HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 22 March 1939, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent. I HOKITIKA, March 21. Riptiu Flat dredge return for last week was 198 oz 4 dwt, and G.llespie’s Beach dredge return was 39 oz 14 dwt. A new school for the infant section of the State School is nearing completion in Park Street. It is of the modern type of building, in wood, and promises to be airy, with plenty of light and accommodation. The school ground is not yet in order, though a considerable area in the front is concreted, as also are the footpath approaches. Mr J. A. Murdoch, County Chairman, left this afternoon for Wellington.

Guests at Hotel Westland include Mr A. J. Fecht (Houston, Texas), Mr and Mrs C. R. Mitcher (Burma), Mr H. Fraser, Mr G. Hurley (Nelson), Mr Frew, Mr Fabling, Mr W. E. Cockroft (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs Shivdasani, Mr and Mrs J. Kemp (Australia), Mr H. A. Murdoch (Wellington), Mr W. Kirby, Mrs McLean, Miss McCarthy (Auckland), Mr A. J. Polldore (Sydney), Mr W. J. Travis, Mr S. Innes Jones, Mr J. L. Rogers (Christchurch).

Following are guests at the Red Lion Hotel: Miss C. J. Benny (Nelson), Miss E. Eagle (Wanganui), Mr and Mrs Simpson (Melbourne), Mr F. H. Jenkins, Mr Anderson (Christchurch), Miss J. B. Ross (Wellington), Mr and Mrs R. G. Cadman (Melbourne), Mr and Mrs J. R. Bennett (Christchurch), Mrs E. M. Peters (England), Mrs H. T. Wood (Masterton), Mrs J. Scott (Christchurch), Mrs Ml G. Aitken, Miss E. P. Bruton, Miss F. Harris (London), Miss B. Bawling (U.S.A.), Mr and Mrs Bachelier (France), Mr J. A. Sedgwick (London). Mr Bassett (Christchurch), Mr M. J. Forbes, Mrs Hyde (Shannon, N.

The Public Works Department’s application to have the footpath raised in front of their offices in Gibson Quay received short shrift at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening. The Department desired to have the path raised two feet, so as to prevent flooding of the footpath entrance. The'offices are those formerly used by the Customs Department. The Public Works Department desires to make a footpath inside the section above the flood level. The Council decided to take no action. The Mayor said it was a big job, and the council had not the money for the job. Cr. Freitas: "Do they pay rates, Mr Mayor?’’ The Mayor: “No.” Cr. Freitas: “Well, cut them out; take no action!” The Council adopted Cr. Freitas’s suggestion. The Borough Council last evening had a request from the Housing Department to form a road and footpath along Weld Street to give access to the new homes being erected by the Department. The Director of Housing wrote that the Department; was debarred by law from expending money on dedicated streets, and must look to the Council to improve the access to State houses, and asked the Council to provide a metal road and footpath to the houses fronting Weld Street and Davie Street, in the Botanical Gardens block. The Mayor pointed out that the Council had given the ten-acre reserve free for housing to the Department, and it was valued at £l2OO. The Department had agreed to carry out the roading. Now they asked the Council to do the job, and it was most unfair, the Department denying legal responsibility. Cr. Freitas: “The Department made a promise, and then broke it, or the heads of the Department broke the promise. Mr Mayor, can they compel this Council to do the work?" The Mayor: “No.” Cr. Stopforth: “The Council must have been misled.” The Mayor: /'Well, it was a distinct understand-

ing, that the Department would carry out the road work in return for the handing over of the reserve as a free gift.” Cr. Stopforth: “The Council has been mislead, then.” The Mayor: “Oh, definitely.” Cr. Turner: “I suggest that the Council discuss the matter with the Department and the Minister, explaining the position, and also point out that the finances of the Council will not permit of the work being undertaken without assistance. This Council is pledged to carry out a tar-sealing programme, and it will be impossible to carry out this other work.” The Mayor: “Let these jobs slide and carry on with tar-sealing!” Cr. Freitas: “If the heads give a promise and then break it, the Council would be unwise to go ahead.” Cr. Turner’s suggestion was adopted. The Borough Council last evening considered suggestions for the Centennial commemoration, and the committee in charge submitted the following suggestions for consideration: Tepid baths, and Pioneers’ Memorial Gates to be erected at Cass Square. Cr. H. T. Parry urged the Council to adopt the tepid baths proposal. Baths would serve the people for a long time, while memorial gates would be forgotten. Cr. Turner: “The State School have close on £2OO. Could we not ask them to support the Municipal Baths, and, with their help, together with the subsidy and help from the people, it would be possible to reconstruct the Municipal Baths into tepid baths, and they would serve the people, especially the children, for many years to come. It appears to me a case of money being thrown away to have two baths in the town.” The Mayor: “I understand that they are definite on having the baths at the school.” The committee’s report was received, and they were instructed to gather full information on all the suggestions, and when the data is completed, the Council would call a public meeting to decide the issue. "The present committee were re-appointed, with power to add to their number.

The Borough Council last evening received a letter from the Minister of Mines stating he had brought the matter of turn-outs on the Hokitika traffic bridge under the notice of the Minister of Public Works, who had replied as follows: “With reference to the representations made to you at Hokitika on December 9, by the Mayor, Mr G. A. Perry, and Mr G. E. Chapman of the Automobile Association, in connection with the passing places on the Hokitika combined road and railway bridge, as you were advised by the District Engineer, the Westland County Council and the Hokitika Borough Council were offered a grant of £550 (£1 for £1) to assist witn the cost of providing two turnouts, but neither authority would agree to contribute its share of the expenditure, with the result that the item was deleted when the Estimates for the present year were being considred. After giving the position full consideration, I would be prepared to renew the grant of £550 (£1 for £1) and I suggest that the two Councils concerned confer with each other and arrange to provide their share of the funds required to obtain authorisation of the grant I have offered.”—lt was decided to take no action in the matter.

