HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1917, Page 3

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

FRIDAY, AUG. 24th

The fortnightly meting of the Council wa, s hold at 7.40 p.m., Present:— Messrs H. M. Coulson (Deputy-Mayor) R, King, S. Preston, G. H. Blank, A. Stapleton, J. King, A. Parkhill, G. Wood and H. A. Thompson. Leave of absence was granted the Mayor, who is visiting Sydney. The minutes of the previous meeting were rend and confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE From A. Scot!, Sumner, thanking Council for information in reference to upkeep of a grave at the cemetery, and stating the information had been sent on to tho family interested.—Received. From Post and Telegraph Department granting permission to erect speed notices on telegraph poles, subject to the directions of tho linemen. — Received. From 1 W. E. Richards asking that Borough Reserve in name of Mr. G. Chapman be transferred to him.—Received and agreed to. LIBERTY WAR LOAN. From Minister of Finance asking for assistance of tho Council in making a success of tho Liberty War Loan—Received. The Deputy Mayor stated that a pub- < lie meeting had been held on Wednes-,1 day when’.a resolution was passed urg- 1 ing the Council, if possible to take up 1 as much of the War Loan as possible. Mr. Coulson stated that at liis direction tho Town Clerk had sent a telegram to Government, asking as to the powers of tho Council to invest in the loan, but though it was sent yesterday morning, no reply had yet come to hand. The Borough Solicitor "as not quite sure as to the legal position, so that he did not think it was advisable to deal with the matter at the j present time. Personally he wa s decidedly in favour of the Council, if. it j had the power, applying for £2OOO in | tlio loan, pointed out, would * only cost the Counoil £2O a year. j Mr 11. King supported action on, the lines outlined by Cr. Coulson. j Mr Blank askod ; r i l '" chairman 1 thought the Council would bo justified in moving at present. Would tho ratepayers bo in favour of the Council taking up £2OOO of the War Loan. If they wero thou he would he quite in accord with the proposal. Mr. Preston said h'» was in favour of the loan and of the Council taking some share in it. An easy way out would be for each Councillor to take up £2OO of it. To take £2OOO would only cost £2O a year and if the town cannot stand that then wo do not deserve to win tho war. Mr. Wood said by taking up the loan tho Council would lose one per cent interest, having to lend it at -14% and to horrotv it at 54 per cont. W« should lose one per cent and the. hank ■ret that one per cent! Are not tho hanks patriotic enough to drop tho interest. -dr. Thompson supported the proposed action if it were possible ♦ get the money. Mr. J. King favoured the Council waitin'' to see the actual position and then discussing it afterwards. Are, Coulson then moved:—“That tho Council take up £2OOO in the Liberty War Loan subject to it having newer to do so. Seconded by Arc. Preston and carried. There was a peculiar mix-up when the motion was put several Councillors apparently not b ««•''- - vl -> to follow the “intricacies” of the plain motion. ~ After a mixed discussion over the ji table over, the motion a division was 1 taken, those in favour being Messrs R, * King, Preston, Parkhill. Thompson and * Coulson, w’hile Messrs Blank, Wood and ' Stapleton opposed, and Mr. J. King . refused to cast his vote. \ ABATTOIR DISTRICT. From Westland County Council forr warding potition from 45 residents o! ® Ttufttapu asking that portion of th< £ Totoru Riding between H.O. and H.N. t lino bo deleted from the Abattoir dis 1- trict—Received : tho Chairmoi >. Raid he had been already ~ asked by several Residents o o Ruatapu not to give effect to the pe ;. tition. He favoured no action being 1- taken and would point out the abnoro j mal amount of sickness in Ruatapu di&8 trict at the present. He moved that

no action , be Wkfen. Seconded by Mr Blank whd favoured leaving the area intact. Messrs Stapleton, Preston and King supported’, Mr. Preston suggesting that the R»ss Borough be invited to join the Abattoir district. The motion was agreed to on the . \ voices. “ REPORTS. The Treasurer reported receipts £BO 10/10, payments £99/15/6, credit balance £B/14/10. —Received. Accounts amounting to £228/0/10 wore passed for payment, Y.M.C.A. COMMISSION. Tho Deputy-Mayor stated he mid been informed that afternoon by the Field Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. that the Commissioner Mr. Smeaton was making a hurried visit to Homtika on Wednesday next. Ho would bo only in the town one or two hours and to enable Mr. Smeaton to meet as many peoplo as possible it was proposed to hold a luncheon at noon, when he hoped to see ms many Councillors as possible. Ho was sure that the information they would gain would repay them. STORAGE OF BENZINE. Mr. Parkhill' drew attention of the Council t* the question of the storage of benzine in the town and oomplimented the Borough Inspector on his promptness in taking action against an offender. The absolute danger of benzine appeared not to be taken the slightest notice of. There had been 130 rases stored in an old stable into which several persons had access at all times of the day and night. After some discussion the matter dropped and the Council rose at 8.40. p.m.