NELSON CITY COUNCIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 3 November 1917, Page 2

NELSON CITY COUNCIL

F QRT'N T GHTL Y AIEET'TNC

The fortnightly meeting 01 the Nelson City Council was held last evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr W W. Snodgrass). Councillors J. A. Stringer. H. Baigent, F. Cibbons, R. Watson, F. A. Carlisle, J. W. Man-is, T. Pet,tit.

BANK BALANCES.

PAYMENTS.

Total £1076 19 8 The Mayor <aid the position in regard to tile Gasworks was not satisfactory. He was satisfied the Gasworks were not v paying their way, and' the increase from 5s lOd to 6s Id was not sufficient. It would be necessary to get more revenue from the Gasworks. He asked' each Councillor to give the matter consideration. The Council would also have to exercise very rigid economy. Cr. Gibbons said the Council was shirking its dut v - in not increasing the price of gas. There was only one thing to do, and that was to go back to th e °W prices ot gas. The Mavor said the price in Wellington was 5s 5d .net, and 1 the price of coal there was about the same as the Nelson Council paid. The Gas Engineer said tlie price in •Chvistchurch was 6s 3d.

CORRESPONDENCE. From Public Trust Office, suggesting method of preventing river erosion near Trafalgar .street Bridge, and requesting the Council's assistance. It was suggested that three groynes be put- in, the cost to be £l5O. The Council was asked whether, it would help towards the cost of the groynes. •Crs. Watson and Carlisle said the letter showed that the Council had no liability in regard to erosion of the river banks. ; Or. Gibbons expressed disapproval or the "work done in the vicinity of Collin "-wood--street Bridge, and Cr- Carlisle also considered that the money spent there had been wasted. ? •' n The letter from the Public Trust was referred to the "Works 'Committee. \From Mr T. A. H. Field. M.P., forwarding letter from the Premier coastal steamer strike. acKnowledgmg the 'Council's.- resolution and thanking the Council for its offer to assist the Government. Erom seven .Residents, Cambria street, drawing attention to the state of watertables and footpaths, and asking the Council to prevent flood water encroaching- on their properties.--Referred to

Committee. From Mr Jas. Witten. Scotland street, • re approach to his property, asking that work already authorised be carried out. —Referred to Works Committee. > From Mr C. W. Edmands. Queens Gardens caretaker, asking that gas be laid on to cottage a® authorised in ' C\larch last. —Matter deferred for tne From the British Distillate, Ltd.. Christchurch, stating that thev worn be prepared to purchase the Council s output of tar Tip to 35,000 gallons, per annum at 4d per gallon on the ' the Council to supply barrels. 1 " e I Company would take delivery a* conj venient to the Council. The Company ! would sell to the Council at a price to be arranged' whatever distilled tar would ] be required, and if the Council desired it.' its own tar after de-hydration. The- '• erection of the 'Company's plant had'. I been .rreatlv delayed by war conditions, ! but it"was hoped to be in full swing m ! a few weeks. , i Cr Gibbons moved and Cr. Carlisle ' seconded, that the Gas Engineer sell to . the Distillate Company as much tai\ as | could be spared without detriment to i til© Clt> • rnnn i Cr Pettit would like to see, say SUUU crallons of distilled tar obtained trom the Company for trial on the streets. The Mayor supported Cv. Pettit. and aaid this matter could bo discussed later, f The 'motion was carried.

( .'COMBINED COMMITTEE'S REPORT j I The Committee reported, inter alia ' On letter from Mr B. B. as_to , cas extension, Beachville: That Mr ! Jones' offer be declined.—On letter from secretary W.C.T.U., as to use of Trafalgar Park : (a) That the matter be referred to the police; (b) that consideration of the matter of repairing the fence be deferred for a fortnight.—On letter from Mr T. L. Adams, requesting the extension of the sewer, Tipahi street; t That iio action be taken. — On letter ! from Mr W. K. Turner, as to cleaning ! out ditch: That the Works Committee ! inspect the ditch.—On letter from Messrs i Andrews and Sheather, requesting la>I ing of gas main in Brook street : lhafc , the" 'Gas Engineer submit a fresh pro- ! posal.—Oil letter from secretary Re- | turned .Soldiers' Association, re Turkish 'pontoon : That the pontoon be placed on suitable cradles on its present site ; that a tablet with a suitable inscription ib e placed thereon ; that the pontoon be painted ; and that the Committee report i as to the cutting down of pine trees 1 near the pontoon. —Oh letter from residents. Bronte street, as to condition of ' \ footpath : That the matter has been at- | . tended to.—On letter from Messrs Hal- ; |'ienstein Bros., requesting allowance of 'half-rates: That the Council has no I power to make an allowance unless the ! premises*.have been totally unoccupied >. I for a full six months. —On letter from j

