PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14457, 25 February 1909, Page 3

PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tho usual meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council, held on Monday evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr John Mill), Crs Cable, Tait, Morgan, Asher, Fail, Mawson, Powell, and Kuewstubb. Apologies for absence were received from Crs Weir and Crawford.

COBItKPONDEXCE. Mr Frank Kettle, secretary of the Olago Dock Trust, wrote stating that be had been directed to inform tlio council that the trust, would have no objection to the council removing the fance back to its proper boundary as shown on the borough map.—Referred to Works Committee, with power to act.

A warrant was received from the Governor covering appointment oi local bodies lo have authority within licensing districts.— Laid on the table.

Mr Chas. Hose (permanent secretary Loyal Prince of Wales Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F.) wrote stating that the above lodge had voted a. donation of £10 towards the ■ proposed cottage hospital fund, the amount being available when re(|iiired. Members also expressed u wish tliat tile project would soon take definite shape, in view of the increasing; amount of Work to bo expected following upon the opening of the new graving dock.—Received with thanks, and referred to the IlospitaJ Committee, with power to act.

Kenneth Perry wrote asking permission from the council to trap rabbits in the lesorvoir reserve.—Or Kncwsfubb objected to permission being granted to the applicant, and the matter was referred to the Reserves Commitlec with power to act.

Henry W. Wilson, town clerk, Auckland, wrote directing attention to the provisions of "The Local Bodies' Loans Amendment Act, 1908," and stated that the Auckland City Council was of opinion that the present method of payment, to commissioners for local investments yielded much better results than the newly-enacted provision that the Public Trustee shall he sole sinking fund consequently the Auckland Corporation requested the co-operation of the Port Chalmers Council in securing its repeal.—Hesolved that a reply similar to that, given to the Christchurch Council be sent by the town clerk to the Auckland City Council. IIWOBTS. The Works Committee reported thai the stone crusher had completed ttie work authorised and had been returned to Messrs ijeotl llros. A thousand yards of spawls had been put through the machine, the cast working out at about 2s 7d per yard. Metalling bad been completed in Mount. .Street and George street, and the metal hud been blinded willt soft rock. Attention was drawn to the necessity for repairing porlion of tho Waitati road, ami several footpaths in the borough. A level crossing had been made al the junction of Grey and Currie streets, and oilier iieees.'.ary work had been done.—ln reply to Or 'fait, the chairman of the committee (Cr Powell) said he wxn unable to give an estimate of the probable cost of the concrete channelling in Macaudrew ror.d. as the specifications had not been prepared.— Cr Tail expressed dissatisfaclion at. the manner in which the, work iu quest iou had boon delayed, the Works Committee being alona to blame. He objected to tenders being called for the channelling, am! hold that the borough staff should do it.—Crs I'owell a.nd Knewstubb remarked that as the work was to be subsidised by Government grant it would be necessary to submit the work to public tender'.—After some discussion the committee was empowered to lay concrete channelling on the dock side of the road, and the report, was adopted.

Tin! Finance Committee reported Mint, receipts amounting to £103 0s 2d had come to hand since last mewing, uml accounts amounting to £18} 6s 7(1 were recommended for paymt!nl..--.\dopied. The Itr-scrves t'ommittao rccnmnK'uded that alternate rcinJci-s be invited for li-as-iiig one or more of the iiuarricti for a period of throe years.—j\dnpu>d, UOIIOL'RM I.IOUTINO. 'Rig Mayor said several people had drawn his attention io the ii«jy>ji-y fur lighting the street lamps on dark nights.—Or Tait said the estimates for the coming year would he pre-i'iowl at next meeting, :;n<l lie suggested that, the Liirluinf? Coinniillee 1).?. instrucJed to get estihiafs of cost lor lighting the borough, and report at n''xt ine'.tini.'.—The Mayor staled that ho hud hiard numerous complaints fioni passengers at vh? manner in which tin' railway officials switched off the ligiiis on the wharf Ustwc.'n tin- arrival of trains from town. Several people had tripped over the points ! •Mid levers, endangering lite and limb,— j It was rny.olved—'• That the trallif manager be writ ton to acquainting liitn of the. st.a'lo of affairs, and asking him to give instructions to keep the wharf lighted when required for the convenience of passenger* and shipping." INCr.KASK IN VALUATIONS. Mr 0. Hose, borough valuer, reported having valued the rateable property in the borough for the present year, and submitted tho following coropuisoiis:— Increase. ,• High Ward, £IUB £15 o o East Ward), £3121) 9 110 Middle Wanl, £2753 10s .. 110 0 Smith Ward, £1701 10s .. .. 102 10 0 Total, ;£15.2:8 £131 0 0 During rho past year six houses and one workshop were built, whilst alterations and sma.l additions wcro made to six houses. The number of new buildings wa s below the average ot previous years. Three new houses were in course of construction, and ai'ic.rations ami additions were being made to two house., and one hall. A number of properi ios changed hands during the past year, ami in every case values were maintained. The new buildings wore of a good class, aixl all were erected in South Ward. —The Ala.yor expressed his satisfaction at the progress of the borough, as revealed ill the, report submitted by Mr Rose. Some people hud asserted that values were receding, but it was satisfactory to find that their statements were groundless.—Tire report was received;