BOROUGH COUNCIL

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 26, 27 April 1938, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETINID The monthly meeting of the Opo-tiki Borough Council was held in the borough chambers /ast niglit. Present : the Mayor (Mr. G. S. Moody), Councillors /V. G. Stevenson E. i. short and T. G. Johnson; Mr. W. H. Briggs (town clerk). The minutes ot the previous meeting wore read and confirmed and outward correspondence approved. Accounts were passed for payment as follows District; Fund Account, £294 19s 2d; Wharf account, £99 Ws 7c!, cemetery accom, £4 ISs 2d; Do main Board account, £1 6s lid; total, £340 16s IC'd. Bank balances were shown as follows: —District fund account. (dr.) £363 6s 4d; wharf account, (cr.) £383 9s 8d; Domain Board account, (dr.) £'3o 13s lid; cemetery account, (cr.) £22 : 12s 7d. inward correspondence. Inward correspondence was dealt with as follows : Arthur’s Park. —A suggestion was received from Mary Wi Re pa that the reserve near the wharf should be renamed Waitangi and also that Grey Street should lie renamed. The letter contained historical reasons for the suggested alterations. In view of the fact that the council was holding its last meeting and the need for further information, it was decided to reply stating that the council viewed the proposal sympathetically and further consideration would be left to the incoming .council —Cr. Johnson suggested that in the event of the reserve’s name being altered that a good name for the cricket reserve would be Arthur’s Park.

Taxi Licenses. —-The office of the Minister of Transport forwarded a circular letter in which it was stated that complaints had been made of the excessive number of taxi licenses issued by some local bodies. It was suggested that the council refrain from issuing further licenses if they affected the owners of the. existing taxi services to any extent. —The letter was received. A further letter from the same office referred to the number of accidents t 0 children and stated that suitable posters and stickers had been prepared for a campaign to draw attention to same. The council was asked to cooperate. —It was decided to procure a dozen posters and a quantity of stickers.

Hikutaia Domain. —The Gilt Guide Committee wrote re the upkeep of the Hikutaia Domain and asked for the council’s co-operation. Councillors said Mr Potts deserved great praise for the work lie had done at the Domain. —Cr. Johnson said the letter did not make it clear what was to be done with the funds and thought further information should he seenred. —1 lie council decide to ' defer consideration and t 0 point out that the conned was in sympathy with the movement.

River Protection. —A letter was rc_ reived from Messrs Jones and Adams in connection with the river protection work below the Otara bridge.— it was stated that the ,011 m 1! awaited, further information. Thanks. —The Territorial Association wrote thanking the council for a donation to the funds.

Proposed Loan. —The 'Treasury wrote re the preposed municipal buildings loan and stated that the matter-.wqulil; be reconsidered by the Loans. Boanjjjj^! Erosion near Pipe.—The Council wrote in connection with' erosion of the Otara river bank 'b'elb)vy the Tutaetoko stream and stated th^t' : the matter had been referred tq tliai-i engineer for a report. —M-r. Brigjfe said the County Council bad missed ■ the main point—the request that council should co-operate and afek Governnmt for assistance. gj Ranger’s Report.—The borpngh, ranger reported that four horses?3jwM been impounded. Mr. Morel 1 askeckijjMfs' written authority to destroy all <ipgfc for which he could not find The report was approved and quests, which included the annual leave, granted. fA Health. —-The health inspoet&y,'#'• port showed that the town was; dear of infocti<)Ti^3i&eW^A''k;G < ;»V-r-c-.. ;

The Bandi-rrThe, towhi - plcrkeiis requested at a preview's ed lengthy extracts from' 1 Tmhtt^sf iii; connection with the history of‘the,Opotiki band. It . was shown that the council first' took over instruments in 191 b. Over one period of fifteen years the average cost to the- couJsdtT' Meeting. —lt' was. ‘decided ; ta.hold |

special meeting on the 10th. May. The Mayor in referring-' to the fact that it was the last monthly meeting of the present council, thanked imembers of the council 1 for their assistance during his term of office. He felt there was a Jot to do in thi>. future and hoped councillors would rti jjn offer their services. He also wished to thank the press and members of the, borough staff. V Cr. Short said the majority of the works they intended to. carry out had been completed. Others were outside the control of the council and could not be completed but he hoped that in the near future these works would be carried out. They had had to put up with the unfinished works for some time but be hoped there would be no further delay.

Cr Johnson said he endorsed Or Short’s remarks. He had not intended putting in liis nomination but had reconsidered his decision that day and decided to try for another term of office. There was a. lot of work to be done in beautifying the town and they also wanted a town hall. He hoped the ratepayers would have an opportunity of voting on the question of a municipal building. Mr. Briggs also spoke briefly and said lie-hoped the present councillors would be returned. Cr. Short said he would like to thank the press for the discretion shown in reporting the council meetings.

WORKS REPORT The following report was submitted* for the period ending 26/4/33: — Highways ; Bridge Street has been scarified and coated with 20 yards Otal’a, Stone, 20 yards river shingle and 32 yards of chips from the hopper and the read is just about up to the grade lor sealing. Verv little patching could be none on the asphalt highways on account ot the showery weather. Streets: Wellington Street on the block we were to oil lias been scarified up, metalled 4 inches deep, graded and rolled. Scarified Metalled and Rolled: Bridge Street East and most of the

intersections in the borough. A number of streets patched and rolled.

Metal graded on to. crown of roads and rolled during the showery weather. Wharf road scarified and covered with Otara stone, rolled and graded. King Street sealed with mexplialt 24 ft. wide 7 chains long but on account of three boats a week arriving lately the work lias been held up but, everything is ready to finish the job at first opportunity.

Footpaths: Weeds kept cut and

grubbed- off in some places. All blackberry in the borough streets

grubbed, cut and burnt. Rubbish, spoil and weeds carted off borough streets and dump levelled up. The big shed at borough yard lias been cleaned out and tlie floor sealed, also the floors of the new sheds, a stand for the drums of oil erected and a locker built for tlie drivers tokeep tools etc. Drains: A drain lias been cut to

drain Church Street and Ford Street to connect with Mr Cave’s drain. A deviation made in the drain in Brabant Street to enable Mr Mravicli to erect his fence pending the making of pipes to take the water under the road.

. - Life-Buoys and lines erected at 4»ba thing slu'ds.

Water : Fire plugs have been cleanzed. The dam scoured out- and the intake .‘cleaned and scour valve blown out. i'A Three water connections have been ' installed and one removed. "New Cemetery: Blackberry and ‘(weeds cut and burnt and ground •.ploughed and scarified. Levelling was f’being carried out when, the rain came "on but the work will be continued (’when it dries up a bit.