MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

Otago Daily Times, 27 April 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

AN INTERESTING RErORT. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY. The prtin? town dork (Mr l\. W. Richards, M.1.C.E.) has prepared a. progress report upon Iho city works and municipal undertakings, and this was laid on t-hn 1 all]p at a. f-wcial meeting of the City C'ounci'. hold yesterday. Tho report is ;i valuable one. inasmuch as Mr Richards, in addition to his experience in Sydney, made himself personally familiar with municipal undertakings in (he United Kingdom and in Hie most progressive cities on the Continent. Ft should prove of great service to city councillors as a. work of reference when question's dealt with are to come up for consideration. The report is printed in book form, a.:id, as it occupies 3 pages, it is evident only an outline, can ho given within reasonable space in our columns: — Mr Richards, after giving the reasons which weighed with hint in preparing his report, after a brief period of ollico, guc-s on to say:—''Dunedin, from a municipal point, of "view, stands equal lo any city in Ibo world, insofar as regards die municipalisatinii of its services—witness the ownership ot the abattoirs, llm gas and water supplies, the tramways, the extensive reserves and lands, that are evidences of tho acumen and keen foresight of its pioneer* of civic government. All ,hese possessions serve to show l (he aptitude and conception of those whose honour it has been to be asoeialod in these grand achievements. " Posthumous reeofrnifsoii is a

clicqiiii made, out lo Ihe individual and payable only to his heirs/' and wo must, acknowledge this in Ihe, nasi' of Dunedin pioneers, for w have a cily suroiindod with groat possibilities."' PLIBIJC HEALTH.

Tn civic, administration the first law is "Public; Health,'' and us far as tlio Ciiy Council is concerned, is perhaps tho most important matter under its control. Air Richards finds that by Ilie provision of the principal act ami other statutes tho council is clothed with ample power for tho proper safeguard of public health. Ho is of opinion the building' by-laws are ample, and there appears to 'bo no real grounds for the doubts oppressed concerning them. The control mid management of abattoirs, water supply, etc., are well directed, but that, of collection, removal, and disposal of rcfusn can hardly bo similarly i-crrardcl. At present I hero is a contract for the collection ami removal of house refuse for a t»rm of five years, ending 31st, August. 1900. and it may not bo desirable to disturb or annul this contract. Tho contract is aI. llio vale of £C6O 15s per annum, and the council supplies six carts, five of which are in use, and found sufficient, for requirement. In reply to inquiries the 'City Engineer reports that in the event of the corporation doing this work tho following equipment would bo required:—Six "arts. £180; six horses, £240; six sets harness, £72; stables (six stalls and storage bins). £150; cart, shed and hay loft, men's hut and harness room. £150: water trough, barrow, forks, etc. £3; chief inspector. £175; —total. £975. The working exnenses for dust removal are estimated at £780 4s per iiiinuui. The disadvantages of the nrcsent system are s">l out in detail, and the by-laws suggested by Dr Ogsion. health officer, quoted. Experience has shown thai works of this class by contract have ben troublesome and ineffective, and in the United Kingdom the work is executed by day labour. The establishment of " town guards'' lias been found necessary, and lead to a judgment of the necessity and advisahl'-'nesr. or establishing similar provisions for Dunedin. A description of such yards and their equipment is given. Mr Richards is confident, that Ijv a properly organised system, with proper plant, day labour can economically and effectively meet all the requirements of the city cleansing, removal of house refuse, street maintenance, etc. A chief inspector would be. necessary, and subduspector's for each division of the city. These should possess good organising ability and qualifications lo supervise and control gangs of men.

