HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1944, Page 2

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING.

[OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

HOKITIKA, June 22. The Hokitika Borough Council met yesterday. The Mayor (Mr. A. R. Elcock) presided over the following members: Mrs. C. Caliari, D. Pettigrew, H. C. Peart, S. Roberts, L. S. Ross, A. C .Armstrong, I- J. Preston, S. G. Havill. Mr. J. Hewer waited on the .Council to ask reconsideration of the decision to prohibit the tethering of cows on the streets. He suggested a license fee of 10/- per six months. The grazing would help to keep the roadsides in order and save expense to the Council. Messrs L. S. Liddicoat, K. O’Brien and J. Kidd also waited on the Council on the same matter, and submitted the point of view of the recently formed C<pw Owners’ Association. Mr. Liddicoat enlarged on the typewritten petition submitted. He suggested the trouble caused was mostly the fault of a few cow owners who did not abide by the conditions laid down by the Council. ‘The Council considered the local working men were not any worse on than citizens of other towns where this was not allowed. Also, the milk vendors were strictly regulated by the Health Department, and these regulations were not covering the onecow owner and the health of the pub--1 ic. , , The Treasurer’s statement showed: Receipts £456717/10, expenditure £709/3/-. Accounts amounting to £1356/13/11 were passed for payment. The matter of replacing the trees in Cass Square was discussed. —The matter was referred to the Reserves Committee. Abbatoirs report: Stock slaughtered for the month of May amounted to 27 cows, 15 heifers, 75 bullocks, 135 sheep, 59 lambs, six pigs, three calves. Condemned, two cows. Fees collected for the month amounted to £B9/8/11. Fees for the corresponding month last year, £lO6/1/9. The Foreman’s and Sexton’s reports were read and approved. The Sexton reported five interments in May. The matter of purchasing a new mower was referred to Cr. Roberts and the Clerk. Mr. W. J. Richards, on behalf of the Hokitika Harbour Board, discussed the matter of the Borough Dump at Gibson Quay. A complaint regarding offensive matter being dumped was referred to the Works Committee. The Mayor’s honorarium was fixed at £lOO per annum as previously. The Mayor was authorised to arrange an official welcome to returned servicemen. . . Three applications for the position of working motor-lorry driver were received. —The application of F. J. Lewis was accepted. An application by the Beautifying Association for permission to plant some small shrubs at the intersection of Gibson Quay and Fitzherbert Street was granted, subject to no objection being made by the Railways Department. On Cr. Peart’s motion it was resolved to request the owners to demolish an old building in Weld Street. It was decided to call applications for two extra men for the outside staff. The Works Committee was empowered to deal with the applications. „„ „ An application by Mr. C. Wells, Hampden Street, to use a small reserve at the back of his property, was allowed.

On Cr. Armstrong’s motion it was decided that in future anyone wishing to place obstructions on the roadside to protect lawns must first obtain the permission of the Council. A new sub-committee was appointed, consisting of Crs. Pettigrew, Roberts, Havill and Callari, to investigate the proposal for a new pipeline from Lake Kanieri to the reservoir. . , It was resolved to hold a special meeting to discuss a new Town Hall. On the suggestion of the Mayor, a sub-committee consisting of Crs. Armstrong, Ross and Preston and the Mayor to obtain certain necessary information was appointed. It was decided to renew Messrs Coyle Bros, contract for the supply of pea gravel for tar sealing purposes. An offer to display a collection of Maori adzes was referred to Cr. Peart and the Town Clerk. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. T. M. Haddock, Poundkeeper, wrote thanking the Council for its decision to ask him to continue in office as Poundkeeper, and. stating that he was prepared to continue if the Council prohibits the tethering and grazing of cattle on streets in the Borough and public places. Mr. Haddock further stated that he had tried all methods, but the tethering of cattle on the streets was not satisfactory, and he enclosed a list of the owners of horses and cows tethered, totalling 40. —Cows to be prohibited from the streets.

The Secretary, Westland Hospital Board, forwarded a copy of the Board’s estimates for 1944-45, also advising that the Council’s proportion of the Hospital Board levy for the year ending March 31, 1945, amounted to £2566/19/2, being a decrease of £lB/4/3 on the previous year. The levy will be payable in nine monthly instalments, commencing on May 31, 1944, and ending on January 31, 1945, the first payment to be £285 4/6, followed by eight equal payments of £285/4/4. Hokitika Fire Board advised that ihe Council’s proportion of the Fire Board levy for the year ending March 31, 1945, provided by Section 25 of the Fire Brigades, Act, 1926, amounted to £282, payable in quarterly instalments of £7O/10/- on the first days of April, July, October, 1944, and January, 1945. The manager, Bank of New Zealand, advised that the Council’s application for an overdraft limit on the District Fund Account of £4OOO for the year ending March 31, 1945, had been approved. The Minister of Internal Affairs advised that it is the Government’s intention to maintain the E.P.S. on a peace-time basis after the passing of the period of war emergency, and detailing the conditions. Rev. J. Finerty asked that the street light at the corner of Tancred and Stafford Streets be shifted to the opposite corner, outside St. Mary’s Club Rooms, and stated he would be willing to meet any cost incurred in making the alteration. —Approved. Shannon’s Motors pointed out that in regard to the roadway between Hamilton Street and Weld Street, at the back of the Dominion Hotel, there are three double clothes lines erected on part of the roadway, and at right angles to the main portion, that the reserve is narrow and cars proceeding to Shannon’s Garage from Hamilton Street have to make a right angle turning and the clothes lines with clothes on them constitute an obstruction. It was requested that the Council rule on the matter of the obstruction.—Crs. Preston, Roberts and the Mayor to investigate. Mr. R. H. Ireland, coal dealer, Jollie Street, Hokitika, offered to perform the following works at a contract price: (1) Cleaning streets and collection and removal of rubbish in the business area; (2) mowing streets and periodical mowing of Cass Square. Applicant was prepared to submit a price on receipt of schedules of the work. —Referred to Clerk.

The Officer in Charge, Public AVorks Department, Hokitika, in reply to the Council’s letter of May 4, 1944, advised that the matter of the

lowering of the culvert across Stafford Street, at the intersection of Hoffman Street, had been submitted to the Highways Board representative and that it was intended to do nothing in the meantime, but to review the matter if flooding continues. It was considered that now that the Council have improved the outlet drainage, it is expected that such improvement should afford a quicker run off for the water and therefore a considerable improvement m the areas north of Stafford Street.should result.—Referred back to P.W.D. Engineer. Council requested dram being put down to lower level, as it wished to put in a permanent drain on north side. Mrs. P. Renton asked for gravelling of footpath in Park Street, near Public and Infant Schools.—Approved.

Beautifying Association invited the Chairman of Reserves to Association meetings. Hokitika Fire Brigade asked attention to provision and enforcing of building bylaws, also asking attention to pipes.-—Referred to Bylaiwi Committee to investigate. Piping to be done.