OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10514, 23 July 1910, Page 1

OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

, The usual fortnightly of the Oamaru Borough Council was held last night; when thefe .were present: His Worship the Mayor, (Mrj-It. Milligan), Councillors- Searle/' • Clarke, Vernor, Mahari, .Grave, Mitchell', Miller, Brown, and ;Paterson. Leave of absence was granted to Councillor Frith. of "' the' Picton and Sounds Promotion Society acknowledged with 'thanks receipt of £ls 16s< sd, proceeds of the Captain Cook lecture delivered 'by the Hon. R. M'Nab in Oarnaru^ —Received. A." M'Donald wrote asking for a lease of the "Opera;' House definitely for eacli Thursday and Saturday' for the full re.rit "instead of the three nights a week as at present. . He pointed out that as the show was not on the same nights each week many people did not know when it was to be held. Further, they could not get a sufficient variety of films for three programmes. In a postscrip to the letter Mr M'Donald stated his willingness, if the Council cancelled the present agreement and-released the £SO deposit, to deposit £39 for three months and pencil nights continuously ahead. ...

W: Sniith also wrote in regard to leasing the Opera House for picture shows. After'.quoting residts of picture shows in the past he proposed that he should show two nights-a week, the Council to have 25 per cent, of the gross takings.

These letters were both dealt with in the report of the Town Hall Committee. John Mitchell wrote giving reasons 'for his refusal to pay grazing fees to the Council. Through the negligence of the Council or its servants, lie said, he had lost two cows, one being poisoned by eating tutu and the other straying away through an open gate. He thought he was entitled to some compensation, and claimed half of his total loss of £ls. —It was resolved that the letter be referred to the Reserves Committee for report, Inspector Mathias in the meantime to report on the circumstances.

T. O'Driscoll applied for permission t;j place a: wind-sign in front'of his shop. de Lambert Bros, also applied for permission to suspend a sign from the verandah in front of their shop. Each request was granted on the usual conditions and subject to compliance with the by-laws. Alex Brown .called attention to the bad state of the footpath on the liorth side of Stour street. He suggested that a few loads of refuse from the metal crusher be . put down. He also suggested that a lamp bo placed at the corner of Stour and Wye streets, at which place the lighting was totally inadequate.—Keferred" to the Works Committee with power to act in regard to the footpath and to the Gas Committee for report as touching the request for a lamp. The secretary of the Hospital Trustees (Mr Walter GFob) requested the Council to consider the advisability of carrying a drain up Eden street so that the Hospital drain might be connected. The Inspector-General of Hospitals and the Hospital Superintendent had been pressing upon the trustees the need for underground' drainage to connect the Hospital drainage to" the town system. At present a septic tank was dealing with the bulk of the sewage, but there was a portion with which it could not deal.—l.eferred to Works Committee for report.

M. G. Rofoed applied, on behalf of the Telegraph Department, for permission to make square corners at the corner of Tees and Wansbeck and also of Wansbeck and Wharf streets. At both these streets they intended to have lines going four ways; and, at- present, doing this would necessitate the erection of a pole at each corner and only about 12 feet apart—an unsightly arrangement.

After much discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Mitchell, that the Department be informed that the Council declines to accept the responsibility of granting permission, but leaves the Department to use its own discretion, and suggests that, in the event of the telegraph poles being erected on* the corners, lamps be placed on them to obviate the possibility of accident. The Works and Reserves Committee reported recommending: (1) That when altering the tenure under which sections are held from annual tenancy to a term of years, provision be made for providing for payment of valuation for improvements by incoming tenant; (2) that the Engineer, having reported .that the crossing at the junction of Lime and Stour streets is in good order, the Committee has no recommendation to make; (3) that the Engineer has been instructed to give attention to repairs to the footpath on east side of Greta street when screenings are available; (4) that the Engineer has been instructed to attend to the crossing at the junction of Greta and Arun streets; (5) that .a price of £2 per chain was fixed for the balance of the fence at the old Council Chamber site, the Council to retain the gates and gate posts.

The report was adopted. On the recommendation of tho Gasworks Committee it was decided that a gas lamp ba erected in Exe street east, at a spot to be' approved by the gas manager, at an estimated cost of £3.

The Finance Committee reported (1) recommending that acounts amounting to £372 19s 3d be passed for payment; (2) that instructions have been given to write to the merchants pointing out the existing provision made by the Harbor Board for the storage of explosives; (3) also to write off 6s 7cl on the sanitary account charged in error. The report was adopted. Tho rejaort of the Waterworks Committee was as follows: (1) That instructions have been given to explain the circumstances .and enforce payment of 4s lOd due by John Taylor; (2) recommending that a fire plug be supplied at the.end of the main, in Test street for service at the Victoria Home; (3) that regarding cartage of material for repairs Mr Eraser, has been instructed, to see Mr Douglas as to the reducing of his tender, and to report to the Chairman. The report was agreed to. The Health and .By-laws Committee reported: (1) -Recommending that a small site for a morgue adjoining the pound on the west side be reserved for this purpose; (2) that instructions have been given to collect license fee, £6 10s, from the Drill'HalL.Trustees, and the Committee recommends that the charge for water to the Hall be reconsidered. The report was adopted. , The report of the Town Hal! Committee was as follows: (1) Recommending that W. Smith's offer to lease the Opera House be not entertained, and that A. M'Doimld's offer be accepted, subject to all advertised prices for seats in all parts of 'the theatre beiig:.strictly adhered to, and the lessee being responsible for all damage to property, while in actual occupation; (2) that the charge for the picture matinee-on 18th July, £2 2s, be-enforced; (3) recommending that no charge be made for the Choral Society's rehearsal on 13th inst; (4) that the Committee has. consented to Mr W. M. Kirkcaldy erecting a brass plate and lettering windows, and also to supply necessary gas fittings. 1 The report was adopted. Applications for building permits were mads and granted as- follows: E. M. Simpson, dwelling in wood and iron on section 23, block 12, Nen street; Farrant and Harris, dwelling in wood and iron on section 20, block 84, Lune street; John Wl'Hamilton, dwelling in wood arid iron on section -18,. block 77, Till street;: W.' Couper, extension to washhouse and sciillery on section 13, block 38, Wharfe street; J. M. Forrester, additions to shop for Mr P. D. Johnston oh section 7, block 95, Thames street. .-. This concluded the business, and the Council rose at 9.30 p.m.