COUNCIL MATTERS

Opunake Times, 16 September 1941, Page 5

COUNCIL MATTERS

- — « CENTENNIAL PARK * Consideration yeas given the monthly meeting of the Borough Council to a request from -Wide Opuuake Seaside ImproNriuent Society for a grant from the Centennial Park Fund Ac- ount for dunnage work being carried out on the beach. Through the May dr, Mr. G. C. Houston, the Society reported that in connection with its scheme tor disproving the drainage of the camping ground, it had carried a tile drain into the Centennial Park area with the result that a considerable improvement had been effected there. It was considered that a deepening of the drain would result in a further improvement.

As it/ was entrusted as a subcommittee of the Council, with the development of the I’ark, the committee had approached the Council for a grant towards the work from the Park Tuna account as it had so faft*_ earned out the work done at its own expense.

Members were favourably incline generally to making the grant though Some differing views were expressed as to the best method of drying up the area. Cr. W. E. Gunson thought ‘ that the Society were doing good work but thought that instead of further deepening the drain it would he preferable to build up the atrea with spoil. A large amount of spoil from the new access track to the beach had already been placed at the disposal of the Society an further material would be available from road grading in the near ifuture. Cr. Reardon supported Ithis view. r I A motion proposed «*x • Hllghson that the Council consider favou/rably the granting of £lO but hat they should confer with the Society with a view to

file building up of the area was put forward. Cr. Hughson expressed the opinion that evej'y i effort should he made to observe the balance in the Park Fund with a view to purchasing j an additional area at a favourable time. _ _ j The motion was lost and an! amendment proposed. by f”• I Clement and seconded I),> ' 1 • i Feavey that the grant should be I made for work done and to be j done in draining the area and | that in addition spoil should be I given was passed. _ j ~ The Power Board engineer, | Mr. E. G. Snell waited on the Council to discuss with them the question of street lighting. ■Mr. Snell explained that the j fact that the lighting in the streets had been irregular was due to the fact that the system was a serial one which was m j need of extensive repairs. The; materials for these repairs how- j ever could not at present he j obtained. It had been the j Boards policy to _ replace the j present system with mercury- j vapour lamps but of coulrse that could not be proceeded with at the present time. He undertook to give the Council the best service possible under* the T , res <|pt circumstances and would recommence! tip the Board a greater reduction in charges for lights not showing. A request from the E. P. kcommittee for a grant for m " cidental expenses was approved If lie grant made being £lO. A letter was received from the Chamber of Commerce detailing suggestions put forward bv them for the utilization of the site of the present police residence' for a new Post Office. They had recommended that the proposed new. police residence should he built on the. vacant site between the present 1 o-1

(‘ffice and the Courthouse and that the present Post Office should he adapted fog use as a Police Court the present Courthouse being in a poor state of repair.

After the matter had been discussed Or. Reardon moved that the Council give the Chamber its support in the matter.

The matter of the clearing of site in Tasman Street previously occupied by a garage wa" referred to the Health Inspector. The Works Committee reported that the High School committee had agreed to pay for the necessary pipes to carry the sto<hu water under the footpath in Keapy Road and the formation of the footpath as requested had been authorized. The Council approved _of their suggestion for the hiring of the Fgmont County Council grader for moulding the sides of the streets.

TV. Reardon brought nv ie oucstion of the reservation of a suitable siie in the eemetairy for u Tb S. A. prraves flat for ibe 2nd. N. Z. E. F. members who mifrht require it.

There were present at • the meeting the Mayor, Mr. G. C. (Houston. Grs. R. H. Huffhson, H. Clement, W. Gun.son, IT. T)avev. N. Reardon, and G. Feaver.