HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1923, Page 1

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, OCT. 2(51 It

Tho Council met at 7.30 p.m. Present : Messrs G. A. Perry (Mayor!, It M. Coulson, G. A. AYoocl, J. King. AY Jeffries, D. J. Evans, \V. I). Mnckny, R F. I’erham, J. Lloyd, and G. Heinz, Tho minutes were confirmed and outward corespondenco approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE

From Public Trust Office acknowledging receipt of interest due on abattoir loan account —Received 1* l’oni G. A\ ilson asking for water connection to premises.—Received; request granted on usual conditions. From S. Nolan asking for read i Tossing to property.—Received and agreed

to on usual terms. Front AY. Robinson again referring to request fur drainage connection io his premises, Weld Street. - Received. Mr Heinz stated the cost of the required work would be substantia! and ho thought that as only one householder was alfeeteil, lie should lie asked to lind part, of the cost. Air Evans said the overflow of the water drainage was unsightly and it should ho attended to ■it once. Air .Jelfries said its the work would be of special advantage to tinowner ho should bo required to pay bait the cost. Referred to Public Works

Committee to confer with writer. Front the Board of Health. Wellington. acknowledging letter of Council re sewerage scheme, stating they had no engineer available to report on scheme, but that, the Public Works Department were being approached.—’Received. Front Otira Tunnel Celebration Committee forwarding statemnt of cost of celebration proceedings amounting to £57 Os Od, including £2O for Otira children's treat and £3O 10s for refreshments, the Hokitika Borough Cottneil’t share iteing £(i and tho County Council £!) 10s Oil.—Received. Air Evans said that he was not a member of the Council at tin- lime of tho conference. Air Lloyd representing the Council. He (Air Evans) represented the Progress League when it had been agreed to give the children a treat, but as delegate of the Progress League he had later declined to approve of refreshments being provided. Air Lloyd said the Confernee appointed an executive committee to carry out tho arrangements. At the meeting there was no discussion on

the cost. Air Wood moved the amount he paid. Seconded by Afr Jeffries and carried. From Department, of Health in reference to an objectionable stable, arid notifying improvement.—Received owner to bo notified. From James O’Brien, ALP., notifying visit of Hon J. CL Coates on November Dili, to Hokitika and Ross.—Received. Mr Evans moved that tho matter Ire left in the hands of the Mayor to act. —Seconded by Afr Coulson and carried. Front West-land branch of the Canterbury Progerss League, inviting a renewal of the vote, to the League.-—Re-ceived. It- was resolved that the usual donation of £5 5s ho voted. REPORTS.

Emm Treasurer reporting receipts £21)0 Ins Oil. payments £3OB IBs nil, debit tialam o.£-107 Ls B)d.—Received. Air Evans moved:—“That. in view of the expansion of the town, and tho necessity tor securing additional general income for tho adequate maintenance of the Borough, a revaluation he applied lor to ttikc effect- in the 1-24-25 rating year.” Mr Evans said il was a vital matter to the Council. There was a large amount of work required, and the money available was not sufficient to do what'was asked for. The present valuation is about £(>1,000. a drop of about £500:1 on what il- was in 1011. The rates were not sufficient to pay for the improvements that were asked for. lie was quite satisfied that the present valuation was far too low. The prices put on sections by vendors arc in sonae instances ten times more than the piesent valuation, lie believed in a new valuation being taken, idler lb years, lie was quite satisfied Hint Lite Council would get a sub-Tiinl ially increased in-

come iu the present rate per pound. All .lell'ries seconded the motion and heartily supported. lie knew ol a property that was sold four times iu ton years. It was valued at £2O iu the bonks, but the last time it was sold ill. ClO'b In another instance a property in the books at £1 ID had been toil in half and one pari sold at ClbD, but still the value ol the whole properly stood ill the rate book at £1 Kb The question was one ol general iittp-oi latn-e and he .supported ilie motion. Air Heins’, supported the motion. Illconsidered that the rates wen- verv low. far less Ll•:iit in other places. ft Hiere was :i revaluation it did lint mean increased rates. In the near future they would have to make substantial repairs to the pipe line of the water supple, lb- had made an inspection, and he would not be prepared to guarantee the supply line for live minutes at a. time. lie assured tlu-m that an expenditure of £10,11) was required oil the Han 1 [aii-Tuekcr Flat set-lion of the limb Air ConN.on said he took it that Hs positon at tile last i-icei eoi :i: l .-r oc bo,, expressed bis opinions against the Proposal was u mandate, and be would 1 1, ere fore oppose it. considering it was not required. He was not prepotvit to support a revaluation, which meant an increase in rates. It the vnlualiett was increased, the Hospital Board levy ol the Borough would he increased while that of the County Council would l>e decreased. The public works loan was going to reduce their expenditure, out o ordinurv revenue, and he thought t.lieie was tin’necessity for the proposal being given effect to at present. *" Air Alackny said they could not carry on with their present revenue. Tie was struck by the fact that the reads wore uni. maintained, and that further re venue was required. The Alayur said that he thought mat next year tho Government, subsidy io Hospital Boards would probably mean a reduction of the levy by one third. He

did not approve of the unimproved rating in a borough like Hokitika, though that was not a matter for discussion at this juncture. Air Perham said they needed more money spent than they could get by the present valuation. Ho recognised that the present valuation was ltir too low, and he would -iippurt the motion. Mr Jeffries said though ho was not top of the poll he wished to say that be had strongly urged that a new valuation be made.

