NELSON CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 114, 18 May 1918, Page 2

NELSON CITY COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

The fortnightly meeting of the Nelson City Council was held last evening. Mayor (Mr, W. W. Snodgrass), Crs. J. A. Stringer, H. Baigent, F. Gibbons, R. Watson, T. Petti*., W. V. Rout, F. A. Carlisle, J. W. Mairis, W. S. Hampson. BANK BALANCES.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From tMr J. G. Littlejohn, City Engineer, stating that he would be pleased to continue in office for the further period mentioned by the Council. From Messrs Hingston and Cann, offering three draught horses, three tip drays and three sets of harness for sale.—Offer declined, as Council had already made other arrangements. FromN Mr N. R. Williams, -Secretary Nelson Education Board, requesting permission-.: to construct a cesspit for drainage at Nelson' Technical School. —Referred to Committee. From same, as to formation of Board of .Managers for Nelson Technical School.—Received.

From- Town Clerks, New Plymouth, Wansranui,. Napier, Palmerston North, and Invercargill, as to abattoir charges. —Referred to Committee. From District Health Officer as to nuisance claused by allowing a- dead sheep to remain in Botanical Reserve. —Memo, by Inspector of Nuisances stated that the carcase was buried by Him inst. —Referred to Committee. From Mrs T. Tobin, stating that, while her .little daughter was looking at the. fish in th© pond in the Queen'sGardens the railing gave way and she almost fell into the water, ■which, is deep enough to drown:, a child of six.—Memo, 'by City Engineer stated that instructions have been, given to' repair the pipe railing. From Mr and Mrs H- Baigent. thanking the Council for expression of sympathy on death of their son, Sergeant John "W. Baigent. From the Minister of Public Works, stating that he was obtaining a report on the question of the establishment of. a river board in Nelson. A sub sequent letter from the Under-Secre-tary stated that the matter had been referred to the Internal Affairs Department, to which it belonged. From Mr T. F. Martin, 'Counsel to the Municipal Association, advising that in his opinion there was no power to constitute a .'City 'Council as. such a river board.—Referred to •Committee. From the Wellington Coai Trade ■Committee, stating that coal would -be available for the gasworks in accordance with the tonnage offering by the Anchor Company. The demand for gas coal exceeded the supply, and the Committee had to -watch closely to see that each gasworka got a . fair proportion of what c«>al.was offering. The I •Council's applications would receive 1 prpmv*. aueution, and if it made arrangements with the Anchor Company for tonnage when coal was available | there should be no difficulty in arrang- ' ing matters.—The said their' difI'ficulty Was not the coal, but steamers to bring it. From, four residents in Alfred street asking that gas be laid on to their residences. —The Gas Engineer reported that to connect three of the residences would cost £3B 10s, while the fourth would involve an expenditure of £26. The return would not warrant the outlay^—-Referred to Committee. From M. F. Plum, re loan of the Council's tar cart.—Referred to Committee. - . -

IFxom Mr B. B. Jones,' stating that he was now prepared to increase his former offer of £lO to £ls for extension of the sewer to Maori Road. —Referred Ttdl Committee.

. From Mrs Jamieson, on behalf of her son, Lieut.. G. R. Jamieson, on actives-service, applying for reduction of rates, on his property in Vanguard street.—Referred- to 'Committee. From Messrs Adams'and Had eyy on behalf; of Mr H., Baigent, of the Masonic Hoteli applying.; for; a refund of a proportion of the rates on the hotel from Ist December, 1917, to 31st March, 1918, on the assumption that the Sale of Liquor Restriction Act reduced" the rental value of the premises from £IOOO a. year to £26o.—Referred to 'Committee. ■.■■■'■■

From Mr H. J. Harris, chairman of the Surprise Packe't 'Committee, asking permission- to enclose portion of foot' path in Hardy street on~ Saturday-, 25tb inst., to facilitate distribution of surprise packets.—Granted. From residents, complaining of the state of TipahL street footpath.—Referred to Committee. COMBINED COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Committee reported, inter alia: On letter from; Registrar, Victoria University, requesting grant for tutorial classes: That the 'Council cannot see its way to make a contribution.—On letter from secretary," Fire Brigade, as to firebell, Waimea Road.: That the 'City Engineer-' report as to. cost of erecting a new Tiell oa the College Hill, and- fch.o costr ■ of. shifting the present one. (Consideration deferred for a fortnight);—On letter from; Mr C Kershaw, as ito stoking drainage- engines: That? the -Gas En-

