BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Grey River Argus, 13 January 1928, Page 3

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Council Meeting. The ordinary meeting of Ihe Greymouth Borough Council was held hist evening, there being present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. V- Greenslade), Councillors .T. O’Brien, R. J. Williams, J. B. Kent, and D. M. Robertson. Apologies for absence were received from Crs J. .McGinlev, G. Perotti and T. B. Baty. THE MAYOR AND MAYORESS. ’Cr O’Brien said that before commencing the ordinary business he would like to take the opportunity, on behalf of the Council, of welcoming ITis Worship the Mayor back to Greymouth. He might be phased to learn that during his absence ho had certainly been missed by them. There had not been a good substitute in the meantime, so that they all were pleased when the Mayor returned. On the Council’s ( behalf he wished also to express to His Worship their very hearty congratulations on his marriage and their best wishes th:./, he and Mrs Greenslade would be blessed by a very prosperous and happy wedded life, with the hope that they would be long spared, and that His Worship would long continue to occupy his prominent place in the town’s public life and the important office of Mayor of Greymouth. Tn a position such as that of the Mayor there wore the onerous duties attaching to public life which he had to discharge, and these to a considerable extent would be shared by the Mayoress. When therefore one in the Mayor’s position had chosen a partner of the right type, she would certainly be for him of great assistance in the discharge of his duties. He again desired to assure the Mayor of the Council’s cordial welcome, and to extend

the good wishes of the Councillors for the welfare and happiness of the Mayor and Mayoress. The Mayor said he had io thank Cr O’Brien and the other Councillors for the welcome and kind wishes that had been extended to him. He was gratified to think that they had missed him during his absence and that his return was welcomed. Though he had not been very long away, the interval had held for him an event of importance and one that with few exceptions hap-, pened but once in a lifetime. It certainly had been one of the happiest holidays of his own lifetime. He returned with the realisation that in comparison with Sydney the West Ccast was a small community, but. also, with the feeling that their district was a good one, in which there was .a fine community and the people all were among the best one could wish to deal with. The Deputy-Mayor had suggested that he had not. had a good substitute. but. the speaker knew it was otherwise, as he had read the papers and had learned verbally from citizens that Cr O’Brien had carried out the Mayoral duties very efficiently indeed. He felt he was fortunate in having been able at such a time as the Christmas holidays to leave in his place one who could so ably discharge the Mayoral duties. He would convey with

pleasure thei rexprossion of welcome and congratulations to Mrs Greenslade, who, ho felt sure, would, as remarked, prove a great help for him in discharging the duties of public life. 11c once again thanked the Council. CORRESPONDENCE. The Grey Swimming Club wrote requesting the use of the Municipal Baths from 6.30 to 8.10 p.m. on Wednesday next, for the purpose of holding a swimming carnival. Crs Kent and Robertson proposed that the request be granted. The Mayor said that it was understood that the agreement as to proceeds held good. They should have the clubs and the Baths Committee to meet and discuss hours and charges. Cr Kent, said the present arrangement in that regard held only for the present month, when it would be necessary to have a new arrangement concluded with the clubs. Cr Robertson said he was not satisfied with the present procedure of the Baths Committee. The Clubs’ offer to meet the Committee should be availed of at once, ’Cr Williams thought the arrangements had been satisfactory so far. There were some who did not pay. The motion to grant the request was carried, and on the motion of the Mayor and Cr O’Brien it was resolved that the Baths Committee meet immediately and draw’ up a report on the matter of hours and charges for submission to the Council nt the next Finance Committee meeting.