DISPOSAL OF RUBBISH. Tlid present metlioi! nf depositing refuse is not in consonance with flic best modern practices, and it is well known that the treatment of rctiisn by five is a sine qua non in all up-to-date cities. In this city, at present, tips have been established at the Oval, ami immediately adjacent to populous districts, and it is needless to urge the nndesirableness of this method. House refuse- and garbage contains a proportion of putrescent, or certain constituents that become so. and is sooner or later, more or less, a menace to public health, and at all times in any circumstances jeopardises the comfort and convenience of the inhabitants. If these operations arc to be continued, then at least it is incumbent upon the council to reduce these risks to a. minimum. It may be argued that the lilling-in of these lands is necessary. He it, so. Then proper spoil should bo used, not refuse thai may bo or eertainlv would become noxious. The deposits should be spread and covered with healthy spoil, and the whole mass treated so as to ensure its being innocuous. The City Engineer states that, it the present rato of progress the Oval will not 'be filled to tho level intended until about three years hence, and it is therefore necessary for the dcunc-il to conduct and complete these works, exercising every reasonable precaution for tho preservation of public health. New York has adopted the use of electrozone, which is obtained by the electrolytic treatment of sea 'water or salt water. Seeing that Dnnedin is so favourably Biirvounded and that tho council's electric installations facilitate the production, it may be worth considering the possible advantages that would assuredly follow tho uie of this system. In time Dunedin no doubt will need to provide refuse destructors. Estimating the srerage total quantity collected per day at TiO U>ißL a fonr-oell destructor would he rniuirw at a probable cost of £19,500.

Street-cleaning is dealt wilh, mid (ho conclusions of the Congress on Hygiene and Demography held at Brussels during 1903 arc quoted. Mr Richards favours the work being done by the day-labour staff of the council, and ho thinks the council would do well by having its present staff controlled by capable and experienced officers. He is of opinion that the present staff employed is equal in every respect to that of any city he has visited. In the matter of collecting house refuse, in England experiments have been made with a view of employing nioior vans. The gradients woidd probably preclude such methods in Dunedin.

Tho smoke nuisance is referred to at some length, and then the matter of public conveniences is dealt with. Generally, immediately upon the council fixing a siic for the erection of a urinal or latrine, residents in the vicinity, or citizens whose daily life leads them wiihin sight, resist and protest against Ihe proposals, and urge a more suitable site remote from that selected, all because of sentimental objections or a supersensitive decency. This, however, is gradually becoming dissipated, and a firm stand is taken in tho direction of the municipal maxim—" the greatest good for the greatest number." The question of the construction of underground structures is worthy of the council's consideration. Incidentally reference is made to tho success which has attended the experiment of substituting an oil-cleansing arrangement instead of waterrinsing.

ABATTOIRS. In connection with the abaltoirs. it is stated that the revenue from fees for the year ending March, ISO 6, was £2532 6s 3d. At no distant date it will be necessary for the council to dovi?o a means tor the proper treatment and disposal of offal and waste. This is best effected by means of a destructor and contingent provisions for the drying of blood, etc. When occasion requires, I shall be please] to submit a ineans by which Ihe offal and waste can be iroated in a proper menner. and, as already inlimated, upon inspection of the abaltoirs, T am of opinion that some such appliances will be required in the near future, and with this auticmation I have instituted inquiries as to the respective quantities of waste matter that; will require treatment, otherwise the Dunedin abattoirs are well equipped; but with these additions (there is ample space available therefor) they.will he brought into line with ihe principles and working of Continental abattoirs, and meet the demands of modern science, which must lie. regarded as essential to the highest standard.

CITY ENGINEER'S DEPARTMENT. A mattei' requiring special attention and most careful consideration is iim adininistration ct the city engineer's department. This is essentially the spending branch, and it is regrettable that during past years the 'expenditure lias exceeded the income, and lias been much in excess n[ the allocation by the council. It is absolutely necessary that, this Ira Kit so, and accordingly the city engineer has been instructed to control Ids department and its work to that end. To achieve this the city engineer has, in accordance with instructions (which have also been issued to other departments of the service), prepared a statement of estimated income and expenditure for the year 1906-07, and been told that the latter must not. in any circumstance he exceeded.

