OPOTIKI BOROUGH COUNCIL

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 77, 31 August 1938, Page 2

OPOTIKI BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING WHARF ALTERATIONS The monthly meeting of the Opotiki Borough Council was held in the borough chambers last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr G. S. Moody), Councillors G. L. Day, T. G. Johnson, S. E. Webb, F. J- Short, F. W. Bridger, C. D. Brown, A. G. Stevenson and Mr W. H. Briggs (town clerk). The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. Accounts were passed for payment as follows :—District Fund Account, £2Bl/19'/8; Wharf Account, £228/16/10. Balances: District Fund Account (dr.) £I7BB/9/3; Wharf Account (cr.), £l2/9/4; Domain Account (dr.), £33/18/7; Cemetery Account (dr.), £2/8/4. Crippled Children*. —The New Zealand* Crippled Children’s Society wrote re the anniversary of the opening, of the Wilson Crippled Children’s Home at Auckland and asked for a donation, pointing out that they would like this to be nil annual donation—The question'of the charges at the home was discussed at length by the council ’and it was considered that in view of the fact that the home was not free and the Opotiki Hospital Board would be responsible for charges for local patients that the letter be “received”.

Signs. —The A.A. (Auckland) wrote in connection with the by-laws and the need of a sign to indicate that turning was not allowed in the street other than at intersections.—Cr Short saitl lie thought there was a by-law allowing vehicles to turn on one lock but not allowing backing out again into the street.

Centennial Exhibition. —A letter was received from" the Auckland Provincial Committee of the Centennial Exhibition in connection with the Auckland Provincial Court. —The Alayor made a brief report on the meeting held a few days ago with representatives from Auckland and stated that plans, specifications and photographs had been shown to the local body representatives. What was wanted was a donation, this to be spreadover two payments. Councillors considered that the money could be better spent in providing permanent footpaths. The letter was “received”.

The transfer of a section in Princess Street was agreed to.

The sanitary inspector,. MY M. J. Fogarty in reply to the council’s request that lie should attend the Council meeting stated that lie had a prior engagement and suggested attending a later meting.—The council decided to ask the inspector to attend the next council meeting. Wharf Report —Mr W. W. Upton, engineer in charge of the wharf extension, reported that 16& tons of steel had been landed and that 30 piles had been cast. Driving would commence at an early date. —Cr Short said that at* the conference at the wharf it had been decided that the Dairy Association should produce plans of the suggested wharf building. He bad been speaking to the chairman of the association and had been informed that the council was to show plans of wharf alterations.

A letter was /then read from the secretary of the Opotiki Dairy Association stating that the council had promised to go into the extension of the wharf extension.

Councillors said there was obviously some misunderstanding as it. was impossible to alter the wharf plans until the association had submitted revised plans of the suggested eool store. Mr Briggs said the association’s arehiect had been in telephonic communication with him and had said there was no hurry about the plans. .The council decided to write to the Opotiki Dairy Association asking that the revised plans ol : the cool room be secured and that on receipt of same a special meeting of the council be held. Subscription. —The Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association wrote asking for payment of £3 levy.—The town clerk said that as a result of the s new method of assessment the levy had been increased from £1 to £3. General Business. Or Day asked what the cost of the concrete footpath in Bridge Street was and was informed that the section had cost £4B/18/6. This information aroused very favourable comment oil, the outcome of the experimental tion and it was felt that under tlicjVpresent scheme it would be good bus- , iness tjj,, continue the work of putting

’ i • / }■; down permanent paths. : , Inspection.-—The traffic inspector reported on stock on the streets and traffic supervision. He stated that paint supplies had been received from the Highways Boards and street(lines and pedestrian crossings would receive immediate attention.

Tree Planting.—Or Johnson referred to tree, planting in the borough and suggested that the Otara river bank near the bathing sheds should be; battered and a fence put up and the area planted with suitable trees. Councillors agreed that the trees would greatly improve the appearance of the river bank and the shelter yrould be a great boon to bathers and others. Cr Johnson was. authorised to attend to the tree planting. , ..

Clean-up Week.—Cr Stevenson referred to the need of a clean-up week in the borough, and the council decided to hold the clean-up as soon as weather conditions were favourable.

Water Main Protection. —The Mayor drew attention to the danger to the water main at Otara and said the present time was suitable for planting willows. He suggested that the whole council make an inspection- of the spot.—The council, decided to visit, the point of erosion early on Sunday

morning and to confer with Mr C. Biaclc before undertaking any protective work.

...Street Cleaning.— Two tenders for cleaning up the .streets on Sunday morning were received and the lowest tender was accepted. The town clerk said the question of protecting borough lands from erosion below the Otara bridge was receiving attention by the department’s engineer.

WORKS REPORT The following streets have been scarified, metalled and rolled: —10 chain Buchanan Street; 10 chain in King Street east; 5 chain in High Street; 5 chain in Church Street north. King Street swept with rotary broom and metal carted away. 22 yds. metal put on main highway, Bridge and Church Streets. Most of the roads and intersections graded and rolled. Richard Street. —10 chain of kerb and, channel completed. Four new slab crossings put in. Shoulders graded and filled and formed.

10 chain of concrete footpath 5 feet wide laid in Bridge Street. New slab crossing made in Church Street. Intersections swept three times and

various intersections patched: with Otara rock. • Read to Te Rere Pah metalled with 10 yards gravel. Approximately 50 yards river gravel put in gateways and 100 yards of metal put on various roads. 14 chain of outfall drain cut. New street gully made in Richard Street..

Stopbanlc inspected from one end to the other during wet weather and repaired in six places.

5 chain of drain Nelson Street cleaned out. Six flood gates inspected and cleaned. One water service installed. Inspection made of hose taps, troughs etc. One blow-out repaired at Otara. New pipes, 12”, laid across Ford and Brabant Street intersections and storm water turned into big drain eastern side of Brabant Street. Dam scoured out and'intake cleaned. Fire-plugs raised and. indications, inspected. Dead ends in water main scoured out.

717 trees planted and staked, 18 chain by one chain at Thompson’s. Netting erected around all tree protections in St. John Street and plantation western side.

130 chain of footpath cleared of weeds both sides of asphalt. Blackberry cut and burned. New convenience made, erected, painted and floor concreted at Waitangi Park. Door, of men’s shelter at wharf painted. Repairs made to front carriage of tar boiler. Pedestrian crossings painted at school block. Cbncrete slabs, bearers, and pipes made at yard. 30 yds. of concrete gravel carted. Cemetery has been mown regularly. General maintenance lias been carried out.

The report' was approved by the council.