NELSON CITY COUNCIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 19 December 1914, Page 8

NELSON CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Nelson City Council was held last evening. There, were present : The Mayor (Mr W. Lock), and Crs. Wilkens, Robertson, Harley, Weblcy, Mercer, Hampson, Adams, and Piper. BANK BALANCES. Bank balances were shown as follows : £ s. d. £ s. d. General Ace. 20,428 14 0 Water Ace. 1.919 11 10 Gas Ace. 2061 16 1 Interest 2685 14 1 Abattoir 361 15 1 H- and C.A. Bai. 549 9 4 Bal., Dr. 22 459 19 4 £25,385 10 6 £25,383 10 6 Cr. £ s. d. Cemeteries Trust Ace, 306 2 9 Contractors' Deposits Ace. * O 0 Trafalgar Park Ace. 56 3 o "Waterworks Land Purchase Loan Deb. Ace. £l6 10 0 Amount owing to Bank on Overdraft- £22,459 19 4 Amount of Overdraft at present allowed by Bank £24,000 Present Statutory limit of Overdraft & Temporary Loan £30,863 PAYMENTS. Payments were authorised as fol- ° General Ace 554 10 10 £. s. d. Gas Ace. 459 16 0 Water Ace. 79 6 I Abattoir Ace. 55 11 3 Cemeteries Ace. - a Contractors' Deposit 5 0 0 £llß7 12 10

CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence a s follows was dealt •with : . From Mr J- Orsman, offering 10s yearIv for right to cut grass in Victory Square, and 6s per week for right to graze horses. —Permission to cut grass given ; other request refused. From Messrs W. Rout and Sons, on tehalf of Mrs Satherley, agreeing to Council's proposal re connecting with drainage.—Referred to Works Committee. From Messrs F. Greenslade, applying for ordinarv water service to their works m Halifax street for domestic use. —Granted. From M..T. Falvev, applying for license for Lyric Theatre, Colfingwoodstreet. (The Engineer in a memo, certified that the building fulfilled requirements). —Granted. From Mr Thos. Edwards S.M. m c-Strge Nelson Railway, stating that the District Engineer reported that the Hali-fax-street crossing was in excellent order. The proprietors of the two Picture Theatres applied for permission to show on Christmas night.—Granted. From the District. Health Officer, forwarding analysis of water taken from the big dam. theupper weir, from the Wooq area, and from the Pilot Station, stating that the samples were of good quality for potable purposes.—The Mayor remarked that the report showed that all the water was good, that from the big dam to be the best. From Mr H. Baigent, thanking the Council for appointing him as representative on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

From Mr E. Davidson, Milton-street, asking that trees shading his property be cut down.—Referred to Tree Committee.

The secretary, Town Schools Committee, forwarded" a resolution asking the Council to take such steps as might be rieeessary to bring the remaining portion of the old cemetery in Collingwood-st. into service as an adjunct to the play ground of the Girls' Central School.—The Mayor said there was no doubt that the school required additional ground, and he was strongly of opinion that the ground should be acquired lor the pur-pose.-—Referred to Works Committee. From Messrs Rout, Milner, and Gully, notifying that the* Chief Justice had made an order reducing the amount of the legacy for gates at Nelson Cemetery to £SO for erection of gate to be called the Mariano Garguili gate. —Received. From the hon. secretary, Tahuna Progressive Association, asking that footpath, along the Rocks Road be attended to. —To be informed that the work will be done in the New Year. From Mrs L. Jones, . Alton-street, re drainage.—The Town Clerk said property owners concerned had refused to allow sewer to go through their property. —Referred to Works Committee. Mr A. R. Griffin, architect, wrote re water supply for Nurses' Home.— •Granted on certain conditions. Mr H. Saunders applied for renewal license for Theatre Royal.—Granted, subject to inspection. The City Engineer reported re specification of Nurses' Home.—Referred to Special Committee, with power to act. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The Committee reported inter alia as follows: —On letter from Mr W. Reed, .applying for use of morgue at the Port: That the morgue be offered for sale by tender.—On letter from Mrs Mary Rout, applying for permission to construct a step' leading from, the footpath to her premises in Haven Road: That the request be not granted, but that the footpath be graded.—On letter from Miss Darby, requesting extension of time to connect her premises in Bridge-street with the sewer: That provided Miss Darby will give a written undertaking to connect within two months, she be granted extension for that time.—On letter from Messrs Maginnity, Son, and Houlker, as to Victoria Avenue : That Messrs Maginnity, Son, and Houlker be referred to the Council's letter to Messrs J. P. Harris and others of the 13th September, 1904, and that they bo informed that the Council will be prepared to take the street over as soon as it has been formed and metalled, and the footpath kerhed, channelled/ and asphalted, and that they be requested to furnish the Council with a plan of the street showing the work to be done.—As to footpath, Halifax-street: That the work recommended by tho City Engineer, namely, that, the path be formed about six feet wide from the present path as far as the fallen poplar tree, and gravelled with fine rubble, length about three chains, cost about £6, be carried out. Adopted. " '• . - .

