PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 15478, 28 April 1914, Page 7

PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL

The fortnightly meeting was attended last night by th© Mayor (Mr D. M. Mawson), Ors Fail, Anderson, Scollay, Stevenson, Williamson, Powell, Percy, and Isbister. —-Correspondence.-

From the secretary of the looal gas company offering to supply extra street lighting at £3 per lamp per annum.— Deferred to Lighting Committee. From the engineer, Otago Harbor Board, asking that the road at the dock endowment be temporarily Closed during road alterations. —-Agreed to. From the Captain. Salvation Amy. asking for use of Town Hall free of cost for a concert by the combined church choirs.—-Granted. From Mr G. Mason, asking the council to send a representative to wait on the Manager of Railways t* Station at Deborah Bay.—The Mayor and Or Stevenson appointed. —Reports.—

The Water Committee reported that a new box was required to keep hose in on the export wharf, and recommended that it be procured • also that the forester’s report, as submitted to the council, bo received, and that he be allowed one man to assist at the tree planting at the reservoir for, say, six or seven months.—Or Fail said the forester intended to plant 15,000 tree# this season on the reservoir reserve.— Aftr some discussion the last danse was withdrawn and in its place was put a clause from the forester’s report recommending that a certain area, not draining into the reservoir, be fenced and leased for grazing, with A view to removing the gorse which threatened the adjoining plantations; also that two men be employed at the reservoir during the planting season.—The report as amended was adopted. The Works Committee reported that the streets, channels, etc., had been cleaned, grass removed, etc., in George, Beach, Mount, Currie, Grey, and. Constitution streets and Ajax road, Cemetery road, and Sawyers Bay road. The handrails had been repaired in Meridian and Lailtg Streets, also the steps in these two streets had been repaired and asphalted. The footpath at the lower end of Bernicia street Waß being repaired to prevent jthe surface water flowing into the adjoining sections.— Adopted- v . The Finance Committee reported that since the previous meeting the receipts amounted to £92 10S Id.—Adopted. —Estimates.— The estimated income and expenditure for the ensuing year were submitted and adopted. —Municipal Endowment.— His Worship said that, accompanied by a number of councillors, he visited the municipal endowment at Dunback, and found everything in splendid order. The visitors were well Satisfied with all they saw.—Cir Bowel! said the tenants had built a hew dwelling-house, and, as the Mayor had said, everything was satisfactory. —Disfranchised Territorials.— After a Slight discussion the following motion, moved by Or Scollay afid seconded by Gr Stevenson, was passed without dissent :■ —“ That this council regret that Territorials attending the Matarae encampment were thereby disfranchised in respect to the municipal elections, and express the hope that the Government will take steps to ensure that in future the performance of military duties shall not entail disfranchisement.” —Mayoral Resume.— His Worship the Mayor, in the Course of a few remarks, stated that the estimated revenue for the year just finished was £5,154, and the actual amount received £5,5i7; the estimated expenditure was £5,154 and the amount expended £5,290, making a gain of £227, which he considered very satisfactory indeed. Most of the work done during the past year had been more in the form of maintenance—just keeping the town in Order. There were Che or two exceptions to this, such as the renovating of Ihe Council Chambers and offices, the fencing and letting of a portion of the Town Belt, purchase Of a new sanitary waggon, etc. During the year also the staff have been reorganised and put on a basis which will effect a considerable saving to the town. An old landmark at Boiler Point has been demolished'to make way for improvement* at that end of the town. Mainly at the instigation of this council, all trains now stop at Mussel Bay, Which is a very great convenience to the residential part Of Port. The Mayor further made reference to the assistance he had received from councillors during his term of office as mayor, and to the harmonious feeling that had always pervaded the meetings and extended towards himself. He would always look back with pleasure on his term as mayor, and Whether he again presided Over the council or not, he would carry away with him Very pleasant remembrances of the yea# 1013-14. There Were a few things he would like to have seen finally dealt With by the council during his term as mayor, chiefly the abattoirs, fire brigade, etc., but be felt sure they would be attended to in due course.