GORE BOROUGH

Southland Times, Issue 22046, 20 June 1933, Page 3

GORE BOROUGH

MEETING OF COUNCIL. At the fortnightly meeting of the Gore Borough Council last evening his Worship the Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman) presided over an attendance of Councillors J. A. Baldey, W. K. Hamilton, M. Fitzgerald, A. H. W. Aitken, W. Gee, G. C. Hamilton, D. McDougall, jun., A. McLachlan, W. T. Trusler, jun., R. S. Green and J. A. Wright. The Southland County clerk (Mr A. J. Service) wrote stating that the council had considered the report of the borough engineer on the matter of laying down an asphalt coat on top of the decking and the proposed work had the council’s approval. The council was prepared to pay half of the local bodies’ share of the cost, provided the total estimated cost of £l5B 8/- was not exceeded.

The Main Highways Board’s representative on the No. 18 District Highways Council (Mr W. G. Pearce) advised that the proposal had been submitted to the board.

A petition was received from 44 “ratepayers and citizens resident in Devon street and also in Level, Vogel, Afton, Thames, Broughton, Park and Thistle streets whose most convenient access to the town lies via Devon street,” requesting that their claims for a “decent” thoroughfare for foot traffic be met by the construction on the south side of a substantial footway with kerb and channelling to take surface water. The petition stated: “The present condition of Devon street is nothing short of a disgrace; grass grows on the sides of the roadway; the footways are not constructed to the proper permanent level and despite the fact that our homes have been built permanently for many years and in consequence of our improvements we have contributed an exceedingly heavy toll in rates, nothing appears to be spent beyond the occasional hurried visit of a surfaceman, and the conditions appear to be getting worse instead of better. We do not wish to be too critical of the administration of the council, but when we note that thoroughfares which did not come into existence until long after . we settled here are receiving attention at the general expense, we feel in duty bound to draw attention to our requirements and we place this petition before you in the hope that you will recognize the justice of our claim to consideration and that our prayer will be granted and the work put in hand and carried out before winter again sets in.” Councillor Baldey moved that the petition be referred to the Works Committee.

Councillor Wright said that Devon street was one of the oldest in Gore and had not had very good treatment from the council. During the past number of years probably about £5OOO of rates had been collected from the street and the residents had received very little in return. He moved an amendment that the council grant the prayer of the petitions and that the work be put in hand as soon as funds were available.

Councillor Fitzgerald seconded the amendment, and said he did not think the council had done justice to the street.

After further discussion, Councillor Wright agreed to withdraw his amendment and to let the petition go to the Works Committee.

The Mayor promised that Devon street would receive fair treatment. Committee Reports.

The following paragraphs appearing in the reports of committees were adopted:— Works.

The foreman of works reports that railway culverts to Goodwin’s property are blocked with willow roots, this being the 'cause of the scouring on the road. Recommend that the Railway Department be requested to cut out willow roots and after this has been done that the foreman of works put in two new culverts with 15in glazed pipes. This clause was referred back to the committee. That pipes be put in the bridge at Bury street and filled over and also that the ditch leading to the abattoirs be cleaned out. The committe considered the request to have the footpath from Jacob street to the borough t boundary tar-sealed, but recommends that the letter be received. »

Lighting Committee.

That the request of the chief engineer of the Southland Electric Power Board for concurrence in the proposal to postpone the completion of the lighting scheme be granted.