OTAUTAU TOWN BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21578, 16 December 1931, Page 7

OTAUTAU TOWN BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING.

(From Our Correspondent) The monthly meeting of the Otautau Town Board was held on Monday evening and was attended by the following commissioners: Messrs W. J. Wesney (chairman), W. Fraser, J. Scatter, D. C. McCrostie, EL L. Chandler and W. J. McCulloch. The foreman made the following recommendations; (1) Traffic bridge: That tho tension rods on the bridge be tightened, as a few of the truss members have a vibration when traffic is crossing the bridge; also that the bridge be thoroughly cleaned and painted. It was resolved that the Highways Board bo asked to find the money, as the board was restricted regarding finance. (2) Creek in Domain: As the creek in the domain has been widened and deepened, the result is there is no right-of-way into the sanitary shed and sections. He recommended that there be a ten-foot bridge built. The Works Committee was requested to inspect and ascertain whether a ford is practicable.

The secretary of the Otautau Progressive League wrote thanking the board for granting permission to hold evening sports, and made application for a similar right to hold a meeting on December 4. The request was granted. The chairman reported that another evening sports meeting was being held on Friday, the net proceeds to go to the relief of unemployment. Mr E. R. Wilson, architect, forwarded a certificate for the progress payment of £4O in connection with the haff, and drew attention to the fact that the new mainscotting on the north wall of the gallery was already decaying. This was no fault of the builder, who had made an excellent job. In a later letter he gave the builders their certificate of clearance and for final payment. He stated that the g.c. iron on the roof was rapidly decaying, and advised that the entire area of the roof, gutters, and the backs and tops of the parapets be painted as soon as possible with one of the cold-fix paints. It was resolved that the work be carried out.

The following telegram was received from the chairman of the Unemployment Board; ‘The board fully appreciates the good work done by your committee in connection with

the administration of the various schemes. The position is that the funds are being allotted in all centres to the full extent, and on the most equitable basis practicable, that basis being the number of registrations in each centre. As Otautau is receiving the maximum quota on the latest registrations the allotment cannot be increased as desired.” The chairman said £15,000 was being allotted before Christmas, and the board should make application for its quota. Mr P. Morey, District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, wrote disclaiming all liability in the matter of the cost of repairs to tar-sealing at the railway crossing, Otautau. It was resolved that Mr Parmenter be asked to supply the usual number of dog collars. The chairman brought up the matter of raising a loan for unemployment work. He said tho position was that they either could raise a short-dated loan to meet payments or raise the rates. The ratepayers had to bear the burden in any case. Several works had still to be carried out, and the board was in financial straits. He was of opinion that £lOO would not be sufficient. The board had done its share in providing unemployment relief. Mr Fraser expressed the opinion that footpaths in the residential area should be completed, as this would save expense to the board later on. It was resolved to apply to the Loans Board for authority to raise a loan of £l5O for five years at 54 per cent for payment of work and material in connection with unemployment relief. The chairman reported that approximately £5 had been raised on election night, and he advocated some effort to complete the painting, etc. of the interior of the hall.

The matter of the cleaning of the main block near the bridge was left in the hands of the surfaceman to attend to, Mr McCrostie mentioning that a complaint had been made by Mr O’Brien. It was resolved that the surfaceman be instructed to put a loud of gravel on the top of the culvert in the Esplanade, and also to fill some holes in King street. As this was the last meeting before Christmas the chairman wished members the compliments of the season, remarking that they hoped for better times in the near future.