HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1923, Page 1

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, MAY 25th. u is The Council mot at 7.30 p.m. Pros sent:—Messrs G. A. Perry (Mayor), e 11. -M. Coulsou, J. King, W. I). Mae- , kay, I). J. Kvans. W. Jeffries. R. I'. Perham, G. Heinz, G. A. Wood and J. Rloyd. The minutes were eon Pinned and outward correspondence approved. ; INWARD CO HR ESI’ONDEXC’E. From Department of Internal Affairs, acknowledging notification of appointment of members of the Hokitika Fire Hoard to represent Hokitika Borough Council and of election of Mr Perry as A 1 ay or. L’eeeiveil. From Hon 11. R. Michel, thanking Council for reappointment as member of Fire Hoard.—Received. From Department of Health, notifying that it was required that a .suitable refuse collection system he made, and asking that attention he given to the rubbish dump, of which a number , .cf complaints had been received.—Rcv ■■ , reived. From Same, re the Council’s rubbish tip, and conveying request for proper attention Lo the requirements of the Department ; and asking for a definite reply to request, for inauguration of a regular ruhbhjm^kollection system.—Received. Mr Coulson said be did not know it hat tlte Council could do in relereuee to collection of rubbish ; when they bad it rubbish collector some time ago there was practically nothing given to him for removal. 1 -Mr Rloyd said it bad boon the in- ] lention to fence.the rubbish dump and ' to cover over the refuse at regular } intervals. ,

■Mr Coulson moved that the letter be received and that the Public Works Committee report .—Seconded by Mi Rloyd and carried. From Health Department, in reference to the nigbtsoil contract, and the depositing of night soil on the sea beach north of the horough boundary, asking that this course lie discontinued.—Received. The Town Clerk staled the Contractor had agreed that ibo desire of (lie Department lie not infringed in future. From Mrs Fitzsimmons, promising attention to request of Council as soon as possible.—Received as satisfactory. From Municipal Hand, applying for

a grant towards the maintenance of the lumls of the Hand.— Received. The -Mayor thought the Hand should he assisted, as i hey always gave then services freely to the town. He moved that £7 7s lie passed.—S'c fended by ».Mfi Coulson and carried. ‘From Canterbury Automobile Ass-..-,- . elation, Westland branch, drawing attention to state of some of the Borough roads and asking for an early improvement .—Received. ' Kn’un Collector of Customs, forwardi'iug notice that gravel must not he removed from the foreshore without permission and the payment of a royalty |vr yard as may lie arranged.— Received.— Mr Kvans moved that the matter he referred to the Mayor and Town Clerk to enquire into.—Seconded by Mr Jell'ries and carried. From Public Trust Office, acknowledging receipt of £B7 10s.—Received.

From Westland Sub-I'ninn, thanking Council for consideration given to request of their deputation : also asking for use of Cass Square on June 4th.— Received and request granted. The Town Clerk slated the necessary advertisement was being inserted. From Mrs I), lieenan, notifying desin* for discontinuance of extraordinary water supply.—Received and agreed to. From Hokitika Atbleiie and Cycling Sports Club, asking for consideration of Council of payment of quota of gale receipts at recent meeting, owing to a loss being incurred. Received. Mr Wood moved that the collection of quota be held over. —Seconded by Mr Coulson. Mr Kvans pointed out that the sporting dubs were not legally hound to pay. it was simply a voluntary payment, lie pointed out that the Cycling Club had done good Work in the past. The motion to defer the matter was agreed 10.

From Commissioner of Crown Lands, in reply to nil enrpiiry from the Council in rc'li'i'ciite to tiniher cut on Crown I.mnls in the Borough ami stating that I lie royalty had lioen found to hare hepn paid to the County Council in error. This was now being enquired ini n, and a statement would be submitted when the emiuiries were completed.—. Received. The .Mayor said the matter was of considerable importance to the Council. Il appeared that Ihe royally on timber ent on C rown lands in the Borough, adjoiuing Crain’s freehold laid been paid to the County Council. This was now being rectified and would probably amount to over L’2oll. lie suggested that this money when made available should he utilised for repairs to the roads m south Hokitika.

