KUMARA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 14 June 1933, Page 2

KUMARA BOROUGH COUNCIL

A meeting of the Kumara. Borough Council was held on the Bth inst. Present: The Mayor (Mr. Henry Hamer), Crs. Inglis, Reedy, Murphy, McDonald, Burrell, Peever and Keating. The State Advances Department advised that application for loan of £l,OOO for water supply was refused. The Bank of New Zealand wrote regarding overdraft. Cr. Murphy moved that the usual overdraft be arranged for. J. Lalor wrote regarding use of surplus water at corner of Main and Seddon Streets for mining purposes. Cr. Burrell moved that the matter be referred to Mr. J. S. Langford. Messrs Park and Murdoch advised that water race license. had been granted.

The Forestry Department wrote regarding tree planting. Cr. Murphy moved that 2,000 trees be applied for. The Mayor drew attention to the unsatisfactory position of the mail services and suggested that the Council ’should take up the matter with the p. and T. Department. There was now no direct mail from Christchurch to Kumara, with the result that letters sent over on Saturday remained in Greymouth, and were not delivered until Monday morning. Box holders in Kumara were relinquishing same and business ax as being interfered with. Another unsatisfactory thing was the one mail per day to Hokitika. He had taken the matter up with the local Postmaster and he suggested that the Council should move in the matter.

I Cr. Peever moved that the Town .Clerk write to the P. and T. Department with a- view to getting the mails more favourably adjusted.—Carried. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. Cr. Reedy reported that minor repairs to fencing had been carried out at the Cemetery and outlined the work still required, which was authorCr. Murphy reported that work at the Recreation Ground ha-d been completed and further work would have to wait until the end of the football season. Cr. Inglis reported that the Public Works Committee had inspected the town and much work had since been completed. He submitted the following proposals for the approval of the Council. I In order to provide a temporary swimming pool ami to beautify the eastern approach to the town, it was ri'conmiended that the pond neai Boundary Road be drained and cleaned by deepening the out How tunnel ami putting in a gauge box to control the height of the water; remove the large boulders and build embankments along the north and east Sides, and to generally clean up the locality. That if the section at the junction of Main and Seddon Streets could be endowed to the Borough by the owners, that same be levelled, top-dressed and sown down in grass, plant a background of trees and shrubs and put down a border for flowers. It was recommended that the stripping at the tennis court already authorised, be carried out and that the soil be used for the top dressing of the corner section. It was also recommended that a row of trees be planted at the junction of Beach Road and Pig Lane to improve the approach to the, town. Cr. wished to know when Hie Public Works Committee had met. Cr. Inglis reminded him (hat the Committee had taken the trouble to cell upon Cr. Burrell but that the latter had refused to accompany the other members of the Committee. Cr. Burrell wanted to know whether all the resolutions relating to Public Works already down in the minute book should not be rescinded. The Mayor pointed out that the Council was not concerned with old resolutions. It was considering the report of tin* Public Works Committee and it had to recommend or reject the proposals now brought forwa-rd. Regarding the matter of the pond at Boundary Road, the Dillmans Domain Board had recently met. ami had suggested that something might be done to make the pond suitable tor swimming. They had made application to have the area added to the Domain and the necessary surveys had already been carried out. They were looking to the Council for some help by the authorisation of relief labour. The Public Works report had been drafted with this in view. Cr. Reedy referred to the swimmingbath project already before the Council, and did not favour any money being spent on the pond, but would support the use of relief labour to make the pond suitable as a temporary swimming place. Mr. Hamer moved that if application for the Council’s assistance is made by the Domain Board, that every [assistance be given to carry out the proposals outlined.

Cr. Peever said that he was responsible for outlining the scheme to improve the section at the junction of Seddon and Main Streets. The key to the position however, was the willingness of the owners to endow the section to the Borough. No work of course could be done if the section remained private property. If the work could be done as outlined it would prove of great, benefit to the town. All Councillors present approved of the scheme. Cr. Murphy suggested that Mr. 11.I 1 . Roberts, one of the owners be written to asking for his consent to the transfer of the property. He himself, who had a part interest in it, would be pleased to fall in with Mr. Roberts’ decision. Cr. Murphy considered that the attention of the proper authorities should be. drawn to the advantages of the 'Borough reserve adjacent to the Racecourse, as a site for an aerodrome, especially as a. landing ground for overseas aircraft. He considered it, if cleared, to be the most suitable site on the Coast. Crs. Keating and Peever spoke in support. Cr. Hamer said tha.t the matter should be vigorously taken up. C’- - , Peever taioved ( that a special

