GORE BOROUGH

Southland Times, Issue 22471, 6 November 1934, Page 4

GORE BOROUGH

MEETING OF COUNCIL. At the fortnightly meeting of the Gore Borough Council last evening there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman) and Councillors J. A. Baldey, W. K. Hamilton, J. A. Wright, A. W. H. Aitken, D. L. Popplewell, R. S. Green, D. McDougall, M.P., W. T. Trusler, D. McDougall jun., A. McLachlan and G. C. Hamilton. Mr D. Tannock, honorary secretary of the New Zealand Park Superintendents’ Association, forwarded an invitation for the council to be represented at the next conference of chairmen of reserves committees to be held at Dunedin in January, 1935. Councillor McLachlan asked if the council had not paid the expenses of the head gardener to the conference last year. The Town Clerk said he believed a sum had been voted to the head gardener on account of expenses. Councillor McLachlan said that the gardener had not furnished the council with a report. “I move that the letter be received,” said Councillor Poppelwell. “The council should not pay the expenses of anyone to any conference cniess he reports to the council. We don’t even know that he went.” Councillor G. C. Hamilton: You may not have had a report, but you will get the benefit of what he learnt there in the public gardens. You don’t even know that you paid his expenses. Councillor Poppelwell (sharply): I don’t know that we paid his expenses, but I only say that we should not pay anyone’s expenses unless he reports to the council.

Councillor Hamilton: Well, don’t frighten me out of the room. Councillor Poppelwell: I don’t want to frighten anyone, but I want to save time; we have a tremendous order paper before us. The motion was carried. Mr Thomas Stevenson advised that owing to a misunderstanding of the specifications of the contract for removal of trees at the cemetery he would not proceed with his contract. It was decided to accept the tender of Mr D. Barr. The secretary of the Southland Electric Power Board (Mr Charles Campbell) advised that it was intended to hold the next meeting of the board at Gore on Tuesday, November 13, and to request the use of the council chamber for the meeting. Replying to the council’s complaint of railway trucks being left foul of the road access through the East Gore station yard, the district engineer of the Railway Department advised that this was not a public road crossing and so far as could be ascertained it was the original access to the East Gore station yard before road development was carried out on the south side of the railway. The crossing approached the railway on a very sharp grade and was blind for trains approaching from the north. In the event of a waggon being foul of the crossing a serious position arose should a motorist be taken unawares by an approaching train. On this account because the road could not be recognized as a public crossing the department wished to close it. No hardship would be imposed by its being closed and such action would certainly eliminate a definitely dangerous crossing. Councillor Poppelwell said that the Railway Department had arbitary powers to close crossings, and it was not in the council’s interests that it should place on record its approval. The letter was received. The telegraph engineer at Invercargill advised that from time to time when alterations had been made to the department’s telegraph and telephone lines due to the operations of local bodies, the question of determining the responsibility for the cost of the work invariably cropped up. Generally it was found that the local body concerned was required to meet the cost of such work. To obviate the necessity for investigating each case it had been found more satisfactory to have an understanding with the local body concerned and it was suggested that an agreement be made for the council to share on a fifty-fifty basis the cost of such alterations.

The letter was referred to the Works Committee.

The Rev. Cyprian E. Webb forwarded an invitation to members of the council to be present at a special Armistice commemoration service to be held at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday evenipg next. It was decided to thank Mr Webb for his invitation. The services of the traffic inspector were granted to the Gore Agricultural and Pastoral Association to assist in controlling the traffic to and from the grounds on show day, December 5. After receiving correspondence from the district representative of the Main Highways Board, it was decided to accept the lowest tender, that of New Zealand Highways Construction, Limited, for the tar-sealing of the main highways within the borough. Finance Committee. The following clauses appeared in the report of the Finance Committee: — Town Hall: The committee cannot make any recommendation regarding obtaining additional rental from the Town Hall. It recommends that the front of the building be altered to make suitable offices and that Mr James Speden be asked to give an idea of converting portion of it, making the hall smaller and suitable for meetings. If any work requires to be done, provision to be made in next year’s estimates and, if approved, carried out after March 31.—The clause was referred back to the committee to confer with the architect and report to the council.

Chimney Fires: It was decided to recommend to the council the waiving of Sections 371-372 of By-law No. 1 (referring to prosecutions for chimney fires).

Councillor Green explained that in Auckland it had been stated that an anomaly existed in that persons were prosecuted for chimney fires which caused no damage, but were not prosecuted for fires which might cause a considerable amount of damage. Several councillors raised objections, but the clause was adopted, whereupon Councillor Poppelwell moved the rescission of the clause at the next meeting.

Motor Traffic: That the attention of the traffic inspector be drawn to the dangerous speed' of motor cars going in and out garages and service stations and crossing street footpaths.—Adopted. Hamilton Street Footpath. The proposed footpath for Hamilton street had a prominent position on the order paper as two notices of motion affecting the matter were tabled. A deputation from the residents of the street waited on the council during the winter and requested that a concrete footpath be provided. After several discussions it was decided to lay down concrete kerbing and channelling during the present financial year with the intention of providing a footpath later. At the previous meeting Councillor Aitken moved that a footpath only be provided, but the motion was held over on account of several absences from the council table. Two notices of motion were tabled as follows:—

From Councillor Aitken: “That the resolution recorded in the minute book of the council, dated June 25, 1934, relating to Hamilton street footpaths be rescinded and not gone on with, and instead of this that a 4Jft concrete foot-

path be laid down which would cost practically the same amount.” From Councillor McDougall, sen.: “That the money on the estimates for the kerb and channel in Hamilton street be used in the filling up of Hamilton street ditch and that no footpath work be carried out.”

Councillor McDougall asked leave to withdraw his motion, and Councillor Aitken moved that consideration of his motion be deferred until next meeting. “The odd voter absent?” queried Councillor G. C. Hamilton. Councillor Aitken said the matter had been deferred previously owing to a short attendance.

The motion was accordingly held over.