OTAUTAU TOWN BOARD.

Western Star, 13 June 1933, Page 3

OTAUTAU TOWN BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. ; •• i‘he monthly meeting was held in the Board room oh Monday evening, when the following members wer© present: Messro A. A. Liddell (chairman), E. Harrington, Jas Campbell., Ja« H. Smith :J. Scatter- and H L Chandler. : ' -Mr W. J McCulloch granted: leave of absence. . —Correspondence.—;. j

The chairman's action in letting aj contract to Mr S, J; Lightfodt toi supply gravel at Is 6d per yard %Vasl approved.

’ The estimated- income and expend]- J tlire 'for the' 1 year .. was sub- { mitterl by the clerk.—The. estimates, asM submitted were approved. .{i Mr E. Jellyman, secretary Otautau' School Cornniiittee, wrote drawing ati tentiou to the wandering stock nuisance, Ihe committee had -spent a con- 1 siderable sum of money and. a great; amount, of labour in improving and 1 beautifying the grounds and environs, only to hav© the results,, .nullified and damaged by the nuisance. He, asked that the board would in future rigidly enforce the by-law. -.■■■’■ j .Mrs Macdonald also forwarded a similar complaint. It was resolved to draw the attention of the pouudkeeper to the matter. ‘

Mr J A. Paterson applied for - a building permit, and enclosed plans and specifications.—The' request was granted. Mr W. J, Wesncy wrote with reference to drainage work., in.. , Catrine street, and stated he did,pot wanfc the ditoh opened up that’runs round the bottom of the hill on his, property until lie had had the. opportunity, to confer with either'; Mr Harrington ,oj/ the board.—The Clerk’s reply that it was not proposed to open up the ditch was approved. ‘ . ~

Mr W. Sadlier, . secretary, Otautaij. branch of th© R.S.A., wrote asking the Board to bear half the cost of bringing the speaker 'from Invercargill to Otautau for the Anzac Day service.—lt was resolved tc» comply with the request. The caretaker, recreation ground; submitted a report showing the number of times the area was used for sports and other gatherings, aud also pointing out that it was used .for a* camping: ground. He reported that the pump required, attention, zone ot the windows in'the pavilion had been broken, and lie asked permission to puncliase disinfectant, etc., for use. in the pavilion.—The report -iyas received and'the caretaker wa 8 authorised tqniircha.se the disinfectant. It was dp£ cided to" replace the broken window;and to, request that the caretaker Be requested-to see that the wire-netting ■ was replaced round the ground lights, Hie foreman’s report was • received; He submitted a list of pipes taken over from Mr McAfee-. - •

Mr H. Smyth applied for- permission to instal an electric motor in the hall, and' submitted a sketch of the wiring necessary.—Tlie Clerk’s action iff' granting permission was approved. Mr Chas Campbell, secretary Southland Electric Power Board,' wrote that his board had made an alteration in’ the policy of rating fo r this financial vear. Subject to confirmation "liis board had decided to collect a general rate of 15-16 d in the £on the basis of the unimproved value, and there would be no special rate this year. Non-reticulatcd ratepayers will be asked to pay ouc-third, portion only of the general rate. —Received.

Mil John Fisher, clerk, . Otautau River Board, wrot© stating there had been a tendency of late for carters to' remove gravel from the Gtautan river near the main .bridge without - any permit. Th© River Board had - resolved to offer the Town Board the sole right to the gravel between the railway bridge and the old mill conditional upon the Town Board accepting th© responsibility of keeping the gravel beds reasonably clear.—lt was resolved that the offer b© accepted, aud that 6d per yard royalty be charged for any gravel required for other than Town Board work, • Mr G B Burns, clerk, Wallace County Council, forwarded a list of license fees collected by -local bodies, the amount being £990 10s, -th© expenses of. the committee.£42 10s, aud the proportion payable by local bodies; the Town Board’s share being £d 2s. 6d.— It was resolved tlie letter be received, . - ••

The secretary, Municipal Association, submitted a report of the special’ committee on local body! taxation.—Re-’ ceiverl.

•v- • -The Commissioner;:',-bf -UntPVpf’&y-' ment Wellington, forwarded a circulili'' dealing with the issue-of working boots to unemployed workers.—The 'tetter was received. ' . •

The request of Mr G McMillan for permission to erect an .-enamelled sign’ in front of* his garage was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act-.

Tlie clerk, Wallace Licensing Committee, forwarded certificates authorising the issue of annual for the district. He also notified that the board could accept the annual le e by quarterly instalments should if. so desire, the comniitte© being in favour of such action—lt wa* decided that tin board collect the fees for the current vear, ami resolves that the licensing committee should undertake the responsibility of the Collection of the quarterly fees.

Hi© clerk’s action in-applying for 2000 trees was approved; - ' ‘ Messrs Williams and Cull, • sawmillers, wrote stating that- a report had been submitted t () them of the valuation of tbe timber oil tlie AVatenvorks Reserve The appraisement showed the timber to be 428,000, as against their previous independent valuation ■ T 274.000 feet, of milling timber. The State Forest estimate was therefore 58 per cent, more than their own estimate, and they were not satisfied with the latter estimate, as they did not consider that experienced valuers -liould show so large a discrepancy in estimating an area of 94 acres The area adjoining tbe Waterworks Reserve was purchased bv them for £-17-1; giving them cutiipg rights over

roughly 300 acres, an Quantity per acne of approximately 2100 feet as against 4070 feet on the •Watenrorks Reserve. The firm had been put to heavy expense; in laying the tramway to thl« bush, and they asked the board to. accept their original offer of £205 10s, the firm to pay all expenses.

The report of the State Forestry De»artment- on this area was also read. fMr Hodges, solicitor to the board, • submitted the correspondence which had .passed to. the Department on the matter, and. he submitted the contract was binding on Messrs--. Williams and Cull, to purchase, the timber at the State. Forest appraisement of Is f'd hei- /hundred feet.

Mr Williams appeared in support of his letter and submitted that there was too great a disparity between the valuation of independent valuers and that of:; the State Forestry Department-. •

After discussion it was decided to accept the appraisement of the Stai Forestry Department, but to meet, M Williams to the extent of paying £3; expenses;

■ Notice of motion was given by Mi Harrington to strike the following rates: A general rate of ljd, a special ratie pf id, and a charitable aid rate of id; a sanitary rate of los and a refuse rat 6 of 6s.