Mr.IT". <5. Pettit. appiving for increased sideration deferred until next meeting of the Committee.—On letter from Mr 1... r. Bowden, requesting permission to cut th e hedge round Victory Square: That Mr Bowden be granted permisr sion to cut the hedge under the supervision of the City Engineer. —On letter from Mr J. .Robinson, requesting , allowance ol' half-rates: That no allowance be made.—As to shed, Trafalgar Park.- Consideration deferred, the Committee to inspect.—As to lighting Post Office clock : That the lighting be continued.—As to la--, 1. Milton Grove: That th ut matter of the building on the land be referred to the Town Clerk and City Engineer for inquiry and report.—As to nightsoil removal : That the offer of Mr Newport to continue the work for £2 per week for one month, and after that for £1 15s per week be accepted. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The 'City Engineer (Mr J. G. Littlejohn) reported 1 : Streets and Footways : Surface tarring has been continued on Haven R.oad, but has been much interrupted by th e wet ■weather, Some patching lias .been done on Ngatitama street and on footpaths in Bronti street. The path in Frank]yn street is being proceeded with, also cleaning out -of St. Vincent street ditch and gravelling Emano street. Water: The extension of the main from WaTmea road to Tipahi street is completed, and appears to, have resulted in an access of pressure from Waimea roacf. Drainage: The old sewer in Halifax street' became blocked. Investigation showed that, the main sewer in Trafalgar street is ailted up over the mouth of the branch sewer. The removal of silt from the main sewer is a rather large work, but it requires attention in order to prevent the blockage of the 'branches. Miscellaneous: Five building permits for works "valued at £762 have issued. ' The Inspector of Nuisances (Mr F. Varney) reported :—A requisition has "been received from the Health Inspector to an old outbuilding at the rear of premises in Milton street. It is pointed out that, the building is very old and in a dilapidated condition, also extremely dangerous, and he suETrrests that the building be condemned and pulled down immediatfely. (It was stated that the building "was to be pulled down, therefore no resolution was passed). Several occupiers of premises in Waimea road have been notified re the burying of nicrhtsoil during unlawful hours. There are 20 on the nightsoil service, a decrease of one during the fortnight. During the quarter ending September 30th. 42 applications were received to remove odd loads of rubhish. ABATTOIR REPORT. Tlie Abattoir Manager. (Mr G. W. Mitchell) reported that the stock slaughtered durina the fortnight comprised 47 cattle, 12 calves, 573 sheep, 71 lambs. 22 pigs ; total, 725. One cow was condemned. GAS ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Gas Engineer (Mr A. Neil) reported as follows: —Coal carbonised. State. 182 tons 17 cwt : Westport, 142 tons 13 cwt; total, 325 tons 10 cwt. Gas manufactiired, 3.835JD00 cubic, f'■ stock. 700 tons; coke,"nil; tar, 16.000 ealions. The sales to various departments and the public amounted to '£2l9 f>- ?d. J. GENERAL. ■' The Mayor stated that Mr W. Bennett had offered'to act" ' as- honorary ranger of the Maitai reserves, and it would be a wise thing to appoint Mr Bennett to the position. The appointment w?,s made as suggested. The City Engineer was instructed, on the motion of Cr. Stringer, to clean out the bathing shed on the river bank. One or two other matters were dealt with, and the Council rose at 9 p.m., the earliest hour at which the presentCouncil Ims concluded its business.

Dr. C'r. £ s. d. £ s. d. General Ac. 23,896 9 9 Water .V . 507 11 8 'Gas Ac. 5,841 3 t> Interest Ac. 185 0 G Abattoir j\c. 242 1 3 Hospital ana Charitable Aid 42 16 6 Balance 30.231 0 8 £30,47«i 1 11 £50,473 1 11

g s. d. Cemeteries (Trust -Ac.) . Dr. 67 ; 5 6 Contractors Deposits Ac. Cr. 33 0 0 Trafalgar Park Ac. 30 9 2 Drainage Extension Loan Ac. '86 13 2 Maitai Lands Purchase A o. 700. 0 0 Amount owing . to Bank on Overdraft £29,5310 8 £ s. d. Amount of Overdra ft at present allowed T>y the Bank 54.000 0 0 Present Statutory limit of Overdraft and Temporary Loan 34,000 0 0

Accounts wore passed for paymentas follows :— £ s. d. Genera] Account 365 5 4 Gas Account, 205 1 9 Abattoir Account 52 11 8 Cemeteries Account 5 1 3. Hospital and Charitable Aid 0 Ac count 262 5 Drainage Extension Loan Ac. 342 17 0