DOMAIN BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 2

DOMAIN BOARD

ANNUAL MEETING REPORT OF YEAR'S WORK The annual meeting of the Ocean Beach Domain Board was held yesterday afternoon, Mr J. Wilson occupying the chair. There were also present —Messrs W. A. Scott, J. J. Marlow, J. L. Mclndoe. M. Silverstone. W. J. Lovell and F. Wilkinson. Annual Report The annual report on the board's work during the year stated, inter alia:— The work of maintaining the foredune is of primary importance, and has received constant attention during the year. As the dune continues to increase in height, additional attention is required each year. Large quantities of marram grass were dug during the winter months, and all the bare spaces were planted. The experiment of planting Olearia Traversii on the foredune is proving very successful, and further quantities were planted during the year. Very little erosion took place at the foredune at the St. Clair beach during the past year, although there was a considerable move, jnent of sand in front of the Esplanade. At the close of the year, however, the- beach was in good order. The position has been closely watched, and every effort will be made to build up the beach at this point. Additional flower beds were formed during the year at the tip entrance, Moreau street, and St. Kilda. and were a feature during the summer months, being much admired by visitors. These extra areas have necessitated extensions in the nursery and the construction of new glass frames to provide the additional bedding plants required. The tip has received special attention, and every effort' has been made to keep the area tidy. During the year arrangements were made with the various fruit auction rooms and factories in the city to accept fruit waste at the tip. This material is buried on arrival and the cost charged to the parties concerned, the amount received during the financial year amounting to £l3 6s 6d. The charge for the use of the tip by the, contributing bodies was fixed at £4OO for the year. A section of the tip is now being top-dressed with clay, and will be sown down in grass in the spring. The board's application to the Employment Department for a special subsidy to enable the board to carry out various works during the winter was granted. Twelve men were allotted to the board for special works for a period of six months under scheme 13. These men were employed on a full-time basis, the Government providing a subsidy of 2s 4d per hour, leaving the board to find the balance of Id per hour. The number of men employed was later increased to 18, and the period of employment continued to the end of the financial year. The cost to the board of bringing the wages of these men up to the award rate amounted to £lO6 10s 9d. Consequent on the employment of these men. the scheme 5 labour supplied to the board was withdrawn. After detailing the work done by subsidised labour, the report stated that provided the labour was available under scheme 13,. the following works were proposed during the year:—Completing the levelling of the hockey ground at Kettle Park and sowing down same; erecting a stone shelter on the ground; topdressing tip area as tip was completed and sowing down in grass; planting marram grass on foredune and treeplanting. The board commenced the year with a credit balance of £7ll 18s 9d. The statutory levy for the year amounted to £1349 6s 2d—an increase of £52 over the previous year. Other receipts, excluding schemes 5 and 13 refunds, amounted tn £668 15s lOd. This amount included £'4l3 for tip charges and £209 for sand sales. The total amount available for the year amounted to £2730 Is 6d. Ordinary expenditure for wages of the regular staff, materials, cartage, and other sundry items amounted to £1852 lis 6d. The outgo for schemes 5 and 13 wages amounted to £3083 18s 6d, of which £lO6 10s 9d was Borne by the board. The credit balance to carry forward is £751 Is sd. The report was adopted. Chairman and Treasurer

Mr Wilson and Mr Scott were reelected chairman and honorary treasurer respectively.

Statutory Levy

The statutory levy was fixed as follows:—City of Dunedin £1306. St. Kilda Borough £IOO ss.