In consultation with the city engineer upon this subject in its rc'ation to doings of past years, I am amazed that, that officer stales that until October las! there has been no means of reemding the. ros: of the various works constructed and executed by his department. This should not have been f.n, and consequentlv the city engineer is unable to staie '.he cesl of the various works excreted by his deparnicnt during the year ending Mareh 31. 1906.

Th? enpiueer states Hint his stalf is not sull'eienl lo admit of this king done. If that is so, it needs only he represented to the council, and the .necessity and importance ol :-o augmenting the staff will i:e recognised, and upon its proper constitution it is a simple matter t:i allot the duties of the various officers thereof. To enable this and other omissions that are presented to be removed, the engineer should, among others have a comiv>t'.'iit and experienced clerk, with a fair knowledge of Iwokkceping and accounts, qualified to keep slid) reccrds an will permit of the costs of works (day labour or contra/il) from day to day king recorded. Tie should also he capable o? dealing with the daily routine of the office, issue of licn-es for tiw various purpose, ".omin;; within the administration of the department, as also of examining and chocking all accounts [or stores or materials supplied, or works executed under vote of council or requisition before transmission to Ih? municipal (ioparim.-r.t of the treasury.

One of iho chief (HPiitials to flip eilieioir iulmiiftirslion of a municipal engineer's (I'-pai-f.ffiont is a siiflicicnt ami qualified shut, anil t-lii! expenditure in snf:h is well made and is ateoluiely necessary, if the work is lo bo carried out, with iho strictest economy aml efficiency, while discipline must he at all times maintained. To secure the hrct services the duties of each officer in this, as indeed a-> in every branch of Iho municipal departments, should be clearly and miinislakca-bly define.'! and sit ort in writing. By this means individual responsihility is fixed and the work fairly divided. These remarks in a higher degree apply io the selection of the out-door staff. liecatisc the same continued supervision is impracticable, and Iho failure of zealous and industrious service may lead to serious results. Bearing in mind the quality of service required, it is important thai fair salaries and just, wages be paid to officers and employees, aitd if is consistent with the highest economy to pay good money and have the choice of men and oflic-rrs than to pay less and have to take persons of indifferent, qualifications.

STORES. Tile question of stores is referred to at sonic length, and the precautions necessary when articles tiro supplied by contract are indicated. It is pointed cut that sotne-iimc-s tenderers regulate their prices by kt-eping them up in Iho case of items largely supplied, and cutting them down in the case of materials that are not often, and perhaps not at all used (although neecssary to ho included), and bv these means, on analysis, they may possibly be in arithmetic the lowest tenderer. To remove such a possibility the schedule of articles included in the contract should be fixed at a price then current, and the tenderers should be required to state a. rate psr cent, above o'- below the-prices enumerated in the schedule at which they will undertake to complct:! the eoutraol.

Another matter that should engage the attention of the city engineer, as also tho water engineer anil the gas engineer, is the establishment of a testing laboratory. This is immediately necessary for the testing of cement in view of the largo quantities about to lie used in works determined upon and extensions contemplated, for in the alsence of Itvsts inferior cement is likely to be used, and thus the stability of work jeopardised, and the council is likely, or at least is open to suffer serious loss. Similarly gas meters, water meters, and other appliances could lie tested all within tho one laboratory.

CONTROL OF EXPENDITURE. As before slated, the engineer's department is tlie spending brunch of the corporation, and il is necessary that, every item of expenditure should be carefully watched and recorded. The simplest and most effective method of doing this is by moans of expenditure charts. These should be kept up to date at such intervals as the engineer may deem necessary, and every item of expenditure in the various classes of works should be clearly shown and open for inspection by the committee at call. The engineer would then bo enabled to son for himself any excess in the proportion of expenditure during any part of the term for which an allocation. lia.s been made, and in the event of an excess it would be his duty to locate and explain the cause to the committee concerned, and check the threatened increase, and thereafter regulate the costs, so as to ensure the allocation not being exceeded. Moreover, the engineer would be enabled to compare costs with estimates of work, and to delect and investigate any appreciable variation in the former. The reason therefor is noted on the chart, and in the event of the estimate having been exceeded at the end of the year, an explanation can lw at once .given.

