Around the City

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7211, 18 July 1933, Page 8

Around the City

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. The regular meeting of the Palmerston North City Council was held last night, the Mayor (Mr. A. E. Mansford) presiding. Also present were Crs. W. Xt. Brown, li. L. C. Aitchison, W. ; Mouldey, W. B. Tenncnt, H. B. Free, G. Tremaine, J. Hodgens, A. A. Langley and W. B. Cameron. Tho Commissioner of Unemployment advised that- there was no agreement between the Unemployment Board and tho State Eire Office in regard to the accident insurance of relief workers. Such workers were not insured, but the board itself carried the risk. . The Mayor regretted the contracting 'out of relief workers and said that efforts were being made to have the position altered. Property owners in Amesbury street requested that the surface of the roadway be treated with bitumen in order that the dust nuisanco may be abated efuring the summer months. It was decided that tho residents be informed that it is proposed to submit a loan for certain works to. tho ratepayers at an early date and if sanctioned the matter of tar-sealing Amesbury street and other Toad surfaces will then receive consideration.

Fitzherbert Bridge Loan. The Public Works Department wrote stating that the City Council's share of the cost of the new Fitzherbert bridge was outside the jurisdiction of the Main Highways Board and it was not possible, therefore, to take any action under section 6 of the Main Highways Amendment Act, 1927, regarding a resolution of No. 9 District Highways Council relating to tho contribution by the council towards the cost of the bridge. The Mayor explained that this meant that a poll would have to be taken before a loan could bo Taised for the council’s share of tho cost. Palmerston North, becauso of its population, was outsido the provisions of the Act referred to. . Messrs. G. G. Tolkurst and Son Wellington, wrote in reference to the decision of tho council to accept the sum of £6OOO (for its share of the bridge cost) subject to brokerage not exceeding one-half per cent., and advising that when they suggested one per cent, brokerage in respect of the sum 7 stated that they were prepared to spend a-considerable sum on advertising, and they also anticipated having to ma some concession to induce other brokers to take an interest in the proposed loan, and that in suggesting the one per cent, they could not hope to mak a net profit of more than one-half per cent, if they sold all of the debentures. They trasted, therefore/that the council would' not consider their suggestion of one per cent, brokerage to be an unreasonable charge. , It was resolved that the firm be advised that the matter is to bo held m abeyance and that they will be communicated with again at a later date.

payment of Bates By Crown. ' The -Wairoa Harbour Board wrote regarding the payment of rates by the Crown and forwarded a summarised report of a conference of delegates of local rating authorities from the East Gape to Woodville, together with resolutions passed in connection therewith. The report stated that it was decided t 6 ask that a Parliamentary committee, be set np to meet delegates from he conference to enable them to state their case, and it was hoped that all local rating bodies would take-the mat-, tor up and arrange to appoint delegates from their district, in order that united nation be taken and strong deputations formed to state the caso before the Parliamentary committee. ' It was decided to inform the board that the council concurred with its views and would do whatever it could to assist tho board in furthering its objects.

Wages. It was decided that the council comply with the provisions of the Motor and Horse Drivers’ Award, except with regard to holidays granted, and in future shall pay award rates of wages to the drivers in its employ. . ■ It was resolved that-a comparative statement of the wages cost and administrative cost of the engineer’s department be furnished for the years 191718, 1922-23, and 1932-33, showing also the percentage borne by wages and administrative co3t in respect of work

performed during tho periods mentioned- „ , - Outstanding Rates.

It was decided that a list be presented to the works committee in three months’ timo containing the names o± ratepayers who owe three years’ rates. All other rate accounts • owing for a lesser period are- to be referred to the Mayor and Town Clerk for attention. City Engineer’s Report. Inter alia, the city engineer (Mr. J. E, Hughes) reported on tne work doneduring tho month of June as follows: Street maintenance: 600 cubic yards of screened river taetal have been carted and spread on various secondary streets. One gang has been engaged on sealed roads, patching with asplialt weak places on various streets, and topdressing same with tar and chips. Footpath maintenance: The footpaths in Alfred street, both sides, and Taonui street, both sides, have been reconditioned, and topdressed with tar and sand.,. Kerb and channel: The replacement of a wooden kerb with concrete kerb and channelling in Victoria avenue between Broadway avenue and Grey street, west side, has been completed, and the footway and grass lawn are now being formed to correspond with the existing formation on the opposite side of the street. Septic tanks: Tho repairs to tlie auxiliary flood by-pass have been completed, and 24 feet of the 36-mch diameter concrete pipes installed. Two gangways constructed iu concrete, giving access,to tho valves in the sludge tanks, have been completed. The gang is. now engaged on the construction or the concrete outfall channel. • New Fitzherbert bridge: At the end of the month, 33 concrete piles were maefe and ready for driving, while Id piles have been driven, 9 at abutment <M’ and 6at pier ‘J.’ The concreting at abutment ‘M’ has been completed to deck, level, and the wing walls at this abutment will now be proceeded with. AH the steel reinforcement for piers J,. K, L, and wing walls is on the site and the steel for the superstructure J to M is now coming to hand. No. 5 unemployment scheme: The following works have been completed and in course of construction.—Road widening in Vogel street, lowering crown and re-grading roadway at North street, construction of paths and metalling at No. 2 cemetery, laying 2£ chains 24-in. diameter pipes Koehler’s drain, Napier road, formation of footway, Boundary road, between North street and Roy street, cleaning watertables and sides of streets, various works, at all city schools, Takaro park levelling, and works at, reserves, -cutting wood for relief depot.