PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 23351, 22 August 1939, Page 5

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

COUNCIL MEETING Complaints had been received, it was reported to the Port Chalmers Council, about several unattended dogs running about the streets at practically all hours, one large dog being alleged to be particularly objectionable. The council meeting was attended by the mavor (Mr T. Soollay). Crs Sutherland, Thorn, Cook. Jack, Leftwich, Macdonald. Mead. Sansora, and Williamson. It was resolved to send the council s congratulations to Mr and Mrs J. Knewstubb on the attainment of their golden wedding. The lV{ayor stated that owing to the rough weather the Arbor Day planting had been held over until after the school holidays. His Worship said he would be pleased to accept young trees and shrubs from citizens who desired to see extra planting done as a Centennial gesture. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Hon. P. C. Webb acknowledged inquiries regarding his own and the Prime Minister’s health. The Prime. Minister was doing well, and Mr IVebb hoped to be soon out of hospital.—Received . . The Department of Internal Affairs regretted that the State Forestry Service was not in a position at present to supply trees for Arbor Day planting. —Received.Minister of Internal Affairs forwarded copy of an illustrated brochure entitled ‘ Roadside Beautification in New Zealand.’: —To lie on the table. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Borough Engineer reported: The macadam portion of the Aramoana highway required some attention during the month. Screenings were spread and the West Harbour grader was used for shaping up portion of the roadway. At the lower end of Lamg street a grating and mud tank have been constructed and connected to the sewer, while the entrance to Laing streefhas been rearranged. Considerable investigation has been made along tho line ot sewer serving the properties on tho west side of Laing street, but no sign of any leakage from the sewer can be found. I am satisfied that any dampness around the sewer is due simply to the natural drainage from the surrounding area, and that the sewer in no way contributes to any of the dampness complained of. A commencement lias been made to extend Harbour Terrace drain, but the old drain appears to be very unsatisfactorily laid and to be only 4in in diameter. A certain amount of repair work will be necessary 'to make it sanitary and satisfactory. The electric light and power department advise that the cost to alter the angle of tho light at the top of tho steps in Bellevue Place, near the Burns street intersection, would he 15s Bd. It has been found impossible to carry out many of the works for which instructions have been received on account of the very heavy snowfall experienced during the month. As will he seen from the summary of expenditure on wages, a considerable portion of the men’s time has been used on the clearing of snow and re-establish-ing communication to outside residences in the borough. As no thaw was exoerienccd, it was necessary to deal with the whole of the snowfal by other means. The reservoir is full and a large quantity of water is being by-passed to the creek. Four services were repaired during the month, and a 5m valve was iniseried in tho George street main to control the supply of water to the George street wharf. . . The boat used at the reservoir has been repaired, and the water officer has attended to the shipping. The water officer has been engaged in clearing out the silt from the reservoir and. settling basins which had been deposited in the by-wash. He has also repaired and cleaned out the water cushion near ’ the end of the by-wash and repaired some portion of the creek bed below it. He has planted out some 400 pinns insignis trees on the reserves, and has extracted about 41b of seed from the pine cones. duly has been a very wot month, and the caretaker records a fall of. 12.09 in of rain during the month. Ram fell on 25 days, the heaviest fall being recorded on the 26th—1.22in. COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Standing Committee reported:— The committee has dealt with correspondence from the Otago Harbour Board and the Railway Department in tho matter of the sand nuisance at Mussel Bav, and further action is being taken in order to have the nuisance eliminated for all time. An application has been received from residents in Meridian street requesting permission to lay a common private drain to serve three properties. A recommendation is made that the request be granted subject to the plan being approved by the borough engineer and sanitary inspector. Authority has been given to have a street light erected in Laing street. The gas manager in his report for July states, inter alia, that 26 tons of coal were carbonised, yielding 360.500 cubic feet of gas, an average of 13,865 cubic feet per ton. During the period one purifier was cleaned out and refilled with fresh oxide. The outlet pipe from No. 1 purifier was found to be badly coroded, and was replaced with a section of new pipe. The remainder of the manufacturing plant has worked well during the month.—The report was approved. GENERAL.

A sub-committee was appointed to report on the advisability of restricting the use of the Cemetery road to oneway traffic. Taxis were said to be speeding on that road. The dog tax' collector was appointed ranger in order to deal with complaints about stray dogs; unregistered dogs to be destroyed.

It was decided to instruct the gasworks manager to ascertain if the lighting of the town clock could be brightened up. Complaints about boys and other unlicensed drivers driving milk and other % trade vehicles were referred to the traffic inspectors. A councillor stated that a boy had driven a milk van at 40 miles an hour, and narrowly avoided collision.

It was decided to impound a horse that was straying on the footpaths in Mansford.