COUNCIL DISCUSSES FIRE ESCAPE QUESTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19060, 3 May 1930, Page 15

COUNCIL DISCUSSES FIRE ESCAPE QUESTION.

(Special to the “Star.”) GREYMOUTH, May 3. There was a reflex of the recent fire at the meeting of the Borough Council when the question of adequate fire escapes was brought up. Cr J. B. Kent drew attention to a report which stated that the fire escape facilities were not sufficient in the building which had been destroyed. This was a reflection on the Borough Council, as there should be more efficient inspection on the part of the Borough officials. Cr Kitchingham said that he was not sure whether the Borough was entitled to an inspector. It was a matter for the Fire Board. Cr Perotti: “ Every room in the hotel should have a rope.” * The Mayor stated that he had enough confidence in the Police Department and he had been informed that an inspection made by them on Tuesday had shown that everything was in order. Whether new regulations should be made was a matter for the council. Cr Kitchingham moved that the matter be gone into by the General Committeee. Cr Robertson asked whether it was not a fact that the engineer, with the fire brigade superintendent, had been appointed as inspector for the Borough. Cr M’Ginley said that the police, had engineer to his knowledge, had always acted in this capacity. He questioned whether the engineer had ever made an inspection. The engineer replied that he had made some inspections but had never inspected a two-storey building. Cr M’Kinley said that the police had nothing to do with the inspection of fire escapes. Cr Kitchingham referred to the Act which stated that the council had no power to appoint an inspector as the town was a fire district. It was decided that Cr Kitchingliam’s motion be agreed to. PROVISION FOR AERODROME. The provision of a landing ground for ’ aeroplanes at Grey r mouth was again mentioned during the course of the ' Borough Council’s meeting. Cr F. A. Kitchingham moved that ! the Mayor be authorised to call a conference of interested local bodies to . consider the establishment of an aerodrome in the vicinity of Greymouth. , The resolution was seconded by Cr A. [ Carroll and agreed to. The Mayor said that it was not wise to have a big discussion meanwhile. There were indications that the matter r would come to a logical conclusion in connection with an area right adjacent £ to Greymouth. The Mayor and Cr Kitchingham were appointed to represent the Council at ) the proposed conference. } PETROL TAX. j An emphatic protest against the j diversion of any' portion of the petrol tax - from the improvement of the highways 3 was made by Cr F. Kitchingham at the meeting of the Greyunouth Borough ’ Council. He quoted the statement of 1 the chairman of the Main-Highways ’ Board made at Greymouth to the effect ' that “ Ministers of the Crown had said publicly that it was their intention to f take part of the money from the petrol ’ tax and devote it to other purposes not :’ connected with highways.” Such a breach of agreement would be opposed ” strenuously' by every motorist in New X Zealand, said Cr Kitchingham, and he ” moved that the council record its protest, copies of the resolution to be sent to the Prime Minister and the Member for Westland. The resolution was seconded by Cr J. 1 B. Kent, supported by the Mayor and l agreed to. PERSONAL. ’ Mrs C. Howat, who yesterday morn- " ing entered the Grey Hospital, as a re- ; suit of injury sustained when she jumped from an upper window of the Royal Hotel during the fire, is reported to be ~ progressing favourably'. J. Moore, who sustained an injury to , his eye while riding Wreath of Myrtle in the Highweight Handicap at Reefton races on Wednesday last, has been obliged to enter the Grey Hospital for treatment. It is thought that a stone j which was thrown up by one of the 3 leading horses was the cause of the ac--3 cident, which resulted in a severe in- ] jury' to the pupil of the right ey r e. Mr and Mrs Tabb returned to Greyj mouth yesterday'. Mrs A. M’lntyre, accompanied by r her . grand-daughter, Miss T. Newman, will £ leave to-morrow, on holiday, for Dunedin and Invercargill. I Mr J. Marshall, formerly chief clerk ; at the local railway' goods office, who - is. paying a short visit to Greymouth, will return to Wellington to-morrow. MUNICIPAL LIBRARY. A total of 2338 books was issued from ■ the Greymouth Municipal Library' dur- ! ing April. Membership tickets issued • (including renewals) totalled 33. and 24 new books were placed on the shelves. MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR. Fees collected at the Greymouth Municipal Abattoir during April totalled £lO4 ISs sd. Stock was dealt with as follows:—Cows 18 (one condemned), bullocks 149, sheep 505, lambs 109, pigs 7, calves 16. At the request of Cr J. Robertson it was decided to include in future reports a return showing the amount of stock coming from Canterbury to Greymouth. TELEPHONE RENTALS. The new telephone rentals starting on July' 1 will be 5 per cent dearer to cover a new arrangement under which subscribers will be able to pay monthly in advance instead of half-yearly'.’ SALE OF SECTIONS. The Borough Council has decided to auction the sections comprising reserves S 9 and 88 and part 89 and 90. as reported on by the valuers, Messrs A. Nay'lor and E. C. Warnes, together with other municipal reserve sections in Blaketown. GREYMOUTH W.E.A. CLUB. The weekly meeting of the Columbia * Club’s Circle of the W.E.A. was held on Wednesday evening, when G. K. Chesterton’s comedy, “The Judgment of Dr Johnson,” was read and discussed. The next meeting of the circle takes place on Monday' evening next, when Mr J- Johnson, M.A., organiser of the W.E.A. classes, will attend and address the members. GAS WORKS REPORT. In a report to the Borough Council, the manager of the Municipal Gas Works, Mr Jas. Kennedy, recorded sales in March as follows: Coke £ll9 9s 7d. tar £122 10s 3d, appliances (four cookers, five pennants, two gas rings, and gas coppers) £ll9 11s 3J. The motor truck needed an overhaul. The report was adopted. During the year ended March bl, the Municipal Gas Works sold 29,690,000 feet of gas for a revenue of £9441 14s lid, which was about the same in the previous year. The sales of coke ; amounted to £1592 16s lld 4 of tar to

