BLUFF

Southland Times, Issue 23379, 10 December 1937, Page 15

BLUFF

MIDDAY TRAIN TO INVERCARGILL FAILURE TO CONNECT WITH EXPRESS The failure of the midday train from Bluff to connect with the express from Invercargill to Dunedin by 10 minutes was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Bluff Borough Council. It was decided to send a letter of protest to the district traffic manager of the Railway Department at Invercargill. There were present: The Mayor (Mr J. H. Doyle) and Crs A. E. Budd, A. C. McKillop, H. W. Newman, J. Ballantyne, O. F. Metzger, J. T. Martin, L. G. Newman and W. P. Butler. The Bluff Harbour Board wrote stating that the council’s application for a water connection on the Slaney street main had been granted and the work would be carried out as soon as the necessary material came to hand. The Commissioner of Transport, Wellington, forwarded a copy of an extract from the New Zealand Gazette containing the approval of the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) to the exclusion of a street in the Bluff borough from the 30 miles an hour speed regulation. This was the portion of the Invercargill-Bluff main highway from the western boundary of the borough to a point 15 chains along the road in a westerly direction from the junction of the main highway and Suir street, a total distance of approximately 45 chain.

It was decided to give £5 to the Far East Relief Fund.

The secretary of the Bluff Cricket Club wrote asking that the' council’s charge for cutting grass on the recreation reserve be waived and the work regarded as an improvement to the reserve.

It was decided to waive the charge to the club, the amount to be debited against the intended improvements to the ground. Authority was given to the town clerk to have parking signs painted in the streets. It was decided to purchase material for formation work in Theodore street. The last day for the payment of rates for 1937-38 before the addition of the 10 por cent, statutory penalty was fixed for March 4, 1938. Lighting of Streets It was decided that for the weeks including Christmas and New Year’s Days the street lights should be left on till daylight. It was decided that the new street running west from Suir street in the west end of the town be called Doyle street. It was left to the Mayor to confer with the police about hawking in the borough. Crs L. G. Newman and J. Ballantyne were appointed to the works committee. Mention was made of the state of the Invercargill-Bluff road and the council decided to draw the attention of the Main Highways Board. The report of the town clerk stated that the total receipts for the month amounted to £1042 12/5 and expenditure to £1471 1/10. The main items of receipts were: —Borough rates, £53 16/5; water supply account, sales of water and meter rents, £6B 4/7; connections, £24 4/5; rents, £80; public works, sale of materials., etc., £5O 8/10; quarry, sales of metal, £217 2/4; unemployment, Scheme No. 5, refund wages, £72 9/6; Scheme No. 13 subsidy, £36; Town Hall rentals (pictures). £2l 13/4; sundry, £3 2/6; electric light, sale of energy, £283 8/11; ledger accounts, £69 1/7. The report showed that sales of water for November were as follows: Bluff Harbour Board (main meter reading), 1,707,950 gallons; council (subsidiary meter reading), 1,489,335 gallons. . , , , In moving the adoption of the report the Mayor expressed satisfaction at the position of the finances. As this was the final meeting of the council for the year seasonal greetings were exchanged. PERSONAL Constable B. S. Parkes has resumed duty at Bluff after spending a holiday in Auckland. During his absence his place was taken by Constable P. McGrail, who has now returned to Invercargill. At the final meeting for the year of the Bluff Borough Council, a presentation was made by the Mayor (Mr J. H. Doyle), on behalf of the council, to Mr C. H. Winter, who for the last seven years has reported meetings for the Southland Times. In asking Mr Winter to accept a writing outfit, Mr Doyle said this would be Mr Winter’s final appearance as correspondent and expressed appreciation of his accuracy and discretion in reporting meetings of the council and his interest in Bluff affairs. The Town Clerk (Mr H. A. Ferguson) and ouncillors H. W. Newman and J. T. Martin also spoke, and Mr Winter replied.