BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 November 1943, Page 2

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

MEETING OF COUNCIL.

The Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) presided over an attendance of the following at a meeting pi tire Greymouth Borough Council last evening: Councillors H. Herring, J. Saunders, G. M. Truman, J- Stokes, G. R. Harker, J. B. Kent, ■ and P. Blanchfield. , , A motion of thanks was passed to Mris Perkins for a donation of medals and photographs, some of which were the property of her late father arid others of her late brother, Mr. G. E. Perkins. n , ' The Municipal Association advised that the Union Company and the Anchor Company would not grant concessions on the fares of delegates attending the Municipal Conference in 1944, but that the Railways Department had advised that concessions representing a reduction ol approximately 20 per cent on ordinary return first, class fares would be granted delegates and their wives and families when so accompanied. , The Greymouth Housewives' Union wrote asking that the Council consider the erection of a shelter shed at the Hospital bus stop. The Mayor said that Councillors would remember that plans had been prepared* and the site approved “ages ago” for a shelter at the Hospital bus stop, but that with all in readiness for a start it had been found impossible to get the necessary labour, while it might even be impossible to get a permit for the building. He .moved that the Union be advised that the work will be proceeded with as soon as circumstances permit. The motion was seconded by Cr. Saunders and carried. After the motion had been carried Cr. Blanchfield suggested that the Council was only shelving the matter again by saying that it would be done as soon as circumstances permitted. He knew that all members were agreed on the necessity for the building and he thought tenders should be called for the job. The Mayor agreed that all Councillors were In .favour of the shelter being erected, but he again pointed out the difficulty in regard to labour which, he stated, applied to the builders of the town as well as the Council. They had only to read the reports of Appeal Board hearings of cases where builders were concerned to see what chance the builders had of taking on new work. The Blaketown-Preston Road Ratepayers’ Association wrote drawing the attention of the Council to the large pot-holes at the Gresson Street railway crossing, and asking that they be filled in. It was also pointed out that the barricades at the shore ends of the sewer across Erua Moana and Karoro Lake have not been erected, although the Council’s letter of August 20 stated that the matter had been attended to.—The Works Committee’s report stated that the matters discussed in the letter had been attended to or were at present receiving attention. It was decided to advise the Asso-’ elation accordingly. The Blaketown-Preston Road Ratepayers’ Association wrote asking that the Council should waive, or make some reduction in, the rating of the Blaketown Hall, which, it was stated, had been rated only in the past two years. The letter added that in the event of the Association becoming defunct or the necessity for its winding-up arising any remaining assets would become the property nA the Borough.—Discussion on this matter was taken in committee. The Public Works Department wrote, suggesting procedure to be adopted in closing portions of Town Belt South and Massey Road. —It was resolved, after a brief discussion, that- the whole of the land acquired or to be acquired by the Council be added to the existing reserve and that the closing of the portions of the streets be referreerto’ the Engineer with power to act. APPLICATIONS FOR LIGHTS.

Mr W. H. Roycroft, writing on behalf of several' residents of Kerr Avenue, Cobden, wrote asking that a street light be erected in the Avenue. He pointed out the danger to persons walking along the Avenue bn dark nights.—The Works Committee recommended that Mr. Roycroft be advised that, meanwhile, no action could be. taken in regard to his application, but. that it was trie policy of the Council to improve street lighting from time to time, and Tne recommendation was adopted. In regard to an implication by Mr. J. J, Crooks for improved street lighting in Domett Esplanade southwards from Bright Street, the Works Committee recommended that the Power Board be requested to re-dis-tribute the street lights in the Esplanade, one of them to be, placed at the intersection of Bright Street and increased in power to the higher value in use. —The recommendation -was adopted. _ The District Engineer, Public Works Department, advised that the suggestion made recently by Captain Mercer as to improvements at the Greymouth acrqdrome were conveyed to his Head Office and that in acknowledging the report the Permanent Head stated that the view of Captain Mercer and of the Council were noted with interest and that when the time was opportune careful consideration would be given to the proposed extensions. The Department was becoming more and move convinced that for aerodromes in wet localities, such as the West Coast, the raised runway principle must be adopted. It was fairly evident that to maintain all-weather use of the field it would be essential to provide sulficent cross-falls to shed surface water so that commercial aircraft would have a minimum 01. cancellations.—The letter was referred to the Engineer and consideration was postponed until next meeting. The Conservator of Forests, Hokitika. reporting on the Borough Council Endowment Reserve at Kaimata, stated that there were two areas of bush on the reserve. One contained a strip of bush of approximately 400,000 board feet of timber, but it was .probable that the removal nl that Limber would result in slips endangering the railway line. 11 was simgdstwL therefore, that the limber there be i::el aside as a reserve for scenic and protection purposes. It might be possible to exploit the. other area, containing approximately 250,000 board fee! of timber.—-The resort was received and it was decided that no action be taken in the meantime.

