BOROUGH COUNCIL

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20916, 25 July 1933, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

SUMNER. A meeting of the Sumner Borough Council was held last evening, when there were present:—The Mayor (Mr W. H. Nicholson), Councillors H. W. Harris, D. F. Oldridge, G. F. Allen, H. 3 E. Kennett, C. Hart, J. E. Tait, H. L. s' Wiggins, and A. Holden. The gas, electrical, and waterworks - engineer (Mr A. A. Cheshire) supplied particulars and figures for the periods since last meeting. Gas manu- '• factured amounted to 1,001,000 cubic feet. The crusher had been removed to a new position. Two new services _ were attached to the gas mains. The average quality of gas for the month y equalled 501 British thermal units. r In the electrical department the maximum peak load for the last quarj ter (April, May, June) was 333 k.v.a., c being approximately 15 k.v.a. higher than the corresponding period of last s year. In the waterworks department, 4,180,000 gallons of water were drawn s from the Woolston and dog box wells, r all this being delivered to the Shag . Rock station. From the old star tions were drawn 1,200,000 gallons, delivered into the mains at Redcliffs. From Shag Rock were taken 1,820.000 gallons, delivered to the upper Clifton reservoir. The average daily run at the Woolston station worked out at 2.3 hours. The report was adopted. It was decided to instruct the engineer to proceed with the work of removal of the old piles at the entrance of the boat harbour at Scarborough. Advice was received that the council's representation on the Technical College Board of Governors would lapse in August. Cr. G. F. Allen was nominated to represent the council, and Cr. J. E. Tait was appointed to vote for the council on election day. Cr. H. E. Kennett was appointed the council's representative at a conference about heavy traffic fees. A letter from the Redcliffs Burgesses' Association was received complaining that straying stock had destroyed trees planted in Te Rae Kura Park. Cr. A. Holden moved that a report be brought down by the engineer. Cr. Harris: We have no money for protective work. What is the use of asking the engineer to bring down a report if we cannot do the work? Cr. Oldridge: There were a lot of very nice trees planted there when I was a member of the association. Cr. Harris: There are dozens of places where we can better spend the money. We are trying to get urgent work done, and the general account is being filched for a few pounds at every meeting. Half a dozen fellows get round a table, and without any sense of responsibility ask the council to do this, that, and the other. Cr. Holden: I don't think so. If the fence is put in order to protect the trees, can anyone guarantee that the horses will not be put there. Cr. Harris: Yes, I can. What is the use of getting the engineer to go up there? Cr. Holden: I will do it myself, then. The motion was lost. Cr. Holden: This is the first time in my municipal career that I have ever heard of objection to an engineer's report. Cr. Harris: If the council is going to add to the general account much longer they can get someone else to administer it. The Mayor said that a responsible resident had told Cr. D. F. Oldridge that he (the Mayor) was out to smash the Redcliffs Burgesses' Association in 1 the same way in which he had fair that any man making such a statement was false and untrue. He had never had any spare time, and even if he had he would never have entertained the idea. It was only fair that any man making such statements should make them to him personally. Cr. Oldridge said that the council was just as keen now to assist the association as it had been formerly. It was decided to write to the association stating that it was now too late for the council to do anything at Te Rae Kura Park, as the estimates had been prepared, but the matter would be kept in view next year.