UPPER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Upper Hutt Weekly Review, Volume I, Issue 28, 26 June 1936, Page 1

UPPER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

GRANVILLE ROAD PROHIBITED PARKING AREA. The fortnightly meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council was held on Monday evening last, the Mayor (A. J. McCurdy, Esq.) presiding. There were also present: Councillors Keys (Deputy Mayor), Howell, Blewman, Purvis, Sutherland, Greig, Baskett, Guthrie and the Town Clex-k. The Napier Borough Council wrote i suggesting that Upper Hutt Council go into the matter of Local Body Employees' Union. The letter was received. A letter was received from residents re the proposed new sanitary depot. The Mayor explained that the District Health Officer had approved of this posi- ; tion as being suitable for the purpose, and that there would be no nuisance arising from it. On the motion of Councillor Guthrie, seconded by Councillor Baskett, the letter was received. An invitation was received from the j Lower Hutt Borough Council inviting > the Borough to be represented at the ' next meeting- re the amalgamation conference to be held. The Mayor was asked if he had received a personal in- < vitation. The Mayor stated he would j not entertain the idea of amalgamation with the lower valley. "We are the 29th i largest town in New Zealand," said the Mayor, "and we are still growing. When the time comes for us to expand it will be northward towards Akatarawa, where we will have a community interest, but not with Lower Hutt and Petone." Councillor Howell: I don't think it would be of material benefit for us to amalgamate, as there is so much space between us and the other bodies. Councillor Blewman: At the first meeting- of this conference Upper Hutt was not mentioned, but now we are being asked to participate. I don't think we ought to take any part in the amalgamation meetings. Councillor Keys: When I asked at the previous meeting, whether any invita- i tion had been sent I was not in favour of the scheme, and I am still against it. Councillors Baskett, Greig*, and Guthrie also stated they were not in favour of the amalgamation. On the motion of Councillor Howell, seconded by Councillor Purvis, the letter was received. Inspector's Report. Mr. Yarnall (Borough Inspector) reported that complaints had been received from Silverstream re the septic j tanks. He also asked the Council's opinion re Granville Road, on race days. i The Mayor suggested that the com- j plaints from Silverstream should be placed in writing and not be received j verbally. They had been down there and found nothing wrong. Councillors Blewman and Purvis said they had found nothing- wrong when they visited the locality. The Mayor moved, seconded by Councillor Purvis, that the complaints should be placed in writing when the Council would then go into the matter. Dealing with the second portion of j the Inspector's report, Councillor Purvis I stated that he contended that it was not j a dangerous street, and in his opinion i could be used as a parking area for race j days. | Asked his opinion, the Inspector de- ; finitely stated that it should be closed. Councillor Howell: I don't think there | is any danger of accidents. j The Mayor: It is the danger of having- to cross the railway line. Councillor Keys: No doubt the Inspector has considered that the street should be closed on those days as a parking area, but if the Council decides against his recommendation, it does not exone- 1

