HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1918, Page 3

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

] FRIDAY. DECEMBER 13th. , The Council met at 8 p.m Present Messrs G. A. Perry (Mayor), Cou son, Blank, Parkhill, McGregor, Pro.' ton, J. King, Stapleton and Thoin] son. The minutes were road and confirm ed /and outward correspondence ap proved. r INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Sister Dora thanking Conn oil for attention to request for drain ■ to be cleaned out.—Received. I From Mrs S. Nielson asking for trailfer of lease to her name.—Received; it be given effect to. 1 From Waimate Borough Council ask ing particulars of the working of tin j local abattoir.—Received; already supplied.

From Hokitika Harbour Board askin for a reduction in the price charged fo use of »water supply owing to the al sence of shipping.—Received ; and fc reduced by one half, i From Dargavillc Borougli Counci conveying resolutions passed and askin for support of Council, dealing wit] peace matters, including the non-restu j ration of German Pacific colonies.—Re eeived I From Auckland City Council askiiu that Parliament be urged to pass legis lation to deal with insanitary buildings —Received; The Mayor stated that a i Amending Act had already given effotto the requirement. | From Waihi Borough Council askin? that all racing ho postponed for a montl j from the New Year.—Received; no aci tion taken. J From Alexandra Borough Council I urging that Public Health Departmenl ‘take charge of all tuberculosis patients.—Received. From Druids Lodge asking that- an Epidemic Relief Fund bo inaugurated. —Rooeived; already given effect to. From Reefton Chamber of Commerce urging that the standard price of gold he raised £2 per oz., or that a subsidy of the same value be given by the Government and asking for support of the Council.—Received. From A. Detlaff, stating he would resume his sanitary duties on December J 16, and thanking Council for consideration given.—Received. J From J. T. Myers, sexton asking Reconsideration owing to the increased . work caused by the epidemic.—Received I Mr Coulson moved that £2 be voted Seconded by Mr Stapleton and carried. Mr Blank dissenting. TREASURER’S -REPORT. From Treasurer reporting since October Sth., the receipts amounted to £460/11/9, payments £530/10/6, credit balance £47/12/4. —Received. ABATTOIR REPORT. From Manager of Abattoirs, reportporting as follows:—From October Ist., to 31st there were examined 5 cows, '< 5 bullocks, 183 sheep, 2 pigs, 1 calf. Condemned nil; fees for month £45/9/9. From Nov. Ist to 30th. there were examined 5 cows, 69 bullocks, 162 sheep, 6 lambs', 2 pigs, 4 calves, Condemned, two bullocks. Fees for month £43/5/2. It was resolved that some pipes be placed in a drain at, Abattoir to save possible accident- to cattle entering the yards. FINANCE COMMITTEE - The Finance Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to £630/11/8. —Received and adopted. INSPECTOR’S report: From Borough Inspector reporting on a. number of inspections in various parts of the town, and action taken in connection with the epidemic, and other matters requiring attention. Received. It. was stated that; police pi«ceedings were being taken as the result of one enquiry. Mr Coulson moved that a sub-commit-tee consisting of Messrs King, Stapleton and Coulson, consider the best means of arranging for the removal ot rubbish from residences . Seconded by Mr McGregor and carried. In connection with the pavilion on Cass Square, Mr. Blank drew attention to the necessity of attention thereto and a- discussion followed, it being decide*, to make an effort to improve matters, and a suggestion for closing in the front of tlio building with netting shutters was generally approved. OVERSEER’S REPORT. I hog to submit the following report on work done during the past two months. , On account of the prevailing «e weather we have had a large mimbei of the old wooden drains collapsing. In Sewell Street a portion of the drain in front of the Post Office collapsed and we had considerable difficulty on account of the depth'and nature of the ground besides continual wet weather m effecting repairs to' this- drain. However, the difficulties were overcome and the break again made good. In Bealev Street wo had nearly a chain of the large drain to completely renew. This work was also hampered 1)v the continual wet weather. ‘ hi Brittain Street, close to the intersection with Stafford Street a chain oi the old wooden drain was taken out and replaced with a nine inch pipe. Dm largo number of floods experienced lately also gave us considerable trouble with the pipe line at Slip Hill, Kanion Forks, tile river again carrying away portions of the road and pipe line. Owing to the shortage ot labour and bad weather conditions prevailing at the time of .the erosion, we had considerable difficulty in always keeping the town supplied with water. lhe road at this point is now being deviated and within another month the work will t he completed. We will then be able to shift about- 10 chains of the pipe line to the inside of the new roadway, thereby getting away from the river at this dangerous point. The Reservoir has been cleaned and chipped hut the plastering has been] hung owing to other work requiring our attention. . . ...... ' We made 200 ft. of 18-incli also 10011 , 12-iiich concrete pipes during the period. The- usual maintenance works were also carried out during this per- ( iod. ~ii During the past six weeks practically the whole of the working staff have at times been laid up from various causes which made it very difficult to keep tip with the work requiring to be done. However, with the exception of Mr. C . Jones, who is well on the ua.v to recovery, the men arc back to work ' again. Trusting we are all in for a bot- ; ter time in the future. —Received and approved. t MOTIONS OF A LTRECIATION. ! The Mayor said they had just passed through a tryiug time, during which period a great amount of work had bqen done and much self-sacrifice shown. The whole community was under a debt of gratitude to all those who had assisted in their time of trial. As I hoy knew it had been found necessary

