CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18764, 18 January 1923, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL

Tho first meeting for the new year of the City Council was held last night, when there were present: —The Mayor (Air J. S. Douglas), ('is Scott, AA’ilson, Hayward, Larnach, Hancock, Sincock, Shaddock, Begg, and Taverner. AVOKKS COMAIITTEE’S REPORT. Cr AVilson, in moving tho adoption of tho AVorks (Joimnittee’s report, asked that tile clause recommending die purchase of a motor street sweeping machine be held over, us the engineer was obtaining some lurtlier information regarding an electric sweeper. This course was agreed to, and Cr AVilson moved the adoption of tho balance ox the report. Cr Darnach asked if it was correct that it was proposed to break up the asphalt roadway in 'Cumberland street for tho purpose of putting in a sewer or something of tho kind, lie thought it was very regrettable if such a thing were going to bn done.

Cr Begg said he was glad Cr Larnach had raised this question, but there was a larger issue at stake than that which ho hud mentioned. If permission wore given for this particular connection there would bo nothing to prevent anyone from obtaining a permit to break up the asphalt. Probably the applicant would l>e required to reinstate tho roadway, but it would only bo a patch, and did not give the asphalt a fair test. AATiilo these permits could be granted by the City Engineer. added the speaker, they should he brought before tho committee, and he thought that in this particular instance the chairman would bo well advised to adopt that course. Cr Wilson said (hat although one was very sorry to see this sort of thing happen, it was bound to happen. There were no absolute safeguards that could be devised by the City Engineer. This particular property in Cumberland street had recently changed hands, and it had become necessary to connect the premises with the sewer. All other means of getting over the difficulty had been exhausted. The effect of breaking up tho roadway in this way would not result in any serious depreciation, and in the instance under notice the individual would he required to make good (be damage that would be caused. When that was

done it would probably not bo possible to detect the interference. .He was quite willing that the matter should ho discussed at the next meeting of the Works Committee. "Tie report was adopted. THE SOUTHERN RESERVOIR. Cr Begg moved the adoption of the Water Committee report, and. in doing so, i«ferred to the work at the Southern Reservoir. He said that the weather conditions bad interfered with the output, as had been expected. During the holidays there had been an overhaul ol some of the machinery, and by January 3 everything was in place again. The output for the four weeks ended January 16 was 10,177 cubic yards at a cost, including all expenses, of 2s 3d per yard, of which sum Is 6d was represented by wages. He thought that this was satisfactory. The motion was seconded by Cr Hayward and carried. THE PUBLIC BATHS. Cr Hayward moved the adoption of the General Committee’s report, which stated that tho following schedule of fees had now been fixed for carnivals at the Public Baths-Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, £3 3s per night; Wednesdays and Saturdays, £5 5s per night. Tho report was adopted. TRAMWAY COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Or Scott moved the adoption of the report of tho Tramways Committee. Cr Begg brought under the notice of tho chairman the dangerous condition of the rails on tho North road. The other

evening he hod had a very perilous ride aver a portion of this road at the invitation of an expressman, and he had found it in an extremely bad state—dangerous to pedestrians as well as to vehicular traffic. Or Hancock said that similar conditions prevailed at tho southern end of the city. Cr Wilson stated that the position was so bad that the City Engineer had rung Up tho tramways manager and told him that if repairs were not effected at once he would put on a gang of men to do it at the expense of the Tramways Department. _ Cr Larnach asked if any definite information hud yet boon received regarding the Manor place crossing. The manager of the milling company there was “bluffing” the council. Few of the ratepayers know what the crossing was costing the city owing to the damage done to the oars. Cr Hayward said that a number of George street residents bad complained to him about the noise made by one particular car with “square” wheels; Or Sincock stated that the Roslyn lino was in a similar condition to the city, line.; in respect to protruding rails. It was particularly bad at Ross street, where an accident had recently occurred. He would like the chairman to ascertain whether an inferior quality of asphalt was not being used for much of the repair work on the tramway routes. Cr Scott, in reply, remarked that the approach of the elections was becoming rather obvious. In' regard tq what were known ns “proud” rails this city was in a very favourable position as compared with other places, despite what had been said tftat evening. With respect to the quality of the asphalt ho would have inquiries made. Replying to the request for information regarding the Manor place crossing, Cr Scott stated that tho matter was entirely in the hands of the council, which could have it removed at any time it wished. Cr Hayward had discovered that there was one car with “square” wheels; but if there was only one they were very fortunate, because, generally speaking; there were about a dozen and the department’s staff was continually making them round. In connection with the Roslyn lino he did not consider that tho position was quite so bad as described by Cr Sincock. The report was adopted. REPORTS ADOPTED. Tho reports of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee, tho Reserves Committee, tho Gas Committee, and the Finance Committee were adopted practically without discussion. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted: Simply of steel towers for the Halfway Bush Sub-station, Stevenson and Cook, at £750; supply and delivery of copper cable, .National Electric Company at £1056 4s, British General Electric Company at £2ll 2s; 21 years’ building lease of section 2, block IX, King Edward streetj South Dunedin Baptist Church of Christ, at £22 10s per annum. There were no tenders for the building lease of sections 9 and 10, subdivision of sections 8,9, and 10, Wnkari.