REPORTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 4 March 1932, Page 6

REPORTS

SPECIAL COMMITTEE Present: The Mayor (chairman), Councillors Gibbs and Page. The committee reported as follows: (1) On letter from Mr J. F. Wellings as to contract for gas plant: (a) As to amount overpaid by the Council for Customs Duty—That the Council be recommended to adhere to the terms of the contract as it has no power to make what practically amounts to a grant to the contractor of £239 13s 3d. (b) That payment of a progress payment of £741 14s has been authorised.—(2) On letter from Audit Department as to fees for audit. That the Department be informed as follows: (a) That the Council admits their statement as to certain alterations having been made, (b) That it has been the custom for many years past for the audit inspector to audit the books beyond the 31st March but that this does not explain the abnormal increase in the fees charged. The Council recognises the necessity for a careful audit and suggests that it can be carried out in a much shorter time with equal efficiency. The statement that local bodies of similar size are experiencing a similar charge is a matter for regret and is no answer to the objections already advanced. The Council' may reasonably anticipate that if the argument advanced regarding the audit being completed beyond the end of the financial year is valid there will

be a very substantial reduction in the fees for the next audit. And on the strength of tiro above facts the Council requests that the Auditor-General will give the matter further consideration and advise the Council of the result of his enquiries. COMMITTEE OF WHOLE COUNCIL Present: The Mayor (chairman), Councillors Washbourn, Stringer, Watson, Page, Moynagh. Gibbs, Huggins and Neale. The committee reported as follows: (1) On letter from Amateur Swimming Club requesting the provision of an additional spring board at the baths: Consideration deferred pending a report from the City Engineer.- —(2) On letter from Mr C. Haggitt offering to supply crushed metal: That Mr Haggitt i)e thanked and informed that the Council’s finances will not permit of the proposal being entertained. —(3) Qn letter from residents Beachville complaining of alleged nuisance from smoke and dust from the gasworks: That the residents be informed that, while the Council admits no liability it will do all in its power to prevent any cause for complaint. — (4) On letter from Airs J. Bennett requesting permission to cam]) on the Maitai Waterworks Reserve: That permission be granted on the usual conditions. — (5) On letter from Mr J. F. Wellings as to new gas plant: That clause (a) of the special committee’s report of this date be adopted. — ((>) On letter from -Messrs Rout and Milner as to dedication of land Radio road: (a) That they be informed that as soon as the road has been formed and widened and the fence put back and a turning place provided at the end of the road the Council will be prepared to take the road over; (b) that the owners be informed that the Council has agreed to their suggestion and has changed the name of Radio road to Endeavour street.—(7) As to Queen’s Drive: That the City Engineer be instructed to interview Mr Bisley in order to obtain his consent in writing to construct a road connecting Queen’s Drive with Moana avenue on the lines suggested. That the reports of the two engineers be “received.” —(9) As to cost of employees’ picnic: That the concession in wages granted to employees amounted to t £io"7s lOd.— (10) As to lubricating oil for electric department: That the offer of the Vacuum Company and of Hislop Ltd., be accepted.— (11) As to Workers’ accident insurance: That the Town Clerk make inquiries from the accident insurance offices with a view to obtaining a reduction in the rate of insurance.—(l2) As to insurance of motor lorries: (a) That the Dennis truck be re-insured for £250, the Graham for £9O and the Guy £800; (b) that the Town Clerk furnish a schedule of the total insurances paid on the Council’s motor trucks. — (13) On letter from Messrs Kirkpatrick and Co., Ltd. requesting the erection of a street lain]) near the gate of their factory: That the Council adhere to its previous decision that no new street lamps be installed during the present financial year.—(l4) As to baths timetable: That all future matters relating to the use of the baths be. referred to the Baths Committee, with power to act. —(15) That in future when special committees arc appointed one of their number act as convener and that the Mayor convene a meeting of the special committee appointed to visit Mr Elliott’s and Mr Bislefy’s properties in the Maitai. v Clause 15 was amended to the effect that the Mayor shall act as convenor. CITY ENGINEER

