HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1926, Page 2

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23rd

Ihe Council met at 7.30 p.m. Pre-sent:—-.Messrs 11. M. Coulson (DeputyMayor, in the chair), G. H. Blank, It. T. Parry, G. Heinz, F. Orr, J. King. Apologies were made for the absence of Messrs Perry, Lloyd, Jeffries and Eleoek. the minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. IXWARD CORRESPONDENCE.

From Returning Officer notifying the election of Mr John Lloyd in place of Mr D. J. Evans resigned.—Received. From J. Lloyd (telegram), apologising for absence from meeting.—Received. From D. J. Evans, resigning position as Councillor as a protest in the lotting of Cass Square to Wirth’s Circus.— Received. Mr Coulson said he felt that every Councillor regretted that Air Evans had taken tip the attitude he had. its he deprecated a Councillor resigning. Mr Evans had proved a conscientious live member of the Council and he regretted he had adopted the action he had'taken. He moved that the Council place on record the valued services rendered by Mr Evans while ;i member of the Council. Seconded by Mr Parry who agreed with the mover of the rained services rendered by Mr Evans. He also wished to know if the Council had passed it resolution to the effect that no animals were to be allowed on Cass Square. If such had been passed and it had not been rescinded the Council had no right to let ■the Square for the purpose. As Chairman of tlto Reserves Committee he (Mr Evans) had been rung up and told the other members of the Council had agreed to the letting of the Square and naturally he had taken umbrage. Mr Evans had been a real good member of the Council and it was regretted he was not at present a member. Mr Blank asked if there was a resolution on the hooks in reference to the letting of Cass Square. The Square was the property of the people and they had the right to use it for any purpose. He thought that in this instance Mr Evans had acted ill a schoolboy fashion when he resigned. As a member of the Council he (.Mr Blank) had agreed to the letting of Cass Square. They were no better off, however. for what they had got from Wirth’s had to go to pay election expenses. Every Councillor had a right to have a say in the letting of the

Square. The Town Clerk replied to Mr Blank stating there was no resolution on the subject in the Council’s hooks to his knowledge. The motion was then agreed to.

From Kmn'nrn County Council notifying Licensing Act revenue for the year was £.32o.—Received. From. Westland County Council notifying Licensing Act revenue for the year was £sfis 11s.—Received. From Fahey and Co. Tvumara. stating that their lorry had gone through a culvert ill Park Street and had been damaged and notifying intention, to claim damages.—Received. Mr Heinz moved that the letter he referred to the Finance Committee to report. Seconded by Air King. Air Blank moved that the letter he received and no action taken. He took exception to a Councillor’s remarks at the time of the accident who he understood had stated that the Council was to blame for the accident. The Councillor should be more careful in his remarks especially in the case of an accident. Air Heinz said that the last speaker had opened liis mouth a little too fast. He should know what he was speaking about first. He (Air Heinz) was an eye-witness of the accident. AVl)at he did say was that the Council should have had the. bridge removed long ago. The Public Works Committee, when he was Chairman had recommended it but the Council bad decided otherwise. That wits not the only bridge that required attention. The culvert in question was included in the Healey Street drain, but the Council took over the work itself and it was only half completed even now. The motion to refer the letter to’ the Finance Committee was agreed to. From Ruuanga Picnic Committee, applying for the use of Cass Square for January 23rd.—Received ; already granted. From Minister of Hospitals stating the Council's letter in reference to the case of typhoid at the A Ten till Hospital and asking for every possible care to he taken to prevent the spread of the outbreak, had been received and was receiving every possible attention.— Received.

From. W. Carter, asking terms for lease of reserve in Davie Street, and if in the event of building would road access he given. A further letter stated that a 15 years’ lease was asked for of Ilowitt Square for market garden purposes.—Received and referred to Reserves Committee. From Wirth’s Circus, applying for the use of Cass Square.—Received The Town Clerk stated a reply paid telegram was received, which lie had taken to the Mayor and on his instructions had rung up all Councillors, who all agreed to the letting of Cass Square except Mr Evans, who was opposed to it. The terms were £25 for one night including £5 license. £3 was also paid for damage done to the Square. .Mr Heinz said with a view to preventing a similar dispute, if in the future any Chairman of Committees

objects to any procedure being taken, that a special meeting of the Council he called to with the matter. Personally, he had agreed to the request. hut he had understood it was for an acrobatic circus. Had lie known it was for Wirth’s Circus he would

have objected. Mr King said lie was in favour of letting the Square and he had been exceedingly pleased at the condition of the Square after the Circus had left. Mr Orr said he was a member of the Reserves Committee hut on a previous

occasion when a request for the use of Cass Square had been refused, he had not been consulted. He thought the Reserves Committee should have been consulted on that occasion. Mr Parry said he had stated in his

previous remarks that he had understood that the Chairman of Reserves (.Mr Evans) had not been consulted until all the others had been spoken to. He though this was not a right procedure.

