HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1922, Page 2

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10th

The Council met at 8 p.m. Present: — Messrs H. M. Coulson (Deputy Mayor in the chair), G. Mood, J. King, G. H. Blank, A. Parkhill, F. McGregor and A. G. Pilkingtoli. Apologies were made for the absence of the Mayor arid Mr Perhftili.

The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE.

From H; Belsliaw, thanking Council for use of Town Hall and Mayor for presiding at meeting.—Received. From Hokitika Beautifying Association, stating as a result of a conference of Reserves Committee and Association, it was resolved to recommend the appointment of Mr H. Haile as caretaker of Cass and Maeandrew Squares, the Pioneer Memorial and Town Clock, the Council and Association to pay each one half the cost and enclosing proposed conditions regarding the appointment.— Received. Mr Blank said the Council could not make an appointment without calling for applications, Mr Wood thought that it would not be advisable to call for applications as all incompetent man might be appointed. Mr Coulson said he approved of calling for applications and then the Council could decide on the most suitable.

. Mr Blank moved that applications be invited for the position of caretaker.— Seconded by Mr Parkhill. Mr McGregor favored giving the recommendation of the Beautifying Association a trial. The motion was agreed to. The conditions of appointment were then approved.

From Westland Chamber of Commerce conveying resolutions passed at recent conference suggesting an accommodation bureau be set up, to confer with licensed victuallers with a view to arranging improved accommodation in the town; asking for co-operation of the Council.— Received. Ml* COulson moved that the Town Clerks office he appointed an accommodation bureau and that the Licensed Victuallers be circularised to supply information available regularly. —Seconded by Mr King. Mr McGregor said it was important tlitif an extension of licensirig polls should be urged to be gjven effect before hotelkeepers would lie prepared to enlarge their hotels. The motion was then agreed to.

From Same, conveying resolution in support of improving the water supply of the town.—Received. It was resolved to reply that the water supply since receipt had greatly improved. Mr McGregor suggested that a number of meters be procured and installed where tlie largest qantities of water was used. He moved that the Town Clerk make enquiries as to cost arid other particulars.—Seconded by Mr Filkington and carried.

From Same, conveying opinion that the ocean beach be cleaned up and on piovet!, that life saving apparatus !*« provided and that the Council subsidise the expenditure .£' for A.', to work in conjunction with a citizens committee. —Received and referred to Finance Committee to report at next meeting. From Same, suggesting the setting up of a Tourist Information Bureau in the Public Library and recommending a citizens committee to’ act in conjunction with the Council. —Received. It was resolved to reply that the room at the Library was available and the Council would he willing to do all in its power, as far as its finances would allow. Fom Same, conveying resolution from Conference on the advisability of raising a loan for necessary town improvements and stating £SOOO could be obtained at os%. —Received. Mr Coulson said lie heartily approved of the proposal for a loan for street improvements. He thought the proposal should be put before tine ratepayers. He moved that the report asked for by. Cr Pilkingtoli be tabled within one month. Mr McGregor stated a rough report of requirements was available, though lie had Been awaiting the return of Cr Lloyd to the Council table before presenting it.—Seconded by Mr Pilkingtoli and carried. From Napier Bgrough Council, in reference to credit balances be set off against ‘debit balances in connection with charges for interest.—Received. The Council to support proposal. From Residents of Sale Street, asking the public pound be removed to a less populated part of the town, owing to the noise of the animals therein causing a decided nuisance to the residents in the vicinity.—Received. It \v. s icsolv to refer the suggestion for a new site to the Chairmen of Reserves and Public Works for a report at next meeting. From Minister of Internal Affairs, acknowledging receiot of 10s towards Pi •incess Marv fund.—Received.

From A. Iletlaff, declining to continue nightsoil contract at present terms.—Received; Mr Wood moved that the monthly payment he increased by £2 per month.—Seconded by Mr King and carried.

From A. Tulloch, asking for assistance in preventing sand accumulating on his property.—Received ; referred to Public Works Committee to deal with:

From Druids Lodge Trustee, asking for 10 years lease of present rooms upstairs at the Town Hall, and then they would be prepared to carry out necessary repairs.—Received and referred to the Finance Committee. Mr King said the Town Hall - upstairs was simply rottlen and only fit to pull-down. It was resolved that Town Clerk take steps to have the repairs to the roof attended to.

From R. Adamson, offering to lease reserve 571 at 10s rental free of rates.— Received and agreed to. From Westland War Memorial Committee,- conveying statement of receipts to da fie, with an approximate requirement to complete of £2OO and suggesting the Council should make a donation of £75 towards this amount. —Received ; referred to Finance Committee to report.

REPORTS. From Treasurer, reporting receipts £327 18s 2d, payments £425 16s lid, debit balance £450 2s.—Received. Accounts amounting to £513 6s lOd were passed for payment. From Finance Committee re Westland and Mental Hospitals Water Supply : That these institutions he supplied with water on the following conditions: That water meters be installed by the Council at the expense of the Westland Hospital Board and Mental Hospital Department and the water supplied at the sum of Is 6d per 1000 gallons. Re collection of Har-

hour Board rates for the Borough of Hokitika: That the Council offer to collect the rates for the sum of £52 per year. That the remuneration payable* to the Town Clerk under Section 63 of the “Licensing Act, 1908” as Clerk of the Controlling Authority for additional duties imposed upon him in the carrying out of the said Act, be and is now hereby fixed at the surnof £5 os per year. s'-T/

111 connection with the water supply" to Messrs Mandl arid Co., it was recommended that metets be installed at the bottiirig hduse and malt house and that a charge of Is per 1000 gals be made for water used; the Town Clerk to arrange in connection with past water used.

The report was received and considered clause by clause. Mr Blank objected to the Town Clerk collecting rates for the Harbour Board. Mr Wood stated that it would not cost the Borough anything, as the Town Clerk would be able to do the work in addition to his present work and would be paid the amount mentioned. Th e clause was adopted, Mr Blank dissenting.

The other clauses were approved and the report as a whole adopted. Mr Wood moved that the Chairman of Public Works give immediate attention to repairs to Fisherman’ e Creek Bridge. Seconded by Mr Coulson and carried.

Mr Parkhill said that the cemetery needed a lot of attention. The place had gone back very badly ? and was in urgent need of considerable attention. Mr Wood referred to the matter and stated the Reserves Committee would report at next meeting. It was a big job for one man to carry on. Riding of cycles on footpath was re-_ ferred to by several councillors, and it was resolved to ask the Inspector and police to take action against offenders. The Council rose at 10.10 p.m.