HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1919, Page 3

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th. The Council met at 7.30. p.m. Present, —Messrs G. A. Perry (Mayor), PI. M. Coulson, G.* A. Wood, J. J. Bieeze, H. A. Thompson, F. McGregor, J. King, G. H. Blank, N. Warren, and A. Parkhill. The minutes were.confirmed and outward correspondence approved.

INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Westland County Council enclosing Overseer Millner’s report on Mahinapua Creek bridge, to the effect that it was unsafe except for very light traffic; and recommending the limiting oi traffic to half ton loads; estimating repairs-would cost £IOO, and a renewal £4BO. —Recceived.

From Overseer endorsing the report and approving of recommendations.— Received; Mr Blank moved that the bridge be repaired, the County to he asked to carry out the work. Seconded by Mr King and carried. From A. Detlaff, agreeing to tqlg# over the nightsoil contract.—Received. From J. Maunder acknowledging Council’s letter of sympathy.—Received.

From Kanier Sawmill Coy. Ltd. applying for permission to run tram from railway line, along Weld St to Livingstone st., to .east town belt, and in consideration offering to haul gravel or other road material at 1J- per yd, if rolling stock provided by Council or 1/3 if otherwise; also applying for leas e of Botanical Gardens at expiry of the present lease and stating arrangements can be made with present lessee for balance of lease.—Received • Mr Blank moved that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to report. Seconded by Mr King and carried. 1 From Will Lawson, thanking Council for promised financial assistance.—Received.

From Harbor Board asking Council to confer re tramway rights applied for by Kanieri Sawmill Coy.—Received. From S. A. Clarke, drawing attention <o danger from gorse in front of his premises.—Received; to be attended to. Freni Acting Town Clerk, Dunedin, thanking Council for information supijerV—Becfi’ivjetd. From 'Health Department circular

re district nurses and medical officers. —Received. From Department of Internal Affairs, asking particulars of Peace celebrations. —Received; to be supplied. Ffrom J. M. Mclntyre, sexton, asking for an increase of salary.—Received; referred to Finance Committee. REPORTS.

From Treasurer reporting receipts £14116/9, payments £215/13/10, credit balance £142/4/5. —Received. From Finance Committee recommending payment of accounts amounting to £344/19/2. —Received and adopted. From Manager Abattoirs reporting for month August there were examined 7 cows, 62 bullock, 231 sheep, 2 lambs, 5 pigs, 20 calves. Condemned 3 heifers in calf. Fees for month £52/15/3. —Received. From Sexton, report for month.—Received. Tlie Town Clerk reported no tenders had been reeeivd for erecting shutters rn the pavilion on Cass Square. No action is to be taken at present. LIBRARY COMMITTEE.

The Committee reported recommending Mr R. Wild’s name be added tao 1 the Committee; Mr Wood to be Chair- ( man and the latter to he appointed administrator; that applications be invited for a librarian at £SO per annum, with duties 3.30. p.m. to 5.30. p.m. and 7.30 to 10 p.m. daily (Sundays excepted); the Borough Inspector to attend to charing work at work at the* Library.—Received.

Mr Wood moved the adoption; seconded by Mr King. Mr Breeze suggested that the library be made a free public library in every way, so as to popularise it with free books. It was mentioned that the matter of charges would come up at a later meeting. The motion for adoption of the report was then agreed to.

supreme COURT. Mr Coulson said he wished to refer to the injustice done to the town by the removal of the Supreme Court business of the late session from Hokitika to Greymouth. The reason given—a pressure of business, was a very bald one, as the calendar showed that with the exception of one criminal case for sentence and one civil case, all the other business came frotn the Hokitika court, with the result that much inconvenience had been caused to litigants and an injustice to the town. With the permission of the ©dijncil he moved-: “That the Minister of Justice he written to and informed that very great inconvenience had been caused litigants by having the Supreme Court business fiom this town and district heard at Gieymouth and the Council respectfully urges that in future all sittings of the Court for cases arising in this district he held at Hokitika.” Mr McGregor seconded the motion stating a strong protest should he made. The motion met with general support and was agreed to. The Mayor suggested that his Honor Justice Herdman be nlso written to, to the same effect.

DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS. In reply to an enquiry by Mr Me Gregor, the Town Clerk stated that no rt-plv had been received from the Justice Department to the Council’s letter in reference to the dilapidated police buildings. Mr McGregor expressed surprise at the Department not having had the courtesy to reply to the Council’s lettei. The buildings were an eyesore and disgrace to the town, much more since the fires in them. H e moved that the Public Health Department be asked to have an inspection made with a view to their being condemned and pulled down. Seconded by Mr King and agreed to.

OVERSEER’S REPORT. I beg to present the following report on work done during the past month a« follows. . 1 The weather conditions being unsuitable. H tlije beginning of the month for going on with the construction of the Hall St. drain we finished the work of repairing the footpaths and streets in various parts of the Borough. The gorso and blackberry has been cut down in every street in the Borouch Tl.c Pipe Line carried away during the month where it crosses Tucker Flat. The trouble was caused by a nasty bend in

the Pipe Line at this particular poinl As the pipes are under a high pressure and the country being very wet across Tucker Flat it does not require mud to cause them to be lifted out of the ground especially where the bends arc too sharp. Owing to the large amount of surface water at the break away, we had a nasty job to couple up the pipes to make the connection to the reservoir good again. During the month a number of the wooden drains collapsed owing to the wet weather. These break downs were attended to and repairs carried out T 1 o weather conditions improving we made a start with the construction of the Hall Street drain and up to the present are making very satisfactory progress with this work.—Received. Tb P Council rose at 8.15. p.m.