BOROUGH COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1940, Page 12

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council last evening there were present the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham), Crs. A. H. McKane. H Herring, J. Saunders, J. Anderson. G. R. Harker, R. J. Williams, C. Neville and F. F. Boustridge. The Valuation Department advisea that war conditions made it necessary to prune expenditure as much as possible, and asked if the revision of revaluations of the Borough on Marcn 31 next was necessary. As, however, it was understood there was a rating agreement between the Council and the old Cobden Town Board, the Council’s views on the matter were asked, together with the details or the agreement with the Cobden Town Board. The Mayor said a special Act provided for a differential general rate in Greymouth and Cobden— Greymouth’s rate was 6.1 d. in £, and Cobden 10.15 d. in £ last year. The valuations were made at different times, and it seemed desirable than the valuation should be proceeded with. Otherwise a special Act to extend the period was necessary. The Council had to keep special separate accounts. It would simplify the book-keeping if the revaluation was made. „ Cr. Neville moved that the Council ask for the revision.

Cr. McKane said that the agreement did not expire until 1942. It was provided that the Cobden rate should not be more than 10 per cent above Greymouth. He said that the last valuation of Cobden in 1928 put up the capital and reduced the unimproved value. It would not make any difference unless the whole borough was revalued. Cr. Herring seconded the motion, which was carried. The Commissioner of Crown Lanas, Hokitika, advised that control of the Blaketown Recreation Ground had been vested in the Greymouth Domain Board, and forwarded copies oi th R Order-in-Council. The writer also asked the Council to assume full control of the reserve. On the same matter- the Greymouth Harbour Board also forwarded copies of the Order-in-Council. The letters were received. Replying to Cr. Neville the Mayo: said that a revaluation of a property could be done on application to the Department, following the desti uction or removal of building. Cr McKane said that a revaluation could b e made at any time on application. Mr. E. B. E. Taylor, on behalf oMr. E. J. Rundle, Shakespeare Street, wrote regarding flooding at his property, and said Mr. Rundle was no. anxious to take the matter any further at present, but asked when the Council would be able to complete the work of laying a new drain down the Town Belt to Tainui Street r.o take away surplus water. Cr. Boustridge moved that the writer be informed that the Council proposed to seek approval of a loan, and if carried, the work would be done out of loan moneys. The Mayor seconded the motion, which was carried. Rt. Rev. Dr. M. J. Brodie, Bishop ot Christchurch, writing in reference to Stratford Estate leases, advised the Council that Very Rev.. Father Long, Greymouth, had authoiity to act m all matters pertaining to the Catholic Church properties in Greymouth, also that correspondence should be directed to Father Long for attention. The letter was received. The Golden Coast Dairy Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd, wrote applying for a permit to erect a garage 30ft. x 38ft. of iron with concrete floor. In reply to the Mayor, the Engineer (Mr. A. J. Fairmaid) said that the area was in the brick area. The Mayor said the Council cou d only act under a hardship clause bu there appeared to be no hardsnlpThe request had better be looked in . Cr. Boustridge moved that the application be declined, saying that the Works Committee would not consider the matter. Cr. McKane seconded the motion, which was carried. DREDGING FARM LANDS. Replying to the Council’s representations relative to the destruction of farm lands by gold dredges, the Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webo), said that he had noted the Councils resolution that consideration be to re-soiling the land affected by dredging operations. “According lo the reports submitted to me by the Mines, Lands and Forestry Departments, practically all of the land let under license for the purpose oi dredging for gold is of neghgibl value for agricultural or pastoral purposes,” stated the Ministers letter. “The productive value of such land for these purposes would be very ow indeed—in many cases not g £2 oer acre per annum. On the othei hand, the productive value of some of the land, based on its gold content, reached as high as £l,OOO per acre It seems evident that in these cases the national interests ar e best served by dredging the land for its gold tent.” QUESTION OF RE-SOILING. "In regard to the question of resoiling, where the stacker type is used, and in a great many cases no other type of dredge could be effectively operated, re-soiling is not a practical proposition,” wrote the Mmister. He added that with regard to the better class of farm lands, however, special consideration was being given by the Government to the best line of action to take to prevent wastage of the soil. A committee had been set up some time ago to advise on th e whole question of the re-soiling of dredged lands, and it was expected that its report would be available w the Government at an early date. The Minister of Lands (Hon. F. Langstone) advised that the matter was one for the Minister of Mines, to whom he had referred the Council’s letter. Cr. Herring, who sponsored the original motion, said that m xne Mines Statement it was stated that it was compulsory for dredging operators to leave the land in the same condition as beforehand. He was sorry the Minister should make sucn an erroneous statement, because those on the Coast knew that it was not the case. At th e moment, however, it was in the national interest

to get th e g°’d, but they had to look to the future and by putting the soil back they could leave good lar>i land to posterity. The powers that be did not seem to want to do anything, so the Council could not do anything either.