fineer'g offer to take off indicator cards e accepted.—On letter from Mr B. B. Jones, requesting extension of gas main and sewer, Maori Road: (a) As to gas main: That the extension be made, provided Mr Jones contribtues £lO towards the cost; (b) as to sewer: That the matter of putting in a sewer be deferred for the present. {Referred back).- —On letter from Mr C. Kurtzhals as to approach 'to''his" property in Brook street: That Mr Kurtzhals be . informed that the-Council is under no liability in the matter and cannot therefore undertake the work.—As to tender for drain pipes: That the tender of the Brick and Pottery Coy. has been accepted.—As to City Engineer's reports: (a) As to Turkish pontoon: That a pathway be formed on the south side of the site as suggested by the City Engineer, and that the brass inscription plate be 'placed on the pontoon, under a glass cover; (ib) as to motor traffic : That this matter Be referred to a special Committee, consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Hampson and Stringer, and that the Town Clerk in the meantime obtain information from other sources; (c v , a» to maintenance gangs: That the matter be left in the hands of the City Engineer; (d) as to street sweeping: Tha}. the matter of sweeping twice a week with the machine broom be deferred for the present; (e) as to Sands Reserve: That some, spoil from, the Rocks Road be placed on the floor of the Shelter shed.-—As to agreement with Mr Hun- i ter for lease of horsjes and carts, .etc. : j That the draft agreements submitted by 'the Town 'Clerk be approved. The clause regarding drainaeg boilers was made to read that a letter bf> sent to- Air Kershaw stating that his capacity was not questioned; that the j Gas Engineer's letter be handed to the Press ; and that the Gas Engineer's I offer to take off indicator cards be accepted. , Report adopted as amended.

■CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT. The City Engineer (Mr J. G. LittleJohn) reported: Streets and Footways.—The laying down of Hardy street is completed, except for the final top-dressing. The work has been interrupted for sonw time past by lack" of tar, and it is doubtful if Hardy street will-, dryenough to allow of the top-dressing to be done before the summer. Under the circumstances the work cannot be regarded as a. fair test. Flood damage has been repaired on Examiner street; and some clearing up and patching ob Kawai street and Albert road. The work authorised on Nile street East is in progress, and the metalling on Stanley Crescent is completed. The repair of the culvert in Kawai street is in hand. The foundations of the wall in Brook street is in hand.

Water. : —The jointing in the seveninch mai n across the Brook stream blew out last Saturday, and there was further leakage this week. The undermining of the main evidently started the joints for some distance back under the road. So far as can be ascertained without stripping the pipes all defects are now made good.. • Drainage.—The power stations and ejectors nave given no trouble during the past fortnight. The sewer in North Esk 'street is- blocked, and is being attended to. !

.Miscellaneous.—Eight building permits for works valued at £4OB have been issued. A house-to-house inspection of the city has been commenced in connection with Hog registration, kej-osene, and other licenses.

ABATTOIR REPORT. The Abattoir Manager (Mr G. W. •Mitchell) certified that the stock slaugh tered during the fortnight comprised 57 cattle, 4 calves, 539 sheep, 59 lambe, 27 pigs j total, 686. GAS ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Gas Engineer reported that during April the coal carbonised amounted to 346 tons. The gas manufactured was 4.359,600 cubic feet, or 12,600 cubic feet per ton of-coal. Sales of residuals etc., amounted to £264 13s 9d. The total quantity of cast-iron scrap sold to the Otago Rolling (Mills- was 24 tons 8 cwt., at £4 -per ton on the works a total of £97 12&. GENERAL. It was resolved to remind the Advancement Society of its offer to pro vide some seats for Anzac Park: It was resolved that three property owners draining surplus wafer into the MaitaL be given notice to connect with'' the sewer. ..-,-•. i .

I>r. I Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. General Ac. 24;010 9 9 Water Ac. 83 3 7 Gas Ac. 4,982 7 6 Interest Ac. 876 0 10 Abattoir Ac. 212 10 1 Hospital and Charitable .Aid 39 12 10 Balance 29,779 5 5 £29,991 15 6 £29,991 15 6 '' Cr. £ s. d Cemeteries (Trust Ac.) 27 7 J Contractors' T>eposiis Ac. 22 0 0 Trafalgar Park Ac. 28 2 2 Drainage Extension Loan Ac. 526 9 2 Maitai Lands Purchase A c. 700 0 0 Amount owing to Bank on Overdraft £29,079 5 6 Amount of Overdraft at •£ s. d present allowed by the Bank ,. 34,000 0 0 Present limit of Over'draft/andv'Temporary Loan - " 34,000 0 0 ■^i^PAYMENTS. Accounts' ; V*vere": passed for payment as follOWS %-rr'\ " yV General Accbuij*-;.; s. 0 d. 7 Gas Accdpnt "'j£?---/-798 9 11 Water Account!;-';^; 93 17 1 Abattoir Account^}/ 53 9 •6 Cemeteries rAfccc-uiit 19 6 7 Hospital and C^tritabl e Aid Account 263 5 0 Total £1639 8 8