BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1929, Page 3

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Meeting of Council. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last eve.iing. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. W. Greinslade) and Crs Jas. O’Brien, J. B. Kent, F. A. Kitchingham. R. J. Williams, .T. McGinley, B. M. Robertson, S. B. White and G. Perotti. The Under Secretary, Depaitmcnt of Internal Affairs, Welling'on, wrote ~equesting to he furnished with the names of the two gentlemen elected by the Council to the Fire Board, as soon as the information was available. It was agreed that Crs McGinley and Perotti (si*ting members) be reappointed. A letter was received from the Blaketown and Preston Road Citizens* Association requesting that the paddock on the western side of Prcoton Road (McCormick’s) be set aside as a recreation reserve; a;r<l als 0 ( asking that the northern end of Blake Stregt be attended to. The Clerk mentioned the ground had already been set aside for a reserve. It was agreed that the Association be informed accordingly, and also that the Blake Street matter be referred to the Works Committee. J. Cody, Secretary Trustees, Methodist Church, wrote requesting the use of the Children’s Park on Wednesday 13th March, for the purpose of holding a garden party; also fo r the use of the electric lights for the evening.— Granted on usual terms.

Jo’Ktph Jackson, Nelson S'reet, applied for the renewal of a lease of Section 9, M.R. 198. Nelson Street.— Referred to Reserves Committee.

F. L. East, Secretary, Railway Social Comniittee t applied for use of swimming bath to hold — benefit carnival for two of their member?* who had met with accidents. It was agreed, on the motion of Cr Kitchingham, that use of the baths be granted, subject to the date being approved by thp Swimming Centre. The Secretary. H. I’. Mourant, New Zealand Institute of Town Clerks, wrote sta'ing that the annual meeting would be held at Wanganui on the sth March, aud requesting the Council to facilitate the attendance of the Town Clerk. The Mayor mentioned that the Clerk had already been authorised to attend thp conference. The Greymouth Automobile Association wrote reques'ing permission to erect finger signposts within the borough, pointing out that the local restriction signs in the Highways Act required bringing up to date. The Association also desired a conference with the Council to discuss parking places in the borough. It was agreed to grant permission t 0 erect the signs subject to approval of the Engineer; and to invite the Association to make suggestion* in writing regarding paring places. The Vacuum Oil Coy wrote drawing

at‘entio-n to the unsatisfactory condition of William Street, and asking that t!:e road be placed in good order.— Referred to Works Committee.

Stanley Darrell, Gresson Street, applied for a second-hand dealer’s license. —Graited subject to police report being satisfactory. D. E. Weaver and J. F. E. Parfi't wrote requesting the Council to give attention to the matter of draining surface water from sections in Palmerston Street, where the Council was at present cons' ructing footpaths. The Engineer explained that when the work in hand was completed, provision would be made for draining the storm water.

It was agreed to inform the applicants accordingly. Mr L. McGlashan and 14 other residents of Afoun* Street petitioned the Council to consider the extension of th e formation at Mount Street to join with Moss Street. It was stated that Air J. E. Williams, one of the petitioners, was willing’to present the Council with sufficient land from his sections for that purpose; and the ratepayers in that locality were willing to offer a fubsidy of from approximately £6O *o £7O. It was pointed out that in addition to serving the ratepayers with reasonable access, the road would open up Kings Park, and it would be possible to motor right through this beautiful domain. It was resolved tha 4 : lhe matter be referred t 0 the Works Committee for a renort.

The Shell Coy of New Zealand. Ltd, applied for permission to erect adver- J tising standards in the borough. A plan concerning same was submitted. Cr Kent moved that the matter be referred to the Town Planning Com mittee. Cr Williams moved that the application I>e refused, remarking it was time they put a check on signs and hoardings. There were too many unsightly ones abodt the town. Cij Perotti seconded. Cr Kent withdrew his motion. The Mayor considered it would be too drastic a measure if they were going U prevent everybody erecting such signs. Cr O’Brien pointed out that the sign in question was a 24 inch circular one, and the company wanted to erect it because their pump was obscured by other pumps. If they granted the the others would wa:it the same, and then the Shell Coy might want a bigger sign. After some discussion, Cr Perotti moved, as an amendment, that the matter be referred to the Town Planning Committee., but the motion refusing to grant permission was carried. The Alanager of the Borough Abattoirs reported that during the mouth the following s'oek had been dealt with: Cows 40, bullocks 116, sheep 541, lambs 16& pigs 10, calves 11. One animal had been condemned—Received. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following report was submitted by the Engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid): Streets: The tar sealing of streets

