PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 20998, 12 January 1932, Page 9

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the Borough Council last night was attended by the mayor (Mr J. Watson), Crs Lunn, Love, Smith, -Craigie, Anderson, Morgan, Loll, and Mirams. CORRESPONDENCE. The Secretary of the Fire Board wrote stating that at the recent Fire Board meeting attention was drawn to an urgent need for new water mains in Wickliffe terrace, near the cottage hospital, and in Ajax road. The board asked trie council to put the work in hand as soon as possible.—-Referred to Water Committee. Cr Lunn said there was not much prospect of water mains being put down during the present financial year. The Railway Department offered to lease to the council a small portion of the railway reserve at Carey Bay at an annual rental of 10s, in connection with an extension of Williams street. — Resolved to accept the offer. It was stated that the extension of the street could be carried out as relief work. The Mayor stated that he had received a letter from Dunedin in respect to relief for the unemployed, and a combined meeting of representative bodies was asked for.—The mayor to attend the meeting. His Worship said an offer of £l6 per annum had been received for leasing of southern end of the Town Belt for grazing purposes.-—After discussion it was decided that the rental should not be less than £2o.—Cr Anderson moved that the letter in question should be referred to the Works Committee, but that suggestion was not approved.—The Mayor said he took it on himself to use some old pipes to lay water on the Town Belt. The cost was only £3. His Worship said he accepted the responsibility of acting whenever necessary.—Cr Smith took exception to the mayor acting without consulting the committees. They should be very careful. _ Suggestions entered in the “ suggestion ” hook in regard to work should not take precedence of works already approved by the council. I move that the next business be taken.” REPORTS. The Works Committee reported:— Six chains of kerbing and channelling have been completed in Mary street, and the ground between the asphalt and the new kerb made up to the new level. The committee proposes to sow a few pounds of grass seed on this ground, and hopes that the residents will keep the grass mown in front of their respective properties. Wickliffe terrace wall is still proceeding, and is now nearing the Daly street end. The committee nas given authority for -a further two courses of stones to be placed on the wall. Six yards of rock was carted and spread on Burns street, and twelve yards on Mary street. This rock was taken from the embankment in Wickliffe terrace. The remaining portion of the picket fence in Wickliffe terrace was removed and stored at the yard. Six yards of soil was screened and taken to Mary street for top dressing the plot behind the new channel. Grass cutting is being proceeded with throughout the borough. The matter of a drain discharging adjacent to Mr Durry’s property in Carey’s Bay is still under consideration by the committee, and is not yet finalised. The following work has been carried out by relief workers during the month The recreation ground work was completed, but requires some grass seed sown in places and rolling. The reserve in Wickliffe terrace has been cleaned up and a number of men are engaged at present cleaning up the domain ground m Beach road. Noxious weeds are being cut out in the Town Belt and trees trimmed in various places. Men are also engaged at the water reserves. Several defective water services were repaired during the month. Two valves on the trpnk main from the reservoir were taken to pieces and overhauled on December 26. The valves were found to be in good order, and after being cleaned were replaced. The committee makes a recommendation that every water valve in. the town

be thoroughly overhauled. The reservoir shows a fall of 6in below, normal level. The rainfall for the month of December was 2.80 in. Rain fell on seventeen days. A recommendation is made that on the completion of the channelling work in Mary street a start be made on the kerbing and channelling of Wickliffe terrace between Daily and Burns streets, provision to be made for a footpath 7ft wide, the footpath to be asphalted when the kerb and channel has been put in. A recommendation is made that the footpath in Currie street which was asphalted a few months ago be given a top dressing of tar and sand.—Cr Smith, in moving the adoption of the report, dealt with the proposals embodied in the report.—Cr Craigie reported having inspected Mr Durry’s drain at Mansford. He was accompanied by Cr Lunn. Drainage was flowing over portion of an adjacent section. The drain should have been extended to the creek below.—Cr Lunn said he would report to the committee. —The Mayor said very little corrosion was found when the water main valves near the reservoir were examined. The bad pressure in certain parts of the borough was probably due to valves not being fully open.—Cr Anderson' said the opening of the valves at the reservoir had not improved the pressure at his residence. Defective valves, air locks, and the method of installing new services were all responsible factors of the ppor water pressure referred to. The valves should be examined.—Cr Lunn wanted to know if Cr, Anderson had used a pressure gauge to test the pressure. Cr Lufin said he examined all the valves_ in 1903 or 1904.—Cr Love: “It is time they were examined again.”—Cr Lunn doubted whether all the valves were not now fully, open, and he considered they should be examined and improvements made where necessary.—Cr Smith said the water did not reach his house until two hours after it was turned on at tire reservoir.—The 1 report was adopted. Tne General Committee reported: A copy of the financial summary for the nine months ended December 31, 1931, is forwarded herewith. A glance at the statement will show that care must be exercised in the expenditure for the remaining period of the financial year. The committee recommends that the dog registration fee for 1932 be fixed at 10s, with a rebate of 2s fid if paid by March 31, 1932. The fee for dogs used for herding sheep or cattle to be 2s fid. The gas engineer, in his report for the month of December, states, inter alia, that twenty-two tons of coal was carbonised, yielding 330,700 cubic feet of gas, an average of 15,000 cubic feet to the ton. One new consumer was connected up during the month. The plant is working well, and no trouble was experienced during the month.—Cr Loll moved the adoption of this, report.—Cr Lunn said there was no tar available for tarring a footpath in Mary street. He thought that, in view of the council’s financial position, the half-year’s donation of £l2 10s to the Mechanics’ Institute be deleted.— Cr Anderson asked whether the inspector had put in an order with the executive officer for tar. If the business were not done in that way it should be.—The report was adopted. CONCRETE BLOCKS. Cr Lunn said he had ascertained since the previous meeting that Wellington Corporation still used concrete blocks for street channelling. That disproved a statement made by another councillor at the last meeting. UNEMPLOYED.