The Department of Internal Affairs wrote asking that it be advised as to any surplus war trophies the Council had. Cr Kent said Cr Robertson had the matter in hand, and would ascertain what trophies should be kept. The, Mayor said a reply could be sent when Cr Robertson made a selection. The Secretary of the Methodist Church Jubilee Committee wrote asking for the use of the Children’s Park for a garden party on February Bth next. Cr O’Brien moved that the request be granted,’ and the motion, on being seconded by Mr Kent, was carried. Mr D. T. Cochrane, Cobden, applied for a license for an ice cream stand in the street. Cr O’Brien asked whore the applicant desired the stand. The Mayor said there was the question of equitable competition with the shopkeepers. Cr Kent said the matter might be one for the health authorities. Cr Robertson said that in Christchurch there wore two or three such stands. Cr O’Brien said they could grant a site where the stand would not conflict with the ortheij established traders. While it was a ease in which, it possible, they ought to help, they could not do so in a way to interfere with traders paying rates, and the site ■would have to be away from these. The Mayor said the applicant desired the Council to select the site. It wasresolved, on the motion of Cr O’Brien, to refer the application to the Traffic Committee.

The Chief Inspector of Explosives forwarded a notification that, the regulations under the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Amendment Act, 1920, had been completely revised, relative to the storage and transport of petrol, and asked that the Council should submit any suggestions it had to offer forthwith, as the new regulations would operate from April Ist next. The Mayor said that the Engineer had ptated the alterations already were

mostly in force here. On his motion, seconded by Cr O’Brien, it was decided to refer the matter to the Engineer avd the Traffic Committee.

The season’s greetings were received from Mr 11. E. Holland, M.P., Leader of the Opposition, and Miss Holland. Messrs Harley and Co. applied for and were granted an auctioneer’s license for 1928. The Accountant (Mr Hoaphy), in reply to a question, stated that there were now two auctioneer’s licenses in force in the borough, being the same number as last year. The Council of the N.Z. Society of Civil Engineers wrote requesting that the Council would facilitate the attendance at its annual meeting on February 21st at Wellington of any member or members of its staff interested in the meeting by reason of his or their duties. This would be a specially interesting meeting, at which lighting, bitumenising, harbour works, and other engineering matters would be* dealt with. Cr 0 ’Brien moved that the Engineer be granted permission to attend the meeting. Cr Williams said that at the time in question there would be nobody left in control of works. The Mayor said the Engineer would bo absent only from Monday till Saturday, and it would be of value to them if he attended, as the Society would discuss problems of urgency and importance, and the meeting would be most instructive. Tie had found each conference most informative. Cr Williams asked who was to bear the cost. He thought the Society would do so. The Mayor said that the Council would. Cr Williams said some societies had funds to meet the expenses of those attending from a distance, and thought it might be so in this case. Cr Robertson seconded Cr O’Brien’s motion, which was carried.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid) reported as follows: — Streets.—Mackay Street, south side, from Tainui Street to the Band Rotunda; Lord Street from Tainui Street to Herbert Street, and part of Gresson Street has been tarred and sanded. The mower has been employed as opportunity offers, clearing long grass and weeds from the side of the streets. Water Works—Relief Unemployment Works.—The main part of this is now completed. The connection to the Johnston Street Sewer will be made as soon as the other work is so far advanced that interference from tides will not affect the work. As soon as this connection is made, house connections may be connected up. The drain through McGinley Park has been cut and the flow directed to the Johnston Street Sewer.

Building permits issued from December 22, 1927, to .January 11, 1928, inclusive, were: W. Hill (shop front) Albert Street, F. A. Bell (dwelling) Arney Street, J. A. Hart (dwelling) Town Belt North, J. A. Hart (shop) Mawhera Quay, W. Hill (shop front) Albert Street, J. M. Fairbairn (feed shed) Murray Street. The total value of building permits for the month of December was £14,461.

Water Works.—Enquiries are being made for a supply of 10 inch casing for use in the bore holes at the Onioto Road Pumping Station. Two new water services were laid during DeceinCr Williams asked what was the depth of water in the reservoir. He thought the insurance companies should know. There used to be a rule to make known the depth daily through the press. The Mayor said the Engineer reported the reservoir to lie full, and that the suggestion as to publishing the depth would be acted on. The Engineer’s report was adopted.

