BOROUGH OF WINTON

Southland Times, Issue 22075, 24 July 1933, Page 9

BOROUGH OF WINTON

MEETING OF COUNCIL. (From Our Correspondent.) At the fortnightly meeting of the Winton Borough Council on Friday evening, his Worship the Mayor, Mr Thomas Walker, presided over the following: Councillors H. Cooper, W. D. McArthur, F. Moore, T. McGillivray, F. Tilley and H. Liddell. On an application for permission to proceed with the erection of a building coming forward, Mr Walker said that the plans would have to be passed by a building inspector. “I understand that the Health Inspector is qualified to do this work and I think that he is likely to act for us,” he said. “It is necessary that someone be appointed. This is the second case of this nature that we have had. I don’t think we are quite qualified ourselves to interpret the by-laws by the way of specifications. It is necessary for the plans to be thoroughly scrutinized and approved if they comply with our bylaws.”

Councillor McArthur related that the Health Officer was acting for the Health Department and it was questionable if the department would allow him to act from a constructional point of view. The matter provoked further discussion and finally it was decided to appoint the Health Inspector as the building inspector of the borough if such an appointment was permissible. A petition signed by 11 ratepayers and citizens of South Park street wrote applying for the footpath in that area to be properly formed and surfaced, for at present it was in a shocking state and impossible to be used.—Left to the Works Committee to inspect and report. Street Lighting Proposal. The Chief Engineer (Mr L. B. Hutton), Southland Electric Power Board, wrote regarding a street lighting proposal. His Worship stated that he had conferred with Mr Fathers on the matter and the board was prepared to submit specifications and report on the scheme. It was for the council to say whether tenders should be called for or not, or what was to be done. Councillor McArthur expressed the view that there was nothing wrong with the street lighting system. A few defective lamps, through the lamp brackets not being secure inside, was the cause of the trouble. Mr Walker said that the majority, of the present fittings needed overhauling and that was the main point. Councillor Liddell said that although a few of the lamps needed attention a good number appeared to be giving cn H cf a pf i nn Mr Walker mentioned that he understood that some of the parts of the present fittings were difficult to procure. He considered that if it was decided to go in for new fittings the work could be done gradually. Personally, he felt that it would be as well for the council to get a report on the scheme. The council could accept the report, reject it, and call tenders or do what it wished. The council was due to have an expert’s report on its lighting system. On the motion of Councillors Tilley and Moore it was agreed to obtain a report. Four ratepayers of South Winton wrote asking for an outfall, which at present it was impossible to obtain owing to the unsatisfactory state of the old Winton Creek. The borough outfall to this creek was again in a bad state and if this work was put in hand it would enable the petitioners to get outfall for surface water, which at present was lying on the land through lack of proper outfall. The letter was signed by P. A. Blythe, C. E. Morgan, A. W. Hewitt and N. Nicolson. Mr Walker expressed the view that it was a matter that all should be conversant with and the council decided to inspect the properties and the outfall of the petitioners. In accordance with the notice of motion given at the last meeting, Councillor Cooper moved that the rates for the ensuing year be struck as follows: “On the unimproved value a general rate of l}d in the £ over the whole area, a lighting rate of Id in the £ and a street improvement rate of IJd in the £ in the inner area of which it is proposed to collect -Jd; on the capital value a hospital rate of 3-16 d in the £ over the whole area; sanitary fees over the whole area of £1 per annum for a weekly service, and 17/6 per annum for a fortnightly service, and where there is only a rubbish removal a fee of 7/6.” The new rates show a reduction of id in the general rate in comparison with last year. The motion was carried. Reports Adopted. The following reports were adopted: Cemetery—Twelve yards of gravel for the northern drain have been delivered. Other matters in connection with the cemetery were brought up by the chairman of the committee, and were discussed in committee by the council. Works Committee—On Monday, the 19th, Mr Forde completed the gravel contract, having delivered 600 yards as requested. It was not until a number of the principal streets were finished that the surfaceman found that his estimate of 300 yards was not going to be sufficient and as the price was low, continued with the necessary coating to every street in the borough. Our gravel account should be very low now for the next two years. We propose to centre our attention on the water table and sides of the streets in Wymess and Meldrum streets from Great Noi-th road to Park street. These are winter time bogs and we consider that as they are two of our principal streets they should be prepared for gravelling and tar-sealing from kerb to kerb. The parking area in front of the rose garden is to be levelled and smooth surfaced ready for sealing this summer. The laying of the concrete crossings on either side of the drill hall will be put down as soon as the frosts go off sufficiently to ensure no risks.