BOROUGH COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1940, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16th. Tho Hokitika Borougli Council met at 8 p.m. Present: Mr G. A. Perry (Mayor), Crs. T. W. Duff, C. Caliari, D. P. Stuart, J. Fox, F. Freitas. G. Heinz, A. R. Elcock. The minutes were*confirmed and outward correspondence approved,

INWARD CORRESPONDENCE

From John Walsh, Sexton, tendering his resignation as Sexton, on account of ill-health. —Received and accepted with regret, leave of absence on full pay to bo granted until January 31st. Froln Municipal Association of New Zealand, forwarding particulars of negotiations ivitli the Government for an agreement regarding the rating liability of the Crown. : —Received. From Officer-in-Charge, Army Office, Greymouth, advising that Army Headquarters are desirous of obtaining all German machine-guns for conversion into training weapons and asking that those handed over to Council . about 1920, be returned.—Received. From’ A. R. Elcock (agent , for ,Wf H. Steel), application for consent to the transfer, of lease No. 2303, (Reserve No; 533) to John James Mclntosh, of Hokitika.—Received. From New Zealand Refrigerating Co.; Ltd., advising that the following quantities of meat were delivered into the' Hokitika abattoir area during November, viz: 80 sheep, 2 lambs. — Received.

From F. Williamson Co., application for permission to erect a. suspension verandah at the. premises of Rentoil and Co., Hamilton Street.—Received and granted. From Claude Neon’ Lights, Christchurch, application lor permission to .>rect one double faced .under-verandah' sign at the premises of Renton and Co., Hokitika.—Received and granted. , <

From Ruminga Borough .Council, an appeal for a grant to the fund established: on. behalf of the dependents of the (victims of the lining disaster which occurred at. Kaye and Party: s coalmine.on the 6th. November, 1940. Received. The sum of £lO was voted. From Hon. Secretary, Hokitika Beautifying Assn., asking whether Council will provide, as: already promised:, sufficient gravel to cover the roadway opposite the area being beautified on the river side, at the end, of Sewell Street.--Received. .

From Mrs M. Delbridge, complaining of the size of. the unscreened river gravel used along the, frontage of her premises in Jollie Street. Received; attention of carter to be drawn to complaint.

From board’s representative, No. 12, District Highways-Council, Greymouth, advising that the Main Highways Board has retained the. powers of maintenance and construction only, and delegated its remaining powers to the Hokitika Borough Council in respect to that portion of Greymouth-Waiho .State Highway within tho Borough of Hokitika. The main highways Board will be responsible for the maintenance of the bitumen surfaced roads and shoulders thereof. The. maintenance of improvement of any portion of the area, including footpaths etc., will be the responsibility of the Hokitika Borough Council without subsidy being granted. —Received. From Mrs M. Fitzgerald, Tudor Street, asking the Council to tar seal the footpath along the frontage of her property.in Tudor Street, and she will pay half cost of the work.—Received; to be embodied in future programme.

From E. T. Sherriff, application for domestic water supply to the north part of M.R. 446—Received; granted at £2 per year.

From same, application for permission to drain, water from the bar of the Hotel Empire into the street channel. —-Received and granted. From George Wright, application for six months’ license for wax works and side shows on private ground.— Received and granted at a fee of £5/5/0.

From State Collieries Picnic Committee, Runanga, application for the use of Cam* Square for annual picnic to be held on Saturday. Ist. February, 1941 .—Received; request granted. From James S. Langford, application for a lease of part M.R. 537 (Fire Bell site) Sale Street, lor a period of 21 years, the lease to be granted under Section 8, Sub-Section i of the Public Bodies Leases Act., 1908, and the lessor may determine the lease at any time, by six months notice. A special clause to be inserted in the lease providing that the existing lire Station and the Fire Bell shall remain cm the land during the currency of the lease and that the Hokitika Fire Board and Hokitika Fire Brigade shall have free access to the land and structures thereon at any time and also the right to alter, repair, or rebuild the said structures which belong to the Hokitika Fire Board— Received; request granted. From the Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, Wellington, forwarding copy of New Zealand Gazette No. 121, 28tli. November, 1940, page 3480. proclaiming part Reserve 445, Town of Hokitika, as a street.— Received.

REPORTS The. Treasurer reported receipts at £479715/2, payments £1219/16/7, credit balance £361 /5/1.— Received. Accounts amounting to £1252/10/0 were certified and passed for payment. ABATTOIR REPORT Cattle slaughtered during the month of November won': 19 cows. 34 heifers. .1.8 bullocks, 281 sheep, nine lambs, ten pigs, one calf. Condemned: Nil. Fees for month. £6l 'O/0 (same period last year, £65/I*4/Q). —Received.

Mr I). Stevenson was appointed to carry out the annual inspection of public buildings.

It was resolved that on the occasion of any public gathering on Cass Square tho Businessmen’s Association be granted the sole right to run any side shows; picnic committees not to be interfered with.