Cr Cragie moved that relief workers he paid on Saturday instead of Monday.—Cr Anderson considered it could he done.—-Tlie Mayor said no work could b© done on Saturdays if payment

were made that day. If there war# any cases of hardships such could be dealt with.—Cr Loll could not see how. men who ceased work at midday on, Saturday could be paid on Saturday, afternoon.—Cr Love said that if the men were paid up to Friday night they could obtain tl}« wages on Saturday.—* The Mayor said the town clerk was doing his best under difficulties. In Dunedin there were six clerks attending to that work.—The Town : Clerk explained the position to the council. 15 the men were willing to be paid up to Friday evening they could receive their,,• wages on Saturday.—The motion waa withdrawn on the understanding that’, the men should be paid on Saturday,! morning, work for the week to cease onj Friday evening.—Cr Lunn wished toj know if the council was agreeable to the unemployed growing vegetables on vacant corporation sections. FINANCIAL POSITION.

The Mayor said that the councillors were supplied with a statement of the financial position. If the whole of the outstanding £3,690 were collected there' would still be a deficit of about £30.;! It was not likely that all the amount’ would come in. The council now had * to consider its commitments.

Cr Anderson pointed out the position of the gasworks, which did not seem 1 to be understood. The Finance Com-j mittee had brought down the financial 1 statement, and the committee wanted] a lead from the council. The money] had been frittered away. The position] had to be met, without, if possible, put-] ting off bread-winners. The people did] not have the money to pay the gates' as previously. Not much could be done in the two mouths before .the end off the present financial year. The. whole position would have to be thoroughly gone into at the beginning of the new. financial year. The Mayor said the question was as to how the budget was to be balanced! for this year. The Government had] docked the subsidy by 10 per cent. That was another loss not provided for. The 5 overhead _ charges had been greater' than anticipated. , ' Cr Loll said he could not see that'i much could be done at this stage. ThoL estimated income and expenditure was! very sound. Perhaps the latter had! been under-estimated. By exercising the] utmost care he believed the could be balanced. Economising would have to be exercised next year. Crs Lunn, Love, and Smith took part in the discussion. In conclusion Cr Anderson moved that the report be received. Cr Morgan said he had expected a, lead from the Works Committee, bub, it had not been forthcoming. He did not think it would be wise to take drastic steps' at present. Next year, however, there would have to be a reduction of staff or an increase of rates. Cr Lunn thought something should be done even at this late hour to bal- 1 . ance the budget. He could foresee all ’ 10 per cent. “ cut ” coming, and would in fact move in that direction now..; That motion would show who were in favour of sane finance. Cr Anderson said the motion would not be in order until the estimates for next year were being considered. The Mayor said that had been resolved at a previous meeting. The report was formally received. WEST HARBOUR ROAD. The Mayor read a letter from the council’s solicitors in regard to the maintenance of the road between Pori’ Chalmers and Dunedin. His Worship, commenting on the communication, said the matter in dispute iii regard to tar-sealing the road in question should be cleared up. " Legal expenses were running on Cr Anderspu moved that, the matter be referred to the General Committee for a report, and that course was adopted.