CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14279, 30 July 1908, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the City Council, held last evening, was attended by his Worslu'p the Mayor (Mr J. M'Donald) Crs J. Small, H. 11. S. White, J. K. White, T Scott, W. Burnett, Peter Barr, R. Gilkison, C. E, Keast, £. J. Sullivan, T. Cole, It. W. Rutherford, J. Wilson, T. Fiddis, J. B. Shacklock, and T. Smith. Or J. A. Walker sent an apology for non-alteudaneo. COBRESrOKDUNCE. T. W. Whitson wrote appreciating the compliment of being asked to join the committee of the Fix» Public Library, and stating that, he would bo pleased to do so if compatible- with his membership of tho Athenceuni Committee—Received. William Stevenson wrote stating that be had been notified to wait upon tho council in reference to a matter of a by-law regarding a clearing bouse for pigs. He was not in favour of such a thing, and his name had boon listed without his consent. He was in favour of pigs being killed and inspected at the public abattoirs.—Received. J. G. Osborne, secretary of tho Ka-ikorai Band, wrote that in view of tho band 1 representing the City of Dunedin at tho Ballarat competitions, permission to hold a series of sacred Sunday concerts in His Majesty's Theatre during August and September, commencing at 8 p.m., was requested. No charges would bo made for admission, but a collection would be taken up. At present tho band was £120 short of the sum required to defray expenses.— Granted, after some discussion. E. E. Stark, city electrical engineer, wrote reporting having reviewed tho applications submitted by the Taiori County for light and power, and having compared tho same with the council's list. They had soveral more customers not, enumerated on this list, and these entailed, for lighting, 34 h.p.; for small motors, 24 h.p„ bringing the total up to 624 h.p. There were several consumers on the sehedulo of assignments by the Taieri County not adjacent to tho distributing lines.—Referred to theElectrio Light and Power Committee. THE REMOVAL OF DEFUSE. Cr Wilson moved the adoption of the Public.Works Committee's report. Referring to the proposal to collect and remove refuso by day labour, the establishment of town yards, and the acquirement of stock and plant for the carrying out of this work, he said the council was aware that the last contract for this work was for three years, at £860 15s per annum. The work was bang done now by contract, and as councillors knew, it was not satisfactory. It had been given out on various occasions that the Works Committee would ask tho council to sanction the proposal that they themselves carry out the work. There were many arguments in its favour; for instance, the carts could be used for ordinary day work when not otherwise employed. Tho estimated cost was made up by the purchase of horses-six horses at £40—and by iho erection of stables, £700., Tho site of the stables, it was proposed, should be at the corner of the present yards, and tho buildings themselves' should be' in, accordance with the city by-laws-concrete floors, prolier drainage, etc. Cr Fiddis seconded the motion. Cr Small pointed out that it was proposed to spend £1200 on the scheme, and that, although only four months of the year had elapsed, the estimates for the year were already exceeded by £3025. In addition to this they had the extra levy by tho Charitable Aid Board, and another £600 extra for the Infectious Diseases Bosnital. The original estimate for revenue had bean £6440, and this was exceeded now to tho extent of £10,000. It would l:e much better to call tenders for tho work, and carry it out by contract. Ho moved that tho clause be referred back to the committee.

Or Scott said ho had gone into the matter very carefully, and was satisfied that tho council should not do tho work proposed. It it did, it would bo necessary to at onco pay tho men engaged on it dou'blo wages. If the contractor was not giving satisfaction they should get another contractor. Or J. E. White pointed out that 1 it was reasonable to suppose that before long the Fire Board would be erecting a new station: tho old building would then Ire available forthe purposes of a stable, and do away with the necessity of orecting stables in convection with tho now scheme. He thought for this reason the clause might bezant, hack to the committee. Or Gilkison said lie was averse to the pro- ' pcsal that stables be erected on tho ground behind tlie Town Hall. Such an action on the port of the City Council was never expected when the Town Hall-was built. Or Colo said he was quite in favour of the clause remaining, and the City Council carrying out this work. Such action on the part, of the City Council would ho a. decided step in the right direction. All work dene on behalf of a municipality should be, as far as possible, carried out. by the municipality itself. The amendment was put and lost. Cr Sullivan moved that the clause stating that tho question of an asphalt crossing over Lowor High street/ at Dowling street, be referred back to the committee for its favourable consideration. A crossing in this place was realy an urgent necessity for tho convenience of the -.largo number of business people who had occasion to cross over at that place. Tho amendment was put and lost. Or Wilson, having roplied, tho Works Committee's report was adopted, On Or H. H. S. White's recommendation. it was resolved that Mr John Sidey bo asked to bear any expenses incurred in connection with the subdivision of hie property. Cr Scott, in moving tho adoption of tho 'report of tho Water Committee, thought the document spoke for itself. Cr K. H. S. White said ho understood that Mrs Swan's claim for flooded collars in George street was very moderate, and a legitimate one. He moved that clause. 1 l)o referred back to the committee. Or Fiddis seconded tho motion. Cr Scott pointed out that no damage had been done except to an old mattress that had boon lyitig there for years. The collars had been nicely cleaned'out tit tho corporation's expense. The amendment was lest, and (he motion carried.

