OPOTIKI BOROUGH COUNCIL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 203, 5 July 1939, Page 3

OPOTIKI BOROUGH COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETINC HELD PLUNK.Eft A.\ u iiJiiST ROOMS" LITTLE HEADWAY MADE — \ "ROAD /AND RAILWAY A special 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, A. G. Stevenson, F. AV. Bridgor and Mr. W. H. Briggs (town clerk). Health Inspector.—The Department ok Health, Gisborne, wrote notifying the appointment of Air. P. A. Wallwork as health inspector, in place ot Air. M. J. Fogarty, who has been transferred to Christchurch. The council decided to. appoint Air. Wallwork as borough sanitary inspector. Read and Rail.—The Opotiki County Council wrote inviting the Borough Council to appoint delegates to attend Council to appoint representatives to attend a meeting in connection with Opotiki-T'aueatua road and the railway. Cr. Johnson said that the' council needn’t worry about the railway—it was going to come. Some ol the county councillors who were now against. the railway had previously advocated the railway. They would not get ahead one bit by holding a meeting Cr. Bridgcr pointed out that AYliakatane was asking for a coast road. Cr. Johnson said two roads would have to be made. Cr. Short: As far as the* road is concerned it is useless to try and maintain it without sealing being done. The tar-sealing will more than pay for itself.

The A layer said that the engineers had stated that the survey of the road from Opotiki to Kutarere had been completed. Air. Johnson said Opotiki would get both rail and road. The Alayor: What is the use of a public meeting then? Cr. Johnson said it would be only :i short time before men would be put on the railway. Air. Semple had said lie was not going to buy expensive machinery unnecessarily. Ihe start ol the line had been delayed as a result cf the Kopuawbara Hoods. On the suggestion of the Alayor it was decided to reply stating that as a result of (Jr. Johnson’s explanation, the council had devilled to rely on the Government's promise. Cr. Johnson said the Minister had stated that the line would commence here in three months.

Use of Reserve. —The Opotiki Rugby Union, Cricket Association and Athletic Club, forwarded a signed agreement to* pay. the council £2 o annually for the use of the reserve, the cost to be equally- divided between the three sports bodies. River Erosion. —-Air. Briggs said he bad discussed the question of planting of willows on the Otara river bank, with the Opotiki engineer. No authority had been received yet tor the ■commencement of the protection work. Council lues thought it was too early vez to plant willows. Cemetery.—-The council devilled to have a rail placed along the front fence at the new cemetery.

AYharf Improvements. —Air. AY. Upton submitted suggestions for improvements to the wliarl.—A price tor the work was received from Air. Alahy and the council decided to accept this. Holidays.—The council decided to grant the foreman a fortnight’s holillav annually.

Mr. 0. AY. Button, secretary of the Opotiki Centennial Committee wrote in connection with the Opotiki plans and said flint the Plunket room and rest room had been approved as a Centennial Memorial to he incorporated in the town hall scheme. • Cr. Stevenson said he believed that a deifnite scheme for the JMunket and rest rooms- had been decided on. Cr. Bridget - sajd he thought an atteinpt should be made to build the t.wo rooms. Cr. Short said the Centennial Committee had advocated that and they were willing to support the Physical Welfare Committee in advocating the major scheme. The Mayor pointed out that the Plunket and rest rooms had been approved byi the authorities as O-potiki’s memorial. Cr. Short said it would he necessary to raise £6OO publicly to get the subsidy of £2CO. Or. Stevenson pointed out that the council had previously decided to raise a lean of £BOO lor the rooms. Cr. Short- said the Centennial Committee would try and raise money to

raised for Or. Short contended they would: get nowhere unless they-Miad a combined scheme. t "... *-♦’* ” fc’iv Ste venson said die thought the council ceil Id build the. Plunket and rest rooms and'beautiful .the grounds on the council Church S'treot section and another building, -- C^r... Johnson said! he was sure the major scheme in 'Oh urc][.-Street would be turned down by the. ratepayers. * Cr. Stevenson considered that if the people wanted the town hall scheme they should present a, petition in favour, of* it, to the council. Cr. Short said ho was .still,i^lV*the opinion, that all the different,-'.bodies should,,qombine and have a building that would combine all " the required facilities, V -vy Cr. Day said he- was i\of in fa.wjj^' 1 of having buildings' all over--the town. That was-absurd!. .- ' The town-,?., clerk was instructed to write -to the Opot-iki, 1.0.0. F. thanking them,, for"thejr offer, aiid,-pointing, out that ,theAcbuncil was not in.-favour , of.vtlie purchase of the building." Cr. Day, then m<sjjred..tliat the bo’un<ci I -go on with the mqjcr. s'cli'eine, [This was seconded-by. Or. Short;?-' Cr.- Johnson said it would to put in an application for permission to take* a poll first.', A Cr. Welih considered -ca A'cheaper enable the subsidy to be The rooms were interwoven in-sthe major scheme as far as the committee' were concerned. . J Cr. Stevenson at this stage asked what- was being discussed by the council. Cr. Short replied that the .meeting was being held for the considering the_w offer of the Oddfellows* hall. \ ’ Cr. Johnson expressed the. Opinion that the hall section was too small for the needs of the Physical Welfare Committee. * V A-

Other councillors’ expressed" doubt as to whether the money could ,bc>scheme would have more chance of being sanctioned by the ratepayers, - Cr. Bridger said he felt the councillors should! go into the matter further and tlu» discuss the question at the next meeting of the council. Cr. Johnson thought Cr. Stevenspn’s idea of- a petition would be the- bettor •plan. ' it was resolved, to write to the Hon. Mason in an endeavour to secure, the portion of land at the rear of tiie combined council section. Cr. Stevenson moved as an amendment to Cr. Day’s motion that the council take, no action until the Physical Welfare Committee had considered the suggestion of a petition. The amendment was carried.