PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 21822, 11 September 1934, Page 10

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

COUNCIL MEETING TAR SEALING RECONSIDERED The Mayor of Port Chalmers last night moved recession of the council’s decision _ to ask the Loans Board’s permission to take a poll of the ratepayers in regard to raising a loan to tar-seal certain streets. The engineer .of the gasworks was leaving to take charge of a larger works in the North Island. The mayor (Mr J. Watson) presided, and the councillors present were Messrs G. F. Mirams, L. F. Smith, F. Smith, T. F. Mackie, A. Love, and E. Rouse. The Mayor stated that since the previous meeting the town had lost by death the following respected residents:—Mrs F. J. Clark, Mrs W. Thompson, Miss N. Harrison, Mr J. W. Roberts, and Mr Chas. Rose. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr W. 'A. lies, secretary, invited the council to be represented at a reunion to be held in celebration of the diamond jubilee of the 1.0.6. T.—Cr Mirams to represent the council. The Municipal Association submitted copy of a minute of the proceedings of a conference held in Wellington to consider unemployment. A deputation from the conference waited on the Prime Minister, who promised that the Government would consider the suggestions made by the conference.—Received.

The Progressive League forwarded a letter from the President of the Relief Workers’ Association suggesting that a public meeting be held with a view to more shipping repair work being brought to Port Chalmers. The league was prepared to fall in with any suggestions' from the council.—Received.—Cr Mackie said he was present at the league meeting, which thought it was a matter for the mayor. He , moved that the mayor call a meeting of representative bodies as outlined in ,tho letter.—The Mayor said it was a very important matter, and only good fcould result from its being discussed as suggested. The Bristol scheme or other propositions could be considered. —The motion was carried. The Cricket Club asked' that the •wickets and _ ground be topdressed as soon as possible.—Reserves Committee to act.—Cr _ Mirams said the council last year decided that the footballers use of the ground should cease at the end of August. That decision still held. The Public Works Department forwarded copies of the Main Highways estimates for the current term. —The Mayor said there were two allocations outlined for Port Chalmers roads. _ Mr _D. MTherson tendered his resignation as he had obtained an appointment as gas manager at Marton.—The resignation was accepted with regret, and it was decided to call for applicants at a salary of £225 and a free house. Mr J. Miller wrote complaining of the nuisance caused by stray dogs. He believed it constituted a menace to the health of the town.—Referred to the General Committee. WORKS. The Works Committee reported:— Thirty-four yards of rubble were carted and spread on Fox street, and one chain of storm water drain was laid in Ajax road. Daly street had received a coating of l£in metal. During the month slips were removed from Beach street, Bauchop road,, and... Cemetery road. Twenty-four feet of, storin'water sewer was laid in Fox street. Sixteen feet of stone walling was erected adjacent to the dock fence in Macandrew road to prevent the footpath falling away. The sewers in George and Currie streets required attention during the month. The oin water main leading to the George street wharf was fractured and repairs were necessary. Repairs were also carried out to the Beach street water main. During the month four water services were repaired and one new service put in. Men are still engaged thinning out the plantations at the reservoir. During the month tb© rainfall registered at the reservoir was 5.62 in, with fourteen days’ rain. For the corresponding month last year the rainfall • was 2.41 in with eleven days’ rain. Scheme No. 5 workers have been engaged on the following work:—Thinning out pianations at reservoir, Mus--sol Bay reclamation, quarrying stono and loading stone, regrading Quarry road, clearing gorse at reserves, regrading roadway in Fox street. The committee has given full consideration to the matter of widening the corner at the south end of George street and recommends that the work be held over until such time a* the estimates are being considered next year. The committee regrets having to report that a good deal of vandalism is still taking place in the borough. It is to be regretted that the persons responsible for such damage have so little thought for the protection of public property. Recently someone has seriously damaged a chute erected for the younger children at the children’s playground. A determined effort is to bo made to trace those who act so thoughtlessly, and tho offenders will be brought before the court. Consideration has been given to the request o! the Progressive League to have the brush fence in Wickliffo terrace extended. The committee recommends that the request be complied with and that the existing’ fence be extended as far as the Mussel Bay crossing. A further recommendation is made that all the old trees along the embankment in the vicinity stated be removed. Mr T. F. Mackie moved the adoption of the report. The damage done at the children’s playground was very regrettable. The Mayor asked that the clause dealing with rounding off the elbow at the end of George street be held over. He did not think the cost would exceed £2O, with probably a subsidy from the Highways Board. The committee should have gone in a body to inspect the corner, and he thought that that should yet be done. In order that it might be done he would like to ,see the clause in the report referred back for further consideration.Cr Mackie said the engineer had estimated the cost would be £9O. The Mayor said the engineer had reported on three schemes. He did not for a. moment wisii to flout the committee. Councillors did not see their way to have the clause referred back, and it was approved. The Mayor, referring to the proposed extension of the brush fence at Wickliffe terrace, said the fence was a failure as the sand filtered freely through it.. In any case an extension right down to the crossing was not necessary. It would be a mistake to remove the trees as suggested, as they were a shelter to pedestrians until such time as the trees on the lower level grew up. The real curs of the drift was to sow grass on the sand, and it would be useful work to do so. The clause in the report should bo held over. He moved that it be referred hack to the committee for further consideration from the angle he had mentioned. fit & SmiSt iagl is experienced