The district inspectors or foremen should lw responsible to the engineer for the proper fulfilment of (he duties and the effective service of the workmen in maintenance of carriage-ways and footways, obstructions, or any defects whatsoever that may be in the streets.

The engineer's department should be possessed of plans and sections of ".II streets within the city, showing tho adopted levels or proposed pcriiiaui-111 levels thereof, as also plans of proposed alignment, or proclaimed alignment, of all public ways within the city, and should be cither in the original or in copies in tho offices of the Town Hall, and open for inspection of t!i£ public, as also for the guidance of the. council's officers, in defining the building' line or alignment, as also the levels to which buildings should be erected. Being informed by the city engineer that no such records are kept, that officer has been requested lo obtain the necessary information, and record, the same in such manner as is necessary io enable his department

to define, when called upon and as occasion in'the'performance of his duty may require, the building lines and alignments of the city streets." .

I shall not deal furthor with this department, preferring. io leave the proper organisation to the city engineer in tho manner I have intimated to him as being necessary for tho cflioicnt administration of his office. STORES CiENERAMA'. Seeing that the city engineer's department is tho spending branch of the council, and (hat large supplies of materials and stores are received annually, and again that the council has under its direction other services of magnitude, such as gas and water supply, abattoirs and tramways, it is necessary to keenly observe the operations of the receipt and issue ot stores, etc., required in the respective concerns herein enumerated. The present methods are not in. accordance villi.the best methods of business. It « thrtcfore desirable to make some alteration m the method of control of stores and materia whHi now obtains, because stores ami material of every kind and description are in effect for all In.sincss purposes and ransaetiens cash, and as such then:■rnceipt, issue from stores, and ultimate .lispo=al should be as carefully checked and ■recorded as is the income and expenditure of any of the departments. Therefore the D-rfic'-ilar department or branch of the service requiring stores should not in any circumstances order, rece.ve, control, and distribute them without an independent check or control being exercised to ensure such stores being distributed in accordance with the votes and resolutions of the council onlv, and not applied to any other place, sireet. or purpose, as may }m=.sibly be done in the. system that now obtains. The officer in control of stores and material should not be in n position to send out metal, or K. and 0.. or other material, on his own initiative and responsibility without reference to a vole of the council. Such a system is not only bad in itself, but may possibly lead .to irregularity in the service. In such circumstances Ihe superiority of the council is minimised, and its powers for controlling and directing Ihe expenditure in such il case is superseded. Of course, in emergent and unforeseen event.-, as in storms, floods, tempest, or fire, it is impossible-, if the exigencies of the time are to be me!, to wait for the authority of the council. Hut if tho.noccssily has'arisen for acting wilhout Ibis, the Mayor or comniiit.ee concerned should he made aware of Ihe occurrence, and the council informed at its next meeting. No work or expenditure of money or materials should be 'undertaken without an express direction by resolution of council.

RECUSATION OK EXPENDITURE. The council having from time to time affirmed that it intends to regulate the expenditure, and bis Worship the Mayor having repeatedly emphasised his determination to keep the expenditure within the limits of the allocation, and it is now purely for each officer to so control the same as not to use any materials or incur any expenditure except for such works as the council may authorise. Such an arrangement would result, in the. council not only being the nominal, but the. actual and ell'eetual muster of its own actions, and the establishment of a system of check and control in relation to stores and materials I» put on a firmer and sounder basis than that now in vogue. It will thus bo seen that, it is incumbent upon me. to submit the necessity of an important chaniro in the control and supervision of stores with Ihr. object of centralising personal responsibility for their receipt and distribution, and as we are on the eve of another financial year the time, is opporlliun,

At present, as already represented, each department administers ils own requirements ill respect of slores, llio stationery, etc.. is distributed by the town clerk, the slores of the city engineer and gas engineer being controlled by these office's respectively. All such in my opinion should bo placed in charge of an officer, to bo the controller of slores. and that the department requiring stores should not 'be the one which orders or distributes Ihcrci. The stationery, too, should lie similarly dealt wilii, and bo subject to tho some, system.

