RUNANGA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 6 February 1941, Page 9

RUNANGA NOTES

[Our Own correspondent]

The Mayor, Mr. R. McTaggart, presided at the monthly meeting of the Runanga Borough Council, held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present were Councillors E. Kennedy, T. Rutherford and S. Morris. The use of the Domain and a copper were granted to the Hokitika School Committee for the Combined School Picnic to be held at Runanga on the 12th. inst. On the motion of Councillors Morris and Rutherford it was decided to accept the offer of the State Mines Department of the loan of a' motor for the crushing plant. A letter was received from Mr. E. Kennedy, Secretary of the Combined Red Cross and Patiiotic Entertainment Committees asking permission to erect a sweets anc ice-cream stall in the Domain on the day of the Hokitika school picnic, the proceeds to go to the Entertainment Committee's funds. The request was granted the right to erect a' stall being confined to that committee only. An application from T. Jacques for water to be supplied to his property, was granted. Mr. J. Reynolds wrote complaining of flood water from ec don Terrace which lodged on his propertv, asking the Council to suppl.s emht loads of soil, and offering Io pay half the expense. No action was taken by the Council. A lettcn was received from Mr. J. Sharp, bringing to the notice of the c °un-1 cil a large hole at the corner ol Seddon Street and the Seven Mile Road and asking that any spare spo t might be used by the Council to fill in the hole. He also asked that the drain at the back ol property dl widened. It was left in tie 1 man’s hands to dump spare spoil at the hole on the Road Reserve, and to make a report to the Council about the drain. A letter was forwards from the Commissioner ol Cioun Lands, from Mrs. E. Kennedy, who complained about the water w llti had covered her property during 1 cent floods, and asked that the drains in Mills Street be attended to. As the condition had been brought about by extra heavy rain-fall, no action : was taken in the matter. _ A letter! was received from the Minister or | Mines stating that Cabinet had approved a grant of £458 for improvements at the Swimming Baths, and the Superintendent of the State Mines had been advised to have the baths seen to as soon as possible. A ratepayer whose drains had not been built according to regulations, is to be advised that no proceedings would be taken against him if he had _ the work done under proper supervision within three months. Another householder is to be advised that legal proceedings would be taken against him unless he took out a drain-layers 1 cense within one week. The General Manager of Railways wrote advising receipt of the annual water charges, and asking Council to advise, the basis on which the charges were made. It was decided that no more figures be supplied to the Railway Department, and that they be advised the Council would sue the Department for the water rate. A letter from the Police Department stated the Crown was prepared to pay for water actually supplied, but would not pay more than was paid by ratepayers taking the lowest figure oi £1 as their basis. Another letter from the Police Department acknowledged the receipt of charges and asked Council to connect the water to the Police Station, and stated that the charge of £3 10s Od would be forthcoming when the Department was advised of the date on which the water had been connected. In view of this letter, it was decided that the water be connected to the Police Station. Building permits totalling £1,934, were approved. The Foreman’s report stated that 190 yards of metal had been carted, which included gravel for concrete, ashes, and binding. The concrete culvert at Raleigh Creek in Mills Street was open, and the wings have yet to be completed. The grader had worked three days. Two stringers had been taken from the beach to strengthen the culvert on the Dunollie Road near the cutting. Water had been laid on to the property ol Messrs Finn, Jacques, Scottt and Luff. Several drains had been cleaned out, the dam cleaned three times and the reservoir once. The outlet chamber had collapsed at the bottom and about 3 ft. of concrete caved in on to the pipes. There had been six feet of water in the reservoir for some time. After the floods the water had been very dirty, and the sluice had been opened and emptied, and about three or four inches of leaves, etc., been cleaned out. Later it was' found the meter was dropping, when water was running into the baths. Very little water was found in the intake chamber, twigs and silt were jammed in but there was an improvement when they had been cleaned out. The reservoir had now filled considerably, and was fuller than it had been for the past six weeks. The drain in Kilgour Road and Millar Street, and a portion of Raleigh Creek near Ward Street, had been cleaned out. Blackberries had been cut at several corners but there ‘were still others to be cut. The flower beds had been attended to. Stumping and levelling were being continued at the Domain. Thirty-seven sheep had been shorn during the past fortnight. There were now 29 lambs left. Seven men were working on -the Domain and three on the Borough. The Town Clerk reported that in connection with the proposed subdivision and transfer from Mr. Parker to Mr. J. Quinn, the Commissioner would not allow the subdivision to be completed without a survey. The practice had been to allow subdivisional transfers without survey in respect of rectangular sections, where a straight line could be drawn cutting the section into two equal parts. The Commissioner had now ruled, however, that a survey plan must, be deposited with every application for sub-division. The Commissioner gave ’as his reason for this ruling that the New Zealand Surveyors’ Institute had complained that surveys had not been insisted upon. The Land Transfer Act contained provision to permit the registration without survey, but it appeared that the Commissioner had power to refuse the transfer without the survey. The cost of a survey would be about 7 or 8 guineas, and it would be necessary to secure the approval of Mr. Quinn to the extra expense before . the transfer could be completed. It was decided to make a strong complaint to the Member for the District about the ruling of the Commissioner. Regarding the Swimming Baths, Councillor Morris stated that when the Coun-j cil met the Member for the District

on the matter it was suggested that an Engineer be procured who knew something about baths. He moved that a letter of thanks be sent to the Hen. P. C. Webb for his efforts in securing the grant, and suggesting that an Engineer be put in charge who was qualified in that class of work, to ensure getting full value for the money spent. A number of lambs are now ready for disposal on the same terms as those sold at Christmas time. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £235 2s 2d.