TEPID BATHS SCHEME

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1946, Page 4

TEPID BATHS SCHEME

PROPOSALS FOR GREYMOUTH OUTLINED COST OF £4,000 TO £5,000 Proposals for filtration, sterilisation and heating plant for the Greymouth Municipal Baths, at a cost of between £4OOO and £5OOO, were outlined at a meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council last evening by the engineer (Mr. A. J. Fairmaid), but he emphasised that the esti- • mated cost suggested was apart from improvements to the conveniences and accommodation at the baths. The Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) indicated to the meeting that the West Coast Swimming Centre desired to secure the 1947-48 intermediate and junior championships for Greymouth, but had pointed out that improvements to the baths would be required before the centre’s application would be considered. The centre wished to know, before the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association during the Labour week-end, what the prospects were for the improvements being made. Explaining the proposals, the engineer said that he had received two replies to his inquiries concerning sterilising and filtration plant. In the first place, he said, he was not planning to use solid fuel —he did not wish to have anything in the way of a large chimney near the baths. The heating would be either by gas or electricity. Ozone or chlorine sterilising plant could be used, but ozone would cost about £2OOO more than the other. Ozone was the more modern and with chlorine there was a certain amount of odour, but there were methods of dealing with this. With such plant, added Mr. Fairmaid, the water in the baths would not be changed more than once a year, though some would -be added from time to time to make up losses. In many towns where such plant was in use in'swimmnig baths, the quality of the water in the baths was better than the ordinary town supply. Relative Cost of Fuels.

heating, filtration, and sterilising plant would cost about £4OOO or £5OOO, said Mr. Fairmaid. Solid fuel would be cheaper to use than gas or electricity, and with ozone for the sterilising there was the advantage that no imported materials were required. After the cost of £4OOO or £5OOO would come the expense of the conveniences and. accommodation, and the money in view “would not look at this cost.”

The Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) said that information had been received some time ago that tepid baths could not possibly pay unless there was a population of at least 20,000. Other councillors suggested that in the colder climate of the West Coast the tepid baths might have a greater attraction.

The Mayor said it might be necessary to have a special meeting within the next two weeks to consider the matter, when the engineer would have secured some further technical information which he required. The West Coast Swimming Centre advised that it had decided to double the charge for adult season tickets and that the charges for the present season would be: Adult season ticket, 10/-; children’s season ticket, 2/6; adult, single swim, 3d; children, single swim. Id. Copies of the annual report' and the baths committee’s annual report were enclosed.— The proposed prices were approved. The Mayoi’ presided and there were also present Councillors P. Blanchfield, J. Stokes, H. Hutchinson, W. Herring, A. L. McKay, G. R. Harker, T. Caldwell, and F. F. Boustridge. Shakespeare Street Drainage.

Miss W. Perotti wrote asking that steps be taken to prevent flooding in Town Belt at the back of her residence, and stating that she was prepared to contribute £5 towards the cost. She stated that other people in the area whose residences were affected would be prepared to contribute if the work were carried out. The Mayor said that when people filled in open watercourses and then built over them they did not deserve much consideration. Miss Perotti was not the person responsible, but another resident was concerned. He did not see that the great majority of the ratepayers should .have to shoulder the expense involved because of the action to which he had referred. i ~ Cr. Blanchfield referred to the danger to health by the continued existence of the nuisance. He knew that other residents in' addition to Miss Perotti would be prepared to make a contribution towards the cost. Cr. Boustridge said he was strongly of the opinion that it was not the function of the council to spend money to abate a nuisance on private land. There was undoubtedly a nuisance, but he thought the residents could get their redress by referring the matter to the Health Inspector. Cr. McKay said that if money was expended on private land in the case before the council there would be similar applications from Shakespeare street, where the flooding was just as bad. The Mayor said there was provision for a special levy to be made on residents in a particular locality for work of the nature suggested, provided a petition signed by a majority of the residents concerned was placed before the council. The work would cost several hundreds of pounds, but if the residents were prepared to pay a small rate, spread over a number of years, a solution might be found. . It was resolved that, in the meantime, the engineer prepare a report and estimate of the cost of the work.

Blaketown Lease. Messrs Hannan, and Seddon advised that the lease of the section on which the Blaketown Hall stands appeared to have been held by Messrs Sheahan and Clough as trustees for the people of Blaketown. The District Land Registrar was prepared to register the new lease in the name of the Blaketown Ratepayers’ and Citizens’ Association and so dispense with the transfer from . Messrs Sheahan ana Clough. If the council decided to adopt this course an application to the Land Sales Court would be necessary, but the application would be merely formal, and consent would be automatic.—lt was decided to instruct the solicitors to register the new lease as proposed. ■ It was decided on the motion of Cr. Blanchfield to express to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and the Minister of Transport (Mr. O’Brien) the council’s appreciation of the Gov-

ernment’s action in stabilising th hospital rate and to point out me great difference which the stabinsation of the rate would make to tne district. >, m The Abattoir Manager (Mr. D. b. Binnie) reported that the following stock was examined during August. Cows, 9; bullocks and heifers, 104 (one condemned); sheep, 672; lambs, 4; pigs 29; calves, 53. Fees: —£1M 14/7. The New Zealand Refrigerating Company reported that during August the following meat was sent to the Grey district:—Large cattle, 8 2 -; sheep, 196; lambs, 93; calves, 11; boneless meat, 28251 b. A letter was received from the Greymouth Townswomen’s Guild asking that a room suitable, for meetings of women’s organisations be included in the plans for the proposed new Town Hall.—lt was decided to advise the guild that a room in the upstairs portion of the proposed new hall would probably be suitable, and that representatives of the guild could inspect the plan if they so wished.

