WEST HARBOUR BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18159, 2 February 1921, Page 2

WEST HARBOUR BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the West Harbour Borougn Council was held last evening, and Was attended by the Mayor (Mr H. E. Molier) and Crs Barker, Fraser, Mitchell, Larnach, M'Ewan, Robertson, amitn, Robb, and Harridge. The District * Railway -engineer (Mr C. M. Benzoni) wrote, in reply to the council’s letter regarding a level crossing at Sandy Beach, stating that the council’s representations on the matter had been fully considered by the department in Wellington in i9i7, when it hod been decided that ’The department is not prepared to grant a toot level crossing near the middle oi the bay, immediately' to the south ol Burkes Station. ’’ Air Benzoni stated that he had examined the proposed crossing, and found it a very unsafe place, if used by women and children.—vit was decided that the council was not particular where the crossing was constructed so long as it was put in. The council’s decision is to be forwarded to the member for the district (Mr E. Keliett), with a request for his assistance. E. T. Monk wrote asking the council to consider the possibility oi giving a convenient entrance to his residence when the work in London street was being carried out. —Received.

C. French, sen., wrote asking the council to stop Mr M‘Pail from taking his horse up and down the footpath in West street?—The letter was received.

The Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr D. Larnach) reported that the receipts from January 12 to February 1 amounted to £1626 Is Ud, leaving a credit balance on the period of £7BB 4s 3d. Accounts amounting to £IOB 13s 4d were recommended tor payment, the credit balance thus standing at £679 10s lid.—The report was adopted. Cr Barker (chairman) moved the adoption of the Works Committee’s report. The report stated that the committee had inspected London street. It recommended that the footpath be formed and screened, and that the road be extended as far as the watercourse.—The report was adopted. Or M‘Ewan (chairman) moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee’s report, ihe committee recommended that a wire fence should be placed adjacent to the soldiers’ monument, and thus prevent people from taking a short out past the edifice and breaking down the embankment.—The report was adopted.

PETITION _TO MS MOELEB. Cr Harridge said he had been asked, on behalf of a large number of petitioners, to request Mr Molier to again stand for Mayor of the borough. He hoped Mr Molier would be able to accede to the petitioners’ request. It was to© earnest wish of the large majority of the residents that he would see his way to again offer his services.—(Applause.) •

Or Mitchell then read the petition, as folI ° w t s =- M x r H - E- Molier, —It has been stated tnat on retirement from your present position as Mayor of the Borough of West Harbour you do not intend to again stand for the mayoralty. For over 25 years you have been connected with this borough—seven years as councillor and 16 years as Mayor, a record to be proud of Your unfailing courtesy and foresight and rare qualities of leadership have at all times been admired. Throughoyour unflagging energy this district has gone ahead. You can claim no small share in being th© means of providing toe borough with many up-to-date facilities, such as a Rost and Telegraph Office, a recreation ground, water supply, street lighting, footpaths and channelling, a hall at St. Leonards Ward and last, but- not least, a handsome soldiers’ memorial. It is our fervent desire that you agree, to our request to again stand as a candidate for re-election as Mayor. We the undersigned councillors and electors respectfully sign this request.” Over 200 names were appended to toe petition. Mr Molier said that last year he had stated that he would not again be a candidate for the mayoralty. He noticed that all the councillors had signed toe petition, and he presumed they fully realised what was in front of them—that they had a large amount of money to find,—and they wanted his assistance.—(“Hear, hear.”) He did not intend to shirk any work which might be in the interests of the borough and he would therefore consent to stand again.— (Applause.) He felt flattered to know that he still retained the confidence of councillors, both the old ones and the new. H© might say, however, that at the conclusion of the next term, if he were elected, whothe there were loans to be met or not, he would not consent to stand again, though he might be prepared to stand as a councillor. He thought it was only fair that councillors who had given their services to the borough should have an opportunity of obtaining th© honour of being Mayor of toe district. (Applause.)