CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 21054, 17 March 1932, Page 2

CIVIC AFFAIRS

FORTNIGHTLY COUNCIL MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night, the Mayor (Mr R, S. Black) presiding over the following:—Crs F. W. Mitchell, J. B. Shaddock, J. J. Clark, W. A. Scott, H. L. Tapley, W. Begg, A. H Allen, J. J. Marlow, J. L. MTndoc, F. Wilkinson, and J. Wilson. MOSTLY ABOUT STREETS. Before the Works Committee’s report was discussed the following clause relating to unemployment relief works to be undertaken was deleted: — 44 Removing a portion of high land in Stonelaw terrace to permit an entrance and wall to be built at correct level. Estimated cost to the council £5.” In moving the adoption of the remaining portion of the report, Cr Mitchell said it was with great Reluctance that the committee had to report its inability to meet the representations regarding improvements to Surrey street and Tomahawk road. Unfortunately their funds were at present exhausted, and they were trying to economise as best they could. There was some essential work on Tomahawk road that would be put in hand at the first opportunity. Cr Marlow seconded the adoption of the report. Cr Clark said it had been, represented to him that Hunt’s road, Anderson’s Bay, needed attention. The street had been kerbed on one side, with the exception of a chain or two, which nullified the rest of the work the committee had done. It would be of great benefit to the city if more could be done. It was not asked that it should bo carried out this year, but it was desirable that it should be done as soon as possible. The Mayor: I understand it would cost something like £4BO. Cr Clark: They don’t require work done to such a value as that. _ I think it is only a few yards of kerbing they want. Having consulted official figures relating to the work, the Mayor announced that the total cost of finishing off the two sides of the street would be £615. Cr Clark: It was not represented to me that it would coat that. The report, as amended, was adopted. GAS COMMITTEE. When moving the adoption of the Gas Committee’s report, Cr Wilkinson said the gas engineer had made satisfactory arrangements for the return to the council of the water gas plant that bad been on loan to the Napier gasworks. TENDER ACCEPTED. The tender at £24 of D. M'Kay for the purchase of approximately three and a-half tons of scrap copper was accepted. A COAL MINING LEASE. The Finance Committee reported that authority had been granted to invite tenders for the right to mine for coal for a period of twenty-one years on the council’s property at Kaitangata, being sections 2 and .‘3, block 111., North Monlyneux district, comprising approximately 107 acres. An application for these rights had been received, and it was now necessary to. t

advertise same in terms of statute

Cr Begg asked why the committee had fixed the period of the lease at twenty-one years. Some small owners, might be prepared to take out the lease for a shorter term. The Council knew perfectly well what had happened in the past. A lease for twenty-one years had been accepted, the lessee had made an attempt to work the property and had then thrown it over. He considered that the committee, should reduce the term to five years, so as to give the small man a chance. At present the committee was only playing into the hands of the “octopus.” . A Councillor: Do you mean the optimist?

. Cr Begg (smiling); Yes. Cr Shacklock said that the person who obtained the rights would have no chance of working the property if ho was tied down to a term of only five years. The report was adopted.