BOROUGH COUNCIL

Upper Hutt Weekly Review, Volume I, Issue 50, 27 November 1936, Page 1

BOROUGH COUNCIL

At Monday night's meeting- of the Upper Hutt Borough Council, the chairman of the Public Services Committee (Cr. W. Greig) said he -was pleased indeed to inform his fellow councillors that another site had been found by his committee, which was outside the Borough, and in his opinion would be a good one, and there would be no trouble with it. It was property owned by Mr. Benge and away from human habitation, and there was plenty of water on the place. The site was at Windsor Park, with approximately about two acres of sandy soil. The inspector had approved of it, and it could be opened in a week's time if required. The Health Department's approval had to be obtained. There was a good road to the site. A lorry would not be required thus saving - expenditure to the ratepayers. Cr. Greig moved that the Council be invited to view the site with the Medical Officer of Health as soon as possible. A letter received from Mr. J. T. Benge offering the land to the Council at £2O pel - annum on a three years' lease "was read. The Council would have to fence the property. Cr. Keys said he had inspected a site within a short distance from the Borough. He asked that the Medical Officer of Health be invited to visit this site at the same time. The Mayor moved that the Medical Officer of Health be asked to treat this matter as urgent and inspect these places as soon as possible. This was agreed to. Cr. Howell expressed satisfaction with tjpe progress made and said the residents of Whakatiki Street and all residents jyould be pleased to know another site was procurable at an early date. Correspondence. A letter received from the Rovers, asking permission to use the Blockhouse as quarters was refused. The Mayor stated that at a previous meeting it had been decided not to accept the Boy Scouts' offer. A motion lost could not' be again brought forward within six months. Cr. Keys concurred with the Mayor. The secretary of the District Nurse Committee asked for approval and assistance in running a Civic Ball to help pay off the balance of £4O which was due in March for this service was received. The Mayor suggested that a meeting of the representative bodies in the district be called in January to from a working committee. Cr. Keys thought they should be prepared to support such a worthy object. Other councillors agreed also and it was decided that the Mayor's suggestion be adopted. The Health Inspectoi- reported one case of infectious disease. The usual precautions had been taken. The chairman o£ the Works Committee reported that Mr. Bird of Whakatiki Street store had offered to place a seat by the side of his shop for the use of men in the Salvation Army Home. His committee recommended that the offer be accepted and Mr. Bird thanked. The committee recommended that a one-horse mower be purchased at a price of £2B for cutting the grass on the sides of the streets and also for use in the park. The report also recommended that the committee visit the property referred to in Messrs. Sowerby's letter, to examine the culverts causing the alleged blockage, and report back to the Council at its next meeting. On the motion of Cr. Purvis the report as a whole was adopted. The chairman of the Reserves Committee (Cr. Keys) recommended that the water ballast roller offered at the price of £25 from Beaney and Sons be procured.

Another Sanitary Site in View

A councillor asked if the Council was going to take advantage of the Upper Hutt Cricket League's offer of £lO towards the cost. Cr. Keys said it was left to the Council to decide upon the offer, but suggested the Council own the roller and use it for any purpose i-e----quired. The Mayor agreed with Cr. Keys and said the League would have the opportunity of purchasing any gear they required. It was, however, a generous offer on their part. Cr. Purvis moved that a letter be sent to the League thanking them for their sporting offer, explaining to them that the Council would bear the whole cost. This was seconded by Cr. Blewman. Cr. Keys, through his committee, also recommended that three new tennis nets be procured for the park and 66 feet of half inch hose. This was adopted on the motion of Cr. Blewman. Questions. Cr. Guthrie asked if anything had been heard from the Railway Department re the duplication of the railway line from Waterloo to Silver-stream. Quicker transport was needed for this district to the city. The single line did not lend itself to a quick service. A double line was needed and the Council should keep at the department until something was done about it. The Mayor: We have been into all this before and have not yet succeeded, but something may happen shortly. Cr. Purvis stressed the need for telephone boxes for the district. The Town Clerk replied that the Department was looking into the matter. Cr. Purvis said that something should be done about stamp machines for Silverstream, as at present if anyone required stamps they had to walk as far as two miles to the Heretaunga Post Office. A sub-Post Office at one of the stores would be welcomed. Cr. Baskett thought the department should be asked to arrange for a Post Office at that end of the Borough. The Mayor said that a stamp vending machine would probably meet the requirements. It was decided to "write to the Post and Telegraph Department and ask for a reply about the slot telephones and also enquire if a sub-Post Office or stamp machine could be placed at Silverstream. Notice of Motion. Cr. Howell moved the following motion : "That the Council go into the question of providing- a recreation -ground centrally situated, or to provide a i*ecreation ground for the West Ward, to be approved by the ratepayers at some future date." Cr. Howell said that some years ago the West Ward was promised a recreation ground, and the Ratepayers' Association of the Ward had gone to a considerable amount of trouble to get a report on certain property. If the Mayor's notice of motion had gone through the other night re the purchase of Maidstone Park, the West Ward would have been left in the cold. Cr. Purvis seconded the motion, stating that they could not expect the people from the West Ward to walk to Maidstone Park, it being a distance of some four miles from some parts of the district. Some suitable place should be found for the children to play in. In reply to Cr. Blewman as regarding Barton's Bush, Cr. Howell said there were other properties even better than that in the district. Cr. Greig: There is a dearth of playing areas in the district and I support the motion. Cr. Guthrie stated that he looked at it in the light of paving the way for recreation grounds which would be needed in a few years to come when

population would have greatly increased. Land could be acquired at less cost now than then. Cr. Baskett approved the motion, saying that the people in the West "Ward would support the buying of Maidstone Park if they had also a ground in their locality. Cr. Keys said he was not prepared at the present time to commit himself on the matter but was quite agreeable that a committee be set up to go into the matter and report. The Mayor: As a representative of the whole Borough I am quite agreeable that something should be done and will move that a special committee be set up consisting of Crs. Howell, Baskett and Purvis, and himself to make enquiries about a possible site, and x-eport back to the Council at a later date. This was seconded by Cr. Blewman and eai-ried.