GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 22 October 1943, Page 6

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY' MEETING. The Mayor (Mr. K A. Kitchinghani) presided over the monthly meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council last evening. Also present were Crs. H. Herring, J. Saunders, G. M. Truman, J. Stokes, G. R. Harker, J- B Kent and P. Blanchlield, also the Town Clerk (Mr. F. H. Denton) and the Borough Engineer (Mr. A. J. Eairmaid).

Mr. J. W. Greenslade wrote stating that he had inspected the portion or land, Raleign Street, being the proposed reauction, in part of Raleigh Street. On the basis of 1250 per -- perches the total value of the areas adjoining the properties of Messrs Robertson, Bremner, inkster and Kilgour would be £ll9 7s 6d. No objection would be raised to valuation at this figure, and sales could easily ~>e effected at this price and more if land were available in the locality. The Works Committee recommended that Raleigh Street south-east-wards from Shakespeare Street be closed to 40 feet in width and that the various parcels of land so made available on the frontage of the various property holders be made available to them on the basis of the valuations submitted by Mr. J. W. Greenslade, costs of survey and transfer to be additional to the valuations and to be borne by the purchasers, it was also recommended that the purchase money for the portions to be sold be earmarked for the purpose ol forming the street, and that no action be taken unless at least three of the ratepayers concerned were agreeable to taking their portions of the land. The Mayor said that the cost of closing a portion of the street and carrying out the survey would be about £3O.

Cr. Kent said that he was opposed to alienating land in that way.

1 Cr. Harker said he would like to see the whole street closed. Lt was worth trying, and there might be no objection. The motion was carried .on the Mayor’s casting vote, Crs. Herring, Harker, Kent, and Stokes voting against it. The Secretary, Local Government Loans Board, wrote stating that as the Cobden sewerage loan was to oe raised pursuant to a Board of Health requisition the sanction of the Board was not required for the raising ot this loan, but that the Council had no authority to proceed until the loan had been authorised by the Gov-ernor-General by Order in Council. The proposal was now being investigated. The letter was received.

Mrs. J. Gray, Peel Street, Cobden, wrote strongly protesting against the sewer being installed in only a portion of the Cobden area for wffich all ratepayers, including those in the non-effective areas, would be levied to pay for the partial installation. The letter added that it was most important for hygenic reasons to have all properties linked up. It was decided to reply stating that the present works were being done because they were being subsidised and were intended merefy, as a start, and that it was the poncy of the Council to provide sewerage if and when circumstances permitted.

Mr. J. H. Brailsford, Clifford Street Cobden, wrote drawing attention to the open drain in front of his property which had insufficient fall for water to get away and which he considered insanitary. The Engineer said that both this and the previous letter pointed to the advisability of proceeding with the drainage scheme at the earliest possible moment. The only thing to do in the meantime was keep the drains as clean as possible. Messrs W. F. Hayes and others wrote asking the Council to reconsider its decision granting a permit for the erection in Peel Street, Cobden, near their properties, of a building to be used as a stable. The engineer said that when the application wa's received he felt that he hEid to grant it. When a similar application was received to erect a building in Preston Road he had helo it up till it could be considered by, the Council which granted it. If any nuisance was created action could, oe taken by neighbouring residents, but there was not any by-law to prevent such a permit being granted. ’ Cr. Saunders said that the Works Committee had inspected the site and | saw no reason to revoke the permit. i It was decided to reply, stating the position. | In reply io an inquiry from the ! Commissioner of Crown Lands as to whether the Council had any objection to reserve 300 at the corner of Gresson and Johnson streets being used as a site for a new police station, the Works Committee recomi mended that he be advised that re- ' serve 300 was not required by the Council and that it be pointed out that the Council had been of the opinion that it had a title to the land and that indeed the existence of that title had been assumed when negotiations were first entered into concerning the disposal of land to be made available by the closing of portion of Boundary street, and that he be

further advised that the Council considered that in view .of an the circumstances of the case due consideration shotnd be given to the assumed title to' the land in coming to' any settlement' with regard to land in Boundary Street. The recommendation was adopted. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Hokitika, wrote saying that the Minister would probably approve of tne proposal -.iat a' portion of Boundary-,, Street which it was proposed to close should go to the Crown for incorporation in reserve 703 but asking if the old buildings would be removed and the site left clear before the area was dealt with. He also asked, the name ol the Council’s valuer and whether seme indication could be given of what the Crown would have to pay. 'Fhe Works Committee recommended that the Commissioner be advised that the object of the closing of portion of Boundary Street was to effect an improvement in the vicinil arid, that it was always the intention nf the Council to remove the buildings located there, but that the time tor removal was not at present opportune and that the Council would enter into an agreement to remove the buildings as soon as their continued occupation of the site becomes a bar to proper utilisation of reserve 703. The Mayor said that there was a proposal to put a new street between Johnson and Arney Street and _ the old buildings were in the line of it. The recommendation was adopted, and Mr. J. W. Greenslade was appointed valuer for the Council. Mr. J. J. Crooks, Domett Esplanade wrote asking if a street light could be provided at Domett Esplanade, south of Bright Street intersection. The Works Committee recommended that the application be deferred pending a report from the Borough Engineer after he has consulted with the Engineer to the Grey Electric Power Board.—Adopted. A recommendation was received from the Works Committee that the Council confirm the action taken by, ths» Borough Council Engineer with reference to building work carried out in Bright and Cardwell Streets without a building permit first being obtained, the Borough Engineer having placed both matters in the hands of the Borough Solicitor for appropriate action. The englhe'er said the wfoijk on Kell’s Hotel had been started witnout a permit having been obtained and he did not approve of the work being done. The work was completed. An agreement had been reached about the job in Cardwell Street but a permit had still not been taken out.

