MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 19 January 1931, Page 7

MOTUEKA

BOROUGH COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Molueka Borough Council was held on Thursday evening and was attended by (ho Mayor (Mr S. P. Clay) and Councillors R. York, J. C. Roves and H. Trewavas. Apologies for absence were tendered on behalf of Councillors S. E. liulbert, L. E. Rhodes and E. S. Wratt and leave of absence was granted. Accounts amounting to £173 7s 5d (General account £lls 11s Bd, Electric account £57 15s 9d) were passed for payment, leaving a bank overdraft of £3491 8s 6d. Other accounts were: Electric Light Loan, fixed deposit, £l5O. current account £6l 13s Id, total £2ll 13s IdLibrary account, fixed deposit £545 3s lOd; Cemetery Account £4 '7s 9d; Domain Account £ls 5s 9d. With reference to the confirming of minutes of a general committee meeting held on the Bth January, Councillor York raised an objection to the minute authorising Mr Knapp to complete the stone crusher. He stated that the committee set up to go into the matter was to ascertain the cost of completion. No approximate* cost could be given by the contractor; and, in view of tin's fact, he strongly objected to the spending of Borough money in the dark. As far as be could see the cost of completion might be £lO or it might bo £IOO. There was no drawing of the work and nothing in writing to say what the approximate cost would be. Councillor York moved an amendment (seconded by Councillor Trewavas) that that portion of the minutes, authorising Mr P. V. Knapp to complete the .stone crusher, be deleted. Councillor Boves stated that the alterations, according to available information, would not cost more than £l2O. An amount of £7O bad already been paid ; and if Councillor York’s wish was carried into effect that amount would be entirely wasted for the crusher in its present condition was useless. It was reasonable to think, in view of Mr Knapp’s remarks, that the completion of the work would not exceed a further £SO.

When put to the meeting the amendment was defeated on the casting veto of the Mayor. Councillors York and Trewavas voted for the amendment and Councillor Boyes and tho Mayor against. The following correspondence was dealt with: Mr W. A. Coppins wrote asking the Council to renew the fence between the Council’s property and his own and to charge him with his share of tho cost. It was decided that the Mayor interview Mr Coppins regarding the fence. Ten residents at the Old Wharf end of the Molueka beach, in a written statement, complained of the brackish and absolutely unfit state of water in the well for drinking purposes; and stated that they had to depend upon a tank supply. Picnickers to this particular part of the beach were also compelled to call upon the various baches for water, which owing to the dryness of the season, had to bo refused. It was suggested ill the statement that Hie existing well he sunk another 25 feet, when it‘ was anticipated that good water would he found. This matter was left to Councillors Trewavas and Hulbcrt with power to act. . . Mr S. E. Halbert wrote apologising for absence and wished the Mayor and Councillors a happy and prosperous new year. . Mr W. Uron wrote drawing attention to quantity of dead wood in gum trees along Eearou street, which was.a, danger to tho public. I ho letter was deferred until next committee meeting. The Times Book Club notified that a consignment of books for tile Motueka Library had been shipped from London per the Rangitiki. The letter was received. ’ . XT The Libraries’ Association ot New Zealand notified that the next conference of the Libraries Association of New Zealand would be held at Timaru in February.—lt was resolved that Hie Council be’ not represented at the conference. _ , . , The Public Works Department forwarded copy of an Order-in-Couiicn exempting the southern side of portion of Whakarewa street and the eastern side of portion of Grey street in the Borough of Molueka from the Provisions of Section 128 of the Public Works Act 1928, subject to a condition as to the building line. The letter was reMr G. C. Black. AI.P., advised that the Hon. J. B. Donald, PostmasterGeneral, had replied to lum regarding the proposal that a public call office should be provided in the Borough of Mot-ueka. He pointed out that the monev available this financial year for the provision of public call office facilities, had already been allocated and that the matter’ would be reviewed when the. programme for next year was being formulated. It was resolved (Councillors York and Trewavas) that Air Black be thanked for his efforts on behalf of the CounThe Nelson Unemployment Committee wrote asking if the Council would consider the matter of forming local unemployment committees, so that committees could co-operate to the mutual advantage of the people in their districts. , . .. 4s all men who had made application for work were now employed it was decided to take no action at preb°Tho Municipal Association of New Zealand forwarded a circular letter, directing attention to Section 13 of the Finance Act 1927 (No. 2) which provided that tlie Minister of Finance may authorise that fines inflicted as a result of prosecutions by local authorities for offences under Statute Law may be paid to the local authority. A general direction in accordance with this section was given by the Minister of Finance in December 1927, authorising all such fines to be paid to local authorities concerned, as from lstl January, 1928. The letter was received. , T , . The Alarine Department (Inspector of Machinery) wrote, in reply to Hie Borough’s electrical engineer, drawing bis attention to Paragraph 31 of the reirulalions and stating that lie was unable to comply with his request regard-

iirg the fitting of diaphragms instead of safety valves.—Tile letter was received. It was resolved (Councillors Boyes and Trewavas) that the engineer be authorised to procure a safety valve in accordance with regulations. The Waimca Electric Power Board wrote regarding tho Council’s letter of 28th November re the Board’s taking over the Alotueka electric light" plant Is. copy of which was forwarded to Alessrs Y’iclcerman and Lancaster (tho Board’s consulting engineers) for their opinion. The Board had received a letter from Alessrs Yickerman and Lancaster asking to be supplied with a copy of the Council's statistical return for last year, showing the cost of the various parts of the electric supply system and the operating results for the same. The clerk stated that the required information had already been furnished.

Tho Inspector of Health (Mr H. C'oltman) in his .report for the month of December stated, iyter alia: “Since my last report there has only been one case of infectious disease notified, that being a mild case of erysipelas. It is pleasing to note that the Borough lias had exceptionally few cases of any infectious diseases during the past twelve months. Building operations still continue to he fairly active and numerous drainage inspections have been made. | I propose to obtain a sample of, water for analvsis this month from the municipal offices; not that 1 think the source of water supply is polluted. This step will avoid taking any risk. Ordinary inspection work has been carried out re inspection of stores and food sellers premises.” ... Mr Henderson (electrical engineer) intimated that lie wished to visit Nelson for the week-end and would pay someone to take his place. Leave of absence was granted. f Councillor York, in accordance with his notice of motion tabled at the last meeting, moved that tlie Council procure written estimates from all business firms engaged in their particular class of business relating to manufacture and repairs, which the Council require t.n be done, when the work is likely to cost more than thirty shillings, unless in cases of extreme urgency. Councillor York contended that his proposal was the only fair and just method the Council could adopt whereby all business people interested in the particular work to lie done, would have an equal chance of tendering. the council would alss be in a position to know in advance what expenditure would lie necessary on any given work and tenders if filed would provide useful information for future-occasions. Councillor Trewavas and tho Mayor supported the motion hut (.ouiicilloi. Boy os voted against it on the grounds. Unit no work, involving a sum of money was ever proceeded with before the. Council had g'ono into the matter and given its sanction by resolution. " The dog tax for the ensuing year was fixed at, 2s bd and 10s as formerly. It. was derided to call applications for position as dog-tax collector at a remuneration of sixpence per collar. ,\ special meeting was arranged for Monday. 26th January, for the purpose of fixing the statutory half holiday.