RIVERTON BOROUGH

Southland Times, Issue 21000, 5 February 1930, Page 9

RIVERTON BOROUGH

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. (From Our Correspondent.) • The monthly meeting held on Monday evening, was attended by the Mayor (Dr. N. G. Trotter), Councillors J. O. Hymers, R. J. Walker, G. L. Dickson, A. E. Willett and E. B. Patrick. An apology’ for absence was received from Councillor J. A. Martin. Correspondence. Mr Kiddell, surveyor, Invercargill, wrote forwarding plans in connection with Mr G. McLachlan’s property, South Riverton, and asked the council’s endorsement of same. — Agreed to. Mr A. C. Ford, architect, Invercargill, applied for permission to erect a septic tank for the proprietor of the Wallace County Hotel, plans accompanying the application. The Mayor said the necessary drain would go through the borough’s property, but he could see no objection to the application as far as the council was concerned. On the motion of Councillor Willett the request was referred to the Property Committee, with power to act, the committee to confer with the health officer before granting permission. The secretary Municipal Association, Wellington, wrote advising that the annual conference would be held in Invercargill in March, and asked the council to send a delegate. A similar communication was received from the Town Clerks’ Association, and they also asked to be supplied with the name of a representative. The Mayor and Town Clerk were I appointed as delegates. The Commissioner of State Forests, Wellington, wrote in regard to the land in Pourakino, and stated that action had hitherto been held in abeyance, pending a conference to be held shortly between officers of the Department and Lands Survey Department to determine which areas were more suitable for land settlement or forestry purposes respectively. When the recommendations of the conference were announced, word would be sent to the council. '• The letter was received, the Mayor stating that it was gratifying to note that some finality would be come to over the land in the Pourakino locality. Other Business. Councillor Willett said a number of the roads in South Riverton were too narrow for present day requirements, and he was in favour of using the Wallace County grader, which would remove the obstructions on the sides. In some places the roadways were gouged out, and the material was carried to the sides. He was given to understand that the grader could be hired for £3 per day, and if the council was agreeable he thought a considerable amount of useful work could be accomplished in that time. The Mayor suggested making arrangements at once with the Wallace County Council for the heaps at the sides of the road were responsible for the recent accident. Many of the corners were in a dangerous condition, and steps should be taken at once to safeguard the public against accidents.

It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Works Committee.

Reporting on behalf of the Works Committee, Councillor Willett said some further work would be carried out on the road near King’s property, Mr King having paid his share of the cost. The drain near Mr McNaughton's property would be attended to when the surfaceman had time. Some repairs to the roadway would also be carried out in Shrewsbury street.

Councillor Hymers remarked that the committee appeared to be expending money in the south ward, while parts of the north were being neglected, Havelock street in particular. In reply, Councillor Willett stated that the locality would receive attention in due course. He hoped to have the whole of the borough cleaned up before Easter,- and a certain amount of gravelling would be necessary. All the roadways .would be put in a good state of repair before winter sets in, for it had proved a false economy to carry out maintenance work during wet weather. He reminded them that money was scarce, and instead of having £7OO odd to expend that sun; had been reduced to £5OO.

Replying to questions, the clerk stated that when the estimates for the year were drawn up, they were submitted to a full council, met with approval and had been passed. It was utterly impossible to say what would be the actual expenses for any one year, for they had to prepare for emergencies. They would remember on different occasions that the purchase of the grader, extra asphalting, etc., had been responsible for further outlay, which had not been provided for. He submitted the following table: The estimated expenditure for street maintenance for the year 1927-28 was £815; actual expenditure, £780; 192829, £800; expenditure, £821; 1929-30 (eight months), £770; expenditure £794. The procedure followed, in present instances, had been the same for the past 30 years. It was decided to proceed with the work on Joyce’s road, North Riverton, the cost of which was put down at £3O. Councillor Dickson said an accident had happened that evening to a resident when crossing the bridge on a motor cycle, due to a defective plank, and steps should be immediately taken to have the damaged ones removed, and replaced by new. He also drew attention to the deplorable state of Milton street, which he characterized as a disgrace to any community. In front of his property, he said, there were acres of broom and gorse growing like a small forest, and each year it was increasing, much to the disgust of property holders in the vicinity. The majority of the properties were owned by absentees, and he thought the time was opportune to take advantage of the Act and have the sections sold or otherwise disposed of. Every year he had cleared his property of weeds, but he declined to do so in the future as a protest. The sections were good ones if clear-’ ed, and he knew of a likely purchaser who was prepared to buy the lot. The Mayor agreed with the previous speaker. He said the locality was no credit to them; in fact it was an eyesore and a disgrace. It was resolved to have the planking on the bridge repaired, and the Finance Committee were instructed to go into the question of disposing or clearing the broom infested area in Milton street. It was resolved to inform the residents near Waldeck that they could top the trees on the reserve, but that the council declined to pay the cost of same. The Mayor drew attention to the excessive speed of some motorists when going through the borough, and it was pleasing to be able to announce that their inspector would have a number before the court for breaches of the borough by-laws. The pace these people went and the terrific noise occasioned by the motor cyclists, especially when passing the hospital, was quite unreasonable, and was annoying to the patients. Several accidents have already happened on the road, due in a large measure to carelessness, and the offenders apparently Belong to that class of people who should never have a license to drive—people quite indifferent to the safety of others and who give no thought to suffering humanity Under the motor regulations provision is made for establishing hospital areas, and he gave notice of motion that steps be taken to have the mainway at the local institution proclaimed one of them. It was decided to erect the “School, drive slow” signs at the corner' of Milton street, and the red triangle at Mr W. S. Hunter’s corner, South Riverton. The clerk was instructed to take legal proceedings for the recovery of all outstanding rates.