PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 22627, 20 April 1937, Page 13

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council last night was attended by the Mayor (Mr T. Scollay), Crs Farquharson, Armstrong, Watson, Smith, Jack, Annan, Willmott, and -Williamson The municipal finances showed a distinct improvement with the overdraft brought below the legal limit. Resolutions of. sympathy with the relatives of the late Mr J. M‘C. Dickspn and Mr C. E. Thetford were carried. CORRESPONDENCE. The Transport Department advised that the issuing of drivel’s* licenses in cities of 6,000 or over would continue as at present, but that_ in the case of lesser centres of population the Government would collect the drivers’ license fees instead of the local body, and Government officials would enforce the motor regulations.—The Mayor questioned whether the Government would really enforce the regulations, after collecting the license fees. The other night he had observed a car without lights parked across the street from a parking area.—By-laws Committee to report. The Returned Soldiers’ Association invited the mayor and councillors to attend Anzac Day parade and commemoration service.—lnvitation' accepted and council to give a wreath. The Prime Minister advised that the Government was desirous of appropriately celebrating the Coronation. Details of the proposed national celebration were submitted.—Considered in committee to discuss details. The St. John Ambulance Association asked , for a donation.—Resolved to donate £3 8s The Prime Minister advised that he was asking the. people of New Zealand to give £25,000 to the King George Memorial. Fund in order to permanently establish children’s health camps.—Resolved that a subscription list be opened in the town clerk’s office and that the council head the list with a donation of sgs. ” ENGINEER’S REPORT. The borough engineer (Mr F.; J. Williams) reported:— Dunedin-Port Chalmers Highway, No. 225.—Permission was received from the Main Highways Board to increase the width of the smoothing coat on this highway to 24ft from the Cenotaph to the-rotunda, and the contract has been increased accordingly. The work has been done, but the plane has yet to be used in order to bring the road to the smooth surface specified. Port Chalmers-Aramoana, No ; 643. .—Certificate of [payment has been forwarded for 75 per cent, of value of work done in_ the second coat of bitumen. The maintenance period has expired, but there are certain defects which the contractor is required to remedy and the 25' per cent, as retained in the meantime. ' The balance of the highway is in > fair order. On the 15th _ ult. the Main Highways Board paid its bi-annual visit to Port Chalmers, when_ various matters were brought under its notice. The necessity of proclaiming Allen Highway a main highway was stressed, and we were advised that when the time arrived the application could be again lodged _ and it would receive its consideration. The chairman of the board pointed out, however, that the taking over of the Picton-Bluff and AucklandWellington main highways meant considerable _ additional expenditure, arid that until the Minister advised the board as to its revenue for the incoming year the question of additional highways would not be considered. On March! 27 the stone wall in Grey street between Currie and Mary streets collapsed. Immediate steps were taken to protect the . traffic, and after the holidays a commencement was made with the deviation of the sewer, which work is nearing completion. We will start rebuilding the stone wall immediately, but this is a work which can be done as opportunity offers and the men are available. Since last report it has been difficult to get much work done on account of holidays and annual leave. The Easter holidays covered a period of four days. The intersection of Scotia and Grey streets was regraded and some IJin metal was spread on it. After the metal had been run in it was blinded with shells, and the surface was now in very good order. The available men under’No. 5 Employment Board scheme have been employed cutting grass on the Recreation Ground, cleaning water tables, trimming shrubs and trees in Daly street and Wickliffe Terrace, cleaning up cemeteries, and erecting fences at Dalkeith. The water officer has been engaged cleaning out the dam and race, cutting and burning grass and noxious weeds. He also repaired three valves on the old dock and one on the Bowen pier. WORKS. The Works Committee reported:The rainfall registered at the reservoir for the_ month of March was 3.31 in, with rain on 18 days. For the corresponding month last year 6.96 in of rain were registered, with rain on 19 days. Main highway, Port-Waitati: A recommendation is made that approximately 50yds of screenings be spread on the Port Chalmers-Waitati highway. It is proposed to carry out the cartage of the metal from the quarry with the council’s own lorry. Motor truck: The new Bedford truck has arrived, delivery being taken at Port Chalmers on April 14. Street lighting: An estimate is being obtained for providing an additional street light in Victory Place, also for shifting tho light at the bottom of Mary street to the other side of the road, and for the provision of an additional street light in Beach road near Mr O. Johnson’s house. Street works: The committee purposes carrying out improvements and metalling on the following streets as early as possible: —_ Constitution street, Mary street, Currie street, and Slant street. The work, it will be remembered, was to have been carried out last year, but was held over. Tho engineer has been asked to report on tho cost of improvements to Coombo Hay Terraco and Henry street. ■ Cr Watson supplied further details, and the report was adopted. The council discussed recent stoppages i.i domestic water supplies, and it was decided to obtain a report on the water mains from the engineer, also on the suggestion to bring the outlet pipe over the bank cf the reservoir. GENERAL COMMITTEE. The General Committee reported:— The operations fop the financial year which, closed on March 31 disclose a "further improvement in the finances over the several accounts of the borough. Expenditure was kept well within the margin provided in tho estimates, and the income slightly exceeded the amount estimated for. The gas account is in the most satisfactory position it has been for many years. A detailed statement has been prepared and will he submitted to tho council through the chairman of tho Finance Committee.

The Gas Manager in his report for the month states that 21J tons of coal were carbonised, yielding 291,900 cubic feet of gas, an average of 13,000 cubic feet per ton. For the year ended March 31, 1937, a total quantity of 285 tons of coal were carbonised, the gas made being 3,776,200 cubic feet. Sales of coke and tar were well maintained during the year. The manufacturing plant is in good working order, and credit is due to the gas manager (Mr G. Russell) for the capable manner in which he has carried out his duties. The audited balance sheet for the past -year was received from the Audit Department and adopted. FINANCIAL POSITION; A report on the finances of the borough, for the year ended March 31 was submitted by Cr Jack, who said that there had been a further improvement in the financial position of the council. During 1935-36 considerable progress had been made towards a really satisfactory financial position, and tho year 1936-37 _ had definitely consolidated that position. The overdraft on the district fund account had been further reduced, and now stood at £B7O 2? 4d, compared with £1,530 6s 3d when the council took office two years ago. The gas account was in a healthier state than it had been for many years, the overdraft having been reduced from £772 Is 3d to £597 12s lOd. The loan position, too, was steadily improving. During the year debentures amounting to £7OO had been repaid, making a total of £9,400 repaid since April 1, 1935, of the original conversion loan of £41,400. Only a small proportion of this repayment had come out of 1935-37 revenues. The total rates levied for the year • had amounted to £4,786 9s 7d, of which sum £4,592 had been collected by the penalty date. This represented 96 per cent, of the total rate, and reflected the greatest credit on the ratepayers of the borough.' It could be safely said that the finances of the borough were in a sound state. Considerable sums had been spent on street improvements and on repairs and improvements to services during the period. While admitting that much remains to be done regarding these matters, it had! to bo conceded that the proportion put in good order was a very creditable one for any one year, considering that the work had been done out of the revenue. Thus while the financial portion had been improved, the_ works programme had also been carried out.