RUNANGA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1944, Page 8

RUNANGA BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING.

The Mayor (Mr. E. Kennedy) presided at last evening’s meeting of the Runanga Borough Council. Present were: Councillors C. Barrow, S. Braithwaite, J. Devine, J. Luff and R. Nelson. The Town Clerk reported that about £270 of the current year’s rates had been paid. The sum of £6O subsidy in lieu of rates on the Dunollie housing block, had been received from the Mines Department. Accounts totalling '£74/10/1 were passed for payment.

The Under-Secretary lor Mines wrote regarding the payment of £6O, confirming that the amount was in lieu of rates iff respect of State rental houses at Dunollie for the 1943-44 rating year. Whilst the Crown was undbr no statutory obligation to pay rates, the Department accepted a limited liability for certain local body rates on properties of which the Crown is the owner, and which are let on a weekly or monthly tenancy. The amount paid in lieu of rates is in the same proportion to the full rates as the rent received by the Department bears to the full year’s rental. This policy will be followed in future, and the Minister will be prepared to consider a grant in lieu of rates for the 1944-45 rating year and subsequent years, similar to the present payment. Canterbury Education Board wrote regarding the proposal to use a section at Dunollie for a kindergartenschool, stating that it was not the policy of the Department to establish kindergartens, and there was no prospect of a school being built in that area. The Council was thanked for its offer of the land.

The Health Inspector wrote recommending that Mr. D. H. Manderson be granted permission to'instal a septic tank.

Main Highways Board wrote offering the use of the “magnet” for use on the Borough roads to remove metals which are a danger to tyres. The overall cost was 17/6 per hour, and about 30 miles of road per day would be covered. —No action taken. National Service Department advised extension of Scheme 13 covering four men, lor a further period of 13 weeks.

Mrs. Livesay, Seven Mile Road, wrote asking that the drain fronting her property be cleaned, as in wet weather the water backed onto her section. —Referred to foreman.

Mr. R. Moore applied for an area to be set aside as a taxi stand, suggesting a site between Mr. Coles’ shop and the Miners’ Hall.—Granted. It was decided to draw the attention of the Co-operative Society to the practice of parking cars under the shop verandah, and so blocking the footpath. The foreman reported carting 39 loads of gravel, 36 of spoil and 73 of ashes. The material was used in covering over a culvert in Pitt Street, extending Sutherland Street and constructing a car turn-out in Pitt Street. The grader was employed on two days. Six concrete panels have been made for the culvert sides. A track has been constructed at Rapahoe for the Life Saving Club. The construction of the Pitt Street drain has been commenced, three chains being complete. The water supply intake has been cleaned, and the sluice valves opened. —The report was received as satisfactory. Two building permits .totalling £1.401 were approved. The Town Clerk (Miss D. M. Willis) reported on the Municipal Conference and the Conference of Town Clerks, held in Wellington, stating that the visit was well worth-while. Questions discussed included rates on State owned property; control of lire brigades and control of sports areas. Cr. Luff reporting on the Fire Brigade Conference said that consideration was being given to a scheme to form fire committees in the smaller areas where no Fire Board existed, to control the fire brigade. Under this scheme, the local body, the Government and the Underwriters would be represented. At present the only funds the Runanga Brigade received apart from their own efforts were by grants from the Government and assistance from the Borough Council. If the proposal were adopted, then the insurance companies also would make financial contributions, and the Government help would be on a fixed and permanent basis. Such a scheme would be of great advantage to Runanga. VANDALISM AT HALL. The Mayor reported that the foreman had discovered a great deal of vandalism had occurred at the Gymnasium Hall. The front door had been broken to pieces, the door at the rear room was off its hinges, the panels of a door to a side room were broken. Chairs had been smashed and refuse littered about the floor. Most serious, was damage to the piano. The top had been taken off, and the top hammers broken off a large number of keys, and the inside blocked with straw. He had reported the matter to the police. Cr. Luff said the unsatisfactory way the Council control the hall, with no one in charge, led to trouble. There should be a caretaker. On the night of a recent dance in the Gym. the Fire Station was entered and considerable damage done. The Council had done nothing to the hall since taking it over, and it was no credit to it. If the hall was put in good condition and a caretaker appointed, then it would be looked after.

Cr. Barrow advocated paying a caretaker. It was too much to expect the ioreman to watch it.

In reply to Cr. Devine, the Town Clerk said that the funds handed over by the Gymnastic Club when the Borough took over the hall amounted to £45/4/6. At the present time the Hall Fund amounted to £6l/8/8. Cr. Barrow. said it was up to the Council to spend some of the fund to put the doors and fittings in a secure condition.

Cr. Luff objected to spending money on temporary work, contending the whole building should be repaired and modernised. The Mines Department had offered generous help. The Mayor said the Council had no funds to do extensive work, and there was no sign of any interest among the citizens,

Cr. Luff said that some of the Council had opposed the improvement scheme when outlined at a public meeting. Cr. Braithwaite said he was opposed to extensive work being done to the building, without some guarantee that it would maintain itself afterwards. There was only small revenue from it at present, and not sufficient to maintain the building. To do so, it would have to be engaged every night of the week. Cr. Luff said that the meeting of representatives of local organisations favoured improvements, and it was shown that if the hall was in good repair, and amenities provided, then it would be used much more. At present, to hold a concert in the Miners’ Hall meant a great deal of work preparing the stage and hall. The Miners’ Union were exceedingly generous in the use of the hall, but quite often the Gym. Hall was sufficient, but it provided no amenities. If the Borough raised £2OO the Mines Department would subsidise it.

Cr. Braithwaite said the attendance of 14 at the public meeting showed how much interest, there was in the future of the hall. On the motion of Cr. Barrow it was decided that an estimate of the amount of damage done be prepared and placed in the hands of the police for action. Cr. Luff referring to the establishment of a Ladies’ Bowling Club on the

site of the old tennis court, .said that lie" thought the idea good, but did not agree to the green being extended out to the edge of the road, across the area reserved for a footpath. The men were doing good work in making the green, but he didn’t want to see work done now that would have to be altered later, when a footpath was wanted. At present the edge of the green was 12 feet from the centre of the road. The Council must look to the future, and provide for footpaths. The Mayor said it was only a class three road, running to a dead end, and a footpath would never be needed. The green protruded out no further than the old tennis court fence. The Club wanted room to have five playing rinks, and that was the only way to get them in, and allow a small space around the green. They proposed to grow a hedge around the green, and. it would be of much better appearance than it was at present. Cr. Devine said he could not see the town developed to the stage where a footpath would be made along those streets. ■ The Council adjourned the meeting and inspected the area, and later it was decided that the ’Mayor, and Councillors Luff and Nelson meet the j Club to discuss the matter. •0