QUEENSTOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4012, 11 August 1931, Page 4

QUEENSTOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A monthly meeting of the Queenstown Borough Council was held in the Library last Thursday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (W. H. Overton, Esq.), Crs W. A. Anderson, D. R. Hamilton, G. F. Murchison, A. Scheib, F. Gavin, and J. J. McBride. Leave of absence' was granted Cr. A. McCaughan. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and outward correspondence was approved. Inward Correspondence.

J. Edgar wrote renewing his request for the removal of some of the trees on Queenstown Hill, -which were keeping the sun off his house. —To 'be informed that Council could not see its way to grant the request. Jas. C. Cockburn applied for an extension of the supply of electricity to his residence. J. J. McNeill also applied for an extension of the supply to his shop.—Granted. C. H. McKay, borough solicitor, wrote forwarding final statement of accounts in re N. Arundel, late lessee, Garrison Hall. Everything was now cleared up. The clerk also reported that all Mr Arundel’s effects were removed from the hall. —Received.

J. Edgar wrote suggesting that notices be erected on the foreshore of the Bay warning people against interfering with native game; also setting out the boundaries for fishing. —Letter referred to Lakes Acclimatisation Society. T. H. Tallentire, secretary Public School Committee, wrote thanking the Council for grant of firewood. The Dominican Sisters also returned their thanks.—Received.

J. Ingles, builder, apulied for water

connection to sections 22 and 23, ■blk. IX, Queenstown.— Granted.

The Southland League wrote soliciting the Council’s customary annual contribution to the League’s funds.— £5 voted. (Or. Mcßride recorded his vote against the motion.) Mr S. Ritchie wrote thanking the Council for appointing him its delegate on the Southland League.

F. Varney, district health inspector, forwarded his report on the inspection of the borough. The Eden Chamber of Commerce wrote asking the Council to give its support to a resolution requesting the Government to bring down legislation effecting a reduction of at least l|°/o on all internal interest on Government bonds, local body debentures and private mortgages—To be supported. The Treasury, Wellington, wrote drawing attention to the Local Authorities Loans (Rate of Interest) Bill, under the general provisions of which the rate of interest on loans prescribed by any Act is reduced by onehalf per cent. The Bill, which was passed on July 28, provided that from Ist August the rate of interest payable by any local authority in respect of a loan authorised but not raised at that date was reduced to o per cent, where the prescribed rate was not more than o| per cent; and where it exceeded that the reduction was one-half per cent. The State Forest Service, Tapanui, advised that the Department had definitely abandoned the sale of trees and was now raising only sufficient trees for its own purpose.—Forestry Office at Invercargill to be written to. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, advised that the reservation of the Recreation Reserve set aside in Hotop’s Estate, One Mile, Queenstown, was not a matter that concerned his Department. The right procedure was to apply to the District Law Registrar for the issue of a title after the transfer of the area to be set aside had been obtained from the trustees of the estate —.Solicitors for estate to be communicated with.

Jas. C. Cockburn applied for permission to put a crossing to his garage and gateway. He also asked whether the Council would shift the electric light pole that was obstructing the way to a drive* entrance to his house property, Erankton road—Pole to be shifted at expense of Mr Cockburn.—Xhe Mayor spoke in support Of the footpath being formed past his own and Mr Cockburn’s property before any crossings were put in. He had never asked for this to be done when his was the only residence there, though it was badly needed. In wet weather it was Hooded. —Mr Cockburn granted crossing, but same not to be put in till footpath Reported on by Works Committee. H. H. Sterling, General Manager, Railways, writing under date 20th July, asked whether the Council had yet been able to come to any decision re taking over the Lake M akatipu Steamer Service.—Reply to be sent setting out that Income and Expenditure account supplied the Council was not anything like sufficient to base their calculations upqn. An itemised statement was required. W .A. Bodkin, M.P., wrote stating that he was going to make a big efiort to get Cabinet to authorise the resumption of work on the KingstonQueenstown road as relief work without delay—Received.

N. Critchfield, sec., Wakatipu D. F. Sub-Union, wrote asking the Council to erect a wire fence, on the eastern side of the Recreation ground so as to prevent the dangers created by spectators crowding on to the playing area.—Permission granted to erect fence at Sub-Union’s expense, fence to be removed at end of football season.

J. E. Weavers, Arrowtown, renewed his application to lease the Garrison Hall for rink skating. He had now acquired some rubber-wheeled skates which would not damage the floor in any way. He was prepared to give a demonstration to the Councillors on Friday afternoon. —Demonstration agreed to (An amendment than the application be declined was lost). M. Davies asked that Adelaide St. and footpath be cleared up and gravelled from the Frankton road to her house and cottage; also that a track be formed from the rock below Golden Terrace House to Peninsula St., as a great number of tourists ; use I this part during the summer—Works Committee to inspect and report to next meeting.