committee be appointed consisting of the Mayor, one member of the old Council and one new member, to go into the financial position of the Borough. particularly to examine:— The rateable property of the Borough; (b) The rates paid thereon during the past three years ended March 31. 1933; (cl The details of rates outstanding over the same period; (d 1 All revenue and expenditure over the past two years ending March 31. 1933. The Committee to report to the Council not later than the last Thursday in -Inly. Cr. Peever thought the motion not unreasonable. ]t would l»c foolish indeed to try ami navigate the ship without first ha.ving a look at the state ef the bunkers. 'l’he information 'that would be disclosed if the motion were passed would be of assistance to the Council in matters of rating land future expenditure. He had been accused of trying to turn Kumara iulo something like London suburb, and in the process the people would be bled while. If such was the case all he could say was that they had an herculean task in front of them. Th<‘re was plenty of scope for improvements, but he did not suggest they could he achieved all at once. lie did suggest. however, that they should plan as hard ami as quickly as possible, and if necessary make the objectives limited, but if they found those objectives within their powers and thought them right, then they should go right ahead. Tt was an uncomfortable thing to be bled white, so lie suggested that they I should pass the motion, find out where they stood ami get on with the thihgs they knew they could do. Cr. Keating said that much of the information was already in their hands in a tabulated form. Cr. Reedy said that the matter of collecting rates had been the difficulty of Three or four different Finance Committees. Instructions had been issued to sue defaulters, but in most cases the matter had been left too long. He agreed with Cr. [’('ever that the ra.tes should be collected. The Town Clerk said that in some instances it. was difficult to trace the owners of properties. He instance*l the ease of one Councillor who, although paying rates on two sections, was not aware of the fa-et that he was the owner of them. Cr. Keating seconded the motion, which was carried. The Mayor, Crs. Burrell ami Peever were appointed to act as a Committee. Cr. Peever moved that a. plan of the Borough be procured, and displayed in the Borough Office, and that all properties be clearly marked thereon, ami ishowing the following details:—-(a) |

Nairn* ami owner "I every properly; (li) l»:..te:iI»!<• value of cuch properly; (<•) All varan! sections. Cr. Peever said that it would be a convenience to both Town Clerk and Council if such a map could be procured ami marked, lie instanced the confusion that exist ed from the previous speakers’ remarks ami felt that the passing of the motion would help to clarify the posi- | lion. Cr. Murphy seconded the motion. Cr. Burrell said th<» matter :was brought up some years ago. A committee was formed but it never met. To carry the details suggested in the im tion would require a map about 16 feet long. Cr. Peever offered to prepare an enlarged copy of the Borough plan on which the details could be marked. The motion was carried ami Mr. Hamer moved that Cr. Peever’s offer be accepted with thanks. Cr. Peever moved that the details ef the pure water scheme already be'fore the Council, all correspondence i thereon ami copies ol all motions relating thereto be made available for 'inspection by Councillors before the next ordinarv meeting of the Council. He said it was mainly for the benefit of the Mayor and newcomers that’the motion was drafted. The scheme was no doubt quite in order but perhaps a little more push would help the matter along. Cr. Reedy pointed out that Cr. Peever was the only councillor without knowledge of the details of the scheme as this had been prepared some four or five years ago. He moved that the plan be handed over to Cr. Peever for his perusal. This was Cr. 'Peever moved a similar motion concerning electric power. lie said that the matter of electric light was one which rested entirely with the people. He thought that their procedure would bo to apply tor particulars from the Power Board under what terms power could be supplied to-day. They could then canvas the town, and submit the cost of wiring and the cost of power to the people if there wore sufficient consumers to cover the. amount of the minimum guarantee required by the Power Boa.rd well and good, they could go ahead. If not the matter could be dropped and their energies diverted elsewhere. Cr. Reedy seconded the motion. Mr. Hamer thought, that Kumara was the only Borough without electric light. Tie supported Cr. Peever’s motion and thought they should go on |vith the scheme if everything were in order. He moved that the Town Clerk tv rite to the Grey Power Boa.rd asking for particular# ami terms for.

.supplying power l<> Kumara. Cr. Inglis raised the question of ap j pointing a pound-keeper. Hr considered that it was time that the nuis- i <nce of wandering stock be definitely j stopped. Cr. Keedy said that it was a recurring question ami he felt the Council should be dntermined on the matter, irrespective' of who the stock belonged to. Cr. Peever said that the* Council were not justified in paying a .salary to the Inspector of Nuisances if the duties were not carried out. After a general discussion which in- , ili<ated that there* was a unanimous opinion that the' wandering stock nuisance* should be* stoppeel. Ct. Peever moveil that the* Town Clerk be' in structed te> summons every owner of wandering steick if same' were' found | wandering after due warning had been I given to the* owner of the' stock by . the' Town Clerk. Secondeel by Cr. | ih'eedy and carrioel unanimously.