The City Engineer (Mr J. G. Littlejohn) reported: — Streets and Footways: The tai 1 ing of Manuka street, including top-dress-ing of the paths, has been completed. The repair of the paths in Nile street from Tasman street to Milton Gio\e is now in hand. The work antlioi iscd in King street is nearing completion. Drainage: The systems have given no trouble. Deserves: Routine maintenance only has been done. Relief of Unemployment: The various works in hand at the date of hint report have been proceeded with. Ihe water bore is now down 117 feet. Results so far are not encouraging and I do not think it worth while to go further with it. ■ • Gas: The usual returns are attached hereto. The capacity of the two beds of retorts now in operation is considerably in excess of requirements which makes tli e working of the plant somewhat irregular just at present. I anticipate there will be a large saving in coal with a! corresponding decrease m the quantity of coke. I think the large consumers would be well advised to arrange elsewhere for some part of their winter requirements. Enlargement of Saltwater _ Bridge: The present bridge is sft by Oft. It is proposed to enlarge it to 10ft by (ft, the extra two feet in height being obtained by lowering the bottom, and increasing the depth of the open channel across the mudflat. The work would be in reinforced concrete and would be provided with a floodgate. The cost would be £758. If done as a lelief work, £505 nett cost to the Council. Councillor Page advised that- boring be tried elsewhere in the locality (Bishopdale) before giving up. He moved that boring operations be continued elsewhere. Councillor Moynagh seconded the motion, which was carried. In iconjunction with the report a letter was read from Harley and Sons as to supplies of coke, and expressing the opinion that- large local suppliers should have preference to those outside the city area. Councillor Moynagh said he understood that no coke was to be sold outside the city until a certain quantity was in slock . In answer to the Mayor the Engineer said there was no coke in stock at present. Councillors interjected that it was going to Motueka for hop drying. Councillor Moynagh said he had received complaints as to tha weight of bags of coke, which he had been told did not weigh 601bs. The Mayor agreed that local people should have first call on the coke supsaid all coke was now sold by-'weight, and there was not less than 100 lbs in a bag. The regulation was 901bs. 1 revionslyV 1301bs or so was given it depended on the size of the bag. In reply to Councillor Moynagh, the Engineer said if coke was being sold through retailers it was not in accordance with the Council’s system of selling it. The Council could not keep track of the coke after it left the gasworks. Councillor Page suggested that tne Engineer should obtain some idea o what quantity local industries would use, then it could be rationed accordOii the suggestion of the Mayor the letter from Harley and Sons was leferred to Committee. "When the"heat is “trying” rub a. few drops of No. 52 Lavender Water on wrists and temples. Wonderfully cooling and refreshing. 2/6 to 18/6. All chemists.

The enlargement of the Saltwater bridge was deferred for consideration until the next financial year. GASWORKS REPORT Coal carbonised 301 tons; gas manufactured per ton of coal 17,01)1) cubic feet; gas manufactured 5,137,000 cubic feet; coal in hand 251 tons; coke in hand, nil; tar in hand, 13,875 gallons. Value of residuals sold during the month £285 3s fid. Noting the quantity of tar in stock, the. Mayor, said it should be used on the streets while the fine weather lasted. The Engineer suggested that a number of corners should be tar-sealed. Councillor Black understood that the Engineer had already been instructed to continue tar-sealing as lie thought fit. The Engineer’s suggestion as to corners was agreed to. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER The Electrical Engineer (Mr E. Fleming) reported : City applications 2495 (increase 8); city extensions 2557 (increase 11); Tahuna applications 201 (increase nil); Stoke applications 98 (increase nil); Wakatu applications 29 (increase nil). Total 5380 (increase 19). Lighting load applied for 1453 k.w. (increase 4 k.w.); heating load applied for 2969 k.w. (increase 12 k.w.); power load applied for 1793 k.w. (increase 18 k.w.); Taliuna load applied for 293 k.w. (increase nil); Stoke load applied for 124 k.w. (increase nil); Wakatu load applied for 49 k.w. (increase nil). Total 6681 k.w. (increase 34 k.w.). Peak load day 440 k.w.; peak load night 630 k.w. The plant at the Power Station continues to operate satisfactorily. The brick work in the arch of No. 1 boiler requires attention and will probably have to be re-set. We have found in repairing No. 4 boiler that the tie bricks have all been broken, and I am inclined to think this is due to the earthquake, and it is only now that this damage is showing up. A fault developed in the automatic contactor equipment on the Normanby Bridge pumps. This has been attended to and the plant is operating satisfactorily. SANITARY INSPECTOR

The Sanitary Inspector (Mr M. Busbridge) reported : Drainage and Plumbing.—New drainage has been provided to four premises, three extensions to existing drains have been made and four defective drains repaired and four defective sanitary fittings replaced. Nine permits have been issued for plumbing work. Iwo notices under the sanitary bylaws have been served and complied with. Inspection of Premises.—One hundred and twenty premises have been visited. In four cases structural defects require to be put right. Two defective drams and three accumulations of refuse were found and the owners were notified to have the necessary work carried out, This has since been done. Rubbish Service.—Eighteen additional applications have been received, making a total of 549 on the service. Overhanging Hedges.—Three verbal notices have been given to have overhanging hedges cut hack to the street line and have been complied with. Public Halth. —Two cases of infectious diseases have been notified and removed to hospital. ABATTOIR MANAGER The abattoir manager (Mr G. W. Mitchelll reported that the following stock were slaughtered during the fortnight: Cattle 82, calves i 7, sheep 682, lambs 283, pigs 53, total 1117. During the period one sheep was condemned. GENERAL

The Mayor, referring to the achievement of the Regimental Band fit the recent contest, moved that a letter oi congratulation be sent to members. Ihe motion was carried. The Mayor reported that a deputation from the Rotary Club had waited on him that day with a view to tree planting, not on a commercial basis, but from a scenic point of view. The matter was referred to Councillors Neale and Moynagh to report. The Mayor further stated that the Rotary Club was interesting itself m a pioneers’ memorial. He had agreed to call a meeting next month with a view of obtaining relics and documents relating to the early days. The Mayoradded Unit the centenary of the province would be celebrated ten years hence. Councillor Moynagh gave notice to move that the meetings of the Council close at II p.m., and that any business remaining be dealt with at a fuithei meeting on the following evening . In moving the motion Councillor Moynagh said the late sittings were becoming an intolerable burden. After some other business had been transacted the Council rose at 11.40 p.m.