Mrs Walsh, writing on behalf of herself and other residents of Brunswick St., asked for two additional street lamps; also would the Council cut the trees that were shading one of the three lights already in Brunswick street. —Or Anderson reported having visited the locality on more than one occasion. He thought that one extra light would meet the case. Some trees were certainly .shading one of the existing lights.—One lamp to be erected, and offending trees cut. E. Varney, Inspector of Health, wrote forwarding a letter he had received from the Medical Officer of Health, Dunedin, re the proposed septic tank for breakwater reserve. This was to the effect that he was unable to approve of Inspector Varney drawing the plans and specifications for the tank, etc. Complications might occur for which the Department would, likely, be considered to blame. In all the circumstances writer thought the Council should employ an engineer to plan and supervise the work.—Works Committee to interview Mr Clayton re drawing plans, etc. . JVfrs Eliza Davies lodged a complaint

regarding a nuisance being created by a cow being bailed in an old shed on Borough Reserve next her property. The noise and the smell were very annoying. Writer’s living depended on her keeping her place suitable lor boarders.

Mr Varney, Sanitary Inspector, wrote on the same subject, giving extracts from the borough by-laws bearing on what constituted a nuisance.—After some discussion during which reference was made to the nuisance created by cows bellowing, and dogs barking, etc., in the borough, thereby disturbing the sleep of the residents, it was decided to receive the letter, the byre having since been removed.

F. Varney wrote stating that he could not grant J. Thompson, jurat, a drainlayer’s license until he had tried out applicant on another job, the work at his own residence being completed when seen by writer.—Received.

The Minister of Public Works advised that the estimated cost of the proposed retaining wall in “Rotten Row” was £530, towards which the Council had promised £250. The Government had already given £125 through the Tourist Department for the first wall built, and £SOO (£1 for £1) for another portion. He did not think it possible the Government would contribute a further subsidy towards the extension of the wall, but the matter would be considered on this year’s Estimates in the usual way—Mr Bodkin’s support to be solicited.

Works Committee’s Ecport. Cr. Sclieib, chairman of the Works Committee, reported that (1) It was recommended that no gardens be laid down along Marine Parade (in front of Hotel Eichardt); that railway poles be removed and that the pole carrying the electric light put in line with others in Church St. (2) That concrete kerbing be laid down along the new fence on breakwater reserve, also close to the concrete footpath, and some gardens or grass Qut in; 2 willow trees that are out of line to be removed; and posts to be put in 'at each end >of .the reserve to keep wheel traffic off it. (3) That the tender (Is per yardj): of Ritchie Bros., Arrowtown, be accepted for gravelling of footpaths. After some discussion it was resolved not to undertake any majoi improvements on the breakwater reserve for the present.—The remainder of report was adopted. Hydro-Electric Report.

Cr. Anderson, chairman of the hy-dro-electric Committee, reported that the pole near the Convent had been lowered, and the lighting was now satisfactory. Notice of Motion.

Cr. Mcßride tabled a notice of motion —“That the resolution of 11th Sept., 1923, recommending that all insurances as they 1 ell due be taken out in the State Office, be rescinded." Other Business. Motor By-laws. —The question of parking of cars lor indefinite periods in main streets to be enquired into, the Mayor, Crs Hamilton and Anderson to form the committee.

'Purchase o'i Sundries. —This matter to be enquired into with a view of etfecting savings. Nursery.—The old nursery below the cemetery to be ploughed up and reestablished with seedlings from the Park. Queenstown Hill. —To be planted with deciduous trees. (An amendment to conserve resources lor planting extensively on the Peninsula was successful) No* 5 Scheme.—Or. Scheib, supervisor of the work under No. 5 Unemployment Scheme, reported on Beetham St. formation, which was going on satisfactorily. Some work would require to be undertaken at the foot of Beetham St. in order to improve the approach. —It was decided that the whole Council be a special Committee to consider what work should be undertaken in future in the Borough under the No. o scheme. Cr. Scheib said this would relieve him of a great deal of responsibility—Cr, Anderson paid a tribute to the engineering ability shown by Cr. Scheib in the laying off and supervision of the Beetham St. job. Telephone.—Enquiries to be made as to cost of installing a telephone (party) in the town clerk’s residence.

Labour.—One of the men working on the No. 5 Scheme to be selected for extra duty during the time the dayman is bn holiday. Repairs to be made to asphalt footpath at kerb outside P.O. box lobby, etc. Seats on old wharf to be repaired. Overhanging Hedges.—The party interested in property at lower end of Duke St. to be notified to trim back overhanging hedge immediately. Accounts. —Accounts amounting to £399 13s were passed for payment.