The city engineer has the management and control and issuo of largo stores and materials for street maintenance, implements, tools, etc.. in connection with the water supply, including all times required in city works under his direction. The same remarks apply to the gas engineer's department, and will apply lo the electrical engineer's department when the same has been established. This divided control is inimical lo the best interests of tho city. and i:i not in accnrdanco with raotrniscd practice, and. notwithstanding the. best intentions of the officers concerned, complications and misunderstandings may arise Ilia; otherwise might be avoided. Therefore 1 am of opinion that new arrangements should be made, and without making the slightest reflection upon those responsible for the institution of or concerned in their administration, the system under n comptroller of slores might, be adopted with advantage, economy, and efficiency, and applied to the whole of the stores and material required for Ihe services of the city. Willi Ihe loyal co-operation of tho engineers 1 am confident of satisfactory results, and should the council determine upon the innovation herein set forth. T shall be pleased to submit a report in detail upon the methods of operating such a system, and prepare such recommendations as arc necessary lo establish lb" arrangement on a sound end satisfactory 'basis.

Nearly every properly-organised municipal tmthoritv has its own stores department, and officers responsible for the execution and tip-keep of works are not permitted under any circumstances lo obtain stores or materials at their own pleasure from tlie stores department, but ere required to conform to rule and regulation, and every conceivable check is placed unnn them so ns to ensure proper distribution, to prevent waste, ensure accuracy, and that such stores end materials are properly and legitimately placed.

Tho practice of such a system would he followed bv greater expedition 3ml .'ogul.irify in the supply of materials, prevent the possibility of irregularity, create an independent cheek—a check that at present does not exist (there is no duplication of work).—a more reliable allocation of expenditure, and the accounts would be better kepi, greater and more efficient and riirid observance of estimates would be obtained, the execution of work, involving the use of materials withoiit vote or authority of council, be prevenled. a prompt record of distribution secured, and statistical or progressive information bn more readily obtainable for the council: :i stopingo of surplus or unnecessary supplies. |be usin? of old materials from time to time would be better regulated and controlled, and. gancridly speaking, such a change would lead lo better organiastion and administr-ifton, and would lie amply justified by results.

Perhaps such an innovation would lie looked nnon wilh misgivintr by those vim would find the new deii(irlure somewhat tedious in the initiative, bpf having in view the desires of the council and Hie cmphaH-c.'illv-expressnd policy of his Worshin the Mayor, and the interests of the oili7ens ireivrally. the officers concerned would. I confidently antioinajp. loyally sunport fl>o pivini' effect to,those oroon-Mls. should the council determine to adont litem.

These proposals pre submitted a'tnr ?arefill consideration of the ill"! ho<ls in vosue. ami with every respect to those responsible for tho nrpscnt administration, and without nnv desire to appci- cantions. actuated only bv the intention of srivinrr the best recommendations that my experience suggests and nfl'ovs, GENERAL AUDITOR AND EXAMINER OF ACCOUNTS. The necessity and advisability of establishing a general auditor and examiner of accounts has been borne in upon Mr Richards. He defines the duties of the office in detail, and shows how useful such nn officer would prove in maintaining the financial position of the council as kid down in the estimates for the year. QUARRY AND STREET CONSTRUCTION. Mr Richards deals briefly with the Woodhaugh quarry, and states that, unless the council can produce metal at the cost ho has estimated it would be unwise to work the quarry, but rather enter into a contract for one, three, or five years for Iho supply of metal. The matter of carriage-way pavements is considered at some length. A suggestion is made that steep roadways would be improved by construction with tarred metal. The cost of maintenance, etc., would be reduced to a minimum;' while the attendant comfort to traffic, vehicular and pedestrian, would be at a high standard, and tho possibility of scouring' of the wearing surface removed. WATER SUPPLY. The water supply of the city is briefly described. Mr Richards suggests the desirability of having the positions of all mains, etc., indicated on a plan of the.city, and to that, end this will be done as opportunity presents itself. GAS SUPPLY. A description of the gasworks p!;nf and distribution by Mr H. B. Courtis is included in the report. Referring to the question of the purchase of the Caversliam gasworks, Mr Richards