shelter from the brush fence. It should be extended to the tennis courts. Or Rouse agreed with Cr Smith’s remarks. The fence provided a shelter from the wind, even if it did not stop the sand drift. Cr Mackie said the mayor might not intend to flout the committee, but that was what he was doing. Cr Mackie had been assured by residents of the locality that the brush fence was most useful. The committee had twice considered the matter. The report was adopted as submitted. A report by Mr R. MTherson on the state of the council’s motor tractor was referred to the Works Committee. Cr Mackie said it was necessary to get the wheels reduced in size right away, and the mayor said it would be attended to. Cr Mackie said it was thought desirable to remove some trees on the Recreation Ground. —The Mayor said it would he referred to the General Committee. Cr Smith said a handrail at LaingMeridian streets had been chopped down.—lt was, decided to refer the matter to the police. GENERAL. The General Committee reported; The gas engineer, in his report for the month under review, states, inter alia, that twenty-eight tons of coal were carbonised; yielding 37(5,200 c.f. of gas, an average of 13,440 c.f. per ton. The manufacturing plant is working well. No. 1 purifier was cleaned out and refilled with fresh oxide. Authority lias been given to procure new blades for the exhauster, the old blades having become badly worn. Cr L. Smith moved the adoption of the report.— Agreed to. A report from the Mussel Bay Reclamation Committee was approved. STREETS LOAN. The Mayor moved that a resolution to make application to the Loans Board for authority to take a loan poll for tar-sealing streets be rescinded. His Worship said the proposed tarsealing was not .urgently needed, and it would be a waste of £2O to take the poll, when there was other urgent work to be done. Cr Mackie questioned whether the motion was in order. . The Mayor explained that it was in order. Cr Mirams said that when the motion to take the poll was carried only the mayor then objected. L'nless His Worship thought there was a prospect of that vote being reversed there was not much to be gained by raising the question again. Since the previous meeting Cr Mirams had consulted a number of ratepayers, and they were against the tar-sealing, excepting one man who considered the road should be scaled from t he_ rotunda to Mansford. He seconded'the motion. Cr F. Smith said he agreed with the chairman of the committee that the ratepayers should be given the chance to say yes or no. If they threw it out that would settle the' matter. Cr L. Smith said he first brought up the proposal for tar-sealing. He thought the ratepayers would be favourable if the position were fully explained to them. Tar-sealing would save the ratepayers a considerable amount for metal. It was doubtful if the poll would come into the present financial year. Cr Love said he had heard people comment on the need for improving the streets. . The Mayor said he was opposed to increasing the town’s indebtedness, as the ratepayers would he taxed to pay mtercst and sinking tund. A little metal at less cost would suffice for a time. Cr Mackie: That is a red herring, .your Worship, put the question. The motion was lost. Cr Mackie questioned -whether it was in the ratepayers’ interests to hang up the motion passed almost unanimously a month ago. The Mayor said it was his duty to oppose any proposal he considered was not in the ratepayers’ interests. Cr Mackie: There is also your duty to the council. The council has a mind of its own. The Mayor: So have 1. The council then went into committee*