and footpaths has been pushed ahead as quickly as inclement weather would permit. Work has been carried, out in the following streets: Alawhera Quay from Customs Street to the foot of the hill east of the line of Cobden Bridge, Shakespeare Street footpath east side, from Sawyer’s Creek bridge to Marlborough Street; Alarlborough Street from Shakespeare Street to High Street; Alarsden Road from Shakespeare Street to Ida Street. Preparations of the footpaths on both sides of Marsden Road from Shakespeare Street to Palmerston Street and from Palmerston Street to Ida Street on the southern side is being carried out preparatory to tar sealing. High Street bridge handrails have beeix painted two coats and Cowper Street and Shakespeare Street bridges have had the first coat. Waterworks: A font inch cast iron main has been laid in Palmerston Street and connected to the existing mains in Bucclcugh Street and Alarsden Road at the re pect'.ve ends and the various house connections made. At the Pumping Station three bores for the pump suction have been put. down Two of these are in good country, but the third or middle one ran into sand before depth was reached. This one is probably on the too of the delta formed at the mouth of the gully opposite the pumping station, hence the bad. country met with. The bore will deliver a certain quantity of water, but as it was not as good as anticipated, a fourth bore is to be put down fifty feet further out in the river bed and on the line of the suction pipe to the. unsatisfactory bore end the raid suction pipe will be carried on to connect up the two together. This bore would have been down but for repairs being required on the drill. The work has been g eatly hindered by a series of freshes in the river. The gas engines are again in use pumping the town supply, consequent upon the alterations in progress for the installation of fhe new pump. This work should be completed in. about ten days. Drainage: Damaged services in Chapel and in Cowper Streets have been attended to.

Relief of Unemployment Works: The gravelling of streets and footpaths recently formed in Blaketown has been completed and the blinding of Doyle Street is in hand. In Blackmore Street gravelling has been completed. In the Town Belt North the footpath lias been gravelled preparatory to asphalting, the ground between (he kerb and the footpath has been trimmed and the major portion of the gravelling of the roadway has been completed. In Palmerston Street the kerbing and channelling is three-quar-ters completed, the gravelling of the roadway is nearing completion as is also the necessary alterations to the stormwater drainage. In Marsden Road the formation of the footpath from Ida Street eastward on the southern side is complete^. an( l formation of the watertable and the

cleaning up between ♦•the roadway and the footpath is in hand. The pipes are to hand for the completion of the culvert about 61 chains eastwards of Ida Street. No gravelling has so far been carried out. In Palmerston Street between Alarsden and Alarlborough Street on the western fide the formation of a footpath is in hand. Repairs to Town Hall: Preparatory to painting the doors -and windows of the Town Hall necessary repairs, including two new window frames, have been carried out. The contractor is now ready to go on with the roof as soon as the materials are to hand. r l he report was adopted. The Engineer stated, in connection with the boring operations, that the water obtained was of first quality. They had a good deal of work yet to do. and it would largely depend on the weather and the state of the river. When the work was completed, they would have to take steps to reduce the water in the lagoon as much as possible.

The Alayor said it was very satisfactory to know that they had succeeded in getting a pure water supply. It was what they had aimed at for a number of years, and he thought it was a matter of congratulation for the Council and the Engineer. C r O’Brien expressed the opinion that *he work was mostly experimental. The Engineer submitted a report on the proposed board fence at the southwestern corner of the new part of Cemetery, approximately two chains in length, showing that the fence would consist of silver pine posts at 8 foot centres; four inch by two inch building heart rimu top and bottom rails: 8 inch by one inch building heart of rimu boarding 5 rcet high. The estimated cost, using posts from stock, was £l3 4s. It was agreed that the work be parried out. TOWN PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT. Cr Kitchingham, Chairman of the Reserves (Town Planning Committee) reported as follows:—The Committee visited the Park Hotel. Guinness Street. Air Arthur Hill’s premises at corner of Herbert and Leonard Street, and W. Sampson, Street, in connection with applications for building permits in these localities. The Club Hotel was also visited. It is recommended:— That Airs Bradshaw’s application for alterations and additions to the Club Hotel be approved, subject to the balcony not being used for permanent sleeping apartments., and subject also to the approval of the Post and Telegraph Department and the Grey Electric Power Board.

That the Council lay down as a principle that it will not relax under Bylaw 380, the building by-laws as applicable to the inner area where:- (a) The distance oetween the added portion of a building when completed and the nearest other building on the land of the applicant, or between such added portion and the boundary of such land

where it would be less than 15 feet; (b) the added portion is to be more than one storey in height. That the Council give the owner of the Park Hotel relief under the pre-, ceding resolution, together with the provision of Clause 380 of the borough by-laws. That with regard to the application of J. Sampson for a permit to build a garage in wood and iron in Albert Street, and the application of Air A. Hill to build a shed in wood and iron in Herbert Strce*, the by-laws be enforced. It was resolved that the recommendations be adopted.