la the absence of Cr Walker, the adoption of (Jio Gas Committee's

report was moved by Cr Scott, who slated that the suggestion had been mado sinco faking over llio C'aversham Gasworks of reorganising the whole stuff. This ami other questions in this connection could be jjono thoroughly into.—Carried. The Reserves Committee's report was moved by Or Burnett. Cr .Keast said -that the application of Messrs Jolm Fuller and Sons for a reduction of the license fee on tho Alhambra Theatre had been declined. The report was adopted. In moving tho adoption of the Tramway Committee's report, Cr Cole asked that clause 1 bo deleted, as it, properly belonged to another department. He was not altogether in favour of the lighting of tho southern tramway routes, but thought it a step in the right direction. Or Wilson seconded tho adoption, which was carried. Or Small moved, and Cr White seconded, that tho Finance Committee's report be' adopted—Carried. Or Gilkison moved, and Cr Burnett seconded, that the Library Committee's .report be adoptcd.-Carried. Tiro adoption of the report of the special committee appointed to inquire into tho circumstances leading to the publication of Finance Committee proceedings was moved by Cr Keast and seconded by Cr H. H S White, and carried. Cr Shacklock formaJly moved the adoption of the Electric Power and Lighting Committees report.-Thig was seconded by Or Gilkison, and oarried, a carters' matter. W. Fleming and 79 other carters petitioned tho council asking that tho provisions of the proposed now by-law 18 be reconsidered, as such, if made operative would inflict very great hardship on all carters employed in the city. Messrs W. Fleming and A. Keast waited on the council as a. deputation in support of tho petition. Mr Fleming said ho had been asked to wait oh the council in connection with the proposed new by-law No. 18. That bylaw, if passed, would inflict much hardship'on a large number of men engaged ui the carting trade, Carters were striving hard to make an adequate dailv wage, and such a by-law as that against "them would prove a great handicap. One part of the by-law was designed to prevent a carter leaving his vehicle for more than five minutes unattended. This meant that, as a competent person must always be in charge, a carter in setting out inu3t have with him another person to take charge of the cart when he was absent. If the carter had to make a call 30 or 40 yards away from the roadway, he would be placed t? n j < } wl ™ wd ridiculous position. Ho had had somo little experience in Sydney and Melbourne- as a carter, and had never had any trouble there about leaving his cart unattended. The passing of that by-law _ would create a great amount of. hardship and confusion in the city. In the interests of the carters and commercial men of Dunedin, he would ask tho City Council to pause.

His Worship remarked that this was not tho first occasion on which they had had a deputation before them in connection with this matter. . ,

Mr Fleming: On behalf of many business people wo protest most emphatically against this by-law m any shape or form. -It will inflict a very great hardship on many people.

Bis Worship assured the deputation that the council had no wish to interfere with tho carrying trade. The by-law was to prevent carters tying up their wheels and going away and. leaving their carts unattended for a long time. It was not the intention of the council, as alleged by Mr Fleming, to interfere with carters entering warehouses and carrying out their ordinary business.

Cr Keast said he wanted to know who was to say when a carter had left his cart standing too long. If five minutes was to bo the limit, ho, himself would break tho bylaw a dozen times a day. The Mayor suggested that the matter stand down, as it was referred to in tho agenda paper.

Later, it became necessary for a councillor to formally move that a special resolution of the council bccomo'law, and be known as by-law No. 18, and Cr Wilson moved tho necessary motion. Ho said that the committee when framing tho new by-law had had a number of carters associated with them and giving them advice, and such prominent men ir, iho tradn as Mr Duthie, Mr Robertson, and others had carefully considered the by-law clause by clause,, and . were apparently satisfied with it.

I Cr Burnett seconded the motion. ' 0 Or H. H. S. White instanced a number . of eases whore the carrying of the by-law . would interfere very much with business 1 Jf the city's inspectors rigidly enforced the , clause regarding the five minutes' absence: It would operate very harshly in the case of an auction sale, where carters were , often kept waiting for a long time. He J did not, know what the remedy was, but ; surely some proviso could be introduced' '. by which a carter was allowed to leave L his vehicle unattended for, say, 15 minutes. t Cr Smith said ho wished something could , be done in the way of meeting the wishes , of the petitioners, for amongst the petitioners were the names of men who knew what they wore about Ho, suggested that 3 the whole matter be hold over for ono month, and that the petitioners in the meantime submit their wishes and views on , the. subject to the' oommiHca having t.ho i by-law in ha.ndi ■ After_ some discussion, Cr Wilson withdrew his motion, and it was resolved that 5 the final adoption of the by-law be held t over for a, fortnight', to allow the provision concerning the length of time a cart may 1 be left unattended to be reconsidered. ! (JtiXKHAL. 1 Cr Stewart applied, for leave of absence.— ; Three months were granted. Two tenders for the erection of about 73 chains of fencing of waterworks reserves \ land fronting Pine Bill road were referred 3 to the Water .Committee. ! Three tenders for the supply ant] delivery ) of a screen for the corporation quarry, Wcodhaugh, were referred to the Public l Works Committee. < The council adjourned at 10.30 o'clock.