MATAURA

Southland Times, Issue 24001, 16 December 1939, Page 12

MATAURA

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING It was not the association’s policy to distract the attention of drivers on the main roads with signs warning them of traffic coming from side roads, stated a letter from the Automobile Association (Southland) read at a meeting of the Mataura Borough Council. It was pointed out that notices were erected to warn, traffic that traffic was approaching along a main road. For this purpose a list had been prepared of “Major road ahead” signs between Invercargill and Pukerau, and the Waimumu intersection at Mataura would be signposted accordingly. There were present: The Mayor (Mi C. D. McConnell) and Crs R. Hutton, A. Bradley, M. Walker, L. McKelvie, J. McAllister, J. Swale, J. Ingram and D. A. Bell.

Mr T. L. Macdonald, M.P., forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Minister of Public Works in response to representations made to him about the purchase of pipes for the Mataura water supply extension scheme. “My colleagues,” the Minister stated, “have investigated the complaint made by the council that prices quoted for water pipe of New Zealand manufacture fire quite disproportionate to prices for similar pipes of Dominion manufacture. According to the department the two quotations were for entirely different specifications and therefore the two quotations were not comparable. As the secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce is still of the opinion that suitable pipes could be obtained locally, there would appear to be no justification for varying the decision already given that a licence could not be granted for importation. It was decided that the engineer should make more inquiries and report to the council. The Reserves Committee reported that arrangements have been made for the Women’s and Men’s Cricket Clubs to have the use of the domain grounds, the women’s club to have them on one Saturday a month. It was decided that a marble slab should be erected on the arch of the new bridge with the following words inscribed on it: “Opened by the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, July 22, 1939. William McLellan Ltd., contractors; C. D. McConnell, Mayor; J. Dennis, chairman, Southland County Council.”

A report that the Housing Department was not installing the drainage in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws regarding manholes at the junctions of two-house drains, was made by the sanitary inspector, who stated that he was endeavouring to get satisfaction. He drew attention to a house which was recently destroyed by fire and he recommended that the council make representations to have the building demolished. The plumbing and drainage by-laws of the borough were quite out of date and in many instances contradicted or differed from what were recognized as standard plumbing practices. He recommended that the council scrap the present by-laws and adopt the departmental plumbing and drainage regulations under the Health Act. The matter was referred to the water and drainage committee to report. The report of the works foreman was received.