HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1922, Page 1

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

FRIDAY, JUNE 16th. The Council met at 8.5 p.m. Present—Messrs G. A. Perry (Mayor). 0. H. Blank, A. Parkhill, .T. King, R r Peril nm, F. McGregor, H. M. Coulson. G. Wood and A. G. Pilkington. An apology was made for the absence of Mr Lloyd. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE.

From Department of Health, Wellington. enclosing notices for serving or owners of property requesting atten tion to premises.—Received. Air Alc- ! Gregor said the Licensing Committee I were satisfied with the conditions. ID moved no action be taken. Seconded by Air Blank and carried. ’ Front Westland County Council reporting that repair works arranged on the A rthursown road had been completed at a cost of 635 15s as arranged. Deceived and payment authorised. From Deputy Chief of Explosives. Wellington notifying appointment <>i counrif as local authority and supplying tla- noeesnry forms.—Received. From Westland Chamber of Commerce conveying resolution in favour of Council raising a small loan for town improvements, and asking the Council to move in the mutter as early as possible.—Received from Westland Conn tv Council advisim’ the charge for the motor lorry would he £<! per day of 3 hours: also asking that a suitable pit for gravel he ' made and that the Council would he willing to arrange for nnv suitable period.- Deceived: referred to Public Works Committee.

From J. D. AfcQuilkin. asking for transfer of water supply from one-pro-perty to his present residence.—Received ; request granted, subject to fee annually being £2. From AVestlnnd Sub-Union enclosing £3 12s Od, being quota of receipts at gates.—Received. From Westland Chamber of Commerce, in connection with improvement of sea beach front, and asking that steps he taken to prevent deposit of tins and other rubbish near the right

of ways,—Received: public attention to he given of the intention to prosecute offenders.

From R. Lynn reporting the condition of the Town Clerk as very unsatisfactory—Received; referred to Overseer to report on condition of the structure. From Government Statistician in reference to building records of the town. Received.

From Prime Minister, Wellington, acknowledging resolution forwarded re electric power hoards.—Received. From Westland Sub-Union asking for attention to football field required.— Received: already receiving attention. From R. Alaekley. asking for drains in front of his property, Sewell Street to ho covered in. preferably with concrete.—Received.

From .T. Lloyd resigning Chairmanship of Public Works Committee owing to continued ill-health.—Received. It was resolved to grant Cr Lloyd three months’ leave of absence, regret being expressed at the continued ill-health of Air l.lovtl. Air McGregor to continue to act as acting Chairman meanwhile. From Canterbury Progress League thanking Council for use of Town Hall for winter school.—Received. From Prime Minister. Wellington acknowledging resolution in reference to nayment of amusement tax to local bodies slid promising due consideration therlo.—Received. From .T. V. Hall applying for second hand dealers’ license.—Received and license granted. From Westland Acclimatisation Society applying for the grant of 110 Ids for new engine for lauitcii. already promised.—Received and passed for payment. From Chamber of Commerce thanking Council for increased subsidy towards Otirn mail service.--Received. From Hokitika. Harbour Board notifying that the Board had adopted the system of rating on the unimproved value on June 1 Itli. —Received. REPORTS. From Treasurer reporting receipts £237 2s 8d payments £309 9s 7d, credit balance £sl 13s Sd.—Received. Accounts amounting to £496 LAs Id were passed for payment.

Frmo Manager of Abattoirs (Mr J. Jarman) reporting there were examined during May, 10 cows, 86 bullocks, 296 sheep, 96 jiunbs, 11 pigs, 10 calves. Fees for period £73 os Od. Condemned nil.—Received. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

Owing to the supply of water at the reservoir falling below the usual amount we made an inspection of the pipe lino from the reservoir to Coal Creek, .and located . several leaks, the principal one, was at Tucker’s Flat caused through the wire breaking allowing the staves of the pipe f,o open about 0 inches in length and allowing a considerable amount of water to escape. Iron damps have been placed on the pipe making it quite tight again and as soon as the reservoir is full T intend to replace the pipe with a now one. Since the repairs were made the llow is hack to the usual 112 gallons per minute.

