AROUND LEVIN

Chronicle (Levin), 20 August 1946, Page 4

AROUND LEVIN

Borough Council Meets MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED A variety of matters relating to the admiiiistration of the town's affairs were dealt with _ at the August meeting of the Levin Borough. Council, held last evening. His IVorship the Mayor (Mr. H. ,B. Burdekin) presided. There were present : ' Crs. H. E. Bowen, A. O. Powell, V. E. Hudson, W. Telford, C. Sherwood, D. J. Gardiner, F. D. Chainey, F. E. Parker and. G. H. Cockrell. Also Messrs H. L. Jenkins (town clerk), R. L. Mcllraith (assistant) and K. W. Sandford (engineer). Borough Sewerage In connection with the ten-year programme of works, the Public Works Department wrote asking if the engineer coqld prepare basic reports for the proposed borough sewerage scheme and any other major proposals which were sufficiently definite. In reply to Cr. Parker, the Mayor said that all the correspondence at a recent meeting of the Manawata Regional Planning Council indicated that the Government would rf&t be making a subsidy available ior such works. The question of sewerage was referred to the works committee to bring before the next meeting a plan of the area which it was suggested should be reticulated. Fertiliser from Sewerage A copy of the petition which was presented to Parliament on Friday last by the Auckland and Suburban Drainage League, urging that a Royal Commission be set up to investigate the conversion of city seweraae and garbage wastes into

fertiliser, was received. It pointed out the potential loss of valuable fertiliser from this source, and asked the council to support the petition. . *The Mayor advised that the British Medical Association was taking the same matter up very actively, and was very strongly in favour of it, both from the view oi economy and public health. He would like to see the council support the petition. On the motion of Cr. Powell it was decided to reply _that thf council was entirely in accord with the setting up of a Royal Commission to investigate the question. Levin- Greatford Railway A letter from the Foxton Borough Council sought the council's opinion on a suggestion that the time was no'w opportune tc take up with tlie Government tlr matter of the Levin-Greatford railway deviation as part of the proposed national development scheme recently outlined by the Mihister of Works (Mr. Semple) . It was resolved that no action be taken. Playford Park The Public Trust Office sought a direetion from the council as to the renewal of a lease to Mr. P. A Anderson of the remaining area oi the property apart from Playford Park. In view of the projected scheme of development of the property, it was felt that the lease should not be renewed for a longer period than six months with th° right of first refusal for an additional six months if the land was not required by the council. A letter was read from the Public Trust Office asking the council for its views on the position regarding the payment of rates on the port-ion of the Playford estate property purchased by the Palmerston North Hospital Board. T was stated that the board Claimec an exemntion from rates bv rp° "son of th fact that the property had been acquired for. the purposd of erecting a maternity home.* Th i letter expressed the opinion tha+ the board was not exempted by legislation because the land wac not being used for a hospital. ' T was decided to make a demand for rates on the board, and the matter was referred to the finance committee. Land Sub-divisions O Mr. C. W. Foster forwarded for 'he council's approval a pl^n o+ sub-division on behalf of Mr. G. Maugham, of King's Drive.— Approved. The town planning committee reporte.d having considered a plar of a proposed sub-division in Winchester Street by Mr. W. G. Bishop Previously the council had approved of a scheme of sub-division of o whole block, but the latest plar covered only a portion of lthe original scheme. The committee recommended that the plan bf approved, with the stipulation thaf reservations .for roading connec-tions-from .Winchester Street to Power and Wilton Streets should bf the final result ..of the complete uib-division. — The recommendation was adopted. The town planning committee further recommended the councfi to give approval to a proposed _re-sub-division of two lots at the blind end of Kent Street, whereby an area of 12.3 perehes would b'e transferred. — Agreed to. . The Commissioner of Crown Lands forwarded for the council's approval a plan of proposed subdivision at the corner of Cambridge and Manchester Streets. The council was asked to diSpense with the usual splaying of the corner, a? the corner was already greater than a right angle. The coufici) resolved that it could not approve of the sub-division. Permit for Workshop The town planning committee

- — ^ - - reported having held a meeting at which the engineer advised that lie had received an application for the issue of a building permit for the erection of a joinery workshop at the corner of Brisrol and Exeter Streets, and sought the council's opinion in view of the town planning scheme. The committee recommended that approval for the erection of the worksnop be grahted for a period not exceeding seven years. Cr. Chainey pointed out that the council had set aside land for industries, and he thought it should not allow such buildings in a residential area. Cr. Cockrell also opposed the granting of permission. The Mayor said it was a small building 26 f eet square, and it was only for a period. Cr. Parker considered it was only a workshop and not an industry. After further brief discussion permission was declined on a show of hands.

Erection of Shop-Dwelling The town planning committee further reported that the engineer had notified having received an f application for a building permit zo erect a combined shop and dwelling m Oxford Street North, opposite York Street. The committee recommended that approval be not grant ed on the ground that the proposed site was too near to the existing shopping area. — The recommendation was approved on che casting vote of the Mayor. Use of Regent Hall The Levin Junior Chamber of Commerce applied for the use of •,he Regent Hall for its buffet teas from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. fortnightly and subsequently mcnthly. It also sought the use of the hall from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, and from 9 a.m. onwards on Sunday, August 25, for its district convention. The chamber extended a cordial invitation to the Mayor and members of the council to be present at 7 p.m. -on the Saturday to hear an address by Mr. Ted Parrant on his experiences at the International Junior Chamber Convention. The Mayor said the movement was one the town could be proud of, and it should do everything possible to assist. It had been established on sound lines. The use of the hall for the regular teas was granted at 7s 6d per occasion, subject to the hall being required for any other purpose, and for the convention at a charge of 10s to *cover "out-of-pocket" expenses. The works committee advised having granted the Levin Boxing Club permission to replace the existing stage in the Regent Hall with the club's staging, and to erect a punch ball in a suitable position, both jobs to be carried out under the supervision and toOthe satisfaction of the engineer. The committee reeomrnended that the club be charged ■'a: rental of 5s per night for practiee nights, and the ordinary charge1 for ■ t'ournafhents. — Approved. Draught at Rest Room The works committee reported that the Levin Plunket Society had advised that their committee had drawn up an alternative scheme for eliminating the draught which blew right through the rest room building, and asked if the society 30uld meet the engineer on the spot and discuss the matter with him. The committee said it nad authorised the engineer to meet the society's committee, and report back with an estimate of the cost of carrying out the proposed v;ork„ Miscellaneous Matters A letter from the Horowheuua Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Club conveyed appreciation of the coun - cil's recent donation of £2 2s." A copy of its annual report was forwarded by the Levin branch of the Crippled Children's Society, and the council's permission was sought to the holding of a street day appeal on a Tue'sday or Friday during August or September. On the motion of Cr. Bowen, it was agreed to grant a day in September this to be arranged with the toWn clerk. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote acknowledging receipt of the council's letter, urging that the Horowhenua Lake Oomain Board be reconstituted, and intimated that the request was being investigated. The Mayor commehted that it would be for the council to push and see that it was done. The Building Controller forwarded a copy of the recent building control notice prohibiting the use of cemeht for certain purpc_es, among'them conorete paving, kerbing an'd channelling and the construction of paths, terraces and fences. — Referred to the engineer.