MATAURA NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 25310, 13 June 1935, Page 12

MATAURA NEWS

BOROUGH COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING (From Our Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Mataura Borough Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present:—His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Buchanan), Councillors J. H. Clark, A. J. Cruickshanks, L. McKelvie, A. Bradley, J. McAllister, R. Hutton, J. P. McErlean. Correspondence. Application from the Southland Frozen Meat and Produce Export Co. Ltd. for a slaughterhouse license was granted. F. Birch was granted a crossing to his property in Carlyle street.—Granted on usual conditions. W. H. Walkden wrote advising the sale of a section in Bangor street and asked for an adjustment, of rates and rent. —Granted.

W. Ferguson also asked for the approval of the council of the transfer of a lease from W. H. Walkden to W. Ferguson.—Transfer approved. The district traffic manager, New Zealand Railways, writing further in connection with the council’s application for the installation of a wig-wag signal at the Bridge street crossing, advised that such crossing cannot be classed as a dangerous intersection. The view was good in both directions and warning bells were provided. Under the conditions now obtaining, he could not see the necessity for the erection of wig-wag warning signals, provided reasonable care was taken by the general public.—Councillor McErlean regarded the reply as unsatisfactory, as the council was of opinion the crossing was a very dangerous one, especially for motor traffic. He thought they should approach the Motor Association to take the matter up on their behalf to see if something could be done. The secretary of the Mataura Miniature Rifle Club, wrote enlisting the sympathy of the council in the struggle to maintain and equip a club in the town. It would be much appreciated if the council could provide a small subsidy until such time as the club had provided the necessary equipment.— Received.

Application was received from the secretary of the Mataura Town Band for the annual subsidy.—Usual subsidy granted. The secretary of the Mataura Volunteer Fire Brigade wrote pointing out that at present the brigade was not in a position to deal with house services should it be necessary to disconnect same. It was suggested that the council appoint a local electrician who would be willing to attend fires and act in such capacity.—Resolved that the matter be referred to the Southland Power Board, with a request that they make the necessary appointment Reports. Recommendations were put forward by the works committee as follow:— (1) That the boundary fence between "the tennis court and J. Adam’s house be attended to, and that the lawnmower be stored in the yard during the winter months and overhauled. (2) That Carlyle street footpath be trimmed and a mud tank installed and the open ditch filled up. (3) That tenders be called for the forming and gravelling of boundary road between Carlyle and Scott streets, the drawing up of details and specifications to be left in the hands of the works committee. (4) That the work of forming and gravelling Clyde street for a distance of about three chains from Kana street be proceeded with. (5) That a traffic dome be placed in Bridge street, at the intersection of River street. —Clauses 1,2, 4, adopted, clause 3 deleted, clause 5 be held over till traffic inspector’s visit.

Recommendations were received from the finance and lighting committee as follows:—(1) That the cemetery reserve be leased to David Townley for a further term of four years at £4 per annum. (2) That Mrs H. G. Walsh be appointed to the position of caretaker and librarian. (3) That in regard to the" conversion of loans, the amended scheme of loans conversion and consolidation as submitted by the secretary of the Loans Board be approved, and that the council convert and consolidate the loans set out in the schedule to the Loans Board’s letter. (4) That a special meeting of the council be held on Tuesday, June 25, 1935, to consider and adopt the estimates as prepared by the committee.—The chairman (Mr J. P. McErlean) briefly explained clause three wherein a saving of £62 per annum would be made. In connection with the lighting of the borough, he said that the committee had made a tour and they hoped to have a conference with the Power Board inspector when certain suggestions for better lighting in certain areas would be considered.—Report as a whdle adopted. The foreman of works reported that the flanks of Main street and Kana street Highways had been graded and spoil carted off. The gravel on Bridge square had been swept up and removed, and white centre lines painted on where required. The channels in Main, Bangor and Bristol streets and McQueen Avenue have been cleaned out Crossings had been installed in River street, Main street, Kana street opposite Paper Mills, and gravelled. The mud tanks connecting to the sewers have been cleaned out. A damaged water meter has been disconnected from the supply at the Sugar of Milk Works and is being repaired. The water tables on this road- required ploughing out to stop the surface water from cutting out the centre of the road. Two graves had been —Report approved. The Town Clerk’s report was as follows: The sum of £44 12/10 had been paid in arrears since April. The total outstanding at 1/4/35 was £673. A further supply of new books had been procured for the library; 26 new books, mostly fiction, have been placed on the shelves. The new name-plates had come to hand, 37 in all, and measure 6 inches wide by 18 to 28 inches long. The plates would be required to be backed by wooden batons before being erected. He submitted a statement of accounts for the year ended March 31, 1935.—Report received and approved. Deputation.