Street Collections. An application by the West Coast Basketball Association for permission to conduct a street appeal in Greymouth to assist the funds of the association was refused, councillors expressing the opinion that they were not prepared to allow street appeals for sports bodies. The Salvation Army was granted permission to conduct its annual selfdenial street appeal in Greymouth on Friday, October 18, provided that date has not already been allocated. The Country Library Service, Wellington, advised that a short refresher course in librarianship would be held during the second week in January, 1947. An allowance of £5 a week would be made to librarians attending the course, and return fare to Wellington would be refunded. —Referred to the Library Committee for a report. The District Employment Officer advised that the Director of Employment has approved extension, of the No. 13 Scheme authority for 13 weeks from September 23, on the existing basis of 100 per cent, wages cost in respect of. the employment by the council of five married men and one widower.

New Shopping Area. Mr. F. L. Turley on behalf of the Nelson Street Butchery wrote requesting permission to erect a butcher’s shop at the corner of Nelson and Shakespeare streets. The shop, he said, would be occupied by a butcher already operating in the town. It was further requested that if the area was not already declared a light shopping area, that steps be made to declare it as such. The application was granted, with an intimation that the council would be prepared to allocate adjoining sections for the purpose of creating a small shopping area in the locality. In the course of his report on work carried out by the outside staff during August the Engineer (Mr. A. J. Fairmaid) stated that further clearing had been done in Morice’s paddock preparatory to the preparation of playing fields. The reservoir had been kept full by an average daily pump run of 17.4 hours.

The Gas Manager (Mr. Fairmaid) reported that the sale of gas during July totalled 4,266,700 cubic feet, compared with 4,401,600 cubic feet in July of last year. The cash receipts to the end of August, from the sale of gas and fittings and residuals totalled £8294/11/10 compared with £7570 15/1, an increase of £823/16/9. Three cookers, a copper and a fish frier were fitted during August, the total value being £219/5/-. The Gas Committee recommended that, in view of the fact that the stokers have to work on statutory holidays, they be granted 15 working days’ annual leave.—The recommendation was adopted. Librarian’s Report.

The report of the Librarian (Miss J. McLauchlan) for August was adopted as follows:—lssues: Rentals 1057; non-fiction 606; periodicals 509; fiction 1860; C.L.S. fiction 483; C.L.S. non-fiction 626; junior 454; total 5595. Registrations: Adults 26: junior 8. Receipts: £l5/12/-Fifty-eight books (48 fiction and 10 non-fiction) have been added to the library and to the junior library. The steady increase in the number of books issued can be attirbuted to the fresh stock received from the van and to the two new loan collections on music and gardening. The condition of the book stock itself is improved though there is still room for further improvements. Overdue books are still causing concern, the borrowing public failing to recognise their obligation in returning books. The Grey Hospital Board advised that at its last meeting it authorised the municipal librarian to spend a further £lO on books for the hospital library service. Works Committee Recommendations.

The following recommendations of the works committee were adopted:— That both lights at the level crossing on the southern approach to the Cobden bridge be made 250 candlepower, instead of 100 and 250 candle-power as at present. That Mr. G. Patterson be granted permission to improve the access to his mortuary chapel over portion of Petrie avenue at his own expense and under the supervision of the Borough Engineer, but that the council tar-seal the area. That the Greymouth Ratepayers .and Residents’ Association be advised as follows:—(a) Because of the labour shortage the work required cannot be done at present, but that concrete kerbing and channelling of Sinnott road has been provided for in the loan proposals; (b) that the complaint concerning Tindale road will receive attention; (c) that the council has decided to restore the plot in Buccleugh street, but that the work has been delayed because of the shortage of labour; (d) that, concerning the deposit of firewood, etc., on streets, people have no right to make such deposits and that the council has instructed the inspector to attend to all infringements promptly; (e) that, regarding the lease of the Town Hall, a copy of the lease under which the. lessee, is operating is available for inspection on application to the Town Clerk. Streets and Corners. That the Advance Blaketown League be advised that the suggested road formation is on land vested in the Harbour Board, the council having no jurisdiction, and that the rounding of the corner at the intersection of Rigg and Reid streets will receive attention as soon as work in hand at the abattoir is completed. That steps be taken to procure the lowering of the hedge on the Sturge street frontage of section 179 to improve the view of traffic at the intersection of Sturge and Fox streets. That the necessary steps be taken to round to a radius of 18 feet the Tainui-Ngarimu streets corner of lot 2, section 154, to improve the view of traffic at that intersection. In connection with the last recommendation it was decided to send a letter of appreciation to Mr, W, Mel-

drum for his offer to give portion of his section to enable the corner to be improved. , . The committee reported that it■ received a deputation from the Giey Main School Committee concerning the site of the proposed P U^ IIC L? venience in the vicinity of Dixo Park, and recommended that the convenience be built close to the bus stop on the Dixon Park side of Ta " nui street, instead of on the slta the old Fire Brigade reel house. U recommendation was adopted. A request by the Blaketown Hom and School Association, through Li. Herring, that the council P a y. J? annual cost (£4)' of a light installed on the street near the school was discussed, but no action was taken, n was stated that the association naa installed the light at its own expens , without reference to the council.