ART EXHIBITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 14

ART EXHIBITION

IMPORTANT PAINTINGS COUNCIL'S INTEREST * OTHER BUSINESS ITEMS Participation in the showing of n loan collection of over 60 important paintings from the National anrl late Galleries, London, was decided nn by the City Council at its meeting last night. The paintings are to be sent to Australia and New Zealand this year by the Empire Art Loan Collections Society nnd the council decided to arrange an exhibition locally provided that three other galleries or societies in Australia or New Zealand also agreed to co-operate. The Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board wrote stating that advice had been received from the \ aluer-Goneral that £19.03.1,309 was the capital value of rateable property in the City Council's district. In view of the fact that This figure would be used in calculating the board's annual levy for 1936-3" tho council was asked whether it was acceptable to the council. In answer to a question the city treasurer, Mr. Andrew Messor, said that this figure was approximately £1,000,000 greater than, that for last year. The letter was received. The proposal to set up a staff committee, consisting of members of the council, the town clerk nnd one other member of the staff, with power for co-opting departmental heads, to deal with appointments and all other matters relating to the staff was rejected. The scheme was put forward in December by Sir George Richardson, but a report from the Finance Committee lastnight stated that there was no reason why the council should depart from the existing arrangement. The committee s report was adopted. On the advice of the waterworks engineer, Mr. A. D. Mead, it was decided to purchase a section in the Riddell Estate, Waimarie Street, at a price of £'3oo for the purpose of erecting a small reservoir as part of the proposed water supply improvement to the Tamaki area.

The council decided to supply water to the Swanson School at Is per 1000 gallons, in place of the rate of Is 9d charged to residents. The council decided to make a donation of £lO 10s to the funds of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta held on Jnnuarv 29.

STORM DAMAGE WATERWORKS SYSTEM BREAKING OF PIPELINES Details of the damage to the waterworks system by the cyclonic storm on February 1 and 2 were contained in a report submitted to the City Council last night by the waterworks engineer, Mr. A. D. Mead. Breaks occurred in both the Nihotupu and Huia pipelines, and Mr. Mead detailed the measures taken to restore the supply. A great deal of damage was still being repaired and other improvements carried out in affected areas. "The rainfall for the 24 hours ended 7 a.m. on February 2 ranged from Tin. to lOin. at the dams," Mr. Mead said. "While this is phenomenal, it was exceeded in 1925, when llin. of water fell in one day at Huia. Although no serious danger of water shortage actually occurred, there were elements of risk in the position which must receive consideration and 1 propose to report further regarding the desirability of additional safeguards." Mr. Mead said great praise was due to the staff, who worked extremely hard under very trying conditions to restore the pipelines and thereby obviated a more serious danger of water shortage.

HEALTH OF WORKERS A REASSURING REPORT Expressing concern for the health of the men engaged at the city destructor, Mr. F. E. Lark, a member of the City Council, recently asked for a return showing the number of employees at the destructor who had had to be sent to a sanatorium. After receiving a reassuring report from the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, the council last night directed that the wages of the men employed at the destructor should be restored to the amount paid to them before the reduction in hours took place. Mr. Tyler said he had carefully examined the records and had not been able to trace a single case where an employee had left his department to go into a sanatorium. There were 13 regular men employed at the destructor, with service ranging from 2i years to over 22 years. Two of those now cmployed had 22 years' continuous service, one over 18 years' service and three over 12 years' service. One man had just retired at the age of 65 with 18 years' service, and another completed service with the council in December, 19.32, after 12 years' service, and died the following day. Another man left in 19.34. after 12 years' service, owing to sickness and he urylerstood that this man had not enjoyed good health. There were no other cases that he had been able to trace that would lead him to believe that the work at the destructor had an injurious effect upon the health of those employed there, although it was admitted that the work at times was not of the most pleasing character. The report was received.

LOSS ON DWELLING AI? HEARS W MITTEN OFF All claim to arrears amounting to £l2o owing on a City Council house at Grey Lynn was waived when the council decided last night to accept a surrender of the property as from February 1 and to write off all arrears as from the same date.

The purchaser of the property asked that in view of her financial position the council accept a surrender of the property, and at the same time she offered to remain as a tenant. The amount owing to the. council under a mortgage is £'loo2, and to January 6 of this year interest payments in arrears totalled £49-T4s Id. The council dfcidetl to nroept surrender and to write off all arrears of interest, principal and rates, and to accept the purchaser as tenrffrt at a weekly rental of ,18s.

TREE MILK FOR SCHOOLS I VALIDATING EXPENDITURE Action is being taken by the City Council to have validated the expenditure it has incurred, since October, 1935, in supplying milk to various schools in the city area for free consumption by the pupils. At the meeting of the council Inst night a draft clause for insertion in the next Local Legislation Bill, nuthojis'iig this expenditure was submitted hy the citv solicitor. Mr. J. Stanton, for approval. The clause also seeks to cin'power the council to continue supplying free milk during the year 1936 and to pay out of it's District Fund the cost of this service, less any grant or subsidy received by the council from the Government. The draft was approved.