During ilie inoutli sovi>ral streets ; Inive been gravelled in bad places. ; Footpaths in Park. .Tollie. ami AVold Streets have been cleaned and gravel was ordered. Drains bare also been , cleaned in dollie, Britain, and Spencer Streets, also Davie Street. The bridge in lower Davie Street and covering to culver! in Sale Street has been attend- ‘ ed to. Five new connections have been made in the water service." Also ‘J pipe i missings to new residences. The road on the south-side of the river lately gravelled has been raked in and is now in good order. The usual street clearing lias also been attended to. Afr "Wood reported on behalf of the Committee appointed to enquire into the question of a.n electric motor truck that it was deemed inadvisable to obtain me owing to the excessive cost.--Received and approved. PROPOSED 1.0 AN.

Mr Met!regor moved that a vole til the ratepavers be taken on a prnpos(jJ to raise a loan of ffiOTK) for urgent permanent works. Mr McOrrgnr said' this amount would be spread over I or •"> years. There was a necessity for many town improvements oi a permanent nature. The streets and footpaths of the wlmle town required a great amount of !>,t tent-ion. They bad no money to spend cut of their ordinary revenue on permanent works. Mr CoulsOn seconded the motion. It would lie necessary to tabulate the details of the works required, 'I he time bad come to do something tangible In improve the town. The call on the ratepayers for such a loan would be very light indeed. He urged the Council not to hedge the matter, but to carry the proposal. He was strongly iir favour of a. public works lonn. Mr Perham supported. It was am extraordinary position for a town ol this size not. to have made any improvements v, liieli ' were urgently needed. There was only a motion to ask the ratepayers to sanction the loan. The money should be obtained, be thought, at ")ij or ti per cent. He hoped to soo the proposal carried. Mr .1 King would like to support the motion if Hie list, of works were tabulated, but the rate of interest should not be more than five per cent. Mr Blank favored the proposal, subject to the tabulation of the works. He thought the relieving of the water north of Park Street was the most important work at present. He thought live per cent, was enough to pay. Mr Wood said if cheap money was available that they should also include 1 he proposal for a theatre. There was a proposal for CS per week for such a theatre. —Already given. Mr Pilkington supported the proposal. A rough draft of the proposed expenditure should he made. Air King said the principal works required were Rolleston, Livings one Sale, Fitzhorhert and Beale,y street drains. Mr Perham said the liest thing "as logo on a general scheme. No one could say the present Conned was a spendthrift one. He believed the ratepayers would show appreciation, and approval ol the Council. Tlio Mayor said they wanted to go in for solid general work. The most pressing at.piesent was the duuns referred to, and for extending the roads into the swamp north of 1 ark street. It would bo better, and a sounder policy to increase the rates and reduce

stiff as to the manner in which the borrowed money should be expended. After a further general discussion the motion was agreed to. Mr McGregor moved that Messrs ( unison, Pilkington and King lie a subcommittee to enquire into the securing of the loan.—Seconded by Mr Blank and carried.

Messrs McGregor, Wood, Coulson, King and Blank were appointed a comruitteo to draw up proposals for loan expenditure.

Mr Blank referred to the request of the deputation of Messrs Myers and others for drainage and a lamp at the corner of Sale and Park streets and moved that the works he given effect to. --Seconded by Mr Coulson and carried. M r Wood moved that the Council ask for an immediate reply from the Mental Hospital as to the offer of the Council to supply of water for the. institution, the price being reduced from Is (kl to Is 3d per 1000 gallons.—Seconded by Mr Coulson and carried, M.r Coulson asked for information as to the rule of the road. It was stated that the bye-laws of the Council dealt with this necessity. Mr Cflnlson . referred to the danger, especially in the vicinity'of the Town Clock;. It was resolved to draw the attention of the Police and the Borough Inspector. ' . Mr Parkhi.ll drew attention to the necessity of the improvement of the cemetery. A general discussion followed, and it was resolved that the Cornel cry Committee invite tenders for work required. Tiie Council rose at 0.50 p.m.