ST. KILDA COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 10

ST. KILDA COUNCIL

THREE VACANCIES FILLED MR A. D. EDGAR ELECTED MAYOR A special meeting of the St. Hilda Borough Council was held last night to fill extraordinary vacancies on the council caused by the resignation of the Mayor (Mr j. Beattie) and Mr 11. H. Leary. The Deputy Mayor (Air A. D. Edgar) presided. The Deputy Mayor said the special meeting had been called for the purpose of electing a Mayor in succession to Mr J. Beattie, and a councillor. He understood this could be done that night in accordance with the Act, which he asked the town clerk to read.

The town clerk having complied with the request and having stated that everything was in order, the Deputy Mayor asked for nominations for the position of Mayor. Cr J. A. Carman moved that the council el'ect Mr A., D. Edgar as Mayor in terms of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1033. Cr N. D. Anderson seconded the motion, and said that as Mr Edgar had filled the position of Deputy Mayor, he should he elected as Mayor. Mr Edgar had had a long and honourable career on the council. It was the wish of the council that he should bo elected, and if he accepted the position Mr Edgar would receive the full support of the council, and it was felt that his appointment would meet with the approval of the ratepayers. Cr Carman said the council was unanimous in selecting Mr Edgar as Mayor of the borough. Several ratepayers had approached councillors with a request that Mr Edgar should be appointed to the office. If he accepted, he would be assured of the full support of the councillors.

Ci* A. J. Morison said if Mr Edgar set out to do a job he carried it out to the letter. That was the kind of man they wanted. The council had had its troublesome times, but these were done with, and past incidents would be forgotten. The council and ratepayers were well satisfied with the selection of Mr Edgar,, and if he accepted the position they all hoped his term in office would be a happy one.

Mr Edgar, in accepting the position, said he had stated, some weeks ago that he would not accept as he did not have the time to devote to such an office. However, he had been forced to reconsider his decision, as he had received numerous reauests to allow himself to be nominated for the position. Having accepted the position, he would do his duty to the borough. He had never shirked his duty during his 20 years’ service in the interests of the borough. He wanted to see the valuations of the borough placed on am equitable basis, and that was one of the reasons for his acceptance of office. The valuations were an important matter, and this would claim his close attention. It gave him pleasure to accept the position until the elections next year. All he asked was the loyal support of every member of the council and also of the ratepayers. No man could accomplish anything he set out to do unless he received the full support and encouragement to which he was entitled.

The Mayor said that, as he had ceased to be a councillor, there were two vacancies on the council to fill. One vacancy was caused by the resignation of Mr H. H. Leary. In answer to a question by the Mayor, the town clerk said the Act provided for the vacancies to be filled that night. Cr W. R. Sellar nominated Mr W. Lovell to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr Leary. Mr Lovell had resided in the borough for many years, and had been closely associated with the Beach Improvement Society. Or A. J. Morison seconded the motion, and said they could not get a better man for the position. The Mayor said he had known Mr Lovell for some time.. He had taken keen interest in all activities connected with the borough and had given assistance in the relief of the distressed. Mr Lovell was unanimously elected.

The Mayor said that as ho had been elected Mayor it would be necessary to elect a councillor to fill his vacated position. They would have to ascertain, however, if they were in order in doing so. , The town clerk read the clause in the Act and said the vacancy could be filled that night.

Or Morison nominated Mr P. C. Triggs, who, ho said, would be a good man to sit on the council. Cr. E. W. Hunter seconded the nomination. Cr N. D. Anderson nominated Mr E. Longworth, and in doing so said Mr Longworth had served on the council for many years previously. He had a long and honourable career in the borough and would be a very suitable man to fill the position. The nomination was seconded by Cr W. R. Sellar, who said that if Mr Longworth was elected his services would again prove valuable to the borough. On a ballot being taken, Mr Longworth was elected by five votes to four. Cr Morison said he would like the result of the voting for the two candidates to be published, and the Mayor agreed. The voting was:—For Mr Triggs: Crg Morison, Hunter, R. J. B. Griffiths and ,T. W. W. Human. For Cr Longworth: The Mayor, Crs Sellar, M. J. Kelly, Carman and Anderson. DE CARLE PARK.

The council then considered a report by the foreman in connection with De Carle Park. The report stated that on taking the levels the foreman found the park to bo, on an average, 10 inches below the footpaths. The length of the park was 402 feet, with a width of 290 feet. To level the area up to the footpaths would require 3878 yards of filling to raise the centre one foot, and the grade to the footpaths would require 070 extra yards, making a total of 4848 yards." To raise the park to the grade, ho suggested stacking soil and filling with sand, the work to be done by the unemployed. The cost of filling would be £482 10s. This would put the park in perfect order. In regard to the cricket pitch as required by the fet. Kilda Ladies’ Cricket Club (70ft by 20ft) the turf could be secured from Culling Park. The cost of cartage, levelling and turfing would be about £lO, and to put the cricket field in fair order the total cost would lie about £35.

The Mayor said all tbc parks in the borough bad been purposely omitted from the estimates this year, as the money had to be spent, on the footpaths and other necessary works. There was no money available for carrying out improvements to parks, and Hie only thing to do was to keep the grass cut in the playing areas. The foreman had been requested to report on He Carle PaiK, and be thought it should be received.

0 r Morison said that ho would like to sec sport fostered in the borough, but lie could not support any resolution to spend so much of the ratepayers’ money on carrying out improvements in Do Carle Park.

After a short discussion, the council decided, on the motion of Or Morison, to spend £5 on improving the cricket wicket at the park.