-Mr Evans said he was also omphalic when speaking to the ratepayer.-, and at tho hye-cleetion lie had heeu returned at the top of the poll (laughter), and thcrforc could consider ho also had a mandate from tho ratepayers. Air Coulson had said tho time was inopportune. but only a fortnight ago he had stood up and said thev wanted more funds. If a now valuation were made it would not necessarily mean an increase of the rates, but it would make the rating more equitable, increasing some nnd reducing others. Air CouKoii had inferred that the proposal was KUule lor the benefit of the County, hut

lie denied this, though he would point out that the Comity had had two valuations made since the Borough had been hist valued, and the County had benefited by them considerably. The proposal was made to bring the values into line. It there were any values out of reason then they shonld ho brought into line, and if the equity of this meant that the Borough would have to patmore men they should he prepared tit pity a fair share.

.Mr Coulson rose to explain that he bad not stated that the question was raised in tho interests of the County. -Mr Evans—You inferred it. Air Coulson—All he had said that if the valuation was raised the Borough would have to pay more of the Charitable Aid rate and the Countv less. 1 he .Mayor expressed the opinion that it. was not advisable at present to carry the mot ion. 'The motion was put anil lost on the casting vote of the Mayor. Ayes—Mesrs Evans, Jeffries, Pelham. Alackny and (Heinz. Noes—. Messrs Coulson, Wood, King, Lloyd and Mayor.

Air Heinz moved:—“That applications bo invited for a competent person to act exclusively as Borough Overseer at a salary of £350 per year. The position to be advertised in -the Hokitika and Christchurch papers, and the person appointed to be deputed to reorganise the staff to meet requirements.” Air Heinz said he wished to say that Hie present Overseer and himself were the best of friends, and lie did not desire tbe Council to lose the services of Air Mill nor. He felt they should get a competent overseer ami allow him to reorganise the stall’. He felt that

if they wcr 0 going to get value for their money, they must have a capable officer, able to take levels, and carry out the work required on scientific principles. The tim 0 was past for the old happy-go-lucky style. They should carry out their work on proper up-to-date lines. Air Wood seconded pro forma. Tie did not think there was anv necessity for another overseer.

The Alavor said it- seemed that they t would put on an overseer to look after three men. He did not think it would bo an economy. They had a consul t- ’ ing engineer anil there would be 100 ' large a staff for the work to he done. Air Evans said he felt the matter , should he referred to the Public Works , Committee to report. He thought that something should be done to improve . the present manner in which the works were carried .out. Some system of reorganisation was required, and they shonld have more regular reports front their officer, of the actual work carried out. He moved that the matter be

referred back to the Public Works Committee to submit a report on the best methods of carrying on the work of the Council. .Mr Alackay seconded the amendment. He considered that some reorganisation was absolutely necessary. The Afayor said the main trouble was that their staff were often trilled away on oilier works, especially for attention to the water supply and this prevented steady wot!;. Air Jeffries suggested Mint the Committee. should consider a suggestion that the office of Engineer and Town Clerk bo combined in otto officer.

Afr Heinz asked leave to withdraw Ids motion in favour of tbe amendment. This was agreed to and the amendment, of Afr Evans was carried. AITSCELLAXF.Or.s’. Air AVoods suggested Hint instead of temporary repairs being effected to the. Free Library roof, that the permanent work he carried out at once. Air Heinz outlined the work in hand stating that it had not. been possible to secure the required workmen". Tbe temporary repairs were effective. Hut the main work was tho thorough plastering of the parapet, the condition of this being responsible for the large majority ,1 the leakage, and no! the roof itself as had been thought. After discussion it was resolved fo continue the temporary work in hand ami to hold over the permanent work till after the exhibition. Air Alackay moved: ‘•That the consulting engineer be directed to ’ repare plans and estimates for tbe raising. wid’ ring and draining of the section of AY ild '-'reci. lying between j Bealey ami Biittan Street-, and that, i immediately on receipt of the Eu- j ginc-er's re;.on. the above '•'•or!:- be; undertaken." Alt- Ji-ilTic- seconded Hie moth.ii. Air Con Hon sab! at last meeting a ; motion It., had moved was lost on the j grounds that it wa* not in rot;.turn el i the public works list drawn up bv the Council. The .Mayer said he felt that the toad needed attention, and lie suggested that tho road be gravelled meantime. A general discus-ion followed, alter which the .Mayor moved that the motion stand adjourned until the Council as a whole visited and inspected the street next: Wednesday at 2 p.m. This was seconded b v Air Coulson and agreed to. ■

Mi- Evans said there was a "rent deal of inconvenience about the rail- ■ way station owing to work their being from Fridays till Mondays about 10 a.ni.. while there was no work going on in connection with the overhead way. and Stafford Street was blocked. He urged that the Railway Traffic Manager be urged to speed on the work so that the present inconvenience- be reduced as much as possible. Now that the trains moved fiom the new station. Stafford Street was completely blocked near train time. There was also the necessity of pushing on the work speedily. The goods shed had to be shifted and th P work' meant a lot of inconvenience in the near future. The Mayor seconded and supported the motion which, was ag:eed to. TENDERS FOR GRAVEL. Tenders for supply of gravel were received from P. Coyle and T. Stoploitli at 3s per yard. J. Cameron 3s lOd. It was resolved that the tenders of P. Coyle and T. Stopforth be accepted, each to supply lOOyards. The Council rose at 0.20 p.m.