RIVERTON BOROUGH

Southland Times, Issue 21649, 10 March 1932, Page 11

RIVERTON BOROUGH

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. (From Our Correspondent.) The ordinary meeting of the Riverton Borough Council held on Monday evening was attended by the Mayor (Mr E. B. Patrick) and Councillors J. 0. Hymera, R- JWalker, A. E. Willett, J. C. Templeton, J. A. B. Walker and J. A. Martin. Correspondence. Mr W. McGill was granted the use of the building on borough property under certain conditions. t Tho officer in charge of the Unemployed Department, Wellington, wrote in regard to tree planting by local bodies which could be carried out by men out of employment. Replying to Cr. R. J. Walker, the clerk stated that tho reserve at Howell's Point was vested in tho Harbour Board, and if a tree planting scheme was inaugurated it may bo appreciated. Tho Mayor stated that if they proposed to start such work there, the young trees would havo to be protected so as to facili- . tato growth; otherwise tho money would only be wasted. Cr. R. J. Walker said it appeared to him that the scheme should be tried. Work would be found for those requiring it, and it would also be the means of providing shelter there. It was eventually decided to refer the matter to the Reserves Committee. Tho Public Works Department forwarded a detailed statement in connection with the cost of the erection of the traffic bridge over the Aparima estuary. The total cost had been £25,199 13 2, which was below the estimate, and the Riverton Borough's share of £3,600. In reply to Cr. Martin, the clerk stated that their final payment totalled £lOO 26, and the whole of the money had been collected by means of a penny rate. The Public Works Department wrote stating that the Main Highways Board had resolved to delegate to the council the whole of the powers conferred by section 9 of the Main Highways Act in respect to that portion of the Riverton—Rocks highway within tho town boundary. A copy of notice appearing in N.Z. Gazette was also forwarded stating that tho road to the Rocks had been declared a highways one. Tho clerk was instructed to write Mr Pearce (engineer) thanking him for his efforts. The Southland Power Board wrote with reference to the proposed new scheme for better lighting facilities for the town, and tho committee in charge was requested to report on this and tho advisibility of extending the lights in other parts of the borough. The secretary of the Riverton Progressive League wrote stating that at its last meeting attention had been drawn to the continual acts of vandalism in the town and its environs, and it had been decided to ask the Mayor to call a public meeting for tho purpose of forming a vigilance committee —Left in the hands of the Mayor. The secretary of tho Waimatuku River Board- wrote to the effect that in face of the report of the Public Works engineer, which confirmed the finding of their own engineer, it would be an unwarranted waste of public, money to exit the proposed channel from tho Taunamoa to the sea. The Unemployment Committee in Invercargill, the letter concluded, had been informed accordingly. It was resolved that the lessee be asked to apply to the Unemployment Board to ■ obtain the services of four men to clean out tho ditch. Other Business. Reporting on behalf of the Works Committee, Cr. Willett stated that an inspection had been made of the old wooden sewer in the main street. The timber had decayed in places, and the depth of the drain ranged from 2ft 6in to 4ft. It had been decided to have it filled in; the work to be carried out by the unemployed. A start would have to be commenced as soon as possible so as to give the ground a chance to solidify before the tar-sealing operations were started. It was expected that the work of laying down the new material would be started in the spring. The plans, etc., however, would havo to be submitted to the department for approval, and it would be necessary to have these prepared as soon as expedient. Regarding other matters he said the road going towards Taramea Bay required attention, the sides being higher than the thoroughfare, and it would be necessary to engage tho county grader for the work. A number of drains at Helmsville had been cleaned out, while others had to be lifted. Work had been carried out on Richard Street, South Riverton, and approximately two chains had been covered with rotten rock. The total number of yards (rock and gravel) used in the borough for the year was 1410. Tho Mayor said that at the present time their main road was in a very satisfactory condition from a motorist’s point of view, but the prevalence of dust and losses incurred through damaged windows was a very serious one to the business people. The bitumen would obviate this, and the work would be done cheaper now when there was so much unemployment. It was resolved to communicate with the county engineer with a view to having the ' necessary plans prepared, and forward same on to the department. Tho Mayor referred to the question of a water supply. The time might not be opportune, when money was tight, but it was hard to say, he said, what would be the attitude of the Government in future preparations for the unemployed. The town was urgently in need of an adequate water supply, and it had been pointed out to him that a reservoir could be erected in South Riverton at a cost of approximately £5OO, which would fulfil the town’s requirements. Cr. Willett favoured boring. A number of business people had carried out these operations, he said, and had now a sufficient supply of good wholesome water. Cr. Templeton stated that a water supply was essential to the well-being of a community, but as money was not available at present nothing could be done. They could, however, keep the question in view. On the motion of Cr. J. A. Walker it was resolved to draw the Health Department’s attention to a . nuisance emanating from the beach near the rowing sheds. The trouble it was alleged, was due to decayed seaweed or some other refuse from the sea.