channelling at the outer edges of the existing grass verges would reduce the actual roadway to a width of 40ft., which he considered would be unwise, in view of the amount o’f traffic. He pointed out that the northern portion of the , same highway (Tainui Street) had a width of 79ft. The Council should revise its plan, and make High Street a real main highway, and not a beauty spot which would be useless from the traffic viewpoint. He moved that all work on High Street be suspended, until the Council reconsidered the question. Cr. Kent seconded the motion, although he expressed the opinion that it was not necessary to suspend all the work.

Speakers who opposed the motion were Crs. Boustridge, Harker, Blanchfield, Saunders and McKane. Cr. Boustridge described the arguments of Cr. Herring as “just pure hot wind.” A point of order was raised by Cr. Kent, who asked if it were in order for a Councillor to iriipute insincerity on the part of another Councillor. Cr. Boustridge said he was quite prepared to withdraw the remark, but he said he thought Cr. Herring had raised a bogey which was very far from standing up to any examination. After further discussion, the motion was declared lost, on the voices. Cr. Herring said he must abide by the decision of the majority, and could only hope that the work would not have to be undone when Councillors realised that the street would not be wide enough to accommodate in safety the-traffic using it. Cr. Herring moved that five chains of footpath six feet wide be formed on the eastern side of Blake Street, Blaketown, in front of Mr. Ellery’s property, between O’Grady Street, and the site of the original “frog pond.” He said that the work had been promised, but not done, although the Council had seen fit to seal the footpath in the Children’s Park. The Council should honour its promises to the ratepayers, before doing what he considered unnecessary work. The motion was seconded by Cr. Truman, and supported by Cr. McKane. Cr. Boustridge objected, on the ground that extra work should not be proposed after the programme of works had been approved. It would be impossible for the Works Committee to carry on successfully, in the face

of such obstruction. He moved as an amendment, that the matter be referred to the Works Committee. The amendment was seconded by Cr. Harker, and supported by Crs. Saunders, Neville, and the Mayor. The voting being even, the Mayor gave his casting vote in favour of the amendment, and it was carried. GAS MANAGER’S REPORT The Gas Manager (Mr. A. J. Fairmaid) reported that the total cash receipts to June were £3,867/5/3, compared with £4,006/7/3 to corresponding date in 1940-41. Sales of appliances comprised five fires, valued at £2O. All gas services under the street reconstruction work in High Street have been uncovered and re • laid as required. The gas main along the same reconstruction work was al-so-uncovered and regraded, and this work will be completed by the end of the current week. Coke is in strong demand and it has been necessary to ration supply to an extent in order to meet the requirements of all customers.