GORE BOROUGH

Southland Times, Issue 22295, 10 April 1934, Page 9

GORE BOROUGH

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The fortnightly meeting of the Gore Borough Council was held last night. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman), Councillors J. A. Baldey, W. K. Hamilton, A. J. Wright, A. H. W. Aitken, M. Fitzgerald, R. S. Green, W. T. Trusler, D. McDougall, jun., G. C. Hamilton and F. S. Graham. Mr J. H. Richards, Elizabeth street, wrote protesting against permission being granted for the erection of a gaiage on an adjoining property not calculated to improve the appearance of the locality. “I think that the council should safeguard the ratepayers against the erection of such buildings which detract from the value of adjoining properties,” he wrote. A letter was also received from the garage owner seeking confirmation of the engineer’s permission to erect a garage on the site chosen. . After some discussion it was decided to advise the garage owner that .he must erect a garage in accordance with the council’s by-laws and that it must be shifted accordingly. The Gore Pipe Band applied for the usual donation to its funds. . A similar application was received from the Gore Municipal Brass Band. The letter from the secretary (Mr E. G. Brown) stated that with the object of raising funds for a new set of instruments the band had raised by means of a queen carnival the sum of approximately £7OO, which was about £2OO short of the required amount. The band, therefore, asked the council to give favourable consideration to a suggested subsidy of £5O for the ensuing year, for which the usual openair concerts as well as attendance, where necessary, at all public functions and receptions would be gladly rendered. An application was also received from the Salvation Army Band for the usual donation. The applications were held over for consideration v.'hei'i the estimates are being framed. At the previous meeting of the council Mr Hany N. Graham, Woolwich street, East Gore, applied to have his property rated under the Urban Farm Lands Rating Act, the council then deciding to advise Mr Graham that he was not eligible for the benefits as he was not deriving the whole of his income from his property. In reply to this Mr Graham wrote: “I am not accepting your decision on this matter and am writing to Wellington in regard to it. Your decision shows how farcical an Act can be made as you never inquired as to the different sources I derived my income from and in that respect your council knows nothing about me. If you wish to give me a fair hearing you should invite me before the council or the Finance Committee to state my case. If my property is not eligible for relief the above Act cannot apply to any property in Gore.” The letter was received, it being stated that as the council had held that the property was not eligible for lease, the onus of proving otherwise rested with the owner. The secretary of the Southland Motor Association (Mr J. S. Dick) advised that his committee was going into the matter of the Medway street railway crossing with a view to seeing if the present position could be improved as regards motor traffic approaching Gore over the railway line. Mrs B. Imbs, Bowmont street, Invercargill, wrote asking the council to forgo the 10 per cent, penalty on overdue rates on the ground that no rate notice had been received and a misunderstanding had existed in the mattei’ of the payment of rates. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee. The Gore branch of the Plunket Society applied for the usual grant from the council and asked that the grant be increased in view of the fact that extra service was being given in the district. A donation, of £l6 was granted. The secretary of the Eastern Southland Rugby Football Sub-Union (Mr R. S. Green) advised that steps were being taken to have the sub-union registered as an incorporated society. As soon as this was completed the lease of Block 25 could be executed. A deputation consisting of Messrs Burrows and Dunn waited on the council to complain of the state of the footpath in Hamilton street, East Gore. They stated that a great deal of traffic passed along the bitumenized surface, and the absence of a proper footpath forced pedestrians to walk on the road to their own danger. The matter was referred to the Works Committee. Works Committee. The following clauses appeared in the report of the Works Committee and were adopted:— Lagoon, East Gore: It was decided to recommend that this water course be attended to when convenient. Broom in Hamilton Street, East Gore: That the inspector give notice to owners to have roadline cleared. Tree, Traford Street (Mrs Smith’s complaint): After examining this tree, the committee recommends that nothing be done. Asphalt footpath between Medway and Norfolk Streets on East side: The committee decided to recommend that this footpath be fixed up similar to what was done at the Post Office. Street Name Boards: That the inspector be instructed to give a report of name plates required. Hedge at Cemetery: This matter was held over until a full meeting of committee. Bridge: The matter was discussed with the contractor, the engineer and Southland County representative when satisfactory arrangements were arrived at.