HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1923, Page 1

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

TUESDAY NO YE AIDER 13th. The Council met at 7.40 p.m. Present:—.Messrs G. A. l’eny (.Mayor), H. AI. Coulson, J. King, J). J. Evans, AY. Jeffries, R. F. Perham, W. I). Alaekay, and G. Heinz. MOTION OF CONDOLENCE.

The .Mayor referred to the bereavement suffered by .Mr J. Afillner (Overseer) by the death of Ins wife, find moved that a letter conveying the deep sympathy of the Council in the sad loss lie had sustained, lip forwarded to Air .Milliter. Seconded by Afr Coulson and carried in silence. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. IXWARI) CORKESI'O-NDKXCE, Fiom State Advances Office forwarding £IOOO on account ol loan. - ■Received. From X. Z. Railways, notifying fak-

ing portion of swimming baths for railway purposes.- Received. From District Knginecr of Railways Grey mouth as follows: “On tho 17th. July last your Coiini il agreed to the closing of Stafford Street railway crossing on condition that certain other streets were improved.

"Aiy staff is fully occupied with stai ion yard improvements at Hokitika. I mentioned to His Worship the A jay or some time ago that it would he more suitable to the Department to give your Council a grant in full satisfaction of the street improvements agreed upon. “L have pleasure in informing you Ihat I have received approval to offer your Council the -inn of £BOO for improving the streets mentioned. “The Department will in addition to this sum of £BOO supply and lay the (Sin. pif.es in the drain in the North side of Hampden -Slieel between the railway line and the East side of Sewell Street. “I attach for your information a schedule of quantities. "Will you please place this proposal , before your Council early.”

From Same, telegram offering £875 for street improvements.—Received, Ihe .Mayor staled he had conferred with Afr AlcVilly on the matter, and Hit' latter offer was a result. He thought that the amount if exjiomlcil by the Council would be sufficient to meet Hie requirements ol the Council, lie moved that the offer of the Railway Department he accepted. .Seconded bv Air Jeffries.

Mr Evans asked that Hampden street crossing he attended to at once. The .Mayor said that they would all recognise that Hampden street crossing was an urgent matter. Air Evans moved that the Public Works Committee take immediate stejis In put Hampden Street crossing in order. Seconded b,V ill- Afa.vor and carried. From l.ewis and Wells, stating that Mr Thus. Staines bad purchased all Air J*. .limes’ rijrlit- to reserve* near racecourse, and asking approval of transfer. Received and approved. From AVnrren and Feeney asking for water connection to premises Gibson Quay.—Received ; request granted on

usual conditions. piom Hokitika School Committee asking that drain in Ilrittau Street he eoimeeted with drain in school grounds. - Keceiml; Public Works Committee to attend to it. l'ion; W. Robinson attain referring la request fat sewerage connection and u-king lor an carlv decision.—Received. Mr Heinz said he hrd hceii unable to got a lull meeting. Tic moved that Mr IVrliam lie added to the Committee making live. Seconded hy .Mr Coulson. Mr .IcH'ries said lie had noticed that hvo members were continually absent and they wore members of the Public Works Commit tee. He thought they should cither attend or gel out. Tie uas sorry these members were not pre-

m'iii in hear the complaint made. The Mayor said Councillors should i.nt go on the ( emmiltae if they did not intend to at tend.

Mr Perham said ho was a busy man. hut he was prepared to take a seat in view of the difficulty .Mr Heinz was working under. Mir Mackey supported and regretted the laxity of other members of the Committee.— Motion agreed to. prom (biverinneiit Audit Inspector, i n<|tiiring as to incorporation of the l.ihiary Committee. Received and referred to the Finance Committee to report. Prom A. A. Andrcwes, applying for annual leave, -lteeeived. and request granted. From Mis-. R. Mandl notifying transfer of reserve from estate of .1. .Mandl to herself.— Received; consent given. prum Park and .Murdoch, notifying transfer of High School reserve section to W. Berry.— lteeeived and approved. I Prom Health Department forwarding copy of plumbing regulations. Roceivp'niiii British and Tutor-Colonial T’.xhibition Committee, asking for water i auiTcction. Received wid request granted. prom Health Officer. Christchurch, forwarding certificate of condemnation on a residence. .Received; to he attended to. From Hokitika Athletic and Cycling Cluh, asking for use of Cass Square for .January Pth. for cycling sports.—Received ; request granted on usual terms. From Beautifying Association asking permission to close certain gates in Cass Square for a time.- Received and request granted. REPORTS. From Treasurer reporting receipts. C 1 I AO 18s (Id; payments £d2" 2s 3d; credit ha lance £35 lbs sd. That £2005