£I6BB Os sd, and of gas appliances, : cookers, etc., to £1692 Os lOd, making a total of £4972 18s 2d, as against £4340 los lOd in the previous year. I here were twenty-seven new services provided,, and 1425 meters were in use an increase on the previous year. The manager, Mr J. Kennedy, in his report predicted a steady increase in sales. The earthquake caused much damage to the mains, but most _ of the fractured ones had been repaired, and the gas department were thankful when any leakage was reported. The report was adopted. N.Z. CHOPPING CHAMPIONSHIP. West Coasters were pleased to hear the news that Mr C. Neame won the New Zealand championship fifteen-inch chop at the Waitui sports. At the ordinary meeting of the Grey County Council, there were present: Messrs J. W. Hannan (chair), 11. Carter W. Ogilvie, J. Mulcare, A. Robinson, J. Ryall, G. Blair, J. M’Donnell. The county engineer, Mr J. Higgins, and the county clerk, Mr M. Keating, were also present. The district engineer to the Public Works Department forwarded authorities for the following works:—Little Hohonu bridge (Kumara-Mitchell’s Road), £300; Blackwater Creek bridge (Brunner-Blackball Road), £IOOO. Two tenders were received for the construction of the Little Hohonu bridge, namely, C. O’Donnell £278 10s, and J. Hart £504 5s 6d. The former's tender was accepted. F. 11. Williams wrote asking the council to consider the question of giving access to his property at Kileen Island. The matter was referred to the engineer. A request for assistance to deepen a watercourse at Rotomanu was received from Graham Bros., as it had proved a bigger job than was anticipated. The engineer was empowered to deal with this matter. The attention of the council was drawn to the bad state of the Mitch ell’s-Jnchbonnie road in a letter from the Rotomanu farmers. The matter was referred to the engineer. The Town Clerk, Kumara Borough Council, wrote pointing out the heavy expenditure on the Zig-Zag road, and asking the council for an annual grant. It was decided to reply to the effect that the council had no money available to grant the application. The engineer outlined the various matters which deputations brought upder the notice of the Main Highways Board on their recent visit. Councillor Ryall's motion that the engineer be instructed to draw up plans and specifications for tar-sealing on the four main roads was carried. An application by Mr Hendey, of Gladstone, to open up a drain was granted, and his offer to pay £3 towards the total cost of £lO was accepted. The matter of allotment of holidays for the county office staff was brought up by the chairman, who moved that the holidays be as follows: ber 23 to January 5; (2) Statutory holidays: (3) Two weeks’ annual leave in addition. Councillor Ogilvie seconded the motion, which was carried. Two weeks’ annual leave in addition to statutory holidays was also allotted to the permanent and general staff for those having over one year’s employ-1 ment with the county. Councillor Carter asked if the levies*