From Canterbury Progress League, Westland Committee, applying for the use of the Town Hall for the Minion School.—Received and request granted. From Same, forwarding amnia! report.—Received. Pro in Princess Theatre Coy., staling the repairs required by the Council had been completed, and asking that an inspection of same be made. Received. From Hiss Agnew. applying for use of .Municipal reserve. Rritian Street, and offering 10s per year rental, plus rates.—Received and request granted. From 1). P. Sinai t. applying for a light to be erected at the corner of Jodie and Stafford streets. —Received; referred to Public W orks Committee to enquire into and report. Hr Evans suggested that the C oimniftee also consider the necessity of erecting a light at the roar of the Government buildings. This suggestion was also referred to the Committee to include in the report. REPORTS. From Treasurer, reporting receipts 4129 ISs. payments C 127 7s. credit balance 4*592 Ms I'd.—Received. Accounts amounting to 41-!t> ISs ml were passed for payment.

PIT,I.IC "WORKS REPORT. Your Committee recognizing that the Rorotigh is on the verge of considerable expansion, and that to inert the increased demand* it will be necessary to have an organised staff and system, Leg to submit the following recommendations for your consideration, viz:— Staff—Competent overseer, roadman, general jobs man. driver and general workman combined, casual labour as required. One man to be constantly employed on road work, other labour a the overseer from time to time directs. Plan of work.—Formation of all roads ready for metalling, water-tables ready for. kerbing, footpaths levelled up and kept a standard width as far as possible. A thorough job to Ix2 made on one street at a time, ltoad-grader to be used where possible, and the surplus spoil to lie carted to various streets where filling in is necessary. plant.—Application to he made to the Hokitika Harbour Board for tlie site formerly used for wood-pipe

works, adjacent to the old transit shed, lor the purpose of erecting a workshop, stable, etc. The necessary data bo obtained in reference to concrete mixers and stone crusher, also road roller. A

horse to lie obtained as soon as possible. Waterworks.—lntake of pipe-line at Kanieri to receive attention between

July and September when a favourable opportunity offers. Inflow pipes at the reservoir to be raised to overflow level at first opportunity. Air valves on pipe line to receive attention at fixed periods, and defective valves to be replaced with those on hand. Air valves to he overhauled at least half-yearly. General.—A history of all drains, pipes, and junctions etc., their distance from property line and depth to be kept. Tarring of Revel! St. to be proceeded with during the summer months. Road to gravel pit on the river bed to be graded to enable one horse to puli loads. No 1 gravel pit to be fenced in and closed to the public. Rubbish dump to receive attention once a month at the least. Motor lorry traffic to be compelled to use only the route Gibson's Quay, via Rivingstone Street. That no action be taken in reference to the approach rail to Mahinapua Creek Bridge, hut that guard rail of bridge he repaired. The report was considered clause by clause.

On clause I it was mentioned that the last Council had resolved to obtain a horse and dray of its own and a driver was required lor the purpose. That for the past two months £SO bad been paid for a horse, dray and man. Alter consideration the report as a whole was adopted. REPORT ON TOWN HARR. Your- of May tlio Bth. to hand requiring a thorough inspection and report on the Town Hall. I have made the necessary inspection and beg to report as follows:—The building is in need of immediate attention and it will be necessary to expend a consdernfile amount on it should von wish to bring it up to anything like reasonable repair. The whole of the build-

ing is more or lcs„ affected by the borer and badly in some portions. The outside needs considerable repairs to weather boards, windows etc. 'fhe front covering and ornamentation is fairly sound, but in a number of places is inclined to leave the packing pieces. There are several pieces here that need repairing. The whole back gable of the roof requires new iron and ridging. The back of the parapets also require attention. The water-bonds, also some of the iron capping on parapets and spouting needs repairing. The whole of the outside requires painting. The front needs well stopping and scrapping. This, with the repairs to woodwork would make it necessary to scaffold the building the whole way round. The inside is in a. much similar state. The stairs arc in need ol attention, as is also the lining above the middle landing where a leak from the roof has completely rotted the timber. The whole of the stair well way and rooms upstairs need painting badly, with perhaps the exception of the room used by the Fire Brigade. Tin- on the loom used by the Band is all white pine and is riddled with the borer. I he room used by the Druids is in a had way, the paper ceiling and walls partly falling off. The small room of the Fin. Brigade room is also in a. had way. the ceiling here having completely disappeared. Some of tin struts in the roof also need renewing. There is one of the main carrying pillars needs replacing and the casing on another, where the timber has rotted with water from a leak, wants renewing. The main entrance doors to the upstairs portion of the building needs renewing, ’fhe nflice at the rear of the Town Clerk's olliee is in a had way and needs painting and papering, ete. .1 he feundat ion also is gone in places, paiticulai’lv in the main hall. j I estimate the cost of making the building reasonably decent at £4>o- - up as follows - Cost of painting in three coats whole of outside, sea Holding and repairing outside, including new iron for roof