Mr. L. A. Inkster wrote agreeing to purchase the extra land which will be made available at the rear of Jiis propertv bv the closing of portion of Raleigh ' Street, off Shakespeare Street. The Mayor slated that Mr. Inkster was the only one of the several residents concerned who had replied to the Council. Cr. Saunders said he thought the reason for the others not replying was that they were in doubt as to what amount would be involved in survey and transfer fees. It was decided on the motion of Cr. Saunders that an estimate of the survey and transfer fees be secured and supplied to the property owners concerned.

In the course of a report on the conference of delegates of South Island local bodies at Christchurch recently, when he and Mr. J. D. McDonald, of Westport, attended as representatives of the Council, the Mayor stated that one matter that ought to be brought before the public was the question of what assets there were in the district for the development of industry. It was no

good trying to establishes pottpry industry, for instance, unless they had the requisite clays. The committee set up recently in Greymouth to go into the future of the timber industry on the West Coast had, he knew, been working consistently, but there were other avenues that would have to bo exploited. , ~ . Cr. Kent expressed surprise that the West Coast delegates did not bring up the question of transport including the matter of a deep sea harbour. It was a fact that industries followed transport, and industries would be established on the Coast only if they had the requisite sea transport facilities. The establishment of a deep sea harbour would develop the resources and make lor tie-centralisation. It was a South Island' matter and until they had a deep-sea harbour they were not likely to have the industries. The Mayor was to be congratulated on bringing up the matter of re-afforestation. A vote of thanks was passed to the Mayou and Mr. McDonald for there able representation of the Council at the conference, on the motion ol Crs. Saunders and Kent. It was decided that the Borough Council affiliate with the South Island local bodies executive for industrial development and that the Mayor be nominated to represent the West Coast boroughs oil the executive. A recommendation by the Works Committee that an application by Mr. W. Griffen for. approval of a subdivision off Alexander Street be declined. the size of one allotment being considerably under the requirements of the by-laws, was adopted. On the motion of the Mayor and Cr. Kent it was decided that before the end of the current financial year the sum of £250 be appropriated into a special fund towards the replacement of the Council’s motor vehides. Messrs J. Auton, W. Glenn, McNeill and Wilson, residents on the east side of Clifford Street, Cobden, wrote bringing under the notice of the Council the poor attention given the east side of the street as compared with the other side. It was stated that 95 per cent, of Holland Settlement residents used the east side foothpath but that it was impossible to walk along it in wet weather without getting wet feet. The Engineer explained that when the bus garage was built on the west side of Clifford Street he had ensured that the concrete frontage was built so that the footpath could be prepared and held by tar sealing in conformity with the concrete. The footpath on that side was now being prepared for sealing. Outside Holland Settlement, where the Housing Department paid for the work, he did not know of a street iu Cobden which had sealed footpaths on both sides. The complaint was referred to the Works Committee.

ENGINEER’S REPORT The following report was presented by the Engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid):—The slip on Kasson’s Hill has not moved much lately, but a fair slice of country has settled down about six feel and is pressing towards- the street, whence it is removed as occasion demands and opportunity offers, the principal object at present being preparation, for tar-sealing, which work should be well in hand by the end of the month, streets at present in course of preparation being Easson’s Hill, Swift and Reid Streets, Sheedy and Badger Laues, Nelson Quay and Taylor Streets’ footpaths. All piers of the reinforced concrete box girder culvert to be erected across the main channel of Karoro Lake have been concreted and the eastern approach and main spans, a total length of 54 feet were concreted, a like amount remaining to.be done when the boxing can be stripped and re-erected. II “is hoped to have the sewage from the eastern side of Karoro Lake conducted directly to the Grey River before the Christmas vacation. For the sewage pumping station to be erected in Blakctown the two sets of electrically driven vertical spindle centrifugal pumps purchased from the Otaki Borough Council has been delivered. The reservoir has been kept full by an average daily pump run of 16.22 hours.

The Gas Manager (Mr Fairmaid) reported as follows:—Cash receipts for gas during October, £969/6/7. an increase of £l/16/10 compared with October last year; sale of lilting-; and residuals £322/8/2, an increase of £72/9/11; gas receipt:; to October this financial year £7,097 1/11, an increase of £737/9/10 on the corresponding period last year; sale of fittings and residuals, £3,24] 3/5. an increase of £837/120 0 Three appliances valued al £55 were fixed during October, and extension to the reticulation system mid consumers’ services accounting for 156 ft of Ilin, and 14111 of tin pipa respectively was made during the same period. The retort setter commences work on November 1 .and Nu. 6 bed is now well in hand.