MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 October 1941, Page 7

MOTUEKA

BOROUGH AFFAIRS RECORD RATE COLLECTION MONTHLY MEETING OF COCNCII At the monthly meeting of the Mo tueka Borough Council those presen were: Th c Mayor (Mr W. .1. Kginton), Councillors A. K. Fry, li. Whitwell, A. F. Web ley, H. H. McGlashcn H. D. Bennett and T. Hickmott. CORRESrONDENCE The Town-planning Institute " New Zealand forwarded a copy of it: annual report for the council’s in formation. -Received. The Nelson Hospital Board for warded a copy of its balance slice for year ended 31st March, 15)41. The hon. secretary, Makogai Leper Fund, wrote making a special nppea to all societies in New Zealand foi their sympathy on behalf of the suffering women and children at Makoga leper station. The writer stated Ihn it may not be possible for the counci to help in a material way, but if it would only read the circular lettei at its meeting the lepers would have more friends in New Zealand. — Received. The Main Highways Board advisee that the following items had beoi approved for the current linancia year for State and main highways it Motueka borough: Motueka borough general maintenance, .11200 free Motueka borough, Heath’s corner Swan road, widening existing sealer surface, £2Bo—free. Motueka-Kohati main highway: Motueka borough general maintenance, £so—-£3 foi £l. Motueka wharf highway: Motueka borough, general maintenance £2o—£3 for £ I.—Received. The Motueka Rugby Sub-Unior wrote stating that the following motion had been passed: “That in view of the present adverse financial position of the Union, a request be made to the Borough Council requesting that favourable consideration be giver to the question of granting a rebate of rates during the current year.” The council was asked to give thi: matter its consideration. The Mayor stated that as the Rugby Union did not receive full service ii respect of sanitation he would support some remission in the rate, bu' felt he would not be justified in making such a suggestion in connectior with the general rate without firstly having more information concerning the financial position of the Rugby Union, and besides there were othei aspects of the case to be considerec by the council before granting an} remission. Councillor Hickmott pointed ou that the Rugby Union was paying th< sanitary rate without receiving any service at all at Rugby Park. Finally it was decided on the motion of the Mayor and Councilloi Whitwell that the matter be referred. . to the finance committee for a re-; port, to be submitted to the nexi meeting of the council. The Colonial Motor Company Ltd advised that the work on the fire engine had been put in hand, but thal it would be impossible to make delivery of the engine to the Motuelcs Council by 25th October. The Waimea Electric Power Boarc acknowledged the council’s lettei agreeing to the charges for streel lighting. With regard to the council’s request that this arrangement be subject to one month’s notice or either side, it was pointed out by thc writers that as the charges were or an annual basis the one month’s notice could only be given at the end of j any twelve monthly period.—Received. The Nelson Hospital Board wrote giving notice of the intention of thc board to make application to thc Local Government Loans Board foi sanction to raise a loan of the amoun af £45,000 for the purpose of carrying out that portion of its proposec building programme covering thc erection and equipment of a new boilerhouse, laundry and allied departments block at the Nelson Hospital. It was decided, Councillors Fry and Whitwell, that the Boroungl Council agree to the raising of a loan Tthe Nelson Lighting Controllei drew attention to the fact that aftei sunset bonfires, etc., were prohibitec under the lighting regulations. Thc council was asked to issue no permits for after sunset bonfires. It wa: pointed out that this matter had beer raised owing to the proximity of stl November and its associated bonfire: and fireworks.—Received. The Municipal Association of New Zealand advised that the Municipa Conference would be held in 1942 ir Nelson, and asked the council to forward the names of its delegates. It was resolved, Councillors Bennett and Fry, that the Mayor anc Town Clerk represent the Motueki Borough Council at the Municipa Conference. On the motion of Councillor Fry anti the Mayor the Town Clerk wa? instructed to write the Nelson City Council offering the borough council’s in regard to the entertainment of delegates to the confer--nce in as far as mapping out a tour af the Motueka district. ' The Motueka District High Schoo committee wrote thanking the council for transferring the children’s section of the public library to thc school library. It was stated that thc council’s action in making the books more easily available to the children was very much appreciated.—Received. Thc New Zealand Library Association advised that the next conference would be held in Auckland in February, 1942, and that the counvas close, and in between times would wander away and come back with >read, cigarettes (rarer than diamonds it-'the time), biscuits, sweets, cognac md cherry brandy. By evening we had practically competed thc setting of one page, and had darted making it up—or rather throwing it together. Most of the civilians were moving out. of the town, and the wallows were Hying dazedly over thc >ort. The ire was coming up our itreet all the time our chaps were working, and after a while we were nore or less cut off from thc other premises, but we still had a way out hrough an arch at the blind end ol he alley. Completely unchecked, the lames had licked up both sides of the street to within two or three houses by he time we started the actual printing awards midnight. The last remaining niiabitants moved out oon after that lour, the very last being another ‘Momma” like Zamaryns.’ only even ess portable, who was left sitting in a :h nr on the pavement. Some Greek soldiers whom 1 called tried carrying ler, but she made such a fuss that they jave up the idea .mu went off, at which she made even more fus:. I suppose :hey came back with a stretcher, or something, because she was gone when ve passed thc place on our way home. Being tired, and with our only light, i candle, fast burning out, we contentid ourselves with the printing of six jr seven hundred copies. We reached leadquarters in the early hou s of thc norning, carrying the entire edition with us, only to find that everyone lad moved out to Suda Bay. Before lawn we were in camp alongside the ♦ aterfront there.

foil was entitled to be representor! by 1 one delegate. I It was decided, the Mayor and j Councillor Hcnnett, that the Motueka Borough Council be not represented at the Library Association ConferI llilt/MM service Mrs A. Boyes, I’oknrom. wrote acknowledging a notice to the effect that owing to increasing work the council had decided to discontinue the up-river library service, and stated that subscribers in the district, who in the past had enjoyed their rending from this serv ice, were most indignant at tile council’s decision. The suggestion that subscribers join the Cyiuitry Library Service, the writer stated, was quite impossible for some who were six miles away from the nearest branch. It was pointed out that as a good deal of the revenue from the district circulated in Motueka the subscribers concerned were entitled to some little consideration in return. The hope was expressed that the council would reconsider its decision and find some way of still continuing the service as before. The Mayor explained that the upriver library service had been found to be rather costly for the amount of revenue received, and the service also entailed additional work for the librarian. The library van he said stopped at certain convenient places in the country districts and under the circumstances he would move that the council adhere to its previous decision. The motion was seconded by Councillor Fry and carried. IMPROVED FINANCIAL POSITION The Town Clerk, Mr A. L. Kirk, reported that G2 per cent, of the current rates had been collected up to the discount dale, which constituted a record for the borough. The financial position of the council had very much improved in that the bank balance at present stood at £IBOO as compared with a debit balance of £IBO for the corresponding period last year. General satisfaction was expressed by members of the council at the sound state of its finances.