imposed on the Briandale Coal Company for coal carting on the Ten Mile Road had been complied with. The county clerk stated that so far no payments had been made. A motion by the chairman, seconded by Councillor Carter, that if the levy applied is not paid within a fortnight, legal proceedings be instituted, was carried. The clerk stated that all the other mining companies had complied with the levy. BOROUGH AFFAIRS. At the ordinary meeting of the Borough Council, there were present: The Mayor, Mr J.-W. Greenslade, Councillors F. Kitchingham, A. Carroll, J. M’Ginley, J. D. Wingham, J. Robertson, C. Gleeson, J. B. Kent, G. Perotti, the Town Clerk, Mr F. Denton, and the borough engineer, Mr A. J. Fairmaid. An offer was received from Sr G. Sharman to provide twenty-five rubbish receptacles for street purposes on condition that he was allowed to use them for advertising purposes. Councillor Kitchingham said that a similar offer had been received from another firm some eighteen months ago with the addition of an offer of a fairly large sum of money. On that occasion the offer had been refused, and In view of this he would move that no action be taken. Councillor M’Ginley seconded, and the motion was carried. Mrs M. A. Hopkins forwarded certificate of title and plan of section 1694, Heman’s. Road, and advised that the council’s proposals regarding taking over of same were agreeable to her. The borough solicitor was instructed to draw up the necessary transfer. D. 11. Hazeldine, Marsden Road, wrote regarding the flooding of properties adjoining Sawyer’s Creek. Councillor Kitchingham said that the council should get the residents •? the banks of the creek to agree that the bo.rough should not be liable for fencing. He moved in this direction. Councillor Kent said if this resolution were carried the people would be suffering waiting for the law to take its course. In the meantime the council should do its duty toward these people The Mayor said that to a certain extent he agreed with Councillor Kent After some further discussion Councillor Kitchingham’s resolution was carried. The engineer presented plans for closing part of Shakespeare Street. A request was received from the Greymouth Harbour Board that the council submit in writing its proposals for the suppl}' of water for shipping and the board would then make arrangements to meet the council's representatives. Councillor Kent said he was not in favour of any other offer being made. It was decided to meet the Harbour Board as agreed on. The Director of Town Planning wrote regretting his inability to attend the meeting of the Regional Planning Committee here, and requesting the council to place the proposed new civic schemes before him in writing. The matter was referred to the Town Planning Committee. The question of a loan proposal for a water supply arose. The Mayor said that he for one would not take any action unless there was a concerted movement by the people to show that they were willing to spend the money. ( It would be useless to think of such a thing after the manner the last loan proposals had been turned down. Petitions should come to show that the work was wanted. *- Councillor M’Ginley complained that

the fire plugs opposite Mackay Street were covered with an inch coating of asphalt, with the result that the firemen had been compelled to use pickaxes to find them. In an emergency, the minutes lost made a great difference. Sacks should be put over the plugs when tarring operations were being carried out. The engineer said that the plug in question was only covered by shingle. It was decided to request the Fire Brigade to refer any complaints to the council. In regard to the applications from the League, Rugby and Soccer bodies for the use of the Recreation Ground, it was decided to appoint Councillor Kitchingham to meet the representatives of the codes. The committee report recommended that a claim for £l2 for loss of a bullock at the abattoir be paid to Mr R. G. Cooper, butcher: that a piece of land in Palmerston Street be transferred to the Borough from Mr G. Weaver; that the Power Board be offered a piece of land in the borough endowment reserve, between the railway line and the river bank reserve at Kaimata in connection with the hydro works: that a transfer of a piece of land on Marsden Road from Mr E Richardson to Mr T. B. Baty be approved subject to drainage conditions; and accounts of £702 Gs 9'.! be passed for payment, and those for £1209 19s lOd paid be approved.