COMMITTEE'S REPORT

Grey River Argus, 9 September 1910, Page 5

COMMITTEE'S REPORT

Your committee met on the Ist inst and reported as follows:— , (1) That a letter from Mr E. J. Smith re taking over Devon Street in his estate was .referred to the BoTough Engineer to report upon at this meeting. (2) A letter was received from Mr G. Martinengo offering £364 per year for the Town Hall with provision for nights required by the Council, which is recommended to the Council for acceptance. Gas to be paid for in addition. • Book rate for local entertainments to be not increased and hall to be cleaned by lessee. (3) Your committee also appointed the Mayor with Crs Tennent, Perkins, Kerr and Bignell to draw up the order of reference for the experts who have been appointed to examine the Borough books, and we ask you to endorse their action. In regard to Clause 1 the engineer stated that' he had not yet received a plan from Mr E. J. Smith. Cr Sheedy asked the Mayor if the Council had the right to lease the Town Hall for an extended term. The Mayor said they should not lease the hall, as it was giving away the rights of the ratepayers. The Council, however, had the right to lease. . Cr Bierne moved an amendment that the recomemndations be not accepted. He did not think they should tie up their Eall. Cr Sweetman seconded and held that they should stick' to their own | hall. ■l v Cr Tennent said the offer was a good one, and should be acceptf cd. He thought a proviso should be made that the Council's scale of charges for local affairs be adhered to. This would safeguard the ratepayers! All "bookings now made to be respected by Mr Martinengo.

• Cr Bijrnell said Mr Martinengo ] would be only too pleased to let the hall for concerts etc. The ratepayers would have the same privileges as : ever they had. The Opera House tvas 1 let for £250 and .£3G4 was' offered for j the Town Hall.. i Cr Perkins said that Mr Martin- t engo's offer., should not be accepted t right off. Tenders should be called for the lease if it was deemed advis- s able to lei the hall. . j Cr Shannahan supported and held ] it was a good offer and in the inter- i ests of the ratepayers. ' * i Cr Petrjp supported. « The amendment was put and lost ] and the report adopted. . i ORDER OF REFERENCE. Scope of inquiry by experts appoint- t ed by resolution of the Councilon the j 32th day of August 1910. — I—System1 — System of Bookkeeping — The system of accounts and audii is fully t set out in Part XIII of Municipal Cor- i porations Act 1908, Clause? 107 to c 115 and- the regulations published in thr. Gazette of 1901, page 155. With regard to a Profit and Loss Account, see resolution of the Council passed on the 10th day of June 1909. The scope of the inquiry Includes the 1 Gas Department and its system, Ceme i tery, Small Ledges and Block Receipt J Books examined, and system of ( checks reported upon wfth a view to i improve them. c 2. — Efficiency and sufficiency, of staff t to do work in time fixed by""Statute — i and the Profit and Loss Account above mentioned. The experts to examine the appointments, and duties appertaining to the officers of Town Clerk, Borough Engineer, Gas Manager, Ac- - countant, and other officers of the ] Borough, and ascertain whether the 1 the staff under them is sufficient to < carry out the principal steps required 1 by the Acts governing municipalities, ] on their proper dates as given in 1 Martin's table enclosed herewith. < 3.— The experts to report in one 1 month from date, and- make recom- < mendations where they are found nee- i essary — the report to be made con- s jointly — and to go back to the system 1 in existence for the year prior to the i accountant's appointment. t The experts to have recourse to all £ books and documents and with power to call witnesses. i Cr Tennent moved and Cr Petrie i seconded that the Order be accepted. Carried. BOROUGH OVERSEER. The overseer reported on the work done during the month. In reply to Cr Tennent Mr Lord stated that the men who had sections of road to keep clean were doing good work. WATER INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Water 7 Inspector wrote stating that six new connections had been made .during the month. The sum of £33 was collected for supplying shipping with water. The Town Clerk reported that there was a .great waste of water at the schools. Cr Tennent said he was against giving free water to the State and Catholic schools. They should get ' revenue from the sale of their water. He moved that the schools be charged for tEe water used in the w.c and lavatories, and free drinking: water given. Cr Perkins seconded and held with giving free water for drinking purposes Crs. Bierne and Bignell supported. Cr Kerr stated that tne back amounts due would lie wiped off and a fresh start made. This had been the understanding. The Mayor said that would be the case. ' Cr Shannahan" bore out what Cr i Kerr.. had. stated. The motion was carried. 1 GAS MANAGER'S REPORT. The Gas Manager reported as follows : — Four riew incandescent lamps have been erected in place of old lamps removed. It was found necessary to renew the • whole of" the oxide in use. The coals now being supplied are about eaual to that supplied for "iome time past and apparently are the best now being mined in the district. The disposal of surplus coke is becoming a serious problem. The ; people of this town are. too well off to use coke, though it can be obtained at 3 bags for one shilling. The l same quantity elsewhere would cost , 4s 6d. Of course this revenue for coke enables other works to -Supply gas cheaply though the coals may cost more. The same remarks applies to tar for which there is a pooi lucal _ demand. Efforts are being made, and with some measure of success to ship coke to other places. The consumption of gas, i»s is usual with the lengthening days, v now rapidly falling off. Several services have been laid end many new consumers added jo tbe list There are now 800 meters in use. The amount of gas sold for the past : five months of the financial year in- ' dicate that the estimated . onsuuip- : tioD for "the year v,iz. 29 million feet y will bo exceeded. This emphasises the fact that the authorised work in ■ connection with the manufacuriag l plant must be proceeded with at the earliest opportunity. :' The gas mains ordered for exten- : sions are to hand and preparations l are being made for laying same. : .The new sras holder gives entire r satisfaction. There are many ins direct benefits derived from it that > would take too long to enumerate, suffice to say that it is a great relief t and a decided ease to all concerned. I enclose letters received from I Christchurch Gas Coy., in reference to plant I noticed there last Christ--1 mas. I would recommend that the l hydraulic mains be purchased. For our purpose they are as good as new i and are worth four times the price - ■ asked. Continuous and persistent c rumours having been circulated right f up to the present, time that councili lors and the relatives of borough offi- :- cials were being supplied with free c gas no meters being fixed in their residences, I induced His. .Worship the

Mayor to inspect the gas register which daily shows the consumption arid payments of each cosumer. 1 am sure Mr Russell will bear me out that the tales being circulated are nothing short of wholesale and retail unscrupulous lies. I need not say l that as a rule I pay little attention to these and other trash, but vhen 'the Mayor and other citizens m all seriousness asked me just a few days ago if the rumours were true I think I am. justified in. giving the lie direct to those slanderers who have not the manliness to come out in the open and show where gas is being supplied to residents without passing through meters.

Gr Petrie moved that he Band Rotunda in the Children's Park be installed with gas.

Cr Sweetman seconded. Carried. Cr Bierne drew attention to the fact that the resolution for a new lamp in Brick Street had not been carried out. The report was adopted.