Public Inquiry Into Formation of Clutha Catchment District

Lake County Mail, Issue 16, 10 September 1947, Page 3

Public Inquiry Into Formation of Clutha Catchment District

Queenstown Borough Council Affairs

The formation of the Clutha Catchment District is, subject to the Local Government Commission Act, 194(5, to be the subject of a public inquiry, according to advice received by the Queenstown Borough Council at its meeting last Thursday. The secretary of the Local Government Commission Mr F, B. Stevens, advised the council that the hearing of the inquiry had been, set down for September 24 at the Magistrate’s Court at Dunedin. All persons or institutions affected by the decision were entitled to be represented. The action of asking the Mayor of Cromwell, Mr W. Partridge, to represent the council at .a meeting of all local bodies in the Clutha River watershed, held at Dunedin on September 1, was approved.. The board’s representative, Public Works Department, forwarded circular memorandum, advising that the Main Highways Board will not subsidise the cost of hiring privately-owned magnetic trucks for operation on main highways. —Received. The director, Army Education Welfare Service, acknowledged with thanks donation of booklets relative to Queenstown and Central Otago, forwarded for publicity material to be used in Japan. Local Body Conference The South' Island Local Bodies’ Association advised that the fifth annual conference will be held in Invercargill on December 3, 4 and 5, and asked that remits and accommodation required be forwarded at an early date.- —Res'olved to forward remit regarding a road to the camping ground and. that the council endeavour to be present as a body at the conference. C. H. McKay, borough solicitor, wrote stating that he received advice from the Valuation Department that the assessment of the septic tank site (the land and tank being in the Lake County Council area) was being reduced from £1275 to £475. —After considerable discussion, the council decided to accede to this amendment. E) 0. Wilkinson, traffic inspector, forwarded his monthly report, and advised that particular attention had been paid to parking and to the education of school children in road safety. Kb traffic accidents were reported, two applicants for driving licences passing the test. A copy of a letter was received from the commanding officer, Defence Department, Invercargill, advising users of the Drill Hall that fire extinguishers and stirrup pumps were situated in the hall, and asked users of the hall to take every precaution for the prevention of fire. Caretaker’s House R. G. Seymour advised the council that he had been unsuccessful in securing a house for his family in Timaru, and therefore he could not vacate the house required by the late caretaker of the camping ground.—lt was resolved to write'to the State Advances Corporation and the Timaru Borough Council regarding the availability of securing a house in Timaru, and that a letter be written to Mr Battin requesting him to make arrangements so that the new caretaker could occupy the camp house. The borough solicitor forwarded a prej pared agreement setting out conditions of caretaker for the council’s execution, —lt was resolved, on the motion of Cr Thomson and Cr Lindsay) that the seal be attached and the agreement signed. It was further resolved to forward to the Labour Department a copy of this agreement and conditions of employment for his approval. . J. R. Cowie, Arrowtown, forwarded a copy of a letter from the Department of Industries and Commerce, which stated that a licence to conduct a green

grocer’s business had to be delieensed under the provisions of the Industrial Efficiency Act some years ago', ant: asked the -sanction of the council to operate a "green grocer’s business in Queenstown, with a house-to-house delivery once a week— It . was resolved, on the motion of Crs Lindsay and Hamilton, that a licence be granted. Considerable discussion took place over this application because’ of other traders and drapers entering the town and selling goods. Several questions were asked regarding the payments of licences of several well-known firms that had been operating in the town. New Sawmill Wr McLaren wrote . stating that he intended starting a sawmill in the district, and asked if the council was willin;;- to his milling any Finns, Oregon or Douglas fir it had at its disposal. The writ r suggested that a plantation of firs belonging to the council was in- need of thinning. He was prepared, he said, to exchange bluegums for the firs or buy outright as the trees stood at 3s a hundred feet, or would he prepared to mill same on the council’s behalf -at 15s per hundred feet. —It was resolved that - Crs Lindsay,. Thompson and Hamilton he a'committee to investigate this matter and to report hack to the council at the next meeting. A. E. Beadle ’applied for a small section suitable for the erection of a bungalow, situated on the site of the old immigration barracks. —It was decided to advise him that this was Commonage Reserve and could not be leased, and suggest that he inquire of the Lake County Council regarding section of the borough they may now want to dispose of. t „’ ‘g ’ The Southland* County Council advised that it could only supply two-year-old Finns Radiata trees for Arbor Day, the cost of same at £2 a hundred on rail, Waikaia. —It was decided to see if Finns Insignis plants could he secured; failing this order, that a smaller quantity of the above trees be ordered. Because of a local social gathering being held on the date set down for Arbor Day, it was decided to Hold it on Wednesday, September 24. G. H. Fox, Alexandra, wrote offering the. council £25 for the purchase of the ■motor mower owned by the council. It was decided that the price was too low, and that the sale of this machine should be held over until the council has negotiated regarding the purchase of a road machine under review. Before the business of the meeting was begun his Worship asked Cr Hamilton to convey to Mrs Hamilton the sympathy of the council' members in the loss of her mother, Mrs Feichley, who had passed away during the week. The council stood in silence as a mark of respect for the late Mrs Feichley. The following councillors were present at the meeting: —His Worship the Mayor, Dr W. A, Anderson, Crs J. B. Hamilton, H. W. Sew Hoy, A. H. Wheatley, J. L. Lindsay and D. W. Thompson.