recommends: To closo and conclude the question, I suggest that tho negotiations cease, and that the proposal to pnrchaso lie not further considered, other than to decide against such purchase; at least, in the, circumstances now before us.

GASWORKS EXTENSION. The council has been already empowered to float a loan of £50,000 for the extension of the gasworks of Dunedin, and specifications are being prepared by the gas engineer, and I have prepared the accompanying, conditions of contract with a view of inviting tenders for the works required in England. This being done, I am of opinion that, the council should not embark on further expenditure cither in this or any other concern, for its obligations and commitments at time of writing will requiro most careful control and consideration in order to secure the satisfactory financial results that are desirable in the interests of the council and the citizens of Dunedin. ELECTRICITY UNDERTAKINGS: I'OWER, MOTORS, Ac. In manufacturing towns it pays to develop a motor-load, for electricity forms one of tho best and cheapest methods by which power supply can bo given at a reasonable rate, and in cur city wo arc capable of supplying electric energy for tramways, motor, lighting, heating, and other industrial purposes. For these purposes your system is ample, and you have been well advised in securing this' installation, and controlling it from ono powerstation for the whole area, as economy and efficiency in working are thereby secured. At an early date it will be the duty of this council and the committee constituted for Ihe. purpose of governing the electric liglil and power to consider the, appointment of ihe official staff—professional, mechanical, and clerical—to properly administer the electricity supply undertaking, and if is necessary, in order Io make it a success, that thoroughly efficient organisation bo obiained. The general principle followed by authorities in England is to make the chief engineer the manager, of which numbers of examples could be given, hut I shall not burden this teport with insianccs. I now come to the consideration of the Waipori power and lighting scheme. The completion of these works is .promised alwut August next. This will bring with ii the sale of electric energy, and it will be necessary for the council to encourage the citizens to Itccomo consumers of electricity for Ihe various and respective purposes they may require the power. In this, by direction of the Dunedin City Council's Electrical Power and Lighting Commitlcc, Messrs Noyes Bros., electrical engineers, have been requested to submit plans, specifications, and estimates of Ihe proposed reticulation, with such other particulars as may be deemed necessary for the information of lite committe.?, the cost of such work not Io exceed ihe sum of £12,000, as provided for in the agreement. Further, by direction of his Worship the Mayor, to slate the cost of production, the amount of electricity available for power and lighting, the probable demand, and the charges for supply and the probable revenue from the first year's working.

After quoting from one of bis reports on reticulation in Sydney, Mr Richards goes on lo discuss the value of electricity undertakings, power and lighting, the price of electricity, prospects, system of charges, and cost of production. He then turns to the principles necessary for trading successfully in light and power. His remarks will no doubt I:o of great pervicc to councillors when this question comes up for rotl.icmcnt. Mr Richards explains the terms used in connection with electrical installations, and then turns to the question of organisation. He discusses nt some length the matter of the salary of the electrical engineer, ar.d then proceeds:— ADMINISTRATION.

