HOKITIKA NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 October 1944, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING.

[OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

HOKITIKA, October 19. The Hokitika Borough Council met yesterday. Present: The Mayor* (Mr. A. R. Elcock), Crs. D. Pettigrew, A. C. Armstrong, C. Caliari, H. C. Peart, I. J. Preston, L. S. Ross, S. G. Havill and W. H. Stopforth. Treasurer’s report: Receipts, £2534/9/5; expenditure, £1727/13/1. Accounts amounting to £BOO/1/7 were passed for payment. The Foreman’s report was read and approved. The Sexton reported four interments for the month of September. Abattoir report: Stock slaughtered for month of September amounted to 17 cows, 30 heifers, 43 bullocks, 78 sheep, one lamb, three pigs, four calves. Condemned, nil. Fees collected for the month amounted to £76/18/11. Fees for corresponding month last year, £79/14/8. The Foreman was instructed to have the ground prepared for planting the hedge round Cass Square. It was decided to close a gate or gates on Cass Square to prevent pedestrians making an unsightly path across the grass plots. Cr. Armstrong reported on a conference between members of me Council and the Beautifying Society on street planting. It had been decided to plant either the whole of Weld Street east of the railway, or Stafford Street, from Fitzherbert Street to Rolleston Street, the type of trees to be subject to the Council’s .approval. The Baths Committee were congratulated on their efficient management of the Municipal Baths. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote asking if the Council wished to object to a title being granted the Hokitika Bowling Club and Hokitika Gas Company oh land occupied by them. —The Council did not require the land for a museum, the purpose for which it was reserved. S. Wilson, Weld Street, applied for grazing rights on a section in Livingstone Street. —Declined, section to be offered to the Housing Department. J. McDougall applied for permission to build on a section in Stafford Street. —Approved. HARBOUR BOARD. The Hokitika Harbour Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs M. H. Houston (Chairman), G. Howe, W. J. Richards, H. Harvey and W. H. Stopforth. The Harbourmaster reported a north-westerly channel over the bar of 12ft. in depth. The retaining wall on the north side was badly strained and required a good deal of attention. —The Board considered this work beyond their means, but the Public Works Department had inspected the position and it was expected they would carry out the necessary work. The suggestion of the Business Men’s Association that Lake Mahinapua be investigated as a site for a possible harbour was supported, and it was decided to write the Minister of Marine to this effect.

Correspondence regarding the proposed amalgamation of local bodies was read and consideration deferred pending a conference of local bodies before the Commission visits the Coast. With regard to non-payment of harbour rates, the collecting authority, the Westland County Council, was requested to take action against defaulters.