RIVERTON

Southland Times, Issue 23893, 11 August 1939, Page 4

RIVERTON

DELAY OVER WATER SUPPLY SCHEME DEPARTMENT BLAMED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS “Well, gentlemen, where are we now?” asked the Deputy-Mayor (Cr A. F. Webb) at the monthly meeting of the Riverton Borough Council, when the clerk (Mr G. O. Cassels) had read a letter from the council’s engineer about the steps he had taken to secure the approval of the Public Works Department of the water supply scheme for Riverton. The engineer (Mr E. J. Barnes, Wellington) wrote as follows: “I am enclosing a letter received from the secretary of the Loans Board. It evidently refers to their letter to you of November 11, 1938; but after that I. met the inspecting engineer, who definitely approved of the whole scheme subject to the plotting of the catchment area on the big plan. This was done and sent to the resident engineer. The catchment 1 area and dam site and the nature of the foundations were examined by the resident engineer in 1937, and he very definitely expressed his approval of these ' three items. Moreover, the inspecting I engineer, who is conversant with the district, stated that there was ample water on the proposed area for the borough’s requirements. Subsequently the survey of the catchment area will be required for the purpose of taking over the land. This will not in any way affect the suitability or unsuitability of the area for the purpose for which it is proposed. At the Public Works Department’s own request, a compass survey only was made of the area and plotted from the titles. The department also asked for plans and specifications of a standard sufficient to enable the board s technical advisors to report fully on the scheme as a whole; this, and more than the regulations call for, has been done. Nevertheless, I will forward complete specifications.” The letter from the Loans Board acknowledged receipt of Mr Barnes s letter of June 28, 1939, giving information about the application of the borough council for a water supply scheme. The letter said: “The onus of complying with the requirements of the Loans Board rests upon the local authority seeking the sanction of the board to borrow for any particular purpose, and in this particular case the Riverton Borough Council has been supplied with details of information required but has not yet indicated whether it is proposed to carry on with the proposal. In the circumstances, the Loans Board cannot take action, and I think that the responsibility of bringing the matter to finality rests with the borough council and not with the board.” , , Cr E. B. Patrick moved that the council should write to Mr J. Hargest, M.P. for Awarua, asking him to make contact with Mr Barnes and endeavour to have approval of the councils plans expedited. The motion was car* ried unanimously. Cr Webb was chairman, and there were present Crs J. Crawford, J. A. B. Walker, T. Hannan, E. S. Fossey and E. B. Patrick. Mr Cassels gave a full report on the meeting of representatives of the smaller boroughs of Otago and Southland held at Milton, at which the Mayor (Dr N. G. Trotter) and he represented the Riverton Borough Council. Representatives were present from the boroughs of Palmerston, Balclutha, Queenstown, West Harbour (Dunedin), Kaitangata, Cromwell, Winton, Hampden, Milton and Riverton. The following motion was carried unanimously: “That this meeting of delegates from rural borough councils of Otago and Southland recommends that the councils combine for the purpose of forming a branch of the Municipal Association of New Zealand to be known as the Otago and Southland Rural Boroughs’ Sub-Association.” It was decided to hold over an account from the New Zealand Railways Department for £ll/10/6 for the erection of sod walls near the overhead bridge. The clerk said that two men could have done the work in one or two days at less cost. j

Cr Walker asked why the council should have to pay for the work when the bridge and the road were under the control of the Main Highways Board. He expressed the opinion that no one should be allowed to do work without first informing the council.

The account was referred to the works and finance committees for a report to next meeting.

REMOVAL OF HOUSE REFUSE RATEPAYERS’ OBJECTIONS TO NEW BY-LAW Objections to the proposed by-law enforcing the removal of house refuse from South Riverton and parts of the north ward were made by a deputation of North Riverton ratepayers at a, special meeting of the Riverton Borough Council called to confirm the by-law. The council proposed providing a weekly removal service for which an annual special rate of £1 was to be charged. The clerk (Mr G. O. Cassels) read a petition protesting against the house refuse removal service. The petition was signed by Henry Cunningham, M. E. Cunningham, I. Bole, J. Henderson, C. Horsham, M. Hill, John Stuart, A. I. Tatton, Horace Pope, R. Lindsay, E. T. Berndtson, J. W. Buchanan, T. Henderson, T. Cleaver, F. Gallagher, T. J. Molloy, Samuel Cox and F. A. Eade. “We strongly protest against the removal of ashes, as we can make quite good use of them ourselves,” said Mr C. Horsham, on behalf of the deputation, which consisted of eight ratepayers. “You can send any one you like, and I’ll guarantee you won’t find a cleaner lot of places anywhere.” Some of the residents had ash tips, which they could have e. iptied once a year at a cost of 3/- or 4/-. What ther was the use of paying £1 every year for a removal service? Cr E. S. Fossey: Is the deputation aware that the proposed service, is not a reflection on any of the individual householders? It is purely a public health measure. Cr Fossey said that the public health

officials were objecting to the putrefaction and rotting of house refuse in tins. Rubbish “exposed to the four winds” was a dangerous source of infection. He said that if all householders took the necessary precautions there would be no necessity for a house refuse removal service. “But is it done?” he asked.

Another member of the deputation said that it was not the charge of £1 that the ratepayers objected to, but the extra trouble to which they would be put in carrying the ash tins to the road every week. Cr A. F. Webb said that the council had resolved to bring the whole of South and North Riverton into the house refuse removal scheme and he thought the council should stand firm. The deputation withdrew, and on the motion of Crs Fossey and Webb it was agreed that the council could not see its way clear to alter its plans. The new by-law was confirmed unanimously. CARD EVENING The weekly card tournament held in MacDougall’s rooms under the auspices of the Aparima Returned Soldiers’ Bowling Club was well attended. First prizes were won by Mrs G. Dickson and Mr R. Tweedie, and consolation honours were awarded to Mrs D. Alexander and Mr G. Simpson. BASKETBALL TEAMS The following team will represent Riverton in a Riverton Basketball SubAssociation competition match against Wrights Bush at Riverton today: S. Taylor, J. McNaughton, P. MacDougall, E. McNeil, E. Bailey, M. Finlayson, G. Bailey, M. Marshall, M. Haslemore. The teams to play in the Otautau tournament are:— Men: L. Domigan, G. MacDougall, B McKenzie, W. Anderson, T. De Clifford, W. De Clifford, A. Strang. Women: L. Harvey, J. McNaughton, P. MacDougall, G. Bailey, E. Bailey, E. McNeil, M. Marshall, S. Taylor, M. Haslemore.