CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 12964, 8 November 1906, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the City Council, hold last night, wan attended, by the Mayor (Mr Lawrence), Cre Gore, Crust, Arkle, I.oudon. Walker, Connor, Wilson, Rutherford, Colo, Harrison, l-’iddis. Small, White, Brinsley, Shacklock, and Burnett. ■—-Works Committee.Tho Works Committee's report was adopted, ono clause —that tho city engineer I>e authorised to issue permits to build dwellings where hollow brick walls are used, provided lliat tho height does not exceed 25ft—being deleted on the cluiinnan explaining that it was contrary to tho bylaws, and would bo inoperative. —Water Committee. — Cr Scott moved tho adoption of tho Water Committee's report, and in doing so referred to ono or two matters which did not appear in the report. A statement, ho said, had appeared in the public print which would lead people to believe that there was an insufficient pressure for the late fire in Royal terrace. Ho had a report from their own officer, which showed that there was not an insufficiency of pressure, but tho unfortunate part of it was that tho Fire Brigade were not conversant with the lire plugs on tho now mains in that district. Tbov coupled on to the old tire plug, in which there was very little water. The otlncr matter ho wished to refer lf> was the strictures passed on the Water Committee by tlio Mayor of the Maori Hill Borough Council. To the public it would appear that the strictures were passed on the town clerk. He said, without fear of contradict ion, that the town clerk had nothing to do with the reply that was sent to that Council. All the town clerk did was to forward the resolution passed by- the Committee, 'flic Committee certainly decided to receive the communication, but that required a little explanation. In regard to the upkeep of the loads, the Committee had intimated that they were quite prepared to carry this out on an equitable hasi-s. The clause in tho letter of :lie town clerk of Maori Hill which it was decided to receive was Ihe last one. and it read as followslt has occuned to .some of my councillors to suggest that inasmuch as' (they understand) £175 is to t>e paid for the p|>oil taken out of the reservoir, your Council might sen their way to jicrmit that money- to be paid to us for rcjuiir of the roads injured in carting the spoil.” Ho far as the Maori Hill reservoirs were concerned, both could be filled in a week, and the reticulation of Maori Hill would he compelled in fourteen days. Ross Creek was being completed, tho trimming off on tile slope of tile bank being all that had to bo done. Burns Clock was connected and completed between that creek and Williams Creek. At the present moment they could supply water from an additional gathering ground of 2,600 acres. Cr Fiddes seconded the mot-inn. Cr .Small asked what quantity of water the Waiteti-Leith scheme would supply each day. The Mayor stated that notices would be fixed opposite each hydra, t in the City, so that there would he no iron! „• in future in locating the hydrants. In answer to Or Small, Cr Scott mid that the .supply, without storage, was 1,600,000gaj per day. The report was adopted. —General Committee.—• Cr Arklo moved the adoption of the General Committee’s report referring to the compromise tho Committee recommended in the matter of suutary rides for churches in Cavcrsham and South Dunedin. It was now projiosod to rate them £1 i>er year. —■ Cr Wilson moved an amendment that the rate lie 12s per year. He said that in some cases churches wore charged four tiroes its much as before amalgamation.— After some discussion, the amendment was lost, and the report was adopted. —Finance Committee Cr Small, in moving the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report, referred to the satisiarlnrv condition of affairs contained in the annual balance-sheet. It would appear from the statement of accounts that their indebtedness had increased from, £77,945 at tho 51st March, ISOS, to £87,153 a.t March. 1906, an inerei.ro of £9,207. This was due to an extent, to Hie street widening operations, which had entailed £14,765, and over expenditure on the general and otlper accounts of £8,872. These were, however, reduced by the credits standing at water, gas, and tramway accounts, amounting to £14,429. Tho ‘business of th.-: Council was assuming large proportions. The expenditure daring tho year had amounted to £194,099 9s lOd, tho revenue to £184,901 la 7d. Cr Loudon seconded tire motion, and said ho thought ihc Council were to he congratulated on the improvement- Tlie previous year the Council had overran to the extent' of £16.000; this year it would be something like £B,OOO £9.0C0, which, ho look it, could not lie avoided. The municipal revenue would not provide for all that called toe expenditure, so it citlicr had to be made up by an iucrea.ro of overdraft or by taking revenue from the Corporation's trading concerns. Cr Harriton moved as an amendment—■ “ That subclaufo 2 of clause 1 lpmclia.se <-f fifty copies of ‘Beautiful Dunedin’) be struck out.” The iimendmmt was lost, and the report adopted. —General. — ' Cr Small moved —“ That this Council resolve that the additional charge of 10 per centum provided for in section 60 of the Rating Act, 1394, bo made upon ah general. special, water, sanitary, and general sewage rates which shall be six months overdue ami remaining unpaid after the 6th day of December, 1906, and limit the toun clerk l»o hereby instructed to proceed, after the said date, to take legal steps for the recovery of ;dl such overdue rates together with the additional 10 por centum charged, thereon.” —Carried. fc'ixty-two applications were received for the jtosition at caretaker of tho Maori Hill Reservoir at £2 3s per week, and were referred to tho Water Commit toe to select twelve names. Tenders were dealt, with as follows: For twenty-one years’ building lease of allotment 47, subdivision of sections 1 and 2, block 4, Upper Kaikorai district. Reserves Committee to act.—For the supply and delivery of 986 dog collars. General , Committee to act.—For the cartage of stoneware pipes from Dunedin to Upper Waitati. Water Committee to act.