PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 20022, 13 November 1928, Page 14

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

COiJNCiI MEETING There were present at the fortnightly mooting of the Borough Council last night Crs T. Scollay (in the chair), W. Lunn, A. Loro, F. Smith, J. Craigie, J. Watson, R. AVillmott, A. Bell, and G. Groves. Illness prevented the mayor from attending. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr T. S. Hoskins applied for a water service to his residence opposite the Crescent Hotel at Mansion!, the water being already laid on to the hotel.— Works Committee to report. Mr R. F. Peters, of Hansford, wrote pointing out in support of an application for a street garage site, that the garage ho proposed to build would not curtail the privacy of an adjacent dwelling, as the only window would be on tho opposite side of the garage.— Mr T. R. Harrhy, owner of tho dwelling house, again objected, stating that the proposed garage would depreciate tho value of his property.—Mrs May, son., and Messrs A. R. Caldwell, J. 1. Hoskins, and J, M. Bnilhe wrote stat-.im-that ns neighbours they nad no objection to a garago being erected.— Tho letters were taken with General Committee’s report. . , . , Mr E. F. Roberts, engineer, advised that he had completed and forwarded to tho district engineer tho plans ana specifications for work on the mum highway in tho borough. It would be advisable to put some of the preliminary work in hand. —Works Committee to Tho°Hospital Board, reported that during last month two patients were admitted to tho Cottage Hospital and two were discharged.—llcccned. REPORTS. Tho Works Committee reported:— During tho past fortnight the foreman and staff have been engaged on the following work; On tho low road at Carey's Bay work has boon proceeding throughout the fortnight, tho watertables having been cleaned and lowered, and 18yds of rubble spread in the potholes. Tho work on tho Curno street sewer outlet has been completed, and tho mud tanks in Wickliffo terrace connected to same. A new asphalt crossin" in place of tho old pitcher crossing has been put in in Mount street adjacent to the Presbyterian Church Tho roadway in front of the transformer station is receiving attention where tho ruts are had. A number of residents have lately been allowing cuttings from tho hedges to remain on tho footpaths, ami the committee desires it to lie known that tho onus is on tho residents to see that such refuse is properly swept up from tho footpath, iho report was adopted. Tho General Committee reported:— Tbo gas foreman states that ho has had some trouble with tho manufacturing plant during tho fortnight, which was rectified without delay. Iho furnace flues were found to bo badly blocked up with flue dust burned to clingcr. Great difliculty was experienced in removing it, tho foreman stating that it must have been accumulating for some considerable time. However, tho flues are now all clean, and the heats in the bench arc all that can bo desired. A now service was put into a cottage in George street during the fortnight. Many propositions for the sale of gas cookers and heaters are at present having attention. In tho matter of the Dnncdin-Port Chalmers road contributions, the ' committee draws attention to tho iact that the metal and screenings deposited on the road cost 14s 7d per yard, which seems to he unnecessarily high. Of 240yds of screenings charged in tho account none of it was put down outside the residential areas of West Harbour. Further, for a distance nl about two miles from the boundary ol Fort Chalmers Borough, tho mam road as included in the order made for joint maintenance, is in _a very had stale, and has not been maintained like the balance of tho road. The committee therefore recommends that the council decline to make any mure maintenance payments until the section the road referred to is put into similar state to the portion of the road within West Harbour Borough. There seems to be a breach by the controlling body of tho stipulation made in the official warrant, which reads; (< Tuat the whole length of the road shall bo maintained in an equally satisfactory condition,” _ The cost of supervising the spreading of I,4lßyds of screenings and metal amounts to £49 10s. This Js excessive, and we understand that it is more than the services of a competent supervising engineer usually costs. Tho committee also points out that this account of £55 10s makes a total payment of £79 for six months, whereas tho estimate submitted by the West Harbour Council nrovided for a total payment of £75 for twelve months.—Tho report was adopted. During the fortnight there had been expended £l5O 15s 2d from the general account and £IOG 16s 7d from the gasworks account, the receipts being £220 14s 5d (general) and £2O 5s 6d (gasworks). The gasworks expenditure included £IOO 1.9 s TOd for renovating a cottage.—Tho Chairman of tho General Committee stated that there was an overdraft of nearly £2,000 in tho general account. The expenditure had been excessive, and tho staff would have to bo reduced, tho services retained to bo on tho basis of cost of labour only for street work. Tire council would be asked to go into the matter at tho next meeting. Tho council decided to grant a garage site in Slant street. Tho position was fully discussed. A motion to decline the request for a site was followed by an amendment to tho effect that, in view of the special circumstances, the inquest be granted, and to have effect during tho pleasure of the council.