ml tiusmitbiug. Kst minted cost £358 0 <1 Sanding front. Hi ■> *1 Cost of repairing and renewing ceil

iiies etc. ill upstairs inside portions. New lining in hand-room not inrhuk'd. No paint on Fire Brigade room or main ball. Balance painted in two coats ... £7<i. Total £4-50. Received. The Mayor thought that in view ol the amount involved it would be advisable to carry out the work". Mr I’erhnm endorsed this. I hey should put 1 lie work in hand and keep sneli a line asset in good order, li tliev had money to spare later they

could consider the quc'lioii of a iniliiieipal theatre. .Mr Jeffries thought they should set to work in give effect to the suggestions of Al.r Wilson. If put in order at a e<c-f of L: Ibll il would make the Town Hall suitable fur public affairs for In lo 21) years, lie was pledged to have the Town llall put in proper order. .Mr Couhon approved ol the work being carried out. It was resolved that the .Mayor and Public Works Committee arrange for the work to be carried out. REPORT OX PRINCESS THEATRE. I have to-day made an inspection ol the Princess theatre. The required strengthening of beams and braces lias been carried out satisfactorily. I’he foundations to columns have been strengthened as have also the main lieanis. Larger iron plates have been fixed at tiie head ol columns alien, beams inter-ect. till- giving a Let tor bearing. The nr< csssiry racking braces have been fixed and bolted to joists. Heavy uprights have been placed under the street-end of main beam:- and bolted through the back wall. I now

consider the building satislaclory. Roc.-ivcd as satisfactory. The licence for the Theatre to be issued accordingly. WATER SERBIA'. I have the lamer to report that the following are the depths of wafer shown lit the reservoir as from the Ist. May,

May 13th. to 20t1i.. overllowing. In connection with the above report I may state that on the reservoir reading being taken on the <th. inst.. at 5.30 a.m. it was discovered that there was no water coming in and that the depth had gone down to oft. 3ins. The Overseer was immediately notified and with the staff left to locate the break at 9,30 a.ill. On the morning of the 3th. inst.. the reservoir was empty with a considerably reduced amount of water coining in. At 4 p.m. " ith Chairman of Public Works I took a test of water coining in and found it was 80 gals, per minute. Tlie same day the Overseer found that the intake at Lake Knniori had been considerable damaged and was ehoken up with silt- and rubbish. After this was attended to the water coming into the reservoir increased considerably with the result that- in four days it-_ was overflowing- and lias been ever since. From the I3tli. to 19th. inst.. tlie pressure has been kept on continuously and about it ins of water was flowing

out from the overflow this morning at 8.30 o’clock. —Received. RESERVES AND CEMETERY COMMITTEE REPORT.

Your Committee has the honor to report that a Visit has beetl paid to the Hokitika Cemetery and the members of the Committee approve oF immediate steps being taken to expend tlio £25 already granted for the clearing tip of the grounds. Labour is to he put on at once to assist the Sexton in this urgently necessary work. It is regretted, however, that the amount is quite inadequate for the work in sight, hut your Committee proposes to use tlie available funds as far as the money will go, and to report subsequently as to additional requirements. The older portions of the Cemetery are in a. very over-grown state and many of the graves of the early pioneers are sadly overgrown. It would appear now that the district is nppraoching its Diamond Jubilee, some effort should be made to have the poition of the Cemetery referred to specially attended to and the Council is asked to make a special grant towards that purpose. Some small works in regard to drain piping and tilling wore authorised through the Sexton, also a small ex-

penditure for the Sexton’s Residence. Your Committee further suggests that the proposals formerly made with regard to tile utilisation of Whitcombo Square for residential purposes be taken in band, and your Committee authorised to report as to the. procedure and probable cost* of having the Square ill question C ut up roaded and drained to the best advantage for the object in mind. —Received aud approved. FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE.