A deputation consisting of Messrs A. N. Mac Gibbon (president), F. N. R. Downard and J. L. Mitchell, representing the Mataura Horticultural and Industrial Exhibit Society was admitted and made a request for a subsidy towards the society’s funds. Mr Mac Gibbon said he and his colleagues were a sub-committee to put before the council a few propositions in connection with the society which, as the council would know, had been in existence for many years. The aims and objects of their society was the ineiilcation of a loan for Horticulture and industrial work and they had endeavoured to encourage people in these matters. In recent years the society had erected an adjunct and additions to its hall until they had one of the best buildings in Southland of its kind. Its acoustic properties had been favourably commented on by singers and speakers alike. It was gratifying to be able to indicate that they had not had to apply for help previously, but with the depression they had found it difficult to arrange their finances in recent years. True, the recent show had been a success, but what profit that had been made was totally inadequate to provide for painting, heating and new seating, all of which were necessary. The town had benefited because large public

meetings were held there principally because there was no civic theatre or Town Hall, and they rightly felt that as a society they had done something for the town, ana that now they should approach the local authority for assistance by way of an annual grant to make the hall more comfortable. They were not diffident about making their request for the reasons given, and if the council could see its way to grant the _ subsidy asked for, the executive’s anxiety as far as carrying on the society would be greatly relieved. Mr F. N. R. Downard said he endorsed the previous speaker’s remarks, and in addition, would stress the position that their society had accepted a responsibility for the borough, which in most places was borne by civic auth- ■ orities. Speaking as a member of the' Returned Soldiers’ Association, he need' only remind them that for such services as Anzac Day, they were required to pay for the hall, whereas if it were a muncipal hall, they would probably be granted it free. Addressing his Worship, the speaker concluded that a suitable memorial for him to leave for his occupancy of the Mayoral chair, would be to provide a Town Hall. The council could certainly carry the hall on more cheaply than they as a society could, and in conclusion he thought it was certainly a civic responsibility.

Asked by his Worship the Mayor, if the society would sell the hall, Mr Mac Gibbon replied in the affirmative,, but the amount vzould need to be a matter of consideration.

Mr J. L. Mitchell also spoke briefly. , Councillor McKelvie: What amounti would you suggest as a subsidy? Mr Mac Gibbon: We had thought on,i say, £25 per annum. After several other questions regard-, ing amounts paid in rates and lighting,! the deputation thanked the council and. retired.

Thereafter a discussion by council-' lors took place and it was finally resolved that the Finance Committee go into the matter and report. Public Library.

The following new books have been added to the Library during recent 1 weeks: “Mr Jubenka” (Adrian Aling-' ton); “Family Cruise” (Helen Ashton):! District Nurse” (Faith Baldwin); “The 1 Untamed” (Max Brand); “Sir Isumbras' at the Ford (D. R. Broster); “Riders of 1 San Pedro” (A. R. Bechdolt): “Mary l Peters” (Mrs Chase); “The Misfor-! tune of Mr Teal” (L. Charteris); “Cold <^ m T fort £? rm ” < SteJla Gibbons); a Hand ” (George Good“^treet” (Fanny Hurst); A bpecial Providence” (Mr A. Hamil- 1 an Tracks ” (lan L. Idress);* „ ver Flute” (Lida Laremore); Miss Barrett’s Elopement” (C. Lenan-! J Lin< ? a Shawn” (Ethel Mannin);' «/? e Sapphire” (A. E. W. Mason);! Murder in the Mirror” (W W. Mas-' tiers); “The Hold Up” (Mr W. F. Mor- 1 ns); “In the Steps of the Master” (Hj V. Morton); “The Love Rack” (Cecil' ?°^ er ?. s 2 : “ p onjola” (Cynthia Stock- 1 , ley); 1716 Lay of Doom” (Stanley 1 Sykes); Hyde Side Up” (Ben Travers);' ( Ghost Stories” (H. R. Wakefield); Spies are Abroad” (J. M. Walsh).