OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14706, 5 June 1920, Page 6

OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Oamiiru Borough Council was held last night. The Mayor. Mr Jas. McDiarnnd, presided, and there were also present Councillors J.. T. Calder, Jas. Rodman, Geo. Snadden, C. H. Swinard, J. M. Forre-ster, A. \V. Woodward, D. .\liller, M. I''. Coonc-y, R. Mahan. H. G. Deal, W. Clarke, and D. Sinclair. Mr .Janies Grant wrote that his agreement with the Beautifying Society was tor only 1000 loads of spoil for his secuV;n at Is per load. —The letter was lvli-i red to the Finance Committee. The Palmerston North Borough Council forwarded for support a resolutiori ihat the Government- be urged to obtain adequate supplies of cement for local bodies' works. —Supported. The Stratford Borough Council forwarded for support a resolution urging the Government to make Saturday the universal half-holiday. Councillor Miller moved that the Council endorse the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Woodward. Councillor Cooney thought it was a step in tile right direction. Councillor Clarke thought it should stay as at present on account of the woollen factory, and other institutions. Councillor Snadden said that Saturday had met with approval in Southland. Councillor Rodman moved a 6 an amendment that the letter be received, which was seconded by Councillor Clarke. Only three voting for the amendment, however, the motion was carried-. Mr U. C. Tennent wrote asking the Council to favorably notice efforts being made to consolidate and extend the Dominion Boy Scouts' Association. The Christchurch municipality had donated ii-jO. and others £lO 10s, £2-5, etc. — Councillor liodnian said that Boy Scoutti had proved very useful at garden fetes, etc.. and he thought the Council should support the movement. Councillor Mahan said that the Scout movement was one worthy of support in every way. and he moved that the sum of £5 be donated by the Council. Councillor Miller thought any money expended should bo in the way of permanent improvements in the town. Ife this were supported, he wished to know where was the Council to draw the line. The Mayor: We have given the North Otago Highland Pipe juand donations. Councillor Miller: Then the sooner wc stop it the better. Councillor Calder said that the Scouts had done very useful work during the epidemic. Councillor Forrester said that- it was a very fine organisation which did a lot of good. Councillor Cooney objected to the prevalent custom of maintaining institutions employing highly paid officials, of which he did not think the local Boy Sccuts was one. Councillor Mahan amended his resolution to give £2 2s. Councillor Woodward seconded the motion. He was strongly in sympathy with the Scout movement, and as the amount suggested was small would support the motion. The motion eventually signally defeated an amendment by Councillor Miller that no financial assistance be given. Mr W. Moore applied for a crossing over the channel to his premises in Kibble street. —Dealt with in Committee's reports. Air J. 71. Smith applied for permission to hang a disc .sign over the footpath in Kibble street.—Dealt with in Committees' reports. Messrs A. and T. Burt. Ltd.. sought permission to erect a wood and iron building on the corner of Thames and Eden street.—Dealt with in Committees' reports. Mr A. Pa tterson. Aln street, applied for the grass on Aln street.—Dealt with in Committees' reports. The Hav.era Borough Council sought support of a resolution urging the Government to remove the duty on children's footwear. Councillor Calder moved and Councillor Cooney seconded that the motion be supported, which was carried unanimously. The abattoirs manager reported that there were slaughtered during May 135 head cattle, 821 sheep and lambs, one pig. and nine calves, of which one sheep v. as condemned.—Received. 1 he Chief Postmaster, Mr T. B. Salmon, wrote urging the Borough to initiate a proper house-numbering system. from the lack of which both private individuals and business people" suffered inconvenience and delav.—The matter has been attended to bv'placing in preparation a by-law making numbering compulsory. The General Manager of New Zealand Railways wrote that the warning bells attached to the ".stop !*' notice posts could be heard at a sufficient diss tance from the Severn street crossing. t lo move tlx* bell away from the crossj nig would diminish its usefulness. The / ouncil had in 1915 accepted the con- ~ ditions issued by the Minister of Rails ways. Cross-arm warning boards would oc erected at the intersection of lichen street and at the north end of the Severn street bridge if the Council would agree to maintain them.—Received. Eleven water-race employees asked for aii increase of wages.