“BLAKETOWN DOES NOT EXIST”: LOCAL BODIES CRITICISED

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 February 1949, Page 2

“BLAKETOWN DOES NOT EXIST”: LOCAL BODIES CRITICISED

Little was done in the way of improvements m the Blaketown-Preston Road area last year, though numerous requests were forwarded to local bodies by the executive committee of the Blaketown-Preston Road ratepayers’ Association. This statement is made by the association’s president, Mr F. McEnaney, in his annual report for presentation to the annual meeting tomorrow evening. “In fact,” he said, “Blaketown and Preston road, as far as the local bodies are concerned don’t exist except for the purpose of collecting rates and rents. Of all our requests, only one has been attended to, —the removing of storm water from Packer’s Quay.” “During the year several letters were written to the Borough Council, re stock driving. Seeking better methods or another route but it was. only when a citizen was badly injured that the Council informed us that other means of conveying stock to the abattoirs would be gone into.” the report continues. “It seems a strange thing to the Committee that of the two main highways in the borough, the council wishes to make garden plots in one (Tainui st.) and a stock route of the other. It will be a happy day for the citizens living on this route when the Council informs us of new methods of transport.” During the year, the harbour board advised that a new footbridge would be built over the lagoon, fulfilling a long felt want, as the old bridge had fallen into a very dilapidated state. Several new street lights had been erected in Preston road and Blake street. The Council in the near future proposed to build the new pumping station in Collins street, so the completion of the sewerage scheme which was started in Blaketown in 1937, and tor which the ratepayers in this area had been paying but had not had the pleasure of using, would be looked forward to. Congratulations were extended to the Advance Blaketown League for the completion of the childrens Playing area and it was hoped that the coming year would see McLean Park developed. Congratulations were also extended to the Blaketown Football Club on its 25th Jubilee year, also to the bowling club for the line appearance of its pavilion. During the coming year another silver jubilee would take place the report concluded. This would be of the Blaketown Citizens Hall. It was hoped that some suitable function, would be held to mark this event.