At the Borough Council meeting, Cr. W. H. Stopforth brought forward the resolutions carried at the recent special meeting for. consideration. Cr. Turner asked the Council to call a special meeting to consider its public works programme before going ahead. The Council resolved to appoint a committee consisting of Messrs D. P. Stuart, F. Freitas, and H. T. Parry to consider suitable types of lorries for the Council work. Cr. Parry: “Has the Council decided to purchase?” The Mayor: “No, not yet, but the committee could consider the most suitcable type.”; On the matter of an increase of staff, Cr. Turner said the Council • co(ild not go into these matters without considering its finances.

The Mayor: “The foreman has power to engage an extra man, whenever it is necessary.” Cr. Stopforth: “The Council would require a suitable man, and I would not like to see the motions shelved.” The Mayor: “We can get plenty of men who can drive a motor lorry.” Cr. Stopforth: “I would like to see applications called.” The Mayor: “We can wait till the lorry is purchased.” Further consideration of the programme was deferred until the May meeting, when the estimates would be considered. Cr. H. T. Parry brought under the Council’s notice that the drains being constructed in the town were not being fitted with outlet pipes for the discharge of impure gases. At the higher points of the drains, these gases would circulate through the connecting drains, and it would constitute a grave menace to the health of the people, especially young children. The Council agreed to have an inspection carried out. The Town Clerk stated that in many cases the pipes had been fitted. The Health Inspector reported that he had made 37 inspections for the month, there being a clean sheet. The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) presided over the ordinary meeting of the Borough Council last evening, the following councillors being present: A. R. Elcock, D. P. Stuart, J. Turner, W. H Stopforth, F. Freitas, C. Caliari and H. T. Parry. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. G. Heinz and J. Fox. The appointment of an assessor for the Borough of Hokitika was left to the Town Clerk to arrange. Cr. F. Freitas was unanimously appointed to the Harbour Board in place of Cr. H. T. Parry, who resigned. The financial statement showed- receipts amounting to £1949 15s, and expenditure £1392 16s Accounts amounting to £735 Ils 7d were passed for payment. The Abattoirs report stated that stock slaughtered during the month of February comprised 33 cows, 30 heifers, 51 bullocks, 317 sheep, 176 lambs, 5 pigs, and 11 calves. One cow, two bullocks and one sheep were condemned. Fees collected during the month amounted to £B2 Os 6d, compared with £74 7s during the corresponding month last year. An application by National Signs Ltd. to erect advertising signs on two shop* in Revell Street, was granted. Messrs M. Houston and Co’s, application for' a hide curing license was granted, as the Health Inspector advised that the firm’s premises complied with the regulations. The applications of W. S. Howson and A. Howat were both deferred pending provision of regulation pits. Jeffries and Co. wrote notifying that they would be discontinuing the curing of hides at tneir premises. The Counqil agreed to forward copies of the Health Inspector’s report to the applicants. The Anzac Day arrangements were approved. An application for assistance in the formation of road access in Brittan Street, by Mr Stewart, was referred to the Works Committee. The action of the Town Clerk in notifying the Education Department in connection with drainage operations at the new school was approved. The Mayor reported that the questions of cutting the grass at the aerodrome had been satisfactorily arranged. The question of taxi stands near the two theatres was deferred until the new Traffic Inspector had been consulted. It was decided to take no action on an application from Mr C. Ross and nine other residents of Lower Bealey Street, for the footway on both sides of Bealey Street, between Weld Street and the Quay, be kerbed and channelled, as this part of the town was subject to flood water. An application from the Returned Soldiers’ Association, to hold a sacred concert in the Regent Theatre, on Anzac night, with permission to charge an admission fee, was granted, Mr A. Broome, Stafford and Davie Streets was given permission to instal a septic tank on Section 925. A similar application from Mr R. Davies was also granted. V. Coburn, Otira, applied for the position of lorry driver. Schaef’s Ltd., advised they had a number of second-hand trucks on hand and would also be glad to quote for a new 1

Chevrolet truck. Miss E. Ward wrote pointing out that there was no footpath along the frontage of her property and asking that some attention be given to the track leading thereto and further that from 1868 onwaros the maintenance of the track has been paid by applicant.—Received and referred to the Works Committee. The N.Z. Refrigerating Coy. advised delivery of 19 sheep and one lamb here last month. Miss G. Appleton, typist, applied for two weeks annual leave.— Granted. The Valuation Department, Christchurch, wrote, stating that it was expected that the revised valuation notices for the Borough would; be issued during April, that it was quite likely that an Assessment Court would be needed, and asking the Council tc take steps to appoint an assessor to represent the Council.—The Town Clerk was instructed to attend to the matter. Mr W. Smith wrote, asking that the frontage of his property in; Park and Hall Streets should be cleared, and that he would then undertake to keep it in order.—Referred to the Works Committee. Mr G. C. West wrote that valuation of his property was too high, and asking that rates be reduced.—The Council has no power to make alteration. Mr W. Smith, Park and Hall Streets, asking that the frontage of his property be cleared and that he would then unde - take to keep it in order.