BOROUGH COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1938, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

THURSDAY, MAY 26. FIRST MEETING OF MEMBERS. The first meeting of the newly elected Mayor and Council of the Borough of Hokitika.was held at 8 p.m. Present: — Mr G. A. Perry (Mayor), Crs G. Heinz, A. R.. Elcock, H. T. Parry, H. L. Michel, W. H. Stopforth, J. L. Turner, J. Fox, C. Oaliari and D. E. F. Freitas. The Ma3 r or and Councillors made the usual formal declarations and took their seats, following the reading of the declaration of the Returning Officer. MOTION OF CONDOLENCE. The Mayor referred to the death of Mr Eric L. Park, a former member of the Council and moved that the Council convey to Mrs Park and the members of the family the deep sympathy of the Council in their bereavement, and that it place on record an appreciation of his past services to the Council. Tha motion was carried in silence, members standing. MINUTES. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From N.Z. Refrigerating Co, advising that the following quantities of meat were delivered into Hokitika during the month of April, 1938, viz: 15 sheep, 8 lambs.—Received. From Titnaru Harbour Board forwarding copy of prospectus for Timaru Harbour Improvement Loan, 1938.

£242,000 at 3-J per cent, debentures, 14 .years currency.—Received. From Secretary Public Library Committee, Hokitika, forwarding resolution recommending Council to reduce the quorum, of the Library Committee from six to four.—Received and agreed to. From Westland County Council advising that the cost incurred in cutting down trees to secure the safety of machines landing at the Aerodrome have been adjusted as follows: —Westland Countv Council £45. Hokitika Borough Council £45, Hokitika Aero Club £5/2, Total £95/2/-, and asking the Council’s contribution be made as early as possible.—Received and agreed to. From F. M. Singer re street light at Hampden Street and East Belt Road.— Received; referred to Works Committee.

From James Thompson application for license to run a pie cart at the corner of Weld and Tancred Streets. — Ref jived; request granted at £3 per year.

From Automobile Association (Westland Branch) asking Council to bring up to date by-laws to cope with the present road traffic.—Received; consideration deferred for three months. I From Thomas Barrowman, application for 21 years lease of Municipal Reserve 542 Sale Street, with right-of-renewal.—Received and request granted at £1 per year. From Hokitika Fire Board advising that Council’s contribution for the vest commencing Ist. April, 1938, is £283/10, payable Quarterly in equal instalments of £7O/17/6, the first payment being due on the Ist. May, 1938.—Received and approved. From Westland Hospital Board forwarding copies of estimates for 1938-39 and also copy of receipts and payments for the past vear. The Hokitika Borough Council’s contribution is £1751/3/6 as against £1320 for the previous year. The instalments are payable in nine monthly payments, each of £l94'II /6, the first instalment being due on 31st. May, 1938. —Received and approved.

From State Fire and A onident Tnsnrai'ffi renewal of Council’s risk policy.—Received, to be renewed. From A. E. G’illman advising that he is building a new bouse in Sewell Street between Park and Tudor Streets and asking whether the Council is extending the pipe drain through that area.—Received ; Works Committee to give matter urgent attention. From N.Z. Centennial Westland Committee advising that a meeting of .the . Committee will be held at the Borough Chambers, Grevmouth at 7.30 p.m., Ist. Juno next to deal with business (general) and also forwarding a report on the progress of the Committee since its inception with a statement of accounts to the 25th. May, 1938. —Received. From Westland Rugby Sub-Union application for the use of Cass Square on Saturdays during the football season with authority to charge for.admission. The Union state that they will admit all school children free of charge to all matches and further they wi'l meet all other sporting bodies who will use the Square and further that the Union be granted the exclusive use ot Cass Square on June 6th. next (King’s Birthday) for the seven-a-side tournament'with authority to charge an admission fee, 2/-. —Received and approved.