The Town Clerk stated he had taken his instructions from the Mayor. After further discussion the motion was amended to read that when any

“ Committee ” objects to any procedure taken a special meeting of the Council ho called ” and this was agreed to. From Hokitika Beautifying Society, forwarding fit towards caretaker’s salii rv.—Received. Front New Zealand Railways Manager stating he was glad to hear that the present railway timetable met with the approval of the Council.—Received.

From X.Z. Refrigerating Company, Christchurch, notifying 42 sheep had been killed and sent to Hokitika during November and December.—Received. From KumajHa Jubilee Celebration Committee, thanking Council for vote. —Received.

Front R. J. Redder, cancelling lease of reserve 533, Weld Street.—-Received. From ratepayer In reference to amount of rates due.—Received.

From A. Appleton, applying for lease of reserves, Hoffman Street, at 30s per yemv-Received and offer accepted.

From Manager of Gas Works, applying for a one inch supply from the water main.—Received and agreed to.

From Mrs AL Lynch in reference to payment of rates. Received; Town Clerk to reply. From Blackball Picnic Committee applying for use of Cass Square on Friday, February sth.—Received and agreed to. From Hon H. L. Aficliel (President of the Beautifying Society) including letters from Grey AVatersidcrs Picnic Committee enclosing donation of £2 to the Beautifying Society and stating that tenders for the rights to sell soft drinks on Cass Square had been called for.—Received. It was stated that the right to tea rooms on Cass Square had been given to the Beautifying Society and apparently they had passed over the right to the Picnic Committee for the day. It was decided the Council could tako no action in the matter. From AV. AVhite applying for permission to sell fruit and soft drinks outside Cass Square on 23rd inst.— Received and request granted at 10s per day. From Department of Labor, re half holiday for year.—Received. From Wild and Bassett asking for permission to erect a Bowser petrol pump in front of their premises.—Received and request granted subject to the approval of the Inspector of Explosives. REPORTS. Accounts amounting to £B5l 8s Id wore passed for payment. A vote of £5 was also voted to the employees of Kanieri Electric Ltd for assistance in connection with the water supply. The Treasurer reported receipts £345 Us lid, payments £IBB Is fid. debit balance £4O 18s lOd ; loan account credit balance £391 18s fid.—Received. ABATTOIR COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

AA T e beg to report that the Abattoir Committee have inspected the Slaughterman’s residence at Sea A’iew and have to advise that in their opinion the following work should l>e carried out without delay.

(1) The whole of the roof requires painting, one coat as soon as possible. (2) The building also requires painting, two coats. (3) AVe suggest that at the rear of the cottage over the back door should be protected by a porch and that faulty flooring be repaired where necessary. The Committee are also of opinion that the interior rooms should be icpapered as soon as funds permit. Our estimate of the whole cost of the above work is £fiO. The papering of the inside rooms is not urgent blit will require to he done in the near future.— Received and adopted. From J. Jarman (Manager of Abattoirs) reporting for the month- of December there were examined 15 cows, 35 heifers, 55 bullocks, 207 shoe]), 242 lambs, 21 pigs, G calves. There were condemned 2 pigs. Fees for the month of December £Bl Gs (£B3 8s last year). —Received. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

I beg to report the following works have been carried out during the month ending December. In the first week of the month wu laid seventy eight of concrete pipes (3ft) at the corner of Rolloston Street and Gibson Quay, this we accomplished with very little excavation, by lowering the pipes down and sliding them together underground, the box drain being large enough to fit them together, this saving a lot of excavation work. This drain requires about thirtyfive feet more pipes to finish this work of which we have eighteen in hand. AYo also laid 30ft of six inch pipes under Livingstone Street near H'ngar’s property.

AVe started during the first week cleaning up the footpaths and water tables, also cutting the growth from the side of the streets, we had the Grader on for a day and a half, using the spoil to fill up the large hole in Rolleston Street drain and the drain between Hall and Brittan Street, which we had piped the previous month. On the 21st a timber laden lorry broke through the culvert at the corner of Boa Icy and Park Streets breaking several of the planks. On the following day we repaired ilp finding two of the stringers were also fractured. The lorry was too close to the edge of the culvert, and evidently travelling at too great a speed, as the planking was quite sound. Had the lurry kept in the centre it would not have met with any

mishap. AVe also repaired a number of leaks in the water pipes in various parts of the Town and laid eighty feet of li inch galvanised piping in Hoffman Street to Stewart’s section to connect Hagar’s with a water service; also renewed the service at- Air Dunn’s below the reservior.

On the 27th we went along the pipe line to the Lake, we repaired minor leaks on the way, the supply of water in the reservior has kept up fairly well.

During tHo month Mr Mclntyre resigned the position of Sexton at the Cemertry, and Mr Walsh was appointed in his place. We made nine 3ft concrete and 22 eighteen inch pipes during the month. —Received.

The registration fees for dogs for the year was fixed at 10s (cattle dogs 2s Gd).

Mr King moved that Messrs Blank and Lloyd he added to the Reserves Committee with Mr Orr as chairman. Seconded by Mr King and carried.

Mr Coulson referred to the necessity of bridging some more of the creeks on the road to Waiho and moved that the Council write to the Highways Board urging the bridging of South Westland creeks. Seconded by Mr Parry and carried. The Council rose at 9 p.m.