CITY COUNCIL REPORTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18157, 31 January 1921, Page 9

CITY COUNCIL REPORTS

The following sre the salient points in the various reporta to be subrnr-ted at me oooocil meeting on Wednetsdaj night:— PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.

The Public Works Committee reporta:— In view of the necessity for proceeding at an early date with the paving of Anzac square, your committee has given further consideration to the matter of the lay-out of this open space. It has now been decided that all that is required in the meantime is the reserving of a centre aisle around which the vehicular traffic to and from the station will proceed on the ‘ one-way ’ system. Your committee recommends that the plan with the details laid on the table bo approved.

WATER COMMITTEE. The Water Committee reports having accepted the quotation of Messrs John Chambers and Son (limited) for the supply of two electrically-dnven mechanical shovels, which will be used on the excavating work for enlarging the southern reservoir. The price quoted is 12,000 dollars per shovel, f.0.b., New York, exchange conversion to be to the council’s account. The estimated landed cost in Dunedin, including duty and all other charges, is £8638 for the two shovels.

GENERAL COMMITTEE. The General Committee reports as follows: — Five applications for billiard room licenses, 12 applications for second-hand dealer’s licenses, one application for a taxi driver’s license, and one application for a permit to keep pigs have been granted. One application for a taad driver’s license has beien declined.

RESERVES OOMMTTTEB. ‘ The Reserves Committee reports as follows: In response to an inquiry made on behalf of the residents of Littleboarne and surrounding districts whether the committee would lay down and lease a bowling green on the unoccupied portion of _ the reserve adjoining the Moana lawn tennis courts, the applicants have been advised that the committee canid not undertake to lay down a green, but would favourably consider an application for permistsion to construct a green on the area in question, subject to the approval of the council

SUNDAY FARES INCREASED. Tii© Tramways Committee reports that it has now given consideration to the question of increasing fares to meet to some extent the additional charge on the revenue for wages under the new agreement with the employer-8. Since the last adjustment in faxes took place, increases in wages granted to the employees, including those under the new agreement, bring the total increase in iha wages bill to £13.126 per annum. None of this increase has yet been passed on, but it is obvious that some provision must now bo made for meeting this heavy additional demand on the revenue. At ihe present time, however, it is not proposed to make any alteration in the week day fares, as these will almost certainly require to be considerably increased in the event of the proposed Government regulations being enforced. With respect to Sunday fares, yottr committee is of opinion that as double time has now to be paid to all employees for Sunday work, the faxes for Sunday travelling should bo increased, and it is accordingly recommended _ that the following revised schedule he and is hereby adontad: —viz.:

Electric Service: One section, 2d; two sections, 3d; three sections, 4d. Morninrrton line; Up journey, 4d; down journey. 2d. No concession tickets will be available on Sundays. Childrens’ faxes: Id for 2d and 3d sections, and 2d for 4d sections. The above sechedule brings Sunday faros into line with those of Christchurch and Wellington. In Auckland the rates axe higher. ELECTRIC! POWER AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE.

The Electric Power and Lighting Committee reports tiia-t the fanners in the Lower Taieri district who made inquiry for a supply of power from the Milton transmission line for pumping purposes have not been able to provide the stipulated guarantees amounting to_ £9OO per annum. They have, however, intimated they axe able to guarantee £750 per annum for nine years, and in view of the fact that the pumping operations will bring into profitable use a largo area of land • (about 2000 acres) which is at present water-logged and practically useless, though otherwise valuable, your committee thinks that the full guarantee might he reduced in this instance to the amount offered by the appb'cants—namely, £750 per annum, and accordingly recommends that such reduction be agreed to. The question of the erection of a battery charging station and motor garage where electric battery vehicles could be charged and the repair and maintenance of all motor vehicles used by the corporation departments might bo undertaken, has been investigated by your committee. Reports from the city electrical engineer on_ the matter are laid on the table, from which it is dear that the proposed workshop would be a great convenience to all departments using motor vehicles, that more efficient service could be given at less cost, and that many economies could be effected in other ways, such as buying petrol, oils, tyres, and sparse. The proposal has been submitted to the Works Committee as one of the largest users of motor vehicles, and has been approved by that committee. The proposed workshop would bo erected on the new yard at Hanover street, and would be in charge of the engineer-in-charge at the converter station, who would superintend the motor repair work in addition to the charging of battery vehicles. A plan of the proposed building is laid on tbe table, and in the meantime your committee begs to recommend that such plan be approved, and authority granted to fell tenders for the building, and to obtain prices for the equipment. When this Information is available the matter can then he further considered bv the committee and the council. Restrictions on Power Applications.— Owing to delay in delivery of the condenser for Halfway Bush, it has become necessary to impose further restrictions in the case of applications for power supp’y during the day. Fire Alarm.—Authority has been granted to instal a Vigilant automatic fire alarm system in the test room and store, Cumberland street, at a cost of £215 16s.

GAS COMMITTER The Gas Committee reports as follows:—. Authority has been granted the gas engineer to communicate with the department’s London agents with a view to obtaining prices for a plant suitable for dealing with naphthalene deposits in mains and services.

FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee submits the following recommendations:— Cost of Living Bonus.—That the amended cost of living bonus of 3s per week be paid as from November 1, 1920, to those employees who are entitled to receive the same.

Supplementary Votes.—That pursuant to the standing orders the undermentioned supplemental votes for the Library and Gas Committees respectively bo authorised—viz,: (a) For the Library Committee a supple", mental maintenance vote of £4OO to cover anticipated excess of expenditure over allocations for the current year duo to abnormal increase in cost of books and advances in wages and salaries, (b) For the Gas Committee, a supplemental maintenance vote of £3OOO for “ manufacture,” and a supplemental capital vote of £2OOO for “mains, services, and meters,” to cover anticipated excess of expenditure over allocations for the current year duo to increase in cost of coal, and advances in wages since the estimates were framed.

Statement showing the balances in the several bank accounts as at January 27: Municipal No. 1 account (debit), £7938 i7 s 3d; water No. 2 account (credit), £18,522 8s 9d; gas No. 3 account (debit), £13!508 10s lOd; tramways No. 4 account debit), £13,307 4s 9d; electric power and lighting No. 5 account (debit), £29,962 4s lOd; insurance fund _ No. 6 account (credit), £495 11a lOd; trading departments renewal fund account (credit), £7,585 19s 9d; renewal fdnd commissioners (credit). £59,718 10s lOd; debit' balance (credit), £3394 6s 8d; —£69,716 17s lOd; amount of deposits, £185,867 19s 6d. HOUSE REFUSE. TTie General Committee submits the following supplementary report:— Considerable detailed investigation has been made on the subject of the disposal of city garbage. In September last the committee outlined a proposal it had under consideration, and now reports that instructions have been given to the city engineer to prepare plans and specifications for two receiving depots, one to be erected on the Pine Hill rood, and the other at the .South road on the rise opposite the Oval. The house refuse will be carted by horse, drawn vehicle to these depots, and reloaded into electric lorries for transport to Chisholm Park. Tenders for the erection of the depots wT come before the council in due course. Meanwhile, the committee ask for authority to treat for the purchase of two 3i tons electric trucks, and also authority to proceed with the accessary road formation at Chisholm Park,

The estimated cost of the work at present contemplated is as follows:—Two receiving donots, £1800: road formation at nark, £500; two 3g tons electric trucks, £4000; total, £6300.