PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 18998, 21 July 1925, Page 4

PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING Last night the fortnightly meeting was attended by the mayor (Mr T. Anderson), Crs Bell, Willmott, Campbell, Mackie, Morgan, W. Love, A. Love, Smith, and Lunn. The Mayor referred in appropriate terms to the refcent death of Mr D. A. Do Mans, an ex-councillor and exinayor, who had done much service for tho community. A motion of sympathy was carried. Sympathy was also extended to tho relatives of the late Mrs J. Brennan. Mr S. Wilson wrote asking that the shrubs in Mary street he trimmed, as they were overgrown.—lt was decided to inform the writer that the work would he done in rotation with other similar work in hand. REPORTS. Tho Works Committee’s report included a recommendation that £368 he expended in improving the south end of Gec/ge street by metalling the roadway and rccliauneling tho sides in concrete. 'i'he committee also recommended the expenditure of £lO in fencing and £25 in improving the buildings at the sanitary farm. —The Chairman said tho committee could not do the work with the council staff, hut that aspect of tho question would he gone into when the council approved the proposal as outlined in the report.-—The clause in regard to fencing was referred hack to tho committee. The balance of tho report was adopted. The Finance and Reserves Committee reported on tho work being done by the water officer and his assistants. The School Committee was willing to co-oporato in regard to Arbor Day planting, and the committee recommended that plants ho procured for such planting on the Town Belt.—The report was adopted. The Gas and Water Committee reported that several new gas meters were required. The acting foreman had repaired several water services. The committee again recommended that the Jin main in Bernicia street bo lifted and a sin main laid in its place.—The water main proposal was discussed in detail, and the mayor thought it might he advisable to hold a special meeting to further deal with it.—lt was decided to adopt tho mayor’s suggestion and hold a special meeting. MUSSEL BAY. The Mayor said he desired to draw attention to a local which appeared in Thursday evening’s ‘Star’ relative to the Lower Harbor and Mussel Bay. Had the writer made himself conversant with the facts surrounding these very important works, he would have had his eyes opened regarding what was being done. It was agreed by the Harbor Board to go on with the Mussel Bay work, but very necessary works had to be done at Dunedin to complete certain lands at and surrounding the Exhibition, to continue Rattray street wharf right up to the basin to enable the wharf to he raised to provide more shed accommodation. The Harbor Board approached the council through its representatives, and the council agreed to wait to enable those very necessary works to bo done. They were now about completed. Meantime certain eventualities occurred in the Lower Harbor which require immediate attention for the good of tho port, and he did not desire to further trespass on the Harbor Board’s scheme at present. RAILWAY MATTERS. His Worship said councillors would have noticed regarding the reduction in railway lares that Ravensbourne and Burkes were to receive 2d first class, Id second class, and St. Leonards Id, whereas Sawyers Bay and Port Chalmers were to receive nothing. Further, it was cheaper to travel either single or return from Ravensbourne to Dunedin than from Port Chalmers to Sawyers Bay. Ho believed it would cost very nearly as much to go from Port Chalmers to Mussel Bay as from Ravensbourne to Dunedin. The whole matter of suburban traffic should be gone into and revised, so that one station received no advantage over another in any suburban area. Then they had the dangerous crossing at Lower Port Chalmers station, where several accidents had recently occurred —one only as late as Saturday, when good luck saved a serious accident and the lives of four children and tho driver of the car. One man could not shunt the train and watch the crossing. He understood that the railway regulations provided for two men with a shunt. Next was the overloading of night trains. The Carey’s Bay people were objecting to the nuisances being caused by these over-loaded trains puffing and running all night long. They could not manage the steep inclines. Tho crossing bells were ringing all the time. Regulations also governed these points, and locomotive drivers should report as to their loads, especially in the winter time. Slight he suggest an extra engine to Mihiwaka. He stated that these matters should be placed before the Expansion League Railway Committee and West Harbor and Mosgiel delegates. They then could bring the matters in question before the local traffic manager (Mr West). It was decided to refer those matters to the attention of the railway traffic, manager, as they woro of moment to the community. —Fire Fighting Plant.— Mr S. B. M'Donald, chairman of the Fire Board, waited on the council, and proposed that the council accept the sura of £75 in full settlement of the balance owing for plant taken over from tho council by the board.—The Mayor said this meant the remitting of £75, hut he felt sure tho committee would give the matter very careful consideration. The proposal was referred to the committee.

—Top Dressing Declamation Ground.— A deputation representing the cricket and Rugby football clubs waited on the council, and asked that the playing area on the Reclamation Ground be top dressed. The cricket club would give the grass, and the football club would also contribute towards the cost. —The request was referred to the Reserves Committee to report.