From Mr B. Kempton, Hokitika Harmonica Band, application to conduct a concert in the Regent Theatre in aid of the local Plunkct Society and poimission to charge as follows: Circle 1/6, S,tails, adults 1/-, children 6d.—Received and granted. From West Coast Amusements Ltd., application for permission to display films in the Princess Theatre on Sunday nights, the proceeds to be in aid ol charity. Tf permission is granted applicant will deduct ordinary film hire and hall rent from gross takings.— Received and request granted, the Plunket Society being nominated as the first charity to benefit. ( From West Coast Cinemas Ltd., application for consent to plan of sub-di-vision of Part Section 226, 272 and 27‘f, town of Hokitika—Received and approved.

REPORTS. The Treasurer reported receipts £234 17s, and payments £378 17s 9d. Credit balance, £391 Is 7d. Water supply account credit 19s 2d and £320 13s 7d.— Received. Accounts amounting to £872 14s lid and £45 were passed for payment, the Mayor not voting for the latter amount as he was an interested party. From manager of abattoirs, reporting there were slaughtered during April: —45 cows, 39 heifers, 61 bullocks, 284 sheep, 139 lambs, 9 pigs ; 7 calves. Condemned: 3 cows. Fees for month, £B7 11s 6d, (last year £93 19s), —Received. FOREMAN’S REPORT.

The foreman reported the Following vyprks were carried out during the month of April, 1938: Pot-holes were filled with gravel in various streets about town and depressions in Revell St. were patched with asphalt.. Concrete crossings were laid down at the Dunedin Hotel in Revell St., and at Fahey’s garage in Wharf St., also at Mr Sherman’s, in Fitzlierbert St. Water services were put in new residences in Davie St. to .Mr Gugich and Mr J. Richards’, in Sale St., and the water service to Mr Gooch in Hall St. repaired, and a new service put in to a section in North Revell St. for Mr Butler. Three days were spent on the Kanieri Lake water main, the pipes slipping .on the siding below McKay’s Creek, and repairing leaks. Repairs to drains were carried out in Sale St. at Mrs Thorpe’s, and at the intersection of Revell and Weld Sts. Growth was cleared in Weld St. between Rolleston and Davie Sts., and in nortli Sewell St. in Spencer St., also Stafford St. outside Cass Square. Beale,y St. footpath between Stafford and Weld St. was chipped ready for gravelling. Two days were spent clearing the footpaths and water channels to clear the silt from the effects of the flood about the middle of the month. A week was required to clean out the pit, before shooting it down. The spoil was used extending Park St. to Jollie St. The average depth of water in the reservoir for the month .was 8 feet. COMMITTEES.

The following committees were appointed : Finance: Whole Council, Cr. Elcock to be Chairman.

Abattoirs: Crs. Fox (chair), Parry and Freitas.

Public Works: Crs. Heinz (chair), Parry, Caliari, Stopforth Fox and Freitas.

Reserves: Crs. Stopforth (chair), Heinz, Freitas and Turner. Water: Crs. Parry (chair), Michel, Fox and Turner. Rates and By-laws: Crs. Elcock (chair), Michel, Parry, Caliari and Stopforth. Library: Crs. Miohel (chair), Caliari, Heinz, Turner, Air C. L. Harper, and Dr. Corban. Cheques: The Mayor Crs. Elcock, Michel, Stopforth, Turner and Freitas.

It was resolved" that the Council meet on the third Monday in each month.

It was resolved that a renewed application be made to the Valuation Department for a new valuation of the Borough. The Returning Officer’s report on the recent elections was received. It showed the cost of the election for' the Borough was £52 6s 3d, Hokitika Harbour Board £l7 8s 9d ? Grey Harbour Board £23 8s lOd; a total of £93 7s 10d. A number of matters were ventilated at some length for the information of the new Councillors. It was resolved to obtain a survey of the line on Gibson Quay where the flood water came over the river hank, to ascertain the cost, and that the work he carried out as soon as possible. Various reports on the subject were given, that of a concrete wall being estimated to cost from £4OO to while a gravel raising of the railway line was estimated to cost about £l5O. It was resolved to take action in the case of a. ratepayer against whom judgment had been secured, through the Supreme Court, with a view to obtaining payment of rates totalling over £7O. The Council rose at 10.30 p.m.