CITY COUNCIL REPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19009, 3 November 1923, Page 19

CITY COUNCIL REPORTS.

Tho reports of City Council conunitteea to bo presented at the meeting of the City Council nest week contain the following clauses: The Works Committee recointncnds: That notices be served on the owners of tho properties fronting Mercer’s right-of-way, and which runs from High street to Maclaggan street, requiring them to undertake the work of grading, asphalting, forming steps, etc., of that part of tho right-of-way fronting their respective properties, and that if sucli notice is not complied with within a period to be stipulated from the date of the service of such notices, tho council, in accordance with the powers conferred upon it in that behalf by section 185 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, undertake the work itself and apportion the cost between the respective owners. It also recommends that tho council contribute the sum of £l5O towards the cost of now concrete bridge which the Tomahawk Road Board has erected near the Tomahawk Lagoon to replace the old bridge •which was destroyed as the result of tho floods in April last. The Water Committee recommends that the application from the Otago Tramping Club for the council to appoint the members thereof, on globo, as honorary rangers over all tho corporation reserves be granted. The Library Committee recommends that tho existing contract with Messrs Whitcombo and Tombs for the supply of newspapers, magazines, and books to the Pubbc Library be extended for a period of one year from April 1, 1924, the council further reserving to itself tho right to take an additional extension for a further term. There is a provision in the existing contract giving the council the privilege of taking an extension, and as the terms are at present very favourable to tho department, your committee is of opinion that tho right of extension should oo exercised as above recommended. Arrangements have been made for the stocktaking in the audit and juvenile departments to bo undertaken between December 8 next and January 5, during which period both of these departments will need to be closed. All readers’ tickets issued to November 30, 1925' will be cancelled and no new tickets will be issued until the lending departments rr-open on January 7, 1924. All books on issue must be returned to the department not later than Saturday. December 15 next, and each reader will require to fill up a form of application for a new ticket. Applications for new cards will bo received as from December 1 next. The Librarian reports that the work of selecting the books at the Solwyn College Library has now been completed and a list of manuscripts and books which have been taken to the Public Library on loan is laid on the fable. The list shows that there are 12 volumes of manuscripts, including the fine copy of the “Breviarium Romanum” and tho “'Life and Works of St. Jerome” with illuminated pages; a number of Persian, Turkish, and Arabic manuscripts, as well as several specimens of early 15th century work. Jn the early printed books there are 29 volumes printed during tho 15th century, the earliest being dated 1470. Two of the books in particular arc fine examples of black-letter printing. Altogether- there are 67 volumes, many of which are printed by noted printers of the period 1470 to 1530. It is a matter for regret that a large number of volumes had to bo left behind, as there is no shelf room in the Public Library to contain them. There are hundreds of •volumes, some of them printed during the 16th century, which would have been very acceptable. In accordance with the arrangement made with the lenders, the full list of the volumes is being supplied to St. Paul’s Cathedral 'Chapter and a receipt given therefor on behalf of the council. Arrangements have also been made to insure the volumes to the value of £I2OO. The Reserves Committee reports that an offer has been received to sell to the council a small piece of land at St. Clair for recreation purposes for tho sum of £250. The sections contain approximately 1 rood 29.1 poles. They are at the present time covered with native bush