PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 303, 20 November 1934, Page 5

PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

MEETING LAST EVENING. ADOPTION OF REPORTS. The Palmerston North City Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) presiding. Others present were Crs. H. B. Free, G. Tremaine, W. B. Cameron, W. B. Tennent, R. L. C. Aitchison, W. H. Brown, A. A. Langley, W. Mouldey and J. Hodgens. CORRESPONDENCE. Mrs L. Bennett wrote seeking remission of the charge of £3 for the hire of chairs used at a concert organised for the purpose of raising funds for the All Saints’ Children’s Home. —It was decided that the amount be remitted. The council’s solicitors, Messrs Cooper, Rapley, and Rutherfurd, submitted an opinion in regard to permits for the-erection of buildings by Government departments and the payment of fees in connection therewith. —The letter was referred to the works comMr W. Anderson wrote asking the council to reconsider its decision as to the by-law concerning sport in the city on Sunday. The Mayor said there was no doubt that Mr Anderson looked upon the matter very seriously, and many other peoole did too. He thought, however, that the more attention was drawn to the by-law the worse the position became. The letter was received. The town clerk (Mr J. R. Hardie) mentioned that Mr Anderson had been a member of the council in 1887. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The reserves committee made the following recommendations, which were adopted:—That the city curator be granted leave of absence to attend the annual conference of park superintendents to be hold in Dunedin in January, and that the expenses be borne by the council. That the Manawatu Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club wrote requesting permission to conduct sports at the Sportsground on Monday evenings from 5.45 p.m. It was resolved that permission be granted subject to satisfactory arrangements being made with the Cricket Association. That Mr J. H. Adam wrote requesting permission to establish in a small way a canteen for the convenience of motorists and picnickers at the motorists’ camp-site. It was decided that permission to erect the structure be granted. That the city engineer submitted an estimate of £8 10s for the painting of the tea kiosk building, and it was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the chairman and engineer with power to act. That the city curator reported that he had inspected the planted portion of Carlton Avenue and found that some of the shrubs were crowding each other out. To allow of better growth he had removed about 10 or 12 of the weaker ones. It was resolved to advise Mr Cooper that the maintenance of the plot and annuals were to be supplied bv the residents as per their original agreement with the council. That the city curator bo authorised to procure and fix netting on the dividing fence between the outside area at the Sportsground and the children’s playing area, th-e total cost not to exceed £3O. WORKS COMMITTEE. The following reports and recommendations by the works committee were adopted:—That Messrs Innes and Oakley applied on behalf of Mrs ME. Morgan for the remission of half the total rates payable in respect of section 306, Waldegrave Street, owing to the dwellinghouse being unoccupied for the whole of last year and up to the present time. It was resolved that the sum of £4 13s Bd, being half the total rates in respect of the year 1934-35, be remitted. That with reference to the representations of the deputation representing the Communist Party, which waited upon the council on November 5, communications were read from the cities setting out the conditions under which open-air meetings are held, and it was decided that the matter ,be held over and that Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin be again written to inquiring whether any alteration has taken place since the receipt of their previous communications, concerning their respective policies in regard to Communists speaking in public places. That the city solicitors reported that the Public Trustee had advised them that plans and specifications of the building at 149 Ferguson Street had been approved of by the council and the necessary alterations and additions were being put under way forthwith, and they therefore accordingly arranged a further adjournment of the matter sine die. The engineer reported that the necessary permit had been issued and he was therefore instructed to keep in constant touch with the progress of the work and report to the next meeting of the council. That, in regard to Mr H. A. Peters’s application for permission to erect a dairy in Victoria Avenue, the city solicitors advised that under the Town Planning Act, 1926. the following is the position : —(a) The City Council may refuse the permit if in the opinion

of the council the building would interfere with the amenities of the neighbourhood, (L>) Mr Peters could claim compensation for loss occasioned by the refusal, (c) Mr Peters could also appeal to the Town Planning Board against the council’s refusal. It was resolved that the application for permission to erect the dairy be refused in terms of the Town Planning Act. That the city engineer reported that 08 street name plates had been renovated, and he was instructed to confer with the traffic manager in regard to renovating the signs at the different stopping places for buses. That instructions be given that No. 5 scheme workers must conform to the general practice of the council’s workmen in having ten minutes’ “smoko,” and that on complying with the conditions the men shall have the opportunity of working to make up time lost last week. That applications for permission to convert any building from one class to another shall be submitted to the council before the issue of a building permit. That the Palmerston Amusements Ltd., made application for permission to screen suitable films at the Regent, Kosy and Palace Theatres on Christmas night. It was resolved that permission be granted subject to the programmes being approved of by the special committee already appointed. That the city solicitors forwarded for execution memorandum of transfer of part section 840 Jersey Lane, Whalley Estate, to the council, and “Manawatu btandard,” Ltd., to the council, and it was resolved that Crs. Cameron and Free sign the documents, and that the city engineer be instructed to move tile fence to the new alignment and to improve the surface of the strip of land now acquired. GAS AND ELECTRICITY. The manager of the gas department (Mr J. IV. Muir) reported, inter alia: “The total number of consumers to date is 4701. During the month the mains were extended in Manapouri Crescent for three _ chains and in Ar* gyle Avenue for eight chains. I have to report that the tests made by the Government gas examiner prove that the large station meter at the works is passing a portion of the gas made without registering. This means that the meter will have to be dismantled and repairs effected. It is a fairly large job and will require the end brick wall of the meter house being pulled down to allow for the dismantling of the meter. I would recommend that, in reinstating this building, it be made larger, so that at any future time it is necessary to take the drum out of the meter it will not be necessary to interfere again with the building.” Reporting upon the electricity department for the month ended October 31, the city electrical _ engineer (Mr J. Muir) stated that in work .carried out by the lines department 74 meters were tested, 44 installed, and 18 services run. The inspector made inspections of and passed _6O jobs. The total connected load, including street lights, were now 20,213.7 K.W., the peak of 2141.5 K.V.A. having been reached at noon on October

