HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1924, Page 1

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kill DAY. Al'G. -’th. The Council met ut 8 p.m. Present: Messrs G. -V- Perry (.Mayor). 11. M. Conlsnn. J. Lloyd. J. King. G. Heinz. |>. J. Evans and W. D. Mnekay. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. The Mayor welcomed Mr Lloyd hack to the Council table alter his recent trip. IT, m Westland Hospital Hoard asking for u-e of Tow u Hall lor hall, and lor permission to erect a temporary annexe to connect with Drill Shed. - Received and re(|U,'st granted. I'Tom Canterbury Automobile Association. Westland branch, staling the re,|tii'st for the erecti,hi of "drive slowlv" notices near the schools in the town would be acceded to and the notices were Icing procured.- Received with thanks. Knmi Kanieri Kleetrie Ltd. stating the Company was considering the erection of a Diesel engine to Use crude oil. and a-kiiig if " would lie necessary to take out a license for the storage ot oil. Received. The Town Clerk reported that he had telegraphed to the chief Inspector of Explosives. who had i,.plied that it would be necessary to do so.

Krom M. I M. White. e»mplainiiig of state of f»ot|>aths in front „|- their residences. Rev,dl St. and asking for attention. —Received. Krom Mrs Mclntyre, complaining of the slate of the rooms at the cemetery residence. —Received ; referred to the Reserves Committee la report. HOKITIKA KROSIoN. Krom Hon J. G. Coates ( Minister ol Public Works) as follows: — In January. HIM. your Council waited on tlm Hun Sir William Kiascr with reference to the carrying out of protective works w hi,-It were then urgently HccessnlV owing to erosion bv the sea at Hokitika, the object "f your deputation being to ask Sir \\ illiant I' rasei for.a. £ for £ subsidy towards the cost of the work. in April 121 I. when the position had 1,,.c0me more serious, Sir J'T’ii.neis Bell, who was then in Hokitika, agreed that the Government would find half the cost of the work, to lie undertaken immediately. The work cost CiJI.oH. and alter ciunpletiou. your Uumtigh war. asked t" pay its share amounting to £1.170.

In Septet,d»*r. 1217. the Mini'" l ' asked on behalf of the Council to relieve the Council of the payment of any contribution, on the grounds amongst others that 'it was unable to raise any more money with,ml taking a poll ot the ratepayers, and that it would b" 11 ■ dess to end,':t\our to carry the same. In rcplv t" this, the Mayor was iuI,Hom'd that the (Joverntnent could not agro* to m-cepi any less oi'l l’ibulion than originally arranged, as th" Government had undertaken the work i>'iTim' on the Colin, il’’- g""d laitli to honour it- obligations. So lor. the‘mu of £1.177, still remains unpaid, and the Audit Depart lit,oil has dra wu al t"i:t i' u t,> -.uni' malt,os in , nmo ”,ion wit., this whieh an r follow s : 1. Since the date of the agreement (Bill) Government has paid the Rori ~ • i.. t*» |* |, v v.IIV tfl :• 1* H IISI I subsidy. , 2. Dating ■ veal' out <:! toe whieh have elapsed, the Ihorciigh has foiled I" eolleet General Hales to t.c ex lent £2,77". thus relieving me r.itepavc I • wh.se pi p.o’cv has been |,retorted by the expenditure ol public ""o' ''l'in' debt til the Government Inis ~,'vor I:.'on ,:,sri„-rd in the Balance Sheets win.di have annually been submitted to Audit. Had it been disclosed Audit would have re, pared an early adiu'tmenl- , | ’|’he R,.rough la- "ever imp’-scd General Rate- up to the lull statutory limit. I would lie glad t„ know whetlier your Council Ins yet mode arrangement' tor the payment of the sum ,|,ie. Il it would be of any assistance to th" ( mined, that. is. assuming it ihuving dillicultv in raising the money. 1 w<ml,f have no ,:1 i.ji'Ction l" arranging to have annual payments 01. say. i'2"d V ear dedneted Imm tin lilt:"'.'' s" l '- si,'|y on rates. It appears to me tim‘ it w ittld be much better to make an oiler and settle the matter promptly, as accumulated mlerc-l only tend' I" make the debt worse as lime goes on. Mr Jell lies moved that the letter lie ,-eceived I that th" Minister be inf,trine,l that the Council would not be prepared to ,o.,*id,*r the letter until a fre-lt valuation of th- whole bor.mgn had been eafried out. Seconded bv Mr Heinz. The Mayor moved an amendment that the mat ter I e gene into and that a report I ■ made to tl>- Coumll at next meeting. Mr Coul»m seem,led the motion. He thought it was strange