HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1920, Page 1

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, JAN. 30th

The Council met at 8.10 p.m. Present—Messrs G .A. Perry (Mayor), H. M. Coulson, G. A. Wood, J. J. Breeze, N. Warren, F. McGregor, A. Parkliill, •J. King, and G. H. Blank. The minutes were confirmed and correspondence outward approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE From Registrar General, Wellington, asking for returns.—Received; the Town Clerk to supply. ■From N.Z. Association of British Manufacturers asking for preference to be be given to British goods.—Received and approved. From F. A. Cameron, Runangn, thanking Council for promised use of Cass Square, for picnic.—Received.

From Brunner Picnic Committee, asking for use of Cass Square for I eh. 7th.— Received; request granted. From Canterbury Education Board stating they were willing to pay portion of water supply charges for school purposes, the School Committee to pay tlie balance.—Received.

, From R. Wild, on behalf of Chautaqua, asking for free use of Cass Square from Feh .13th to 19th. —Received; Mr McGregor moved the request be granted. Seconded by Mr King. Mr Warren said be favoured the grant being subject to the usual conditions. Tlib motion was granted, subject to payment of usual license fee, and subject to the right of the Runanga Picnic Committee the use of Cass Square on the 14th. From Mrs M .A. Duncan, asking for gorse to be cut off Davie Street adjoining her property. —Received; referred to Public Works Committee to deal with. From Presbyterian Floral Fete Committe applying for use of Cass Squaio on Fob 11th.— Received; request granted. From Mrs P. Stephens, regretting oversight in not applying for Council’s permission to make drain before doing so.—Received. . REPORTS.

From Treasurer reporting receipts £261, 0s sd; payments, £278 17s 8d; debit balance £IBO 16s 2d.—Received. From Finance Committee recomending payment of accounts amounting to £539 6s 7d, and that in reference to Mr Warren’s motion, that wages he left as they are.—Received. The Mayor moved the adoption; seconded by Mr King.

Mr Warren moved an amendment that Clause 2 be.amended to road that wages of day labourers be increased from 12s to 13s per day. No seconder. Tlie motion for adoption of the report

was then carried. The Abattoir Committee reported in favour of clearing the front of the gates to the Abattoirs. —Received and approved. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

T have the honour to submit tlie following report on work done during the past month. In Bea.ley Street we renewed 24 feet of tlie wooden drain which had collapsed during the wet weather. A number of drains which had become overgrown in various streets have been cleaned out.

For the past fortnight two men have been engaged mowing the gorse and black-berry in the Streets in the Borough. Tn Spencer Street we have constructed a twelve inch concrete drain. This drain has been carried across Fitzlierbert- Street to the terrace. The constructioii of this drain will stop any further semirings of the roadway at the foot of the Cemetery Hill. During the last flood a small washout took place on the Pipe Line at the Kanieri Forks. The damage which was' slight was immediately repaired. During the week a start has been made to repair the road bridge across Mahinapua Creek.

Two ordinary house connections have been connected to your water supply. The Baths were cleaned out and the rubbish mowed down in the enclosure. The Baths were then filled and handed over to the Club.

During the month si number of 12in. concrete pipes were made, also a largo number of maintenance works, which had accumulated during the construction of the Hall St. drain, were attended to.—Received.

Mr Coulson moved“ That a poll of the ratepayers be taken on a proposal to borrow £3OOO for public works in the Borough. Interest and sinking fund not to exceed 7 per cent. The expenditure of the said loan not to bo exceed £IOOO per annum, and that a Committee consisting of the Mayor, the Chapman of Public Works Committee, and the mover; be appointed to allocate in a general way such expenditure.”

Mr Coulson said he felt the time was opportune to launch out with a progressive policy, and that now was the proper time to carry out the works so long waited for. Seconded by Mr McGregor .who considered the amount should be increased to £5,000. Mr Wood thought the amount was too small. He favoured it being increased, and the works to include a new Town Hall and a Municipal Theatre. Mr King would support the proposal if it were included that the works were all to be of a permanent nature.

Mr Warren thought the motion did not put anything very tangible before the ratepayers. Ho did riot think that the picture painted of Hokitika by some of the speakers was warranted. In bis opinion ,Hokitika was the most pictures cpio town on the West Coast. Mr Breeze was in favour, of getting as much money as was possible. Thci>-■ was plenty of work to lie done. He favoured Mr Woods’ suggestion for a, picture hall. . Mr Blank was nob opposed to tlie loan, but Councillors should not forgot that there woud be an early necessity for big renewals in tho near future for the water supply. The Mayor felt tho proposals were

not sufficiently definite to appeal to the ratepayers. He felt that they should carry out some very necessary drainage works in the town, for the good of the community. He suggested the works absolutely necessary and the amount of money involved. They could also consider a proposal for a new Town Hall and Theatre.

Mr Coulson said he was pleased to find approval of the Council to tlie proposed move. He contended tlie motion would not burden the ratepayers one half-penny. He thought it would be advisable to place alternative proposals before the ratepayers.

Mr Warren moved an amendment that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to bring up a comprehensive scheme. Seconded by Mr Wood and carried. Becoming the substantive motion it was agreed to. Mr Warren urged that the Overseer bo instructed to put in hand at once the repairing of the footpaths cut up by the laying of the telephone lines. Hie Mnjyor said that this was to be attended to. The Council rose at .9.20 p.m.