PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 22889, 22 February 1938, Page 15

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

COUNCIL MEETING HOUSING SURVEY COMPLETED The monthly meeting of the council last night was attended by the mayor (Mr T. Scollay), Crs Farquharson, Williamson, Smith, AVatson, Annan, Forsyth, Jack, Willmott, Armstrong, and Rouse. A resolution expressing sympathy with the relatives of the men drowned ■ in the cloudburst at the construction camp in Hawke’s Bay was carried. There was also carried a resolution appreciative of the life work of the late Sir Truby King. CORRESPONDENCE. The Public Works Department forwarded a copy of the annual report of the Main Highways Board.—Received. Mr K. G. Roy submitted a copy of the Mechanics’ Institute’s annual report, as the council has representatives on the institute’s committee of management and subscribes to the funds. The past year was very successful. There was an increase of members. Changes in the periodicals had been made and books exchanged with the Green Island Library. The finances were a. little better. The librarian was the right person in the right place. The recent death of Mr G. L. Wilkin, ex-treasurer, was deplored.—Received, ENGINEER’S REPORT. The borough engineer (Mr J. F. Williams) reported:—Good progress has been made by the contractors in the removal of the milling timber from Sawyers Bay reserves. The weather has been suitable for the work, and we have had the road repaired and bridges strengthened to give reasonable access to all tho belts arranged to he sold. The bridge below the caretaker’s house should be further strengthened by a temporary pier in the centre and by using 9ft x Sin or 9ft x 4in for runway planks. The caretaker recommends that the tops remain as shelter for the now trees, and that any standing timber which is useless be removed. Magnetic street water main; For the time worked on the new main fair progress has been made. The water service has been maintained during reconstructions, and all services have been reconnected as far as the new main is finished. Some nine chains of sin pipes have been laid, and the old main has been removed. It is very dirty, and its conditio'n to some extent is due to the absence of suitable scouring conditions. A sample of the condition of the stop cocks in these house services is on the table. While this work is in progress the long house services should be examined, so that when a permanent surface is given to the Allen Highway no damage will be done with leaking services. The work will be completed during the incoming month. There appears to be some leakage in Upper Bernicia street, and this will ho investigated before leaving the locality. The water officer reports that the reservoir is down 2ft lin, and that he has been engaged in cleaning out the race, cutting grass and trees. He has also been employed repairing roadways and bridges to enable the timber from the reserves to be dealt with. WORKS. The Works Committee reported: The rainfall registered at the reservoir for the month of January was 2.74 in, with rain on 12 days. .For the corresponding month last year the rainfall registered was 4.65 in, with rain on 19 days. In pursuance of a request from the council your committee has given further consideration to the question of the provision of a footpath for pedestrians along the main highway to Sawyers Bay. An estimate of the cost of £l2 to the borough has been obtained, and after mature consideration a recommendation is made that the taking of any further steps in the matter be held over indefinitely. It will be noticed from the engineer’s report that repairs have been effected to Cemetery road, and, in order to make a more permanent road surface your committee recommends that the carriageway be tar-sealed with one coat of local tar, the work to be undertaken by the council’s own staff and plant. The estimated cost of the sealing work for materials and cartage is £32. The wages item is estimated at £l6. The report was adopted on the motion of Cr AVatson. Cr Jack thought that Currie street, as it was used by more people, was more in need of tar-sealing than Cemetery road. . Cr AVillmott suggested that the council adjourn for half an hour so that councillors might go and inspect Cemetery road. Cr Annan emphasised the need for tar-sealing Cemetery road, and improving other streets in Mansford. ■ As a motorist, Cr Forsyth had found that the surface of Currie street was rougher than that of Cemetery road. Cr Williamson would like to see all the side roads sealed. Cr Smith said the footpath up Flagstaff was in need of tarring and sanding- . . The Mayor suggested that capital expenditure was required to put the roads and footpaths in Mansford in order. . GENERAL. The General Committee reported; The gas manager, in his report lor January, states that during the month 19J tons of coal were carbonised, yielding 268,800 cubic feet of gas, au average of 13,560 cubic feet per ton. The retorts setters are at the present time engaged on building in a new bed of retorts. The work should be completed in about four weeks. The manufacturing plant is working well and has given no trouble during the month. An account has been received covering maintenance of the Dmiedin-Port Chalmers road for the quarter ended December 31, 1937. The amount payable by this council—viz., £7 9s Id—is recommended for payment. The committee has gone into the question of revising the street traffic by-laws, and authority is asked to allow the committee to report on the bringing of the present by-law u,p to date, to make provisions for regulations thereunder, and the appointment of parking areas, stands, etc. —Cr Forsyth moved the adoption of the report, which was agreed to. HOUSING SURVEY. A special committee reported; The housing survey of the borough was completed on January 14. Altogether 594 dwelling units were surveyed (477 in Peninsula area and 117 in Mansford area). A complete analysis of the survey has been prepared, and a copy, together with the supervisor’s report, is attached hereto. The net cost to the borough amounted to £lO3 10s. The whole of tho information obtained h,ps been collated, and this, together with the necessary plans, lias been forwarded to the Director of Housing Construction at AVellington.— The report was approved.