MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 22516, 8 December 1936, Page 16

MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING Mr A. F. Quelch (mayor) presided at the monthly meeting of the Mosgiel Borough Council held last night. • There was a full attendance of councillors. REPORTS. Tha Works Committee reported Work carried out since last meeting was: Septic Tanks.—The receiving tanks were desludged' and cleaned out, and all settling tanks emptied. Advantage was taken of a flood in the stream to do this work. The grass has been mowed from newy-planted trees on the tanks property. Drainage.—One drain in Forfar street was tested and inspected. ' Water Supply. The dead ends of mains were run off as usual. _ All air and scour valves on the pipe line have received close attention. The grating on the chamber at the top intake, being in a bad condition, was replaced with a new one. The pipes at the end of the Sin near the top were cut and scoured. The quarterly reading of meters was attended to. Maintenance. —Paths and tables in the following streets were grubbed and cleaned: —Factory road, Bush and Gordon roads, Argyle, Morrison, Cargill, Church, Tay, Glasgow, and Forfar streets. ' Depressions in Gordon and Factory roads were asphalted. The grader was set on Factory and Gladstone roads. A start has been made with cutting the grass on street lines, 'this work being done with the borough mower. A level crossing was put down for a resident in ' Ayr street, and a petrol tank was inspected before installation in Gordon road. Men under the No. 5 scheme were employed on baths excavation. Wingatui Water Suppjy.—The committee has had an application from a resident in Wingatui for a water supply to his .dwelling, but, as the pipeline at this spot is already overloaded, the application has been declined. Tractors.—The attention of the committee has been drawn to the fact that .two tractors with metal grips attached to the wheels have recently been operated over streets in tho borough, and the owners have been notified that this must not occur again unless the metal grips are first removed from the wheels. . Level Crossing. Notice has been served, on a resident to have a level crossing put in to avoid damage to the water table by a motor car being driven over it. (The report was adopted.

The General Committee reported;— Ranger.—The committee has had befort it the ranger’s reports for the month of November, and it has been decided to prosecute the owner of a number of cows which were found grazing on the public street by the ranger. Traffic Inspection. The traffic inspector’s report on his activities during the month of November has been before the committee. Tt_ has been decided to prosecute a cyclist for riding a bicycle at night without a light. parking Areas. —In view of the risk of ‘ accident caused by cars being parked in tho narrow portion of Wickliffe street, between Gordon road and Church street, it has been decided to erect “No parking” signs at those points. A discussion took place regarding prosecutions for cattle wandering on streets. —On Cr Smeaton’s motion the clause regarding. the ranger’s report was referred back to the committee, and the balance of the report was adopted. Financial Position.—The committee has had before it a report by the town clerk on the receipts and expenditure for the current year as compared with the estimates, which discloses a satisfactory position. * Outstanding Rates.—The town clerk has reported to the committee that the amount of outstanding rates now stands at £153 l3s Id, which is considerably less than at any time for a good number of years past. Suitable action is being taken for the recovery of the amounts still outstanding. 1 Tar Sealing Contract.—The committee acceded to Messrs Fulton, Hogan Ltd.’s application for an additional payment of £l4 5s under their bituminous surfacing contract. This payment is in consequence of the recent legislation affecting wages and hours of work. Conversion Loan.—Two further debentures have now been redeemed, reducing the amount of this loan to £9,100. Accounts. —The committee has examined and passed for payment accounts totalling £1,24G 7s Bd. Speaking to the adoption of the report, Cr Frew said the town clerk (Mr Rogers) should be congratulated on the success of his efforts in collecting outstanding rates. The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read from Messrs Muirhead and Son and Mr H. L. Wilson explaining why alterations to business premises had been, commenced without the customary permit.—lt was decided to accept the explanation, but to prosecute any person in future who commenced alteration to, or the erection of, a building without first making the necessary application as outlined in the by-laws.

The Otago Christian Endeavour Union asked for the use of- the picnic ground in- Gladstone ‘ road for a convention picnic on Easter Saturday afternoon, and the Gordon Road Park on March 26, ' 27, and 29 for a short open-air meeting.—Granted. The Carriers and Motor Drivers’ Association, Dunedin, forwarded a letter about the licensing of carriers.—The letter was received.' A letter was read from the Ministry of Housing, Wellington, enclosing a form, of application for a housing loan, and details of the scheme.—Referred to the Finance Committee. PICTURES ON CHRISTMAS DAY. Messrs Stone and Strain, theatre proprietors, were refused an application to show pictures in the Mosgiel Picture Theatre on the evening of Christmas Day. The mayor and Crs Smeaton and Wilson voted for the granting of the request, and Crs Frew, Hartstonge, Smith, and Steven against it.—Cr Frew maintained that Christmas Day was held in reverence by many of the townspeople, and no good purpose could be served by showing pictures on that day. If the council granted the request it would only be the thin end of the wedge for a similar request for Sundays. GENERAL. Crs W. P. Hartstonge and A. Steven were appointed to represent that body on the committee of the Taieri Swimming Club. It was decided to observe the customary holidays for Christmas and New Year. The borough offices will ho closed for a fortnight from Decem- ■ her 24, and) the outdoor staff will observe Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. The dog tax was fixed at the same rate as formerly, and Mr J. Crawford was appointed, collector of fees. Cr Steven introduced the matter of ' an addition to a pipe line at the baths, where it pierced the river bank to avoid danger to the hank in times of flood. A general discussion followed on the necessity for the addition, and ■ eventually it was decided to interview tho engineer with respect to tho erection of the baths with a view to carrying out Cr Steven’s wish. BUILDING AND SANITARY INSPECTOR. Inspector Sinclair, in vacating the office of sanitary and building inspector, acknowledged the courtesy and kindness extended to him by tbe council while ho had acted in tho borough. —Received. The following motion was carried: “ That this council places on record its appreciation of the interest and care given by Inspector Sinclair to all matters referred to him for attention during the period he has acted as sanitary

and building inspector to the borough of Mosgiel, and l wishes hint every success in his work at Invercargill.” Mr Alfred S. Barrett, inspector of health, Dunedin, was appointed to the vacancy. / CHRISTMAS GREETINGS." Before the meeting closed the Mayor tendered the season’s greetings to the councillors and their wives and families, to the town derk (Mr Rogers), to the borough staffs, audi to the Press. The greetings were acknowledged by Cr Frew, on behalf of the council, by Mr Rogers for the staffs and himself, and by Mr Walls on behalf of the Press.