1 have honour to submit for your information the attached .statement of receipts and expenditure of the Library and Museum Accounts for the two yea is ending March 31st., 1923.

In doing so your Committee would like to point out that when they came into olliee there was a debit balance of £7O. They have not only succeeded in paying this amount off but are banding over the management to the l new Committee with substantial credit balances in Kith jjibrnry and Museum Accounts, totalling £O7 14s 4d. When the Committee, took office there were only 39 subscribers, during the last, two years the number lias

•keen increased to 90. Thanks tc £25 allowed by the Council the Committee were enabled to purchase a number of new hooks, tin’s resulted in a considerable increase in the number of subscribers and with the extra money received by wav of subscriptions 5.13 new hooks have been purchased, G extra magazines taken, also the N.E. Rost Office Directory. The installing if the electric light by the Council lias I ecu n great bonelit to the Library. The electric light is supplied at a flat late of 25s per month. The thanks of the Council is due to Messrs Coulson and King their representatives on the old Committee, also to Mr Wild., the subscribers’ representative for their valued assistance at all times. Thanks is also due to the Librarian Mr D. Tourney, who lias been most attentive in bis duties, and has proved himself a popular officer. l’n connection with the Museum the thanks of the Council are due to the following for financial assistance received. viz. : Hokitika Savings Bank. Westland County Council, and to Air H. Aid .can. The thanks or the Council is also due to Air J. B. Ward. Hon. Auditor. Tn conclusion the Committee hog to recommend that Afr R. A 5 ild be reappointed as the subscribers’ representatives.

Ucecivcd. The statement showed i lie Free |>ul,lie Library receipts for two years totalled £lO5 Ss (id, incl uding CMS 17s fx 1 from subscriptions, while the expenditure including Llol Os fid b»i hooks and papers amounted to Mol ills Sd, leaving a credit balance ol L' lit 17s 10(1. The .Museum account for the same period showed receipts of £(>o Ids. i liepurchase of specimens cost Clit, cartape and freight Ms <>d, leaving a credit balance of £2:3 Ms lid. .Mr C'oulson said the condition of the library linanees were in a better condition now than ever before. Thanks were due to the Committee, especially llio Chairman '.Mr Wood) lor their excellent work. The ..Mayor also eulogised the work of Mr Wood in eonneetion with the library and museum. 01! OKU PAP Fit. Air Couison moved:—"That the Foiestry Department be asked to lurnish the Council with a report on the best method of planting the ocean beach at the rear of the town with a view ol stopping the sand drift and at the same time hcauiiiyiug the foieshoie. —Seconded by -Mr Fruits and carried. Mr Couison moved: —"I hat the >e-

port of a competent engineer fie obtained as (o the wisdom and practicability of installing a second reservoir at tiie foot of the I lan Ilau Hill with a view of supplementing the town water supply.” \IT C.r.ilson suggested if a second reservoir was erected it would always give a reserve of water to draw on in {he ease of an emergency. Mr ileitc/. seconded the motion pro forma, provided the cost did not am into a grent amount. In his opinion the supply to the reservoir was the main requirement, and that first should lie supplemented. Mr Wood was of the opinion that a second pipe line was more of a necessity than a second reservoir. Mr Jeffries said he would move ail amendment that there he added to the motion to enable a report to he obUMned. that Mr J. Macfarlane he appoint-

ed consulting engineer at a salary ot £IOO per year. The .Mayor suggested that it would he advisable to give the Council more time to consider such an important suggestion. Air Jeffries agreed to give notice of motion for next meeting. Air Coulson suggested that further consideration of bis motion be also held over till next meeting and this course was agreed to. j The Council rose at 9.30 p.m.

viz. : --- May l<t ... S 0 Mav -ml 7 9 ,\|.iv 3nl ... 7 fl Mav 4th .. 7 0 _Ai.iv -3 th ... D 1 .Ma v Glli 11 0 (Dins, from overflow.) May 7th ... .... r, 3 May 8th Empty .May Dth ... 8 .May 10th ... r, 3 A1 a y 11 th ... D 0 May 18th ... 10 c