The business, included in the undertaking may be thus divided:—(l) Purchase and control of stores: |2I the production and distribution of elect vioilv; (3) the collection and poymesfc of accounts. Items 1 and 2 can lie disposed of in anticipation of the institution of a stores department, and the appointment of an engineer. It may k as well, however, (o plate that tho stores department king under the direct control of- tho town elork will be well equipped and _ cffioiently orga-nif^ti—rlcrioal and administrative sorvice. conducting the purchase and distribution of stores and material. The town clerk will personally authorise and sign all requisitions, and, subject to the direction of the several administrative committees of the council, obtains lenders for goods, services, and materials when required, negotiate with bidders or dealers in emergent conditions where lenders ar» not expedient, and see that the p:v,j -r ollicia.ls check stores delivered, distributed, and placed in a manner eaiiufot-lory to the auditors.

Stores. Quality. efc.-Thc electricity stoves department needs to be satisfied as to the delivery of all goods and their qualify and price in rotation to the ruling market value, and the method serves as a check that in practice moves not only advantageous. Iml. indisponsab'c. The siiperiiilcndent of slorcs may. with the approval of (lie town clerk, call for an explanation, if. in bis opinion, unreasonable quantities of materials are being used in any department. Upon Hit! facts thereupon brought- to my knowledge, such action would lie (alien as the circumstances demanded, whilst on the other hand the electrical engineer may question the prices or oualiiy. and Records.—ln relation lo item (3) "the collodion and payment and keeping of accounts," this could he carried out by the accountant and trained officers in the city treasurer's department, hut beyond this, especial bookkeeping of another character for management purposes is also neco'-sary on such lines us the engineer may require. .It is customary m many wellregulated businesses, and more particularly in electricity sa«r,'!v (especially municipal), lo record u- daily plteck on working expenditure and revenue and progress or th-a reverse by a system of curves. A staff for this purpose takes frequent readings of fuel, oil, water, etc. consumed, the fluctuation of demand, the quantify of electricity produced, and these readings are graphically indicated, and at a glance disclose any leakage or irregularity of working that may be due to (arclcssness, waste, iueilicieney, overloading, or otherwise.

Recording Curves—Curves also record the progriv-sivo growth and extension of business, the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly growth and variation of demand, etc. Hy this means it is comparatively easy to keep the genera! progress aril financial condition of the undertaking; in sight, to secure effective supervision and control, and ensure economy in administration. TO ACQUIRE riUSINIiSH. Canvassers niisrht with advantage be employed to go the round of workshops of whatever trades are established in (he district a.ud point out fo the proprielors thereof the many advantages of motor driving. Success will lw achieved by encouraging demand by every legitimate means, taking care thai- your arrangements for supply are kept ahead of the growth of the demand. As inducements to this end, for both lighting and power purposes, the confidence of the consumcre must bo' obtained as lo the continuity and reliability of such supply.

By basing a scale of charges upon the lowest figure compatible will: a profitable return from ordinary consumers, and offering a reduction to consumers over a longer term of hours.

By offering facilities to the poorer classes of consumers in re. expense of wiring and fitting their promises FIRE BRIGADE. Acting on the instructions of the Mayor, Mr Richards before leaving Sydney inquired into the working of the motor chemical fire engine, and the results of ils use. lie quotes from the report prepared. Taking Iho instructions as an earnest of of the council's desire to improve its firo brigade, Mr Richards obtained reports from Captain Mitchell on its working and construction, and from tho reports extracts are made. Mr Richards then goes on to say:— Upon these facts it is apparent that Dunedin is somewhat behind in its fire protection, for no city can be efficiently protected from fire danger 'by a partially paid or volunteer fire brigade. It is generally admitted nowadays that fire protection and extinction as practised is a science, and to thoroughly master its details those concerned must give their wholo timo and thought to the subject; and it is practically inexhaustible, for, given 100 fires, 100 different conditions present themselves, and theso conditions have to be combated as the special circumstances demand and experience suggests. Action must b« prompt and immediate: there is no lime to refer lo authorities to determine how the features of a fire arc to be dealt with and resisted. Therefore it will bo readily conceived that a properlv-trained brigade staff is indispensable for the very arduous and' ill-im-portant science of saving life and property from fire. This training is not possiWe with a partially-paid or volunteer force. Why? Because their services are not at all times available; and, again, their chief thoughts are not upon fire brigade matters, hut upon those land naturally enough, too) that b°ar upon tho means of earning th"ir daily bread. Tims the urgency of a city of this importance possessing a permanent brieade. is ohvious, and the council mav well put forth pfTorfs to bring this pnnlic concorn into lino with tho most modern principles of fire protection (and brigades