rate the Council if anything- should hap- I pen. Councillor Howell: I move that Gran- | ville Road be left as it is for the next meeting- (non-parking), and that the ' Council further consider the matter be- ' fore the next race meeting- in October. Councillor Purvis: I will second that, i —Carried. j Works Committee. The Committee recommends that ap- i plication be made to the Highways ' Board for the use of its road grader, [ the grader to be hired for two days to enable the overseer to carry out urgent work. Consideration was given to the letter received from the Public Works Department inviting Local Authorities to submit a list of roads required as additional highways. As a reply was to be submitted not later than the 15th inst., the committee recommended that the Town Clerk be notified to forward an application to the Highways Board, to have Mangaroa, Whiteman's Valley and Moonshine Roads placed upon the estimates for consideration. Public Services Committee. Rubbish removal: Mr. Dalley agrees to the following:— To remove rubbish from any house in the Borough at 2id. per two cubic feet per -week; to cover his conveyance with canvas; to arrange a time-table with the Inspector, Mr. Yarnell; to use tip as directed by Inspector; to do his best to build up the service; to cover up the rubbish disposed of if the man at the tip is unavoidably absent; to collect his accounts. Councillor Creig- moved, seconded by Councillor Guthrie, that Mr. Dalley be given authority to proceed forthwith, a month's notiee to be given on either side. Bridge Report. The Mayor, who acted as chairman of the Bridges Committee, brought down i a report asking- the Council's permis- , sion to make certain representations to j the Minister of Public Works as regards I to the bridges in the Borough. i The report sets out that an under- i standing- re proposals to abate or eliminate the flooding danger on Whiteman's Valley road had not been entertained by the Hutt County Council; and that I the proposals are similar to those placed before the Loans Board some time ago, whereby four out of five existing bridges would be eliminated and the remaining one replaced by a culvert which -would take the drainag-e water from Trentham camp—a new channel for the Black Creek below the sidewalk on the right-hand side of Whiteman's Valley road, and a double standard culvert under the railway line permitting of widening the road to the full 66 feet from the main road to the borough boundary near Chatsworth Road. These proposals, if brought into being-, it is submitted, would prevent the flooding- of Whiteman's Valley road and of Kiln Road, and eliminate the attendant danger to pedestrians and vehicular traffic to Whiteman's Valley and Silverstream brick works area in the Hutt ! County. If the borough proposals were not entertained the l-eeonstruction of five bridges was required almost immediately—the estimated cost of each being- from £3OO to £350. The committee decided to inquire if the Minister- could indicate any means available for obtaining- and apportionment of the cost of reconstruction or elimination of the bridges as proposed, and to invite him to visit the area to ; obtain first-hand information. The Council is already contributing to the cost of three Hutt County bridges— | Stokes Valley deviation, Pakuratahi, and ! Akatarawa "Black Bridge," on the de- i mand of the Hutt County Council, the ' committee said. i

Finally the Minister was to be in- > formed that if the Borough Council could not obtain the necessary authority to have the costs apportioned in the near future, at least three of the bridges would have to be closed to vehicular traffic with consequential diversion to Mangaroa Road and thence back to Whiteman's Valley Road. Accounts passed and approved for payment amounted to £575 2s. Bd. Questions. Councillor Guthrie asked the Mayor if he could tell them about the parkingnotices that used to be in the Maidstone Park Road. Mr. Dalton, the custodian, required them, as too many cars parked outside the gates. This was a financial loss to the Council during- the summer season. The Mayor replied that probably they had been destroyed by hooligans, but suggested that it be referred to the Reserves Committee with power to act. i This was agreed to. Councillor Sutherland asked if a letter could be written to the Railway Bus De- I partment asking for three seats for people waiting for the bus at the Post Office stop. The Mayor stated that there was sufficient room for three seats and it was quite right about people waiting. A letter is to be sent to the Department. Notices of Motion. Councillor Purvis: "That the owners of Part Section 65/67, corner of Princes and Martin Streets be asked to comply with Section 304. sub-section 1/3 (Dangerous and Deserted Buildings) of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933." Councillor Purvis read Section 304 from the Municipal Corporations Act to support his motion, and stated that his attention had been drawn time and again to this particular building, and it was an eyesore to anyone g-oing to and from the railway station. He ' asked that the owners take notice of the motion. Councillor Guthrie: I second the motion, and agree to what the previous speaker said. The Mayor: The building is practically pulled down. The motion was put and carried. Councillor W. Greig: "That the question of a footpath from Salisburys' to Maori Bank be further explored." Councillor Greig stated that to Maori Bank is a walk enjoyed by the people of the Borough. It is not in the Borough, but a conference some time ago with the County to see what could be done was without a favourable result. Now that the Government had taken over the main highways and was very keen for protection of human life, the Council should find a solution. Councillor Guthrie seconded the motion, stating that at the present time pedestrians had to scatter on the approach of motor-cars. The Mayor: When we had the conference with the County they stated that very few of the County people used the road for walking, but they -would have to maintain the footpath if constructed. It was decided to -write to the Minister concerned, asking for a footpath to Maori Bank, and a copy of the letter be sent to Hon. F. Langstone. Carried. The meeting concluded at 8.45 p.m.