For the Works Committee, ,Cr Wil liams reported that the Committee recommended that the owners of open sections be requested to maintain them free of noxious weeds and rubbish in lieu of fencing them; that in regard to the provision of lighting in the town belt area at Fern Hill, no extension of the lighting system can be at present undertaken, and that the owners of properties on the roadway between Boundary Street and Preston Road whose fences encroach on the track be notified to remove the said fences back to the building line as defined by the Engineer. The other matters referred to the Committee had been duly attended to. The report was adopted.

The Traffic Inspector (Mr A. J. Sloss) reported that during the holiday season there had been much more traffic than at ordinary times, but it had been free from mishap. While he had been some days laid up, his son had officiated in his stead. The only accidents during the period had been one at Karoro where a motor car and cycle collided, and one at Gladstone Siding. The freedom from accidents spoke well for the capacity of West Coast motorists. He recommended that the domes at the street intersections in Mackay, Tarapuhi and Tainui Streets, and on Mawhera Quay, be raised so as to make them more conspicuous, especially in view of the asphalting operations tending to hide them from view. In such cases as there were breaches of the traffic regulations, the offenders mostly had been outsiders, who should have known better. It was resolved on the motion of-Crs Kent and O’Brien that the matter of raising the domes be referred to the Engineer with power to act. The Borough Inspector (Mr Cochrane) reported that despite the hot weather there had been a freedom from complaints, due partly to the householders improving their places. A section between William Street and the railway had been cleared, and iron and rubbish had been removed from Petrie Avenue. Cr Kent suggested that the practice of transporting pig-food in the middle of the day in the borough should be interdicted. Messrs E. Ellery and J. Steel, Blaketown, wrote complaining that the footpath for which there .was a formation in front of their properties remained non-existent, despite promises to do the work, after the completion of certain other works already done. In taking the Council’s work, they stated, they had been unlucky. It was impossible, for them to strike a proper level for fences. They requested works rather than words. Cr Kent proposed that the Engineer give them the necessary levels. The Mayor said Mr 'Steel had been promised the job would be done a long time since, and he had built a new bungalow. The Engineer advised that a few loads of shingle would suffice. It was resolved that the request

be granted, and that the necessary material be provided. The Jubilee Committee wrote asking lhe Council to provide a tableau for the procession on Jubilee Day, when there would be a pageant, with representations of the various States of the Empire. The Mayor said they would have to take a leading part in the function. Cr Kent thought the staff could devise a good tableau in their spare time, and they had the Borough horses for it. Cr O’Brien said he would be useless in planning a tableau, and though he did not know enough to assist, he would like to see the Council make a creditable display. Cr Robertson said they could provide a tableau to represent Trinidad. (Laughter.) On Cr Kent’s motion it was decided to reply that the Council would do its best.

Mr C. H. Rose, for the A. and P. Association an 4 the Jubilee Committee, wrote regarding side shows for which in the case of the A. and P. Show it was asked no permit be granted outside the Park, whilst it was requested that applications in the case of the Jubilee should be referred to the (Committee. Tn either case the organisations hoped to derive a revenue from such shows. The matter was referred to the General Committee, on the motnon of Crs O’Brien and Williams, the Council being sympathetic towards the requests. Cr Williams, for Cr McGinley, moved that the 2-inch water main be extended from Doyle to Collins Street, Blaketown, so as to serve six residences. Cr O’Prien seconded the motion, which was carried. . Cr Williams moved that the erection of the superstructure of the Marsden Road bridge bo at once put in hand, and that a bridge controller be employed. Cr O’Brier, seconded and the motion was carried. Cr Williams said they had a bye-law providing for a £5 deposit on an indemnity for damage to footpaths due to builders crossing them with vehicles, an f ] he quoted a case of damage done at Kilgour Road. He moved that all builders deposit £2. The Mayor suggested that it should be made £5, as the contractors ought to pay in such cases. Cr Kent said they had only to enforce their byeilaw. The Mayor said the motion would help the Engineer in the matter, and it was carried.