HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1918, Page 3

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, September 13.

i The Council met at 7.40. p.m. Present—Messrs 11. M. Coulson (Deputy Mayor), G. A. Wood, S. J. Preston, A. E. Stapleton, 11. A. Thompson, and A. Parkhill. Apologies were made for the absence of th 6 Mayor, Messrs Blank, J. King, and McGregor. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Gisborne and Hastings Borough Council’s asking support of resolutions passed in with the internment of all enemy aliens.—Received; Consideration of this correspondence was deferred from last meeting. Mr Coulson said that- he thought it would bo better to further defer consideration until there was a fuller meeting of the Counil. Mr Preston said the Council should deal with it now. He would not bo present at the next 'meeting of the Counci. Personally he was of the- opinion that the letters should receive the Council’s support. He was of the opinion that Germans in all parts of the Empire should be interned. It- did not prove a man’s loyalty to give £IOO or £IOOO to a patriotic fund. It was often done as a cloak to cover up his opinion and could be done for a' purpose.' He felt that -the time had arrived when all enemy aliens should he interned. lie moved that the Council endorse the proposal, for all enemy aliens to bo interned. Mr Coulson seconded the motion proforma.

\ Mr Thompson was of the opinion that tlie resolutions in the letters went too far. There wore some people whom he ' was in favour of interning, but there were others that it would ho wrong to intern, and he could not support the motion. j Mr Parkhill opposed the motion and cited a particular family as an instance of how a serious injustice would be ; done if the motion was given effect to. . He considered the motion was altogether too drastic. i Mr Coulson thought Mr Preston had hit the nail on the head when he said that cn- : eniy aliens should give a proof of their loyalty, but the question then arose of how could such be done. There was no doubt whatever that we had amongst us persons who would ■ be included in the list of enemy aliens who were heart and soul supporters of the British flag I If the resolution ns submitted was car- : ried out it would cause much hardship and would bo very difficult to give effect to.

Mr Wood suggested that the matter be held over till next meeting. Mr Preston objected to this course, stating he would be going into camp before that date and lie would then not be able to vote on it. »The motion was then put. and lost, Messrs Preston and Stapleton, voting in favour. From Palmerston North Borough Council suggesting the holding of a municipal conference this year.—Received. From Westland County Council, drawing attention to leak in water pipe line near .Slip Hill. —Received; already attended to. From Mrs Seddon, Wellington, conveying her deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks for the Council’s letter of sympathy.—Received. From Minister of Public Works acknowledging letter.—Received. From Christchurch City Council acknowledging thanks of Council in connection with the attention given to visitor’s at Arthur’s Pass function—Received. '•

From T. Robinson and Sons, cancelling extraordinary water supply owing to low pressure available. —Recciv-

From G. and D. Davidson, cancelling extraordinary water supply for same

reason.—Received

Front James Park asking for permission to remove water meter and that ft fixed yearly charge he made—Received and agreed to at £2 10s. pci

year. From Excelsior Football Club asking that if Cass Square was used by the Circus, that the playing ground be J.eft free for an important football match to be played on Saturday week. Received; and request to bo complied with.

From Westland Accnmawsation .society apply for annual donation. Received and £5 nassed for payment. * REPORTS. From Treasurer reporting receipts £293/4/10., payments £2ll/19/1, credit ba lance £235/19/6 .—Received From Finance Committee recommending- payment of accounts amounting to £5lO/5/7.— Received and adopted. From Manager of Abattoirs, reporting for month of August, there were examined 15 cows, 59 bullocks, 141 sheep. -1 lambs, 5 pigs, 1G calves. There were condemned 2 cows, and 1 bullock. Fees for month, £43/1/-.— Received ! OVERSEER’S REPORT. I beg to submit the following report on work done during the past month ns follows. The principal work carried out during the month has been the forming and levelling of the Roadway in Rolleston Street, between Hampden Street and the terrace. The road now only requires to be gravelled to complete tins

worK. Two sections of the Sewell Street drain which had collapsed were repaired We made 120 feet of 18 inch and 100 feet of 12 inch concrete pipes during the month. . ’ . Notice having been received from the County authorities that the Pipe lino was leaking badly at the Kamen Forks, an overhaul of the Line was made and a : number of leaks were located and repaired. The. gorse and black blackberry have been cut down in Weld Street-. Repairs'were effected to the wooden drnin iff Stafford Street between Sewell and Tancred Streets. The usual maintenance works were <Uc,-, r a Tried our during the month.—Re-

ceived, STRIKING RATES. Ah' Conlson moved the formal motion striking the general, Charitable Aid and speciaLi-ates for the year, of which duo notice had been given.—Seconded by Air Thompson and carried. TENDERS FOR GRAVEL. Only one tender was received for the supply of gravel, as fololws—-P.

Coyle, pit gravel 2/3, beach 2/6, riverbed 2/4, screened pit 3/-. It was resolved to decline the tender . LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr Preston stated he would be going into camp at the beginning of next month and asked for leave of absence. Mr Cdulson in moving that- the request be granted stated that lie wished to convey the good wishes of the Count'd’ and ratepayers to Mr Preston, who was the first member of the Council to go into camp. Ho assured him that lie would carry with him the best wishes of the townspeople wherever lie went and he trusted that he would return safe and sound at as early a date as possible. Mr Thompson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Preston thanked the Council for their vote and assured them that he would do his best wherever lie went, and that he trusted ho would continue to feel as fit as he did at the present- time. The Council then adjourned.