COUNCIL NEWS IN BRIEF

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26659, 19 February 1952, Page 8

COUNCIL NEWS IN BRIEF

INCREASE IN DRIVING LICENCES More driving licences were issued by the traffic department of the Christchurch City Council last year than in 1950. The total was 31,414, compared with 29,664 in 1950, an increase of 1750. In his report for December, presented at the council meeting last evening, the traffic superintendent (Mr G. P. Kellar) said also that 160 offenders were convicted in that month for 186 breaches of the traffic regulations and by-laws, fines totalling £212 Bs. Increased Costs.—Two tar sprayers, two trucks, two refuse trucks, and three starters for electric motors will now cost the council £12,814 instead of £12,214 as provided in the original contracts. As the contracts provided for the purchaser to meet any inprease in costs, the council adopted the recommendation of fhe works committee that in each case the additional amounts should be paid. Higher Coke Prices.—Coke produced at the council’s gas works at Sumner will now cost 6s a bag and £8 a ton. To coal merchants the price will be £7 15s a ton. These prices, fixed by the Price Control Division, were reported by the works committee. New Refuse Vehicles.—Two special refuse vehicles bought by the council are now in regular operation, one in the Sydenham area and the other in the central area. The performance of the vehicles to date has been all that could be hoped, and the works committee reported that should their performance remain at the present high level over the next few weeks further purchases would be recommended. Timber Sales.—Timber and firewood from the Bottle Lake plantations sold by the council in the last nine weeks realised £1279. Included in the sales, according to the reserves committee’s report, were 283 Christmas trees at 5s each, 46 cords of firewood, and 208,866 superficial feet of timber. Hay from Hagley Park.—To date 1620 bales of hay from Hagley Park have been delivered to fhe city abattoir. The reserves committee reported that, provided the present weather continued, hay-making would be completed by the end 'of this month. Donkeys on Beach.—Permission to run horses and donkeys on the New Brighton beach for five years was granted to Mr G. W. Kirk on the recommendation of the reserves committee. Boneless Beef Supplies,—Permission for the Canterbury Bye-Products Company to install a small boning-out plant at the city abattoir for supplying boneless beef to the butchering trade- was granted on the recommendation of the abattoir and reserves committee. The company stated in its letter to the committee that boning-out should mean a fairly substantial increase in the abattoir killing of beef. Public Streets.—Devon and Boon streets in Sydenham will be formally recognised as public streets’ by the council. The housing and town planning committee reported that the Land Transfer Office had advised that there was no record of the streets being formally recognised, and it was recommended this should be done as public money had been snent on .the streets and they were used by the public. Public Address System.—A public address system is now being installed in the Civic Theatre and should be

ready within the next few days. The council approved a charge of 30s for the hiring of the system. Hirers of the theatre. will not be permitted to install and operate their own public address systems. Centennial Pool Figures.—Last month 35,333 swimmers were admitted to the Centennial Pool, and takings amounted to £917, compared with £767 in January last year. The baths and entertainments committee reported that passes entitling the holders to free admission to the pool for one month had been issued to 90 successful candidates in the Royal Life Saving Society’s bronze medallion examination.