The Mayor said that the engineer had an everlasting worry with builders. 'Some of them would always “give it a gx>” and get away with things. In Cardwell Street a building as big as a factory had been started right up to the'building line of the street. The engineer haid now agreed to the building so long as it was kept a certain distance for the street, but a' permit had still not been obtained. The law was (perfectly plain that a man must get a permit before work was begun. Cr. Kent said he thought a distinction should be drawn between trivial and important things. He thought tliere was nothing much wrong with the alterations at Kell’s Hotel, where concrete bases hald been put on the verandah posts. The engineer said that these protruded over the kerb and in one case a hole had been cut through one of them to let the water through. The recommendation was adopted by live votes to three, Crs. Blanchlield, Kent, and Stokes voting against its adoption. , . , The Railways Department _ advised tha< it was willing to subsidise the cost of providing footpaths at the railway housing block, Karoro, to the extent of £5OO. The recommendation of the Works Committee that the Borough EnginG&r C3.1l tenders for conciete kerbing and channelling the Paroa Road and Shakespeare Street frontages of Ihe housing block, Karoro, was adopted. . In reply to an inquiry oy the Public Works Department as to whether the Council had'any objection to the Department laying under Water Walk an earthing system in connection with an aeradio station, the Works Committee recommended that the Council agree to the proposal provided that the road surface he made good unon completion of the work. ' This recommendation was adopted. The Acting-Controller oi Civil Aviation, in reply to the Council, said that there were at present no standard by-law's with regard to aerodromes, but as after the war there might, be changes in the conduct of civil aviation the Borough might consider deferring: by-law's for Karoro aerodrome till then. Mr. D. O’Sullivan, Cowper Street, wrote saying that the fence between his property and the Borough paddock was urgently in need of attention. and offering to provide posts and nails and build the fence if the Council would supply palings and , rails.

The engineer said that the fence

in question was between Mr O’Sullivan’s property and the neighbour next door. This neighbour’s boundary with the Borough paddock was unfenced.

It was decided to notify Mr O’Sullivan of the position. The West Coast Old Boys’ Association wrote thanking the _ Council for renovating the association’s rooms.

The secretary of the Municipal Association wrote saying that the next annual conference would be, held in Napier on February 23 and 24, and that remits must be received not. later than November 20. The minutes of’the meeting 1 held on September S were also forwarded.

The Town Planning Institute of New Zealand wrote asking for the Council’s nomination for the election of a member of the Council of the Institute.—Received,

An application by the Christchurch Citadel Salvation Army Band for permission to play at Dixon Park at 3 p.m. next Sunday was granted. The resignation of Mr W. Davies from the position of custodian of the Municipal Baths was received, and it was decided to thank him for his services.

An application by Mr H. R. Hickson for the extension of his motor driver’s license to cover an omnibus was granted on the recommendation of the Traffic Inspector (Mr HLane).

Cr. F. F. Boustridge was granted leave of absence till the end of January. The action of the engineer in granting Mr Bert Cox, of the Royal Hotel, permission to erect a' sign, was approved. Regarding the Cobden sewerage scheme, the Public Works Department advised that as the necessity for the scheme from its point ot view did not now arise' it wished to withdraw the offer vVhich had been made of £l4OO towards the cost of the scheme. The Works Committee recommended that the District Engineer, P.W.D., be advised that the Council entered into an agreement with the Board of Health that if a requisition were served upon the Council to Lay the main sewer, Terrace area. Cobden, the Council would proceed to carry out the work, but that the Council gave this assurance on the understanding that the sum of £l4OO would be made available towards the cost of the work, and that final steps for the raising of a loan of £4OOO to meet the balance of the estimated cost were now being taken. Under the circumstances the Council could not see its way clear to do otherwise than honour the undertaking given to the Board of Health but could not do so without the promised contribution. The agreement should therefore be abided by. In the course of a general discus-' sion on the advisability or otherwise of continuing with the scheme. Cr. Kent referred to the difficulties that might arise regarding the outfall if the new harbour scheme were gone on with, or alterations made to the, present harbour. j The Mayor mentioned that the sewer was to be used for household waste' only till it was extended'.

Cr Blanchlield said that when the scheme was completed it would mean an additional 13d in the £ on unimproved value in rates for the people of Cobden. The Mayor said that Cobden had benefited to the extent of 5d in the £ when the rates were made uniform.

Cr Stokes said that when he had told people in Cobden that the scheme would cost up to £30,000 they had been staggered. There would be many more objections if people were given a chance of objecting now. The'Mayor said that on a £6O section it would mean only 3d a week. The committee’s recommendation was adopted, Crs Stokes. Blanchlield and Kent voting against it.