LIGHTING COMMITTEE. Recommendations by the lighting committee were adopted as follow: —- That the Garrison Band requested the installation of an extra light in Ashley Street, and in view of the manager’s report it was decided to inform the band that the street in the vicinity is adequately lighted. That, with reference to the request from the Terrace End Swimming Club that the minimum charge covering gas and electricity supplies be remitted, it was decided that half the amount charged (£1 Os 9d) be rebated. That, with reference to the clause in the manager’s report relative to the station meter at the works, it was decided that the matter of effecting alterations to the building referred to be left in the hands of Cr. Hodgens, the electrical engineer and Mr Hughes with power to act. That the usual donation of £2 2s be granted the Technical School towards the dinner cooking prizes. That unpaid accounts amounting to £3 Is 4d, considered uncollectable, be written off. That the president of the New Zealand Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association forwarded proposals regarding the establishment of a permanent secretariat for the association, stating that it is proposed to call in various districts a local conference of groups of neighbouring supply authorities, and inviting the council to appoint delegates to attend. It was agreed that the matter be brought under the notice of the New Zealand Municipal Electric Supply Association for their advice thereon. TRANSIT COMMITTEE.

Reports and recommendations made by the transit committee were adopted as follow: —That the Wellington and Christchurch City Councils forwarded a copy of their new by-law relating to maximum and minimum fares, and the owner-drivers on the taxi stand opposite the Bank of New Zealand submitted a schedule of fares and conditions which they considered fair and reasonable for the city. It was agreed that the chairman, Cr. Cameron, the traffic manager and the town clerk be authorised to revise and amend where necessary the- different clauses in by-law No. 1 relating to fares, and submit an amended draft

embodying minimum and maximum fares suitable for the city, for the consideration of a special meeting of the committee to be held at an early date. That the communication from the Nelson City Council protesting against certain provisions contained in the Transport Law Amendment Act, 1933, be referred to the chairman and traffic manager to report thereon. That the action of the chairman, in appointing temporary traffic inspectors to control traffic to and from the aerodrome on November 14, he confirmed. That Mr C. Larsen be thanked for his offer to provide afternoon tea to councillors if they will undertake a trial run in the new buses to his farm at Whakarongo, and he be informed that it is not the intention to hold a trial beyond the boundaries of the city. GENERAL.

The engineer (Mr J. R. Hughes) submitted pencil sketches of plans for buildings at the Esplanade, the Sportsground and Takaro Park. The estimated costs were £3OO, £220 and £145 respectively. A decision of the reserves committee was as follow: That Crs. Hodgens, Mouldey, and Tremaine be a sub-committee to examine the plans and report back to the council.

Pending an inspection by councillors of the new type of electric discharge lamp on trial at the intersection of the Square and Rangitikei Street, action was deferred in connection with the electrical engineer’s report on the installation. “The cost of this lighting,” he reported, “is expensive to instal, but it is more efficient than ordinary lighting as at present used. The lamps also have approximately double the life of ordinary lamps, but they cost approximately four times as much as ordinary lamps. I would suggest that you inspect this trial lighting unit before giving the matter further considera-

The Sisters of Mercy were granted permission to conduct a street 6tall. For the month of October the city’s motor buses earned £74 12s od more than they did in the corresponding month last year, and carried 5529 more passengers. The total revenue was £457 13s 10d, . said the traffic manager (Mr H. J. Smith) in his report. The total number of passengers carried in October had been 38,904.

Several residents of Bourke Street wrote objecting to the constant dust nuisance in the street caused by passing vehicles, and requesting that the road be tar-sealed at the earliest possible opportunity.—The petition was received and the matter held over until the consideration of next year’s estimates. Cr. Hodgens suggested that the water carts could be taken down the street occasionally and also that the carts should be used occasionally in Te Awe Awe Street. The engineer said there were constant requests received fqr the water carts to visit certain streets and they were fully employed. A letter from the Manawatu Cricket Association advised the council that the association would be willing to bear half the cost of the installation of a hand-basin at the Sportsground. The letter was received and authority was given for the work to be put in hand.