BOROUGH COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 22732, 7 November 1935, Page 15

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MEETING AT RIVERTON GENERAL BUSINESS (From Our Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Riverton Borough Council, held on Monday evening, was attended by the Mayor (Dr. N. G. Trotter), Councillors J. A. Martin, J. Crawford, H. E. Philp, A. T. Hogg, J. A. Walker and T. G. Dyke. Correspondence. Mr P. J. Eccleton, manager of Empire Picture Company, wrote asking for permission to screen pictures on Christmas night. The Mayor, in moving that the request be granted, said it was the usual request, and as no fault had been found in the past, he thought councillors would raise no objection.—Granted. ■The Hon. A. Hamilton wrote in reply to the council’s request for a grant of £75 for work in Richard street, South Riverton, and stated that he had placed the letter before the department concerned. The clerk stated that the Public Works engineer had interviewed him and had been supplied with particulars. Councillor Philp, said he hoped the money would be forthcoming for the road passed through the reserve, the bush on which was one of the best in the district. Councillor Walker moved that the member be thanked and that a deputation comprising the Mayor, Councillors Philp and Crawford wait upon the Hon. A. Hamilton at the first opportunity. — Carried.

Mr T. H. Frew, South Riverton, asked for repairs to the road leading to the property occupied by him. Last winter he had been put to considerable inconvenience through its condition, and trusted something would be done in the way of improvements.—Left to Works Committee.

Messrs McNaughton Bros, wrote for and were granted permission to connect their premises with the main drain in Palmerston street.

The clerk stated that a further request had been received from the Regatta Club for a share of the proceeds charged to stall-holders on regatta day. He stated that when preparing the estimates provision had been made for a ten per cent, bonus. It was resolved to grant the club 10 per cent, of the takings from those applying for stall sites on regatta day. Mr H. Spear, secretary of the R.S.A., wrote asking the Mayor and councillors to be present at the Armistice Day service at South Riverton monument on the 11th inst.

The Mayor said they should accept the invitation and trusted all councillors would make efforts to be present.

Dr. E. S. Fossey, South Riverton, forwarded a lengthy communication dealing with the dust nuisance on roads near the hospital and trusted some action would be taken before the busy traffic season commenced.

Councillor Philp said he had been in conversation with Dr. Fossey, who had asked if it would be too costly to spray the road with oil. Replying to Councillor Martin, the clerk stated that application had been made in July to the Public Works Department to have the bituminising work carried out in this locality and also up to the borough boundaries, but so far no reply had been received.

On the motion of Councillors Walker and Martin, the clerk was instructed to make inquiries regarding the cost of spraying the roads, and also to ascertain from the Works Department when the bitumen work would be carried out.

Inspector P. A. Williams forwarded his monthly report, which dealt with the cattle straying nuisance, the parking of cars outside the recognized area. Complaints had also been received about race-horse attendants making use of the footpaths in the northern part of the town. The report stated that the offenders had been warned, and if the practice were repeated, prosecutions would follow.— Adopted. Mr G. Saunders’s report was to the

effect that general surfacing work had kept him busy during the month, while repairs had been carried out in Richards, James and Osborne streets, South Riverton.—Adopted. Other Business. The Mayor drew attention to the neglect of certain contractors who failed to submit plans of buildings in the borough, The by-laws, he said, provided for a fine of £lO if they neglected to do so. The council intended to take action in future and he hoped the Press would give this publicity in order to avoid any unpleasantness. Councillor Walker said a footpath to the Rocks from the Point was badly needed and should be completed before the busy season started to protect pedestrians. He pointed out that the cost would not be a heavy one, and the money would be well spent. The Works Committee was instructed to visit the locality and report. Councillor Philp reported on an inspection made of Shrewsbury street, and pointed out that the drainage system in vogue there was anything but satisfactory. It had been suggested to him that the council should complete the work and the cost paid by the residents there in instalments as several had intimated that they were not in a position to pay the cost in one sum. Shrewsbury, Osborne and other streets were in the same unsanitary condition. Councillor Hogg agreed with the previous speaker. Some improvements were badly needed in the existing drainage system, and he had been informed on reliable authority that if the council did not take action, one property holder intended resorting to other methods to have a drainage system inaugurated.

Councillor Dyke said that at a recent meeting of the council a request had been received from residents in the south ward asking for drainage, and it had been resolved that if the property holders found the necessary pipes, the council would provide the labour. Under the circumstances he thought Shrewsbury street ratepayers should be likewise notified. On the motion of Councillors Martin and Crawford, it was resolved to inform the residents that if they provided the material, the council would find the labour. Councillor Martin said that at the last meeting of the League the question of the formation of a vigilance committee was discussed and it had been decided to ask the council to take action. He remarked on the necessity of such an organization and stated that they would be able to assist the police. Councillor Walker said such an organization was greatly needed, and stated that the manner in which the town property was being ruthlessly damaged was a standing disgrace. At the Rocks recently, he said, damage to the extent of £5 had been carried out by a band of hoodlums to property and so far they had escaped detection. The local police official was doing his best, but as the borough was a scattered one, it was impossible for him to be at two places at once. Such a committee, he said, would greatly assist the police. Councillors Dyke and Crawford also referred to the acts of vandals in different parts of the town and instanced the damage committed at the shelter shed and reinforced concrete fire places on the north beach.

The Mayor, in reporting on behalf of the Works’ Committee, said they had met the engineer and had gone into the subject of the bitumen contract. The engineer expressed satisfaction with the work, and advised the continuance of same material being used for patching, but was against top-dressing the completed portion at present. The present condition at the turn at the top end of Palmerston street had been gone into and the committee had been advised to obtain the services of a road engineer for carrying out the work and making the locality safer for motorists. Referring to the state of the footpaths, he said the committee had come to the decision, seeing their funds would permit the expenditure, to top dress in the main and side streets, to discard the material recently used for that purpose, and to go back to asphalt. He pointed out that four or five relief workers would be engaged, and the whole of the work would be placed under the supervision of Mr Woodley, who had given every satisfaction to the council on previous occasions. The Mayor concluded that the committee wished the work to be proceeded with as soon as possible.—Report adopted.