CITY COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 16225, 21 September 1916, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held, last evening, and attended by the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark), Crs Hayward, White, Green, Black, Lunn,’ Thorn, Hancock, Wilson, Sincock, Thompson, Taverner, Williams. Henderson, Patton, Fiunerty, Shaddock, Begg, M’Millan, Garroll, and Douglas. —Fish Supply.—

Or White, in moving the adoption of the General Committee’s report, said that they had received a further communication from the Minister of Marino regarding the matter of the supply and distribution of fish. It was remarkable how well the Auckland municipality had done with their fish shop. Their takings, had amounted to as much as £lB5 per week, but they had yet to see what the result of the enterprise would be financially. The report was adopted. —Electric Power.— Cr Shaddock, in moving the adoption of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee’s report, said that councillors would be pleased to know that the new chloride storage battery, > which was of British make throughout, had been installed, and was giving satisfaction. The committee recommended that tho tender of Messrs A. and T. Burt for the supply and deli- \ ery, f.o.b. New \ork, of one transformer oil filtering and drying plant be accepted.In answer to Cr Begg, Cr Shacklock said that they had endeavored to get a tender from an English firm for the of filtering plant, but had failed to get one. bo far they had received no indication <; this particular plant being made in Britain. Cr Douglas moved as an amendment tnat the clause referring to the filtering plant bo referred back to the committee. He had no doubt that they could again borrow a machine from the Christchurch Corporation. Cr Black seconded the amendment. The amendment was lost and the report adopted. Cr Shacklock remarked that the department was determined to get all the goods they could from Britain. —City Wards.—

Cr 'Shaddock moved the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report, in which it was recommended that application be made to the Governor in Council for the issue of a proclamation declaring the united borough of the City to be a divided borough comprising three wards, known as North Ward (seven members), Pouth Ward (seven members). Hills Ward (four members).

After discussion it was decided to alter “Hills Ward"’ to “West Ward.” Cr Black wanted tlie whole matter referred back to the committee, so that they could have an undivided borough. The Mayor pointed out that that would not be in order, as Cr Black would have to give notice of motion to rescind what had already been agreed on bv the council. Cr Black said he would give notice of motion. The report as amended was adopted. —Woodhaugh Gardens.— Til© General Committee, in a supplementary report, recommended that a convenience (for ladies and children only) be erected in the Woodhaugh, Gardens'at a cost of £IOB. Cr White moved the adop-" tion of the report, which was adopted. —Conveniences at St. Clair.— The Tramways Committee, in a supplementary report, stated that they had considered the question of providing conveniences. etc., for the general public at St. Clair, and now recommended that an advertisement be inserted in the local papers inviting competitive designs for tllo following accommodation on the site lately occupied by the Pavilion—viz., (a) adequate conveniences for both sex°s; (b) shelter for the public from sudden stormy weather; (c) band rotunda; (d) small stall and clonk room—at a total cost of not more than £2,000, All designs received to bo submitted to a committee of adjudication, consisting of Cis Small and Wilson, with the tramways manager, who will select three designs and submit same to the committee. The prize money to be:—First, £2O; second, £ls; and 3rd. £lO. The first prize money to be merged in the commission. Cr Wilson moved the adoption of tho report. Cr Black moved as an. amendment—- “ That the clause be referred back to tho committee.” He wanted more information. Cr Carroll seconded the amendment. Cr Wilson pointed out that they were only asking for competiive designs. The amendment was lost, and the report adopted. —Maryhill Tramway.— Cr Wilson moved the adoption of the Tramway Committee’s supplementary report, in which it was stated :—“ The' committee have received from the Public Works Department a communication relative to the condition of the Maryhill extension tramway, and the same' is submitted together with a report thereon by the tramway_ manager. In view of the position as disclosed by these documents, the committee issued instructions to discontinue traffic on this line, and in the riieantime the tramways manager to prepare and submit a report regarding the whole question of tramway facilities lor Momington.” Cr Wilson said that the line had got into a bad state, and their officers some time ago recommended that it should be shut down. The Government engineer had now notified them that the Maryhill tramway must be put into repair or cease running. The committee wore considerinothe best way of giving tramway facilities to that portion of Mornington, and the council would be notified at an early date as to what could be done for the line.

GT Sincock said it was a serious thing that the residents of Maryhill should have been placed at such inconvenience hv the sudden stoppage of tbo tramwav service. Tlie line was in 20 per cent, better condition to-day than it was 18 months ago. Besides putting the residents to great inernvonienoe by the stoppage of the line they were depreciating the value of the property in the district. He moved as an amendment—“ That repairs to the MaryHll tram line be proceeded with forthwith, so as to bring the line up to the Government standard.”

Cr Patton seconded the amendment. The Mayor said that in view of the report that the line was dangerous there was nothing else to be done but close it. They all regretted the inconvenience that had been caused, but it was bettor to inconvenience the people than to risk their lives. The Tramways Committee would go into the whole question and try to give facilities to the /Maryhill people. If they were not able at present to get tho necessary material to repair the line, then they would have to wait until tho war was over.

Cr Taverner said that the committee should have tackled the question months ago and brought it before the council. He hoped the amendment would bo carried. Cr Hayward said that an injustice had been done to the residents of Mornington by the sudden closing of the line. Cr M’Millan hoped that the committee would come forward at the next meeting with a proposal to pub tho line into repair.

Cr Shacklock said that in face of the report of the Government engineer they could not run the lino any longer. He was surprised that the late Mornington Council should have allowed the line to get into its present unsafe condition.

Or Sincook said that not one member of the late Mornington Council was responsible for the state the lino had got into. Cr Wilson was surprised at the remarks of Cr Siimock, seeing that he was one of the councillors who favored the Government engineer being aeked to report on the line. Hie Tramways Committee would go into the whole question ; they were determined to provide Mornington with an efficient service. The amendment was lost by' a. largo maiority. Cr White moved as a further amendment —“That the Tramwavs Committee ba authorised to arrange, if possible, for the conveyance of passengers to Maryhill." This was carried, and the report as amended adopted.