FOREMAN’S REPORT

The Foreman reported the following works were carried out during the month :-

Drains: The drain leading off Hampden Street in, Davie Street, on the east, side, was cleaned out for a distanco of three chains, and the drain in Weld Street, between Rolleston and Davie Streets was cleaned out for a distanco of four chains on the north side, and the drain in Livingstone Street was cleaned of a blockage. Tin 1 water channel in Stafford Street at Mr McGregor’s was cleaned out, and a water channel waa (formed to take away surface " water at the State Houses in Stafford Street. Weld Street drain, between Bealey and Fitzherbert Streets being blocked, we started to grade them towards Fitzherbert Street, three days being spent on the_ work this month. A water channel was cut at tho intersection of Weld and Davie Streets, at the State Houses, and the corner rounded off, the. water being taken to the down pipe ill Davie Street. Streets and Footpaths: Beach Street footpath was cleaned; also the water channel, and the right-of-way leading from RoveJl Street was cleaned, a distance of about, ten chains. Hall Street footpath, between Stafford and Hampden Streets, was cleaned; Tailored Street footpath, between Stafford and Hamilton. Streets, and Hampden Street footpath, between Sale and Davie Streets was cleaned. Pot. holes in,-. Hamilton, Sewell and Rev el l Street were patched with asphalt and the rough stones raked off Bealey Street, between Hampden and Stafford Streets, and a concrete crossing was put in for Mr M. Houston, North Revell Street. The fence at Cass Square, which was damaged by an uprooted tree, was repaired, and the urinal removed. The shed at the Pumping Station, containing tlie old pump, was repaired. The frontages at Mr B. Brown’s in Park Street, and Mr Shaw’s in Hampden Street, were levelled. The growth in Park Street, on the north side, between Hall Street to below Bealey Street was cleaned and burned, and a drain cut E) chains to take .'away surface water from Mr Groufsky’s residence. Wafer: The service to Mr A. Perry’s, Hamilton Street, was renewed, and alterations made to Renton’s service and repairs to Mr Guthrey’s service, Bnttan Street. Mr Cutbush started; again on the 18th. November, after acting Sexton. Mr McCormick started his holidays on the 21st. November for seven days.

The average depth of water in the reservoir for the month was 6ft. 10in.— Received.

BATHS COMMITTEE

The Baths Committee reported the baths were officially opened on November 16th., 1940, and. the Management Committee took over control on Monda v, November 18th.

The following prices have been agreed upon: Season family ticket 7/6 font, including earning children), adult ticket 5/-, concession school ticket 5/-. school ticket 2/6 (single child). The •bison ticket does not admit on Sundays, when a special charge of 6d for a dulls and 3d for children is made. For the first month, from November 18th. till December 15th., cash takings at the gate amounted to £7/6/3, season ticket sales amounted to £2B/10/0. An 'ceount has beyn opened at the Hokitika Savings Bank and the money deposited. Mr W. J. K. Andrewes has been appointed caretaker at a salary of £2 per week. In view of the services being rendered for seven days a week on restricted hours, and the tax reducing the wage to 36/- net, a proposal will bo put to the executive to increase the wage to £2/5/-. The weather conditions have been all in favour of the baths, and the sales of season tickets is far ahead of last season. 150 having been sold. Repairs were found necessary to the outlet- pipe, and the two men employed under Scheme 13 excavated the drain, and cleared the pipe. The bath, which formerly took seven to eight hours to empty, now empties in just under four hours. To make the cleaning easier on future occasions, two concrete sumps are being installed between the baths and Sewell Street, this will give three sumps on the outlet, and will be ample guarantee against future trouble. A number of minor jobs have been found necessary since the baths were handed over, but these are receiving attention, the bulk of the labour being supplied by the two men paid under scheme 13, the committee finding one penny per hour. The Government has granted an extension of two weeks to enable the committee to complete the small jobs. The Borough overseer (Mr F. C'liesterman) supervised the putting in of the concrete sumps.

The first carnival, set clown for December 12 was postponed owing to the weather conditions, it is proposed to hold it at an early date.

The receipts to date are well up to expectations, and it is hoped that the sale of season tickets will continue for some time yet. The charges for Sundays and special holidays will he necessary to assist the committee in meeting the expenditure. The takings to date will only he sufficient to meet 50 per cent, of the caretaker’s salary for the season, thus it will he seen that the committee will have to organise carnivals and maintain holi-

day charges to meet current expenses. It is proposed to build a new cottage for the caretaker, the building to bo of modern design, and, placed in the south eastern corner. A provisional

estimate of £O4 has been given for the work. The committee has found that with no caretaker living on the premises, unauthorised children and even grown-ups enter the enclosure, and the property is damaged. Then there is always the chance of some child getting over the fence and perhaps being drowned. At present- the young lads put their bicycles against the fence, and clamber over that- way. Notices would be of little avail, hence the committee propose to erect- a caretaker’s cottage. Already several donations have been promised; these, together with the proceeds of a carnival and further donations will materially assist the committee in meeting the expenditure. Mr .J. Mcnzics has built a modern sign, depicting the nature of the building. (Memorial Baths). The material was supplied, and Air Mcnzies built the sign free of charge. The sign ha 4 been erected over the main entrance gate. A further report will bo supplied at the end of January, 1941. All members of the committee are taking a keen interest in the baths, and with a continuance of summer conditions, the baths will prove more popular than they are doing at present.—Received.