OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLII, Issue 12823, 15 April 1916, Page 1

OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Oamaru Borough Council met last night. In the absence of the Mayor, Councillor Grenfell was votedto the chair: There were also present: Councillors K. K. Ireland, D. Sinclair, - D, - Miller, It. Mahah. C. Swinard, C. E. Davey, and Mi F. Oobney.--.sAh.. apology wasN- received from Councillor ; Forrester.- - : '/'-'•' —Correspondence.—- - > :■-.. j i * The Secretary. of the. Waitaki Hospital, an diCharitable. Aid! Board' Gibb) notified, -the Council that the sum of £641 19s'9d had' been fixed -as- the. contribution by local authorities of the district, and that the. Council's propor-tion-was £lO2, payment to be made half-yearly on May 1 and November I.—The" letter was received. •" ' \'--' , WdlEaan Rudiiuek, on .behalf of Ms mother (MrsV D. ' Rudduck) -wished 1 to. discontinue the lease "of section 12> block 67, Yare-street.—The letter is dealt with in committees' reports.

J. M. Forrester handed in final statement of accounts-in connection ■ with King George's Park Vas follows : Amount of original contract, £1373-J.os 8d; cutting' away additional clay at west end, £10; digging and! carting additional soil for playing fieldy £24: additional clay excavated Las oer final measurement, £27 8s"8d-—total, £1435 4s'4d.—The statement -was received. The Caretaker cf the Baths, D. M'Leod, reported 1 a record! season for the baths. - Always excellent, the attendance had, on seme occasion taxed the accommodation to the utmost, many 'bathers having to do without boxes. Takings showed an increase of £lB over last year; membership showed an increase to 69 (senior and junior) and 78 ladies, a total membership of 147.- The attendance of school classes had been good; and most of the children had learned to swim. Cbuntry classes-had.been largely attended. The town schools' rolls showed 205' children as follows: North 73 (4>l boys and, 32 girls); South 73 (boys 32, girls 41); Middle" 59 ' (boys 31, girls 28). The country rolls showed 321-pupils as follows :—Tbtara and Pukeuri, 49 (beys 23, girls 26); Papakaio and Awamoko 35 (boys 17, girls 18) fTeaneraki and Windsor 32 (boys 16, girls 16). The Convent and St. Joseph's" School had also had pupils at the baths, paying for admission. Minor repairs were needed for the baths. Large attendances had marked! public carnivals. —The - reportis dealt "with in reports. The' repairs are being considered- byi the Baths Committee.

Cecil Jackson protested against tiie charge of £7 for installation of gas to. his residtence in Usk street. This was prohibitive, he stated, and asked for a reconsideration of the matter.—The letter was referred to the Gasw;>rks Committee.

L. 6. Beal supplied! contract specifications for the improvement of the reticulation of the upper levels. —The letter was received. The Hon. Sec. of the Oamaru Ministers' Association wrote that the Association desired to hold a united! religious service on 2oth inst., to commemorate the historic landing of our troops at Gallipoli. He asked for the free use of the Opera House in the evening. A collection to be devoted to Red Cross work wouklj be taken up. He invited the Council to be present. In connection also with "Anzac Day," the Premier circularised!'- the Council to. observe Anzac Day-' as a-half-holiday. He appealed to all religious .denominations to hold suitable commemoration services. The Govern-' ment was of opinion that the day should not be celebrated by the holding of sports and' other forms of en-, tertainment, but should be taken advantage of by recruiting bodies to. arrange patriotic; meetings for the evening- > Councillor Ireland moved a recommendation that the Mayor request citizens that Tuesday ("Anzae Day"), April 25, be held' as a- close, half-holi-day. . The motion was seconded by Councillor Cooney and carried. • It was stated that the Ministers' Association were quite willing to hold their service in the afternoon if it were, observed as a holiday. Councillor Davey moved that the application of the Ministers' Association be 'granted for either afternoon or evening, provided that it does not. clash with any recruiting meeting. The invitation of the Association was accepted. Messrs Haywards asked permission to give picture entertainments in the Picture Palace and Opera House on. Good Friday.—Permission was granted subject to the programme being suitable.

G. A. Ferens, Lune street, asked or a*n extension of the gas main to "his residence. The Gas Manager's ' estimate was £l4 Is 3d.—The letter is dealt with in committees' reports. The Hon. Sec. 10th. Regiment Band wrote that having completed the municipal concerts for the season the band would be pleased! to receive payment for the same. —On the motion of Councillor Ireland the amount was passed for payment. Mr Donald Miller was appointed examiner of drivers of motor vehicles applying for licenses. E. A. Fox's application for a- water supply was granted during the pleasure of the Council.

The question of kerbing. channelling, and re-forming Wansbeek street, between Wharf e and Tees street, was raisedi by Councillor Mahan, who moved that it be recomnitMd'-fl t« the Works Committee for fa\.::'..":e consideration. Councillor Davey seconded the motion, which was carriedi. Councillor Ireland moved that if the Engineer can ' procure rotten rock at a satisfactory price delivered! in TJre street, a coating of it be put-on Ure street before metal is laid, provided no delay is caused, the Engineer to use his discretion in regard! to further metalling. : ' ' ••It was resolved (that the Thames street-channel be flushed at least twice ft week. Reports.—

Finance —. (1) Recommending accounts for'payment: General-Account — Gas £43 14s od, town-accoiuit £l2O Is O'ci, sundries £1 Ids, Opera. House £5 us, baths £7 6s, gardens £lß';9s'Bd, water £B4 Hs : lod, reserves 7s '6dl r . sanitary £5 14j3, Fire Board l £53 15s; — total, £340 19s lid. Account— Timber*, etc.. £36 14s, cai-tage £5 15s; —total, £42 9s,—The' report was adopted l . Abattoirs—Recommending closing on Good Friday and. Monday.— The report was adiopted. "•.•'. Uaths—(l) 'That wifcli Councillor Swina-rd and the Engineer, were appointed'to visit L .the. baths aud report as to. their requirements.—The li-poro was adopted. Gasworks—(l) . ; Rec'onuiiefldiiig tlia t Mr Ferens' application;«ifoi: a gas service ba granted-prbyided.-.that he con-

tributes £5; towai'ids'the- cost c-f the main, £2 to be to-niin sliouhl another consumer. «aaneot. with;; this main.—The report. was adopted. Works and' Reserves—(l)'. Jlecommending that the. public -be '.advised that the CojmcU z the streetsj-whfere* t*o&il>le, 'provide"d that the owners<rf at least of the lenght. of. any r Tzlqpk -contribute their proportion to be at- therate of chain, being lialf-Qpsfc •;, that deed, submitted, solicitors with regard to, the- filing iiv 01 -sections in. block 72- be executed J (3) -Recommending that section'l2-, block.67 T Yare street, be offered at: auction for release on an . annual - tenancy. .(4) It was resolved that alternative tendfers be called for spawls—(a) at a size that will' not pass through, a 2i-ipch ring, (b) without any minimum size specified. (5) Recommending that c-in-dters. be laid on the track through Takaro Park alongside the creek. — The report was adopted.