PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 21620, 16 January 1934, Page 12

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

COUNCIL MEETING THE LOAN CONVERSION SCHEME The Borough Council held last night its first meeting this year. The reports dealt with work done up to the end of the past'year. The Finance Committee’s report referred to the approval of the borough’s loans conversion scheme by the Loans Board. The conversion loans total £44,900, redeemable at various dates, the first being next year. Under the conversion scheme these loans will be gradually redeemed yearly, commencing with £8,500 in 1,935 and varying in amount until the final redemption is made by the payment of £I,OOO in 1961. That will ho effected by continuing to pay into the redemption account sums equivalent to the original sinking fund charges and original interest payments. The rate of interest on the conversion loan is 4i per cent. The meeting last night was attended by the mayor (Mr .1. Watson), Crs E. G. Bouse, I). A. Bell, T. F. Mackie, F. Smith, A. Love, and L. F. Smith. CORRESPONDENCE. The Westport Branch of the Labour Party asked for a donation to the cost (about £2,000) of erecting a memorial hall in memory of the late Mr H. E. Holland.—The Mayor said this was a circular letter, copies of which were no doubt sent to all public bodies.—Referred 'to the Finance Committee to report.. The Railways Department advised that arrangements were being made for luggage covers on the motor buses plying to Port Chalmers. It was pointed out that the surface ■ of the road at the , entrance of Port Chalmers (from the bridge to the main street) was very uneven, also between the rotunda and Carey Bay. As the road from the city to the borough boundary was to be treated with bitumen, it would be a pity if the short portions referred to were not similarly improved.—Received.

Mr J. H. Williamson wrote directing attention to a periodical bad pressure of gas in Meridian street, owing to water in the pipes. Such trouble could be avoided if, in tlie case of small pipe services, such as in Meridian street, the pipes were blown out every two months, as was done with - a pump when complaint was made.— to the Gas Committee.—The Mayor said the matter was being attended to. The Gas Institute advised that its tenth annual meeting would be held in Invercargill in February. The council was ashed to allow any officials of the gas department who were members of the institute to attend the meeting.— Referred to General Committee, with power to act. WORKS.; The Works Committee reported that all mud tanks had regular attention. Loose metal was raked in on the highway and Macandrew road. Two yards of screenings were spread on Beach street. Four yards of rock were carted and spread in the water tatble adjacent to the entrance to the Presbyterian (jhurch in Mount street. Work is proceeding with the building of a stone toe at the embankment in William street extension work. During heavy - rains several small slips were removed on the Cemetery road and Bauchop road; 160 ft of 4in sewer was laid at the lower end df Slant street, and all necessary connections made. A mud tank-connecting with the-latter sewer will be put in at an early date. During the month the remaining portion of the 7in trunk main adjacent to the reservoir was taken up, cleaned and tarred, and relaid on its new alignment. The temporary loop of Sin pipes has now been taken up. Arrangements haye been made to nave a flow test made this week. A serious leak in the trunk main was discovered opposite Mr Agnew’s property. The leak was caused by the springing of a joint. Repairs were immediately effected, and the joint u> now tight. Three water services were repaired, and one new service laid. Relief workers have been engaged on the following work :—Recreation ground, widening at corner of Bellevue place and Rox street, lowering and regrading Meridian street, cutting grass and cleaning streets, Mussel Bay reclamation, water main at reservoir, cleaning up old cemetery, stumping and cleaning at new cemetery, William street walling, breaking stone at cjuarry, widening Quarry road. The rainfall registered at the reservoir at Sawyers Bay for the month of December* was 2.51 in, with fifteen days’ rain. For the corresponding year the rainfall was 3.72 in with fourteen days' rain. The committee had an interview with Mr Wilkie. Harbour Board engineer. on the matter of the nuisance caused by sand drift at Mussel Bay during windy weather. As a result of the interview the committee has issued instructions to the foreman to proceed with the levelling of the borough area, commencing adjacent to the tennis courts. As the levelling proceeds, seed is to be sowui wdiich will have the effect of preventing the sand blowing up and causing annoyance to nearby residents. Directions have ffieen given to have an advertisement inserted stating that an inspection of all water services, taps, and fittings will be made in the residential area at an early date with the, object of detecting wastage of water. With regard to the proposed visit of the Main Highways Board to Fort Chalmers on the 27th inst., the committee has directed that the board be advised that it is the wish of the council to meet the board. The Mayor stated that a red lamp was lit every night to mark where the pipe line crossed Beach road. Cr Bell said that if a shed near the pipe line were removed a by-path for vehicles could be formed. The Mayor said he would mention the matter to the board’s engineer. Cr Mackie moved the adoption of the report. Work had been resumed on the stone toe at William street. Report adopted. GENERAL. The General Committee Teported. Further advice'has been received from the chairman of the Local Government Loans Board setting out full details of the conditions and stipulations under which authority has been granted to proceed with tlie conversion scheme. It Is anticipated that the necessary Order in Council will be • issued at an early date. The committee recommends that the dog registration fees for the current year be fixed at the same fees and upon the sarne conditions as last vear. There are a few registrations not effected in respect to last year in spite of.warnings issued. The committee has instructed that notice be given to have registration effected-within seven days, fading which sumoninses will be issued. The gas engineer, in his report for the month of December, states, inter alia, that 23J tons of coal were cai‘bonised, yielding 314,300 cubic feet of gas, an average of 13,400 cubic feet per ton. The manufacturing plant is working well. No. 1 purifier was cleaned out during the month, and refilled with fresh oxide.

Cr Hell moved the adoption ol the report The proposed dog tax was the

same as last year. The gas department was working well. . There must necessarily be minor complaints occasionally, but these were attended to as received. The report was adopted. Rates unpaid after February 15 are subject to the 10 per cent, penalty. The commit-, tee had inspected the railway bridge with a view to removing the parapet in order to give better vision to motorists. The committee wished to discuss the proposed remedy with the railway engineer before the work was gone bn with. Cr F. Smith referred to new workshops in Beach street; Spouting was required to carry away rain water. Two stavs seemed to be encroaching on the footpath at the south end-of the building. Cr Love pointed out that'the building was not yet finished. The council then went into committee to consider the sanitary contract, license fees for petrol bowsers, and the pressure and flow of the water supplies at various parts of the town.