EXTENSIVE BOROUGH WORKS IN PAST NINE YEARS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1947, Page 2

EXTENSIVE BOROUGH WORKS IN PAST NINE YEARS

Something in the nature of “an account of his stewardship” was given by the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) at a meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council last evening, in a report covering the principal works carried out by the council between 1938 and 1947. Under the heading of “general works” the following were listed: A system of house numbering covering the whole of the borough. _ } Footbridge across Sawyer s creek at Bridge and Marlborough streets.

Outrigger footbridges to traffic bridges at the Shakespeare, Turumaha and Arney street bridges and to that across Erua Moana.

Complete reconstruction of Arney street bridge. Bus passenger shelter in High street adjacent to Grey Hospital. Setting back of corner at the intersection of Shakespeare and Winnie streets.

Formation of connecting roadmett esplanade to Range creek. Formation of connecting roadway in Spring street from Rochfort street on to the Town Belt north.

“Replacing worn-out motor vehicles, two new ones have been purchased,” the report added, “one out of current revenue and the othbr out of the motor vehicles renewal fund; a tractor, complete with power-driv-en mower has been purchased for streets and reserves maintenance; a mechanical road-breaker or pick has been provided for the opening up of hard road surfaces etc., and in the workshops a lathe, a vertical drilling, machine, an air compressor, acetylene gas cutting and welding equipment, and a sparking plug cleaning machine have been procured.”

Tar-Sealing Work

The report also listed 11.15 miles of roadways in 66 streets, including surfacing of streets previously not tar-sealed and streets reformed and again tar-sealed; footpaths, totalling 10.08 miles in 44 streets; including paths surfaced for the first time and surfaced paths broken up and resurfaced; concrete kerbing and channelling in 16 streets, a total of 2.51 miles; main sewerage extension in southern areas of the borough, 10.98 miles of pipes, ranging from 42 inches to six inches in diameter; Cobden sewerage loan marks in Newcastle street area, .41 miles of pipes ranging from 21 inches to 12 inches in diameter; general drainage and sewerage with a total of 2.21 miles of pipes ranging from 36 inches to six inches in diameter; and waterworks comprising 2.31 miles of four-inch diameter cast iron and asbestos cement water mains, including 1.15 miles of the latter type of pipe. The report was received and the Mayor indicated that he would probably comment on the report at the next meeting of the Council. There were present at the meeting the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham), Crs. A. L. McKay, T. Caldwell, H. Hutchinson, J. E. Stokes, G. R. Harker, W. Herring, P. Blanchfield and F. F. Boustridge. The resignations of Mr A. Clarke and Miss N. E. Hamilton from the council’s staff were accepted with regret and they , were thanked for their services. . On the motion of th~e Mayor it was decided to thank Misses Molly Coll and Vonnie McDonnell and their 'helpers for their efforts in the Aid-to-Britain campaign. The Mayor <=aid that their praiseworthy efforts had resulted in over £6OO being collected in just over a fortnight.

Requests For Donations

The Westland District Progress League wrote soliciting the council’s usual donation. It was stated that last year the council gave £2O to the ■’ Ci’ McKay moved that £2O be givan, and the motion was seconded by Cr Boustridge. Cr Blanchfleld moved an amendment that £5 5s be given to the league. He said he was sympathetic with the league and appreciative of its work, but the league wag no longer in need of such a large donation as £2O from the council. He had been one of the movers that £2O be given* in the past two years, but he, considered that it was not fair for the retiring council to give away money which it could ill afford, especially with a new council coming in. The amendment lapsed for want oi a seconder and the motion was carried. * The Brunner Old Boys’ Association wrote asking the council for a donation towards the celebration o the centenary of Brunner in January| 1948. A copy of the proposed programme for the celebrations was en-

closed.—On the motion of Cr Boustridge it was decided to give £lO. The Grey District Health Camp Executive wrote soliciting a donation from the council to assist in providing health camp facilities for children in the Grey district. The town clerk (Mr F. H. Denton) said that the council had already purchased £5 worth of health stamps. Cr Blanchfield opposed a donation, stating that he considered it was not fair to give away the ratepayers’ money and then “knock” them next year with the rates. Cr Boustridge moved that a further £lO worth of health stamps be purchased.

The motion was seconded by Cr Stokes, who spoke appreciatively of the work being done by the health camp movement. The motion was carried without dissent. .

The South Islands Travel Association wrote soliciting a donation towards it publicity campaign. The Tourist Publicity and Advertising Agency, Christchurch, wrote offering a full-page or half-page advertisement in a booklet which it is publishing, “What to See in New . Zealand,” stating that the cost of a full page was £3O and a half page £l6 10s.—No action was taken on either application. Crs Blanchfield and Stokes both spoke against the application. -

Telephone Call-Box The Chief Postmaster at Greymouth, Mr H. C. Rowe, advised that in response to a request by the council the telephone call-box in Mackay street near the Regent Theatre had been removed and it was suggested that it be placed at the kerbside in Mackay street, near the rear entrance to the Golden Eagle Hotel, the council to bear the cost of removal and reerection.—lt was decided to offer no objection to the new site provided the property-holders in the vicinity are agreeable to the proposal. The West Coast Swimming Centre wrote asking the council’s consent to the use of the £7O in the bath account to assist in the purchase of a sound film projector.—Granted. The Municipal Association wrote stating that the new scale of fees for returning officers, applying to members of the association with a population of 20,000 or less, as completed by the association’s executive, provides for a fee for each election of £ 10 plus £2 10s for every 1000 persons in the local body’s district, on an election of four issues, the fee to be increased or reduced by 10 per cent, for each issue more or less than four. The association added that the approval of the Director of Stabilisation was required if the council wished to operate the new scale. —Received. The West Coast Basketball Association wrote expressing regret that the “frog pond” area was not available for use as basketball courts and asking the council’s comments on the following areas, which the association considered might be suitable for courts:—l. Part of the ground behind the swimming baths; 2. the area near the aerodrome and the abattoirs; and 3. Preston road reserve.—Referred to the incoming council. Greymouth Aerodrome The Director of Civil Aviation writing in reply to the council’s proposal that earth-moving machinery available in the district should be used for extension of the Greymouth aerodrome, stated that the council’s proposal did riot provide a solution of the problem. The department could not initiate any work without the sanction of the Commissioner of Works, who was concerned with the overall resources of the country and not only those owned or operated by the Government—lt was decided to refer all the correspondence on the question to the Minister of Works (Mi Semple) and to advise him that the necessary machinery was available in the district. Dr J. Blakelock, medical officer of health, Christchurch, forwarded a copy of a letter sent to Mr B. W. Caulton, of Greymouth, giving permission for the establishment of an offensive trade—storage, drying and preservation of bones, hides, hoofs and skins —at Cobden, and stating that the consent of the Greymouth Borough Council would be necessary before the operations 'were commenced. It was resolved that tne engineer confer with the Grey County Council as the site of the proposed business

IS in tne county. . The Municipal Association advised that the annual conference will be held at Dunedin in April, 1948. —Tne question of representation was referred to the incoming council. The abattoir manager reported that the following stock was examined at the abattoir during September:— cows, 48; bullocks and heifers, 176: sheep, 420;lambs, 51; pigs, 33; calves, 6- total fees £2OB 2s. Id. The New Zealand Refrigerating Company reported that the following meat was sent to the Grey district during tire same period:—calves, 2; pigs, 14; sheep, 387; lambs, 43; 2,2221 b of boneless meat.