Us 8d of the rates had l>cou received, being about 50° o of the whole amount. the rebate granted amounting to £lO2 17s lid.—Received. Account- amounting to £952 Us M "ere passed for payment. From Manager of Abattoirs (J. Jarman} reporting during October there "ere examined—l 3 cows, 28 lambs. 89 bullocks, 299 sheep 2 lambs, (j pig-. 2 calves. Condemned 1 bullock, J sheep. 1 pig. Fees for period £75 Is Cd.— Received. I lie I own Clerk .submitted a report on the reserves of the town.—Received; to be discus-od at next meeting. I >VER SF EE'S REPORT. During the month, the staff have been most n| the time engaged laying pipes in Sale Street drain and making connect inns with residences for drainage pnrpeses. About ten chains have been laid.

Ihe bill in Rnlleslon Street has been cut away and sjmil graded towards Stafford Street, but it still requires about 100 yards ol filling to bring it up to formation level.

The wooden pipes between Stafford Street and the top of the bill in Rol. festou Street, have been taken up and temporary connections with residences made with half-inch galvanised jiijies. The pipe line on Tucker’,s Flat has caused a. good deal of trouble during the past month, four trips being made to repair breakages caused through tho wire lusting away and allowing the water to escape, one place in particular requires 55 I eel of new jiipies to make it safe.

A new floor and mixing board has been put down at the shed in Beach Street, and about 1 (bain of 18 inch pipes made. Mr 'Shannon has delivered 25 18-ineli moulds and we will now bo able to mulct l double the quantity that was possible before. The horse aiid dray lias been fully occupied, repairing streets and stiectcleaning. Dining the month three crossings have been jiut into sections and several water connections made to residence-. also general maintenance works, street and drain cleaning attended to during the pei iod.—Received. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT. At a meeting of the Public Works Committee held on the 7th. idem., it was decided to make the following recommendations in connection with the reorganisation of the working staff, viz.:— (1) That tho jiermaiicul staff consist of: (a) Overseer at £22 pc-r calendar month, (b) Leading man at £2O per calendar month (applications in be called (or this position', and (c) Assistant at Cl 7 10- per calendar month. All casual labour lo be paid at the rate of 15s |)er day.

(2! All work authorised by the Council shall he handed by the Town Clerk in wril dug to the Overseer, mid on receipt ot th.c instructions the Overseer shall'have them attended to promptly. (•'i Thu maintenance staff shall be kept up to lull strength and that strength eoil'eenr rated on maintenance work. Should any of tile permanent staff Ire engaged on Loan Works, their places to be filled by casuals. (•I) I ..tin Works carried out by clay labour shall be carried out by an independent gang, with a ganger in charge. (d) Concrete pipe-making—A gang to be put on lor tin's work, with a competent man in charge. • 0 In future pipe drain contracts, the contra; tor shall lay the pipes and allow £L per day for one of the permanent staff to join the pipes. (7) The Overseer shall see that all employees arc punctual at starting time and that they work full time. Any undue slackness on the part of an employee shall he reported by the Overseer to the Chairman of the Public Work.- Committee.—Received and cousideied clause by clause.

A long discussion took place on clause I. and ultimately on the motion ol Mr Pvans, seconded hy Mr Coulson. Clause i was referred hack to the Committee for reconsideration. Tlie other clauses acre approved. Mr Heinz moved:--‘•That the engineer-ii)-c!mrge of the l.oan Works bo instiucfcd to prepare plans and specifications to enable tentiers to bo invited for the carrying out of the following works, viz: (a) The extension of Bcnlo.v Street from Park to Tudor Streets, including drainage, forming and metalling of the stioet and footpaths; (in The extension of llall Street, mid <f the ISin concrete pipe diaiu ol Hall Street, from Park to Tudor Streets." Sat muled by Air .Jeffries and carried. The Council lose at h. 20 p.m.