SOUTH OTAGO. BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20501, 31 August 1928, Page 6

SOUTH OTAGO. BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, August 30. BALCLUTHA BOROUGH COUNCIL,

The monthly meeting of the Balclutha Borough Council was held last night, and was attended by the Mayor (Mr S. V. White), and Crs M'Neil, Gormack, Copland, Hunter, Watt, Stokes, Walter, and M'Lintock.

The town clerk, Mosgiel, wrote in regard to changing the method of raising levies for hospital maintenance, etc., and also urging the heed for more direct representation on hospital boards by contributing bodies. —It was decided that the member for the district should be asked to support any legislation along those lines that might come before Parliament.

The town clerk, Port Chalmers, wrote enclosing a copy of the draft by-law dealing with " itinerant traders,” which it was proposed to pass, and asked for the council’s experience with its by-law, which, however, did not deal with the class of trader Port Chalmers was trying to deal with.—Received.

Frank Petrie applied for the lease of the reserve now f>£jd by W. Dyet at a rental of £7 2s (id.—Granted.

W. F. Little, North Balclutha, wrote that he and others residing in the vicinity of Yarmouth street proposed to plough and scoop a portion of the road serving as an outlet for four residents on the east side of Yarmouth street, provided the council would do the gravelling. The piece of road referred to was in Bruce County.—The request was granted. Alexander Riach, secretary of the Balclutha Bowling Club, forwarded a resolution passed at the annual meeting of the club, asking the council to bring in a local daylight saving scheme similar to the scheme of last year.—The Mayor said a Bill dealing with the subject was now before Parliament, and if passed the Retailers’ Association could deal with the subject without consulting the council. —Received.

OBJECTIONS TO CROSSINGS,

G. R. Edwards wrote to the effect that (he crossing giving access to his premises from Argyle street was no good to him, as a cart could neither be backed or pulled across it. He also stated that he was prepared to pay for a properly covered crossing.—The request was granted, provided the applicant paid fertile crossing and also for the present kerb crossing.

A, R. Allan wrote stating that he was prepared to accept the council’s offer to put down a concrete covered crossing, giving access to his property from James street, but he refused to acknowledge any other charges in connection with the crossing already laid down.—Cr AFLintock said that the price charged to ratepayers was excessive for such shallowcrossings. Eight shillings would lie a fair price instead of 25s and 30s.—Cr APLintock moved that a rebate should bo given for the flat type of crossing, and that covered .crossings be put in at the same price.-—The motion was carried. REPORTS.

The borough foreman submitted his report of the work carried out during the month.—Adopted. Cr Watt, on behalf of the Works Committee, explained that tenders had been received for carting gravel from the river bank, the lowest being Is 5d per yard, but in view of the state of the finances no lender had been accepted by the Works Committee. The tender of Alessrs A. and T. Burt had been accepted for a new sanitary tank, and a new lorry had also been procured.—lt was decided that 400 yards of gravel should be procured from the river bed, the work to be done by the borough staff. FINANCIAL.

The treasurer reported that receipts since last meeting totalled £1069 10s 3d (inclusive of £SOO deposits at call). Accounts amounting to £1333 16s 2d yere presented for payment. The total indebtedness at date, including £1450 deposits at call, amounted to £2668 6s Id. The expenditure on public works to date was £774, and the amount of accounts presented for payment for street work was approximately £270, making the total expenditure on public works £1044. The amount estimated, less main highway expenditure, was £9so.—The report was adopted, and the accounts were passed for payment. SALE YARDS EXTENSION.

Cr Copland, on behalf of the Sale Yards Committee, outlined a scheme of extension involving a probable expenditure of £’soo, which it was agreed to put before the stock and station firms interested, with a view to a renewal of the contract to sell in the yards, before coming to a decision. SOLDIERS’ PLOTS. Considerable discussion took place on the question of the soldiers’ plots at the cemetery, which the council had previously decided to use for general purposes. It was finally resolved, on the Alayor’s suggestion, that the whole council should visit the cemetery and investigate the position thoroughly, both as regards soldiers’ plots and the need for extending the cemetery area. GENERAL.

The Reserves Committee reported that it could not recommend any decrease in the new cemetery burial fees. The foreman reported the theft of a number of rose trees from the borough domain, and it was resolved to notify the police.