BOROUGH COUNCIL

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 39, 1 June 1938, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING ' WHARF lAJLPJB OVFMKNTS ■K ' • *V% ‘ • • ■ COOL STORAGE QUESTION The monthly meeting of the Opotikj Borough Council was hcicl in the Borough Chambers last night. Present: the Mayor -Mr. G. S. Moody), Councillors S. E-. Webb, T. G. Johnson, G. L. Day,. C. D. Brown. A. u. Stevenson, F. J. Short. F. A\ . Bridger and Mr W. H. Briggs (town clerk). Before business was commenced the new council was sworn in. The town c-lerk first read the declarations and these were then signed by the Mayor and councillors. The Mayor congratulated the old and new members on being elected to the council ana expressed the hope that the council would work in harmony during their term of office. On the motion of the Mayor it was decided to write to the retiring councillors, thanking them for their services to the borough. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. .Accounts were passed for payment as follows: District Fund Account £346 12s, Cemetery Fund Account £l9 14s 3d, Wharf Fund Account £409 11s lid. Domain Board Account £3 lbs 9d. Bank balances were shown as follows: District Fund (dr.) £331 19s lid. Wharf (cr.) £436 14s Id, Domain Board (dr.) £3l 14s 2d, Cemetery (cr) £l6 8s 7d. On the motion of Cr. Johnson the clerk was instructed to supply estimates of the work to be done to the new cemetery to the Opotiki County Council.

Inward correspondence "'as dealt with as follows :—-

A Taxi Complaint. The Opotiki Carriers’ Association wrote complaining that a taxi load of passengers had been taken to the last Tauranga races by one of Air Power a cars, the car not having the necessary T numhcr-plate.— 1 lie clerks reply to the association was approved. Reserves Grant. The lion.' F. Langstone wrote in connection with a grant of £4O and stated that the money could be spent on improvements to the Sandhills Reserve or on other reserves. —It was decided to write thanking tile Minister for the grant. Renaming of Reserves. Airs Wi Repa wrote stating that slio was pleased to learn that the question of altering a street name would be given attention. 1- or the benefit ul the new councillors the dork read Airs Wi Repa’s first letter. Cr Johnson said it would be alright to give the wharf reserve a new name hut at the same time they had to remember what Air Arthur had done for the town. He thought that the present cricket reserve could he called Arthur’s Park. Cr Wehh moved that the wharf reserve he re-named Waitangi Park and the cricket reserve lie named Arthur’s Park. . Seconded by Cr. Short and carried unanimously. The Council decided not to rename* Grey Street “Gundry- Street’’ as it would only lead to contusion. Wharf Improvements. The Opotiki County Council wrote asking if the r improvements at the wharf included provision of a cool store. Cr Johnson suggested that the communications between the Borough Council and the Dairy Association be forwarded to the County Council. At the request of new counci Hois. Cr. Short explained what had taken place between the council and the association. Cr Bridger said it appeared ■ the council had met the association in a very fair manner. Cr Johnson Mud that the extra £4(;(irwould have been of no hem fit to anyone but the. dairy company. Cr Bridger said that any -profits from the wharl went hack to the district. The town clerk said lie* now had a price for a small, cool-room tor the Le Kali a butter as requested by the Te Kaha Company, which was quite -willing to pay the extra farthing wharfage. f

Cr Short said that the first steel had now arrived for the wharf extension after a delay of several months. - ‘

Cr Johnson saidjthe best thing to do would be to go ahead with the building and charge extra for the butter wharfage.

Or Bridger moved that two: members of the council meet- two members of the Dairy Association and endeavour to come: to a satisfactory understanding. Seconded by Cr Brown and carried.

The Mayor and Or Short were appointed to represent the council. Air Smith, of the P.W.D., wrote re maintenance of sealed highways in the county and asked if the. council could do patching work. —Left in the hands of the works committee to discuss with Air Roberts, P.AY.D. engineer. Hospital Levy Increase. The estimates of the Opotiki Hospital Board were submitted by, the hoard’s secretary.—The town clerk stated that the levy on the borough was increased by 3U per cent. Shelter at Wharf Wanted. The Opotiki Branch of the N.B. Waterside Workes’ Union wrote asking for a suitable shelter at the Opotiki wharf for the waterside workers. —The request was favourably considered by the council and was referred to the works committee to deal with, with power to act. Footpath Trouble. Ah- Hislop wrote complaining of the had state of the footpath in Richard Street. The writer stated that the path served IS houses and was .in a very bad condition. —Councillors referred to the overhanging hedge at- the* tennis courts. The council decided to write to the Tennis Club drawing attention to the need of the hedge being cut back. It was agreed that the footpath was in urgent need of attention and the request- was referred to the works committee.

Cr Bridger considered that the* footpaths in the borough should he dealt with generally. Cr Short said that the matter was a big thing and* any big scheme would imemdiately hump up the rates. Cr Brown considered that sodium chlorate could be used to advantage in keeping down paspalum grass. Cr Short said it would he a good

plan to go around the borough ari'd see what work was needed and that a small loan could be applied! for. Councillors referred to the difficulty in combating the paspalum trouble and it was stated that this nuisance had not been experienced a‘ few years ago. •' Health Menace. Mrs Graham, St. John Street wrote complainiiig of a drain which was a menace to health.—This matter was referred to by the health inspector, Mr M. J. Fogarty, in liis report to the council. The inspector stated that the drain had been cleaned by the previous tenant and if the drain were cleaned out the trouble would be clone away with. —The council decided t 0 ask the - inspector to see that the matter was attended to forthwith. Balance-sheet “Received”. The Domain Board balance-sheet was -presented by- the town clerk. .On tlie motion of Air Short, seconded by Air Johnson, the balance-sheet was “received”.

other .Business. The usual bank authority was approved. Committees Appointed.—The following committees were appointed: l — and Waterworks Committee : Ors Johnson, Webb, .Brown and Short. Finance and Sanitary Committee: Crs Short, Stevenson, Bridger and Day. Deputy-Mayor: On the motion of Cr Bridger, seconded by Cr Johnson, Cr. F. J. Short was elected deputymayor. Iji returning thanks for the honour conferred on him, Cr Shortsaid he would be only too pleased to assist the Al'ayor and councillors and to offer his services at all times. The. Alayor thanked Cr Johnson for his services as deputy-mayor during the term of the previous council. Or Johnson in reply said lie was looking forward to three years with everyone working amicably together. Ho knew that bad would* not be made of their intentions. Cr Short thanked the Opotiki newspaper representatives for the discretion they had shown in reporting council meetings. Shooting at Reservoir. —Cr Day referred to sportsmen shooting duck at the reservoir and no-t being able to

retrieve the birds. He considered the area should, he declared a game sanctuary. The Mayor’s honorarium was fixed at £25 as in previous years. Works Report. The following report was presented for work done during May:— 60 chains King, Goring and Richard Streets scarified, graded, rolled and 33 yds. metal spread. A concrete stand for cars' laid at Horne’s pumps. 10 chains King Street re-dressed. Several intersections graded and rolled. 80 chains water tables cleaned. Shoulders grade’d up and patching on Church, St. John, Goring Streets etc. Ham scoured, fireplugs cleaned. Parks cleaned. A patch about 10 'yds. by 6 yds. levelled, turfed and roiled at reserve. General maintenance carried out.