' ...-FINANCE COMMITTEE, The Committee reported inter alia as follows:—; - On letter from the Wilkens and Field Hardware' Co., Ltd., applying for an increase on contract prices for hardware : That the City Engineer and Gas Engineer report .to the Council thcrecn.— On letter from Mr-C. Smith, applying to lease part of the Maungatapu Waterworks Reserve: That the application be not granted.—That gas fires be ordered from Home, cost, abr>ot £59 3s, as recommended by the Gas Engineer. Adopted. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr J. G. Littlejohn) reported inter alia as follows : Drainage : Two blockings in . sewers

(Washington Valley and Bronte-street) have occurred, otherwise matters in this department have gone on smoothly. Water : The inspectors have found a very large number of leaky taps and defective fittings, which in most cases have -been attended to on attention being called to them. The big dam is now; overflowing freely, and normal conditions of supplv have been resumed. Miscellaneous : Eight building permits for work value at £930 have been granted, and seven permits under the sanitary by-law. The thanks of the Council arc due to Mr Alex. Wilkie for a large donation of plants for Milton's Acre, and to Mr Blackburn for seeds and bedding plants. In this connection I wish to state that the public appear to take great interest in our efforts to brighten the reserves, and many persons have made contributions of flowering plants and shrubs.

The report, together with that of the Inspector of Nuisances, was referred to the Committee. Messrs Wilkie and Blackburn were accorded votes of thanks for donations of plants and seeds. ABATTOIR MANAGER'S REPORT. The Abattoir Manager reported that the following number of animals had been slaughtered at the Abattoir during the fortnight:—Cattle, 55; Calves. 17; sheep, 637; lambs, 250; pigs, 38; total, 997. Two sheep were condemned during the period. GAS ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Gas Engineer (Mr Alexander Neil) reported as follows: The following are the results obtained during the period from June 30th to September 30th, compared with the same period last year : Gas Manufactured — 1914 13,245,600 c. ft. 1913 12.834.800 c. ft. Increase 410,800 c. ft. Gas Sold—--1914 10,687,500 c. ft. 1913 9,869,200 c. ft. Increase 818,300 c. ft. Gas Unaccounted for—--1914_2,558.100 c ft., 19.3 p.c. 1913—2,965,600 c. ft., 23.1 p.c. Leakage reduced by—--407,500 c. ft., 3.8 p.c. Revenue from Gas Sales — 1914 £3,503 11 10 1913 £2,896 9 4 1 Increase £607, 2 6 Residual Sales — 1914 £634 12 5 1913;;.'.; £6351210 Decrease IS 7 In September, 1913, the price of tar to the general public was reduced from 5d td 4d per gallon, to 4d and 3d per gallon, while a considerable reduction in the price of coke and tar was made to the General Department. This accounts for the reduction in residual sales. The loss cf revenue to the Gas Department from residual sales due to concessions made to the Municipal Departments alone during the three months, amounted to £7l 4s 9d. ' _ . . The action of the City Engineer in employing Mr C. Moore to inspect licensed vehicles was approved. Cr Piper opposed, and called for a division; but was supported only bv Cr. Adams. It was resolved that the Yanguard-st. ditch be flushed out. The usual Christmas holidays were granted the staff. Cr. Wilkens moved, according to notice, that water inspectors be authorised to affix new washers to ahv taps that might be found requiring them, at a charge of 6d. The mover said the object of the motion was to save the waste of water between the time the leakage was discovered and a plumber was called. Cr. HaiTey seconded the motion. Cr. Piper and the Mayor opposed the motion, on the principle that private enterrise should not be interfered with. Cr. Adams also voted against the proposal. | Before the meeting adjourned, Cr. | Harley referred to the meeting being the ! last one of the year. He desired to con--1 gratulate thy Mayor on the way the i meetings had been conducted. There had been no unseemly ro%vs, and all the business had been done in a careful manner. On behalf of the Council, he wished the Mayor, the Mayoress, and their children a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. (Applause). The Mayor thanked Cr. Harley for his good wishes; and referred to the utter absence of any clique among the Councillors. He reciprocated the good wishes expressed. (Applause). The Town Clerk, on behalf ? of the staff, also expressed the season's conn pliments to the Mayor and Councillors. (Applause). On the motion of Cr. Adams, seconded "by Cr. Hampson, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Council staff. Complimentary references were made to the Town Clerk and his staff on the manner in which they had carried out their duties. The Council then adjourned.