CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 19774, 26 January 1928, Page 15

CIVIC AFFAIRS

FORTNIGHTLY COUNCIL MEETING The first meeting of the City Council for the year 1928 was held last night, those present being the mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner), Crs Wilson, Scott, Black, Begg, La ninth, Douglas, Hayward, Campbell, Shaddock, and Mitchell. STREETS AND HOADS. Speaking to the motion to adopt the report of the Works Committee, moved by Cr Wilson, Cr Black asked to be informed definitely whether the Whippet motor car proposed to be purchased was a British or an American car. The Mayor referred to the paving of King Edward road. The original intention, he said, was to complete this as far as Bay View road, but it was now proposed to take it to Oxford street only. Cr Mitchell referred to the engineer’s report concerning street maintenance, and repeated his objections thereto. There had been many complaints, he said, regarding the condition or George street. That portion from Knox Church north was a disgrace, and the methods of repairing it that had been adopted were laughable. Cr Mitchell also complained that the Trinidad roadway opposite the Museum was already being replaced. The ratepayers, he declared, were not getting fair value for the expenditure on the tinkering process generally adopted. Cr Black, referring to the engineer’s report on the operations on the Green Island road, said that as the city was paying its share of the cost of the work, it would be well to note that the road was not being set down according to the city engineer’s specifications. Cr Shacklock asked the chairman to visit Anderson’s Bay road and note the grass growing on certain portions of footpaths. Cr Begg complained of the condition of the North road.

Cr Wilson, in replying, said that the engineer had gone carefully into the tenders concerning the purchase of a motor car, and had recommended the Whippet, The speaker understood that 40 per cent, of the material in this car was assembled in Dunedin. It was supposed to be a Canadian car. Cr Hayward moved that this clause be referred back with instructions that a British car be purchased. There was no seconder to the motion, which consequently lapsed. In reply to the mayor, Cr Wilson said that the first instructions had been to pave King Edward street as far as Melbourne street. Furthro money had been provided, which would carry it further, and it was hoped to eventually reach Bay View road. Replying to Cr Mitchell, the Chairman said that the matter of street maintenance was a matter of getting sufficient money to carry it out. The asphalt in George street had been put down before the staff had known the proper procedure. It was hoped that the whole road would be properly relaid before long. Concerning Cr Black’s,comment, the Chairman said that the work on the South road was being carried out under contract. The specifications were so drastic that they had had to be modified. . Mr Tannock’s practice, said Cr Wilson, in reply to Cr Shaddock, was to have the grass plots, such as those on the footpaths on Anderson’s Bay road, cut once a year. The report was adopted. TRAMWAY MATTERS.

In moving the adoption of the Tramway Committee’s report, Cr Douglas said that he wished to express gratification at the attitude of both sides in connection with the _ recent agreement as to wages. The increase of £B3O per annum was mainly to the lower graete wage earners. Cr Dougins added that he hoped that all the corporation employees would put on their thinking caps and, noting the remarks of the town clerk, consider what the position was going to he. The clause in the report concerning the. ear stopping place, automatic signal, etc., at Highgato, Boslyu, was, on the motion of Cr Black, referred hack for further consideration. progress at watport. “The work at Waipori, as far as the pipe line is concerned, is going on satisfactorily,” sid Cr Shaddock in moving the adoption of the report of the Electrical Power and Lighting Committee. He said the steamers bringing the generators from abroad had been delayed, but no time would be lost after the boats arrived, and it was hoped another machine would he running before the winter load was oyer. The° poles for the third transmission line between Waipori and On tram would be erected as soon as possible, and then there would be less? chance of a stoppage such as occurred recently. Cr Wilson wanted to know why the stand-by plant in Dunedin failed when the Waipori stoppage occurred on January 13. After the power had been off forSOmin the Diesel engines were going but failed and then went off twice again, and power was not obtained again till Waipori was running. Cr Begg said noticed in the published returns that ' the Christchurch Tramway Board paid less for its power than the Dunedin Tramway Department did. He thought it strange that more was charged by the Dunedin Electrical Department to another department than the Government charged the Christchurch Tramwav Board.

Cr Black wanted to know why the stoppage was so long and why the stand-by plant was not good enough. Cr Shacklock said in reply that when the stoppage occurred there was only one line in action between Waipori and Dunedin, as men were working on the other line in strengthening it. Rain on the Friday night discovered a weak spot on one of the insulators on the one line working. The Diesel engines stopped because trouble developed in one of the air compressor cylinders. Unfortunately these engines were not always running, and faults were not found till they were set going. It was hoped the erection of a third line from Waipori would mean the end of any stoppages in the future. On the question of the charges made for power Cr Shacklock said it was probable the Christchurch figures did not include the cost of running a steam plant. The Dunedin figures included standing charges on the converter sta-‘ tion. The report of the committee was adopted. GAS COMMITTEE. In moving the adoption of the report of the Gas Committee Cr Scott said that rapid progress was being made with the erection of the vertical retort. Fifteen or sixteen bricklayers were working, and more would be employed if they could be found. A decrease in the output of gas was attributed by Cr Scott to daylight saving. The report of the committee was adopted. TENDER' ACCEPTED. Mr J. M‘Kay’s tender of 25s a ton was accepted for the purchase of approximately eight tons of cast scrap iron now lying at the converter station.