therefore), otherwise it will only bo a matter of time when the absonco of such provision will bo brought homo to them, and Dunedin bo represented by a heap of lshes, with other attendant lamentablo results. I am not. writing with an alarmist's pen, or with the predilections of a pessimist. It is a matter "of history that every city in its time sooner or later has its largo fire, or at least one out of tho ordinary. It may bo that von have not, had that experience. Contemplate the holocaust in tho wont of firo in fiomn of tho large buildings centrally situate, if the fire briifado bo not properly organised and disciplined wjth all tho up-to-date appliances and apparata to moot it. morn especially because of Iho nature of building materials that are largely employed in construction in this oity. In my time I have given tho question of lire danger in cities much study, and written extensively in reports to authorities, as also to Ihe press, but I do not think it necessary to write further in Ibis si vain, and would urge the council to give this matter c erious attention, and. if need- be. move the Legislature to brine lAinut some amelioration in fire brigade administration as a desideratum in the, interests of the citizens. Of course the matter of cost will immediately -mlcr, and one must recognise thp difficulty In impressing irooii the lnv mind Ihe necessity of viewing Iho ovpendituro entailed in the sumo liffht as does' the fireman or the oxpert. The man in the street does not slon to think that a loss by fire is a, national loss that caniio*- be renlaceil, and this line of reasoning shows that money spent in making a fire brigade efficient is a good investment, however large or small that sum may be. Captain Mitchell is right when he says that. "Micro is no sentiment in our work" (fire brisade work), and the sooner the three brigades referred to in that gentleman's report, (Onvcrsham, South Dunedin, and Dunedin! are ainalca mated and placed under one bead tho belter for Iho citv and ils inhabitants.

Th" first uecov'tv, then, is an np-fo-d;ii« ceninl station, fully erpiipn?d wiib suitable appliances. Tl is imperative thai horses be always in lcndinoss to lake the plant nut. and that a sufficient number.of men should Iw always on Ihe. premises In admit, of the pb'nt being nromptly de^in.lched.

But here let me sav that no expenditure should be incurred unless it be determined to have a. permanent brigade.

I have no ilonhl. that the Duncdin Fire Brigade is as efficient as it is possible to make a. partially-paid brigade, but my opinion is that under the present system il tin never become a brigade of standard efficiency, simply because it lias not the time and means at its disposal to make it so. FINANCIAL. After referring to the change made on bis suggestion in the matter of dealing with correspondence, Mr Kiciiards says that the financial position of the City Council having recently been clearly defined by his Worship the Mayor and several councillors il is unnecessary for him to deal at. length with this question. He notes that, the overdraft was £84,820 en the 31st March last, or £4546 less than that of the previous year. CONCLUSION. In conclusion, I have to express my appreciation of the best efforts of Mr .lolin .Jacobs, Mr Hugh Titchencr, Mr David Duncan, Mr Richard S. Allan, and the officers generally for their readiness at all times lo assist in the discbarge of duties of their respectively important offices, and I am confident of their future active and loyal support in the onerous duties of tho position it is my honour to hold. Tile intelligent services of Mr R. A. Johnston in transcribing this report from my MS. have done much to expedite its production. I have also in this to convey my best thanks to his Worship the Mayor for his able offices that have enabled mo to become familiar with tho city's concerns.

■His Worship's assistance, together with the uniform courtesies of the councillors, have atforded me every encouragement to assiduously pursue my duties with confidence and pleasure, attributes that are not at all times present in the position of municipal officers. .'