—Referred to t the Finance Committee for report. Messrs John Chambers and Sons, Ltd.. wrote that no definite news rc- ■ garding the delivery of the gas engine. had been received. They enclosed what , U;ls 'n effect an apoloev from Messrs Browett. Lindlcy and Co.. under date April fltli. alleging labor conditions and other circumstances beyond their control as the cause. It was to the interests of these writers that delivery should be made as soon as possible; the orice for the engine, was given by the suppliers on April 0 as £663 in excess of their original quotations, and they would be approached to share with th'e writers a portion of whatever loss thev were finally involved in.—Received. Rev. M'Lean, President of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and Mr J. D. Forbes, Secretary, formed a deputation to the Council in the"'"matter of General Birdwood/s visit. Rev. M'Lean said that after discussing masters with the Mayor and reviewing many suggestions. it was thought that General Birdwood might like to sec chiefly Anzac men. of whom 200 were on the Association s books. Only a limited number of men.could be present, at the luncheon. Ho suggested the holding of a reception in the Opera House, at which every soldier who wished could meet General Birdwood and his family. Mr J. D. Forbes said that he thought that only a representative from every district could bo relied upon. There was a great difficulty in arriving at the number of soldiers, especially Anzacs. who could be reached in time or who ! would hji able to come. The Mayor said he had anticipated this difficulty. It- had been suggested Mnt General Birdwood be given a run into the country. A reception would 1 not fit in very well. but. he thought that as many Anzacs should be present ■ at the' luncheon as possible, as they would be in town, and there was no 1 reason why they should eat elsewhere. Rev. M'Lean said it was impossible • to say how many men would be in town. 1 The Association had thought of 20 re- i p'resentative men at the luncheon, and 1 that all other returned men who wished I could meet General Birdwood in the 1 afternoon. f Councillor Forrester thought that the ] suggestions of the deputation should be agreed to. The Mayor deprecated any desire to < make the function a purely civic one. Councillor Calder thought a general invitation should be extended to all , Anzacs in the district. > Councillor Cooney agreed. It was decided to leave the arrangements to the Mayor, Councillor Forrester. and the Town Clerk, to co-ope-rate with the Returned Soldiers' As- t sociation. a general invitation to be given to all Anzacs. the maximum mi in- i ber to bo arranged for. _ } ' —Committee's Itenorts. — £ Finance. —(1) Bank balances, general | account dr £"2577 lis Id, loan account , dr £564 5s lid. Recommending for payment accounts amounting to £637 lis 2d. (2) The Committee has no recommendation to make re applications . for increased wages by Kiely and i Meehan. (3) Recommending that the s following increases bo granted: W. . M'Cullough 6d per day, and H. Ross , is per day. (') Recommending that a luncheon be tendered to General Bird- , wood on 11th June.—The report was j adopted. . Waterworks. that Mrs Johnston, Awamoko, be grant- i

Ed a Jin supply from the race at £6 per annum. (2) Recommending that the minimum charges outside the borough be domestic * supplies £6 per annum, trough supplies £3 per annum.—The report was adopted. Electricity.— (1) Recommending that a street lamp bo erected in Rother street, provided that two consumers are secured. —The report was adopted. Works.- —(1) Recommending that the footpath in Ouse street fronting block 11 be asphalted and the kerbing and channelling completed. (2) Recommending that the Engineer be authorised to arrange for the crossing over the channel' applied for by Mr Moore in ltibble street, this resolution to apply to the application of Mr Moore, senr., the grossing in the latter case to be an iron one. (3) The Committee cannot recommend granting Messrs A. and T. Burts' request for permission to erect a building in wood and iron on part section 5, block 6. (4) Recommending that Mr J. R. Smith be permitted to erect a sign on his shop frontage to the satisfaction of the Engineer. Order of work: (1) Asphalt in L're street; (2) asphalt in Harbor street; (3) extend pipe drain from cemetery-; (4) kerbing and channelling in Avon street fronting block 34.—Tho report was adopted. Reserves. — (1) Recommending that Mr Paferson be informed that the portion of Nen street west to which he refers is represent leased to Mr Wright for a period of 12 months from Ist March, 1920. —The report was adopted. The tender of Messrs, Glass and Sons of £153 10s for repairs to the Opera House was accepted. It was decided to ask the Gardener for a report on tho further planting of Reserve F. The Engineer wajs asked to report upon the proposed Chelmer street bridge. On the motion of Councillor Miller it was decided to refer the purchase of valves for the Tainar street reservoir to the Engineer and the Chairman of the Works Committee. Councillor Sinclair moved that in- 1 • quiries be made for seats instead of : chairs in the stalls in the Opera House, which was seconded by Councillor Calder and carried.