MATAURA BOROUGH

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 12

MATAURA BOROUGH

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. (From Our Correspondent). The monthly meeting of the Mataura Borough Council was held on Tuesday and attended, by .the Mayor (Mr C. D. McConnell) and Councillors W. P. Thorn, J. W. Ajtken, C. E. Rowe, G. Beaumont, J. Ingram, J. 11. Clark, J. G. Sutherland, W. Piercy and John Heslin. Domain Board. Before the ordinary business was commenced the council sat as the Mataura Domain Board when the aiyiual meeting was held. The annual report stated that the work done during the year consisted of a new pavilion at the tennis courts, a new road to the sports -ground, trees jn the sports ground had been topped and general maintenance carried out. The work.proposed for the ensuing year consisted of general maintenance. The balance-sheet showed receipts amounting to £6S 5/3 and expenditure .£36 13/8, leaving a credit balance of £3l 11/7. Assets amounted to £204 4/4. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The Works Committee was authorized to inquire into the matter of seating accommodation at the grounds. A letter was received from the secretary of the Mataura Football Club making application for two lights to;be installed in rhe dressing rooms of the ’pavilion. The elnb would contribute £2 towards the cost.—Referred to the Lighting Committee for a report. Correspondence. A motion carried at a meeting of the Southland Electric Power Board stating that the general rate for the year ending March 31, 1931, shall be collected by the local authorities of the constituent districts on behalf of the Board was received. The board also expressed its appreciation to the officers of the local authorities for the efficiency in the past. The Board’s representative on No. 18 District Highways Council wrote advising that considering the borough was too small to employ an engineer its methods were satisfactory and y/ere approved of. The secretary ol the Southland Hospital Board wrote stating that the council’s apportionment of the levy for the year, ending March 31, 1931, would be £290 payable in quarterly instalments. A statement of the actual receipts and expenditure for the current financial year was enclosed. The assistant engineer, Public Works Department, wrote in connection with the construction of the proposed new bridge at Mataura, stating that a letter had been received by the Minister for Public Works suggesting that in view of the high cost (£16,000) that had been suggested for the construction of a ferro-concrete bridge, an alternative proposal for a steel bridge with a roadway of re-inforced concrete, wood blocks or bituminous surfacing should be considered. The council definitely decided that a concrete bridge would be the best. Mr W. P. Thorn applied for a refund of rate paid on section 6 Block XII, the property having been unoccupied for the past nine months.—Granted. Mr M. M. Corbet, secretary of the Mataura Plunket Society, applied for a donation towards the society’s funds.—The usual grant of £5 was made. A similar request was made by the Mataura W.E.A. and the sum of £1 1/was granted.. Mr John Patterson wrote requesting permission to cut down a tree on the boundary line of his property in Kana Street and the river chainage.—Referred to the Works Committee with power to act. Reports of Committees.

The sanitation and Water Committee recommended: (1) That the application of the Mataura dairy factory for a one and a half inch water connection be granted subject to the following conditions: (a) that the water be supplied through a meter, and a charge of 1/6 per 1000 gallons- be made instead of the present flat rate of £2O per annum; (b) that in the event of a shortage of water occurring in the reservoir, the supply to the factory be restricted.—Adopted. The Works Committee reported having received a donation covering the cost of 1100 pinus radiata two-year-old seedlings and recommend that these be planted on the river chainage from the ash dump in River Street down to Blampied Street.—Adopted.The foreman of works reported having inspected valve and fire-plugs in the borough, that Bridge Street footpath had been patched, bumps levelled in Kana Street 'North, water tables cleaned in Kana Street, Wyndham Road, Lorne Street, Main Street and Bridge Street. Four crossings had been put in in Kana Street and drains cleaned and flushed in Kana Street, Wyndham Road-, Albion, Lorne, River, Back and Burns Streets, while the crossings had been cleaned and tables swept in End, Main, Bridge and River Streets.—The report was received. General. In accordance with notice of motion given at last meeting Councillor Ingrain moved that the. sanitary service be discontinued as from January 1, 1931. This was seconded by Councillor Clark and carried. On the motion of Councillors Aitken and Thorn the necessary resolution was put through authorizing an overdraft at the bank of £l7OO. It was resolved that a 400-gallon tank be installed at the cemetery. Councillor Ingram moved that representations be made to the district railway engineer and the member for the district to have a wig-wag signal erected at the Albion Street railway crossing. Councillor Aitken brought up the matter of the new bridge and it was resolved that the town clerk write to the Southland County Council asking for a reply to his letter on the matter. It was also resolved that the clerk communicate with the Southland County Council and the Main Highways Board in connection with the preparation of an estimate of the cost, and plans and specifications for a new bridge.