WATER SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22657, 19 February 1937, Page 11

WATER SERVICE

HENDEKSON DISTRICT TERMS FIXED FOR SUPPLY HUIA FILTER OVERHAUL A new system of charging water rates on properties where there are domestic, hose and trade supplies was decided 011 by the City Council last night. The waterworks engineer, Mr. A. D. Mead, reported that some differences of opinion existed regarding the present system of charging and he recommended minor alterations to the relevant by-law to clarify the position. The report was adopted. The possibility of the council supplying water to the Henderson Town Board was raised by a recommendation from the Public Services Committee, which suggested that a supply of water should be made available to meet the request from the Henderson town district on the same terms as those offered to the New Lynn Borough Council. These provided for a term of 2L years at a charge of Is per 1000 gallons, the charge to be adjusted and fixed by arbitration at the end of seven and 14 years. It was also decided to arrange for the overhaul of the water supply filters at the Huia dam at an estimated cost of about £IOOO. The necessity for this work arose from a report by Dr. W. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, that analyses during January had been less satisfactory than usual. Avondale Park Proposed ' A letter was received from the Avonckile branch of the New Zealand Labour Party, asking if the council would consider the possibility of laying out at Avondale a recreation field on similar lines to Walker Park, Point Chevalier, to include .1 swimming pool, which would be a great advantage to the Avondale school children for swiming tuition. The letter pointed out that Avondale at present did not possess these facilities and a large number of unemployed men. from the district could be absorbed in forming a park of the kind described. The proposal was referred to the Parks Committee. It was reported that for the purposes of the Metropolitan Fire Board's annual assessment the Valuer-General had determined the capital value of rateable property in Auckland City t<> be £49,500,635, an increase of £447,326. The increase a year ago was £243,105. The Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, remarked that the Fire Board levy was becoming a very severe tax, and on his motion the matter was referred to the Finance Committee for a report. Employment 0! Children As the result of a conference with a representative of the child welfare branch of the Education Department, the LegaJ and By-laws Committee recommended the adoption of a report by the superintendent of traffic, to the effect that the by-law requiring the annual renewal of licences issued to children for street trading and the sale of sweets, etc., in theatres be strictly enforced in future, and that a brooch badge bo issued in place of the present arm badge, which many of the boys disliked. . The superintendent stated that it was desirable that there should bo included in the by-law a section making it an offence to employ unlicensed children as street traders. A 6uitable amendment should be made when a new by-law was being drafted. It was decided that four traffic officers, Messrs. M. M. Mangan, A. E. Ardern, L. S. G. Hutt and W. L. Bonney, who had satisfactorily completed three months' probation, be placed 011 the permanent staff from February 1, subject to the production of satisfactory medical certificates of fitness. Following a decision to increase the staff by two officers and for the purpose of filling one vacancy, the following were appointed:—Messrs. N. A. Lake, T. N. Herbert and R. B. Winthrop. Civic Square Rentals Intimations were received from Fergusson Buildings, Limited, and Civic Theatre, Limited, that they had lodged applications under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act, 1936, respecting their leases of properties in the Civic Square block, with a view to having the rentals fixed at a permanently reduced rate. It was decided to instruct the city solicitor to take whatever action might be necessary to protect the council's interests. An application from the Provincial of the Marist Order for permission to erect a residential building in timber in the grounds of the Sacred Heart College, Ponsonby, for occupation by trainees for the order, was referred to the Town-planning Committee, with power to act. Proposals put forward by Mr. A. E. Collett, architect, for the erection of a block of apartments in Rota Place, Parnell, were rejected by the council. The' plans provided for seven blocks of single-storeyed buildings, containing 37 apartments and caretaker's quarters, but the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, reported that, as the by-laws were infringed in several directions, ho was unable to recommend the scheme for approval. COLLECTION OF RATES REDUCTION IN THE ARREARS A return of municipal rates for the period ended February 10, 1937, was presented to the City Council last night by the city treasurer, Mr. A. Messer. The figures showed that the amount of the previous year's rates outstanding was £53,630, compared with £58,871 at the same date last year. Arrears of rates outstanding were £23,187, compared with £34,605 a year ago. For the years from 1928 to 1935, the amount of arrears outstanding was £32,946, the figure at the same dato last year being £56,543.