Jt o open a temporary hospital at the • school and Father Clancy.had very kindly given up the use of the Presbytery as a Convalescent home. The Matron of the Hospital had had a most trying ■ time, while they were exiromely luck} in having Airs J. H. Wilson to take charge of the school hospital. ■ They had been very ably assisted by both professional and voluntary nurses the Sisters of Mercy and many other most willing workers. He wished to make a. public acknowledgement of the indebtedness of the community to these ladies, who had risen to tho occasion and had done dheir duty right nobly. Dr Teichelmann had had a strenuous time, but he thought it wrong that the . district should have only one

medical officer and they should move I in the direction of getting another doe- £ tor in the town. 'Hie district was -u----i tircly dependent on one, and it. was not - fair that, it should be so. He said this - without in any way detracting from Dr Teichelmann’s great services. Rcferr- ’ iug again to the assistance given he - thought it better not to mention any . names. He was sorry to have to say 1 that two nurses had died and another ; lady who had practically given her life in succouring the sick. Their deepest : sympathy should be conveyed to the i relatives. He would move: (1) That the Council place on record their grateful appreciation of the services rendered by the Hospital Staffs and voluntary workers in connection with the recent influenza epidemic. (2) That letters of sympathy be forwarded to the relatives of Nurse Dixon and Davis and Mrs Roberts. (3) That the action of the Westland Hospitals in obtaining the services of an extra doctor is strongly supported by this Council and a letter embodying the same be sent to the Board. Mr Coulson in seconding the motion, said since last meeting they had ejoiced at the announcement of the ar- * mistice; hut alas, that was quickly followed by the scourge of the epidemic. It had been a. great disaster, but lie thought the way the women had risen to the occasion was a credit to their f sex. Only for their splendid efforts the calamity would have' assumed far more disastrous dimensions. They were deeply indebted to those who had thrown up everything to attend to the wants of those stricken down. All recognised the splendid work done and must appreciate the great value of it. Unfortunately there were some in the community | who shut themselves up and would not 1 do anything to help their fellow erea- a tures. Mr J. King in supporting the motion said lie would like to see the motion in connection with the services of another medical man sent on to the Charitable Aid Board and also on o the Minister of Public Health. Mr Blank said the Charitable Aid Board had already applied for Dr ; Doctor to be sent hack, and as soo n as he arrived he would be reinstated in the employ of the Charitable Aid Board. Ho heartily supported the motion. Mr .McGregor supported the remarks j referriug to. the great work of the. a j nurses. He felt that the staff of. the hospital Required every consideration and they should have much more as- £ si stance. Ho felt that they should publicly thank all who had assisted in the trying ordeal in which we had pass- T ed through. Nothing was too good . to say or do for those untiring workers. 1 Q Mr Preston said they could not go too far in expressing the deep sense of grn- f titude they were under to all who had helped. At the same time they were British people and if thy have not n British hearts to help the sick then God help us. He felt that the workers B did not desire thanks. Avnat the\ had done so willingly was done from r. pure sense of duty. Mr McGregor said some of those who V claimed to be the greatest- Britishers would not go near those who were sick and had run away from the ambulance y and would not help their neighbours. Tho Mayor then put the motion which 2! was agreed to. Mr. Perry saying that itwas hardly necessary as all fully recognised the deep sense of indebtedness the whole community was under to those | willing workers and all felt, so deeply S for those who liad; suffered as a result of the dire visitation. J The Council then rose at 9. p.m