OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10671, 21 January 1911, Page 2

OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of ,the Oamaru Borough Council was held last night, when there were present: Councillors Brown (in the chair), Searle, Venior, M'Adam, Grave, Keys, Mitchell, Frith, and Millef. Leave of absence was granted to the Mayor (Mr R. Milligan} and Councillor Clarke. Messrs Lee, tlrm.'. and Grave wrote regarding the Council's let lor addressed to Mr Forrester, architect, relative to the proposed nciv picture theatre on Mr Cooney's property. "We are instructed by the promoters of the theatre," they stated. ' ; to write you regarding the tag attached to your letter to the effect that the issue of the permit to proceed with the building does not in any way bind the Council to grant a public hall license when the building is completed. Our clients would like to know if the Council has any reason to think that the permit will be withheld, as they consider it is not very satisfactory to get an intimation at the outset that the passing of the plans is not to be deemed to bind the Council to grant the license. If any alteration is desired to meet the Council's requirements our clients are prepared to consider same, and endeavor to carry out the wishes of the .Council. Wo would point out that your letter as it stands is calculated to stifle public enterprise, for persons might well hesitate to expend money in erecting such a building when permission is only given hi the way it has been in this particular case. We trust you will be able to let us have an assurance that the Council does not see any reason to warrant it in thinking the permit is likely to be withheld." Councillor Frith said that he did not think, when this application was considered, that there was any idea of withholding the permit. But it was thought advisable that some such clause should bo inserted in the letter in view of a provision in the amended Municipal Corporations Act. Councillor M'Adam moved that the letter be replied to stating that the Council's letter was written in accordance with the legal opinion of Mr Martin, municipal solicitor. Councillor Venior, in seconding this motion, said that if the Council's conditions were complied with he did not think they had power to withhold the permit. Tho motion was agreed to. The Gas Manager (Mr J. H. Grenfell) forwarded an application from Mr John Taylor, North road, Newborough, Tor three gas services. The total estimated cost would be £22 18s 6d.—Remitted to Gas Committee for report. The Chief Health Officer (Dr Valmtine) forwarded a circular letter regarding the provisions of the Hospitals Amendment Act, 1910. Under section 5 of the Act the responsibility of controlling, infectious disease now devolved on the Hospital Boards, which, for such purposes, became "local authorities" within the meaning of the Public Health Act. The InspectorGeneral suggested that until the Hospital Boards have provided the necessary machinery to give effect the amendment in the law the Council should continue to act as at present with regard to any infectious diseases that might occur in the district. —deceived. T ' , _,'■ T>' The Water Race Inspector (Mr_ P. Fraser) presented a report regarding the extent to whicli the present water "supply could be increased with an estimate of the cost. . For the last two months the quantity of water passing over the head weir was 16 beads or 6000 gallons per niinute, winch was slightly in excess of actual requirements. For a number of years past work had been carried on with a view to increasing the supply, by raising the fluming. The inspector, after going into details, stated that the race or clay cutting was in good order and a little trimming and cleaning would be all that would be required in order to carry five heads more, water, which woufd be equal to a. total of 21 heads or 7860 gallons per minute. By lurtner widening- and cleaning and the addition of supports to the fluming, four more heads could be added, which, would be 25 heads or 9360-gallons per minute. He estimated the cost of increasing the supply by five, heads at £173 19s lOd Councillor Frith said that if they could increase the supply by a third at a cost of £l7O it would be all right for the town supply. He was ' douWftd whether the figures were not too good to be correct. ■ . Councillor Brown thought the report should allay any. fears regarding any shortage of water. ' . ~ ~• . Councillor Yernor said ne thought it was the small pipes that had been causing shortage in some parts. Councillor Grave thought the report should go to the Waterworks Committee to consider the advisability or increasing the water supply, even thougn the need were not at present urgent He was also somewhat doubttui of the optimistic report. He moved that the report be sent to the Committee to consult with the Engineer and confirm the report. This was agreed to. , .. de Lambert Bros, requested permission to remove their hanging sign and refix. it to the north end of- London. House verandah,-as they had leased the shop at present occupied by Messrs Geo. Davies,-Ltd.—Granted, subject to supervision of the Engineer. The Works and Reserves Committee reported—"That it is considered that the stairway leading to the circle in the proposed new picture theatre should be constructed of stone or conand that another exit from the circle should be provided. Further consideration of the plans and specifications was deferred pending receipt of_a report thereon from the Engineer to be submitted to the. Chairman and his Worship the Mayor." The report was adopted, Councillor Frith stating, in reply to a question, that the. proposed alterations had been agreed to. :On the recommendation of the Finance Committee, accounts ■ amounting; to £448 13s lid were passed foi ■payments . • 'The Waterworks Committee reported— (1) That Mr Norman Lane has been called upon to lay the-water pipe to his premises at the depth required by "the Engineer, failing which,, .the charge, for water will be increased by 10s per annum, to cover any possible damage to.the pipe through insufficient covering. - (2) Recommending that Mr Ni C. Gilchrist be informed that the Council is prepared to pay liim the sum 6f £384 ss, due to the estate of J. ,C. Gilchrist, deceased, for land purchased for the purpose of the waterworks. (3) Recommending that Mr W. H. Hartley be charged £5 per annum for water •on;section 9, block 1., Oamaru district, from the time that a domestic service was, installed. Other clauses regarding trivial matters were included in the report. They dealt mainly with warnings administered to ratepayers who are alleged to have been wasteful with the municipal water supply. The report was adopted. ■ The Engineer reported as follows: — "Since my previous report to you the repairs to the bridge at the Reservoir Tower have been completed, necessitating the greater portion of the upper structure of the work being put in with new material, and should not require anything much in the way of repairs for many years to come, as the bridge is now practically a new one. "The practice hydrant for the use of the Fire Brigade lias been laid down iu Takaro Park, and conveniences have been erected in the Public Gardens.

"In regard to complaints re sewer in block 4, I have to report that we had the sewer opened in several places and found the drain in the immediate vicinity of the complaint to be practically level for some distance. Any heavier material such as shingle is bound to lodge in the pipe at that place, and unless care be taken to prevent shingle and such like material from getting into the drain trouble will always occur in that vicinity. "The number of daymen employed is as follows: —10 daymen, 2 carters." The report was referred to the Works Committee for consideration. On the motion of Councillor Miller, it was resolved that the question of proceeding with certain works urgently required at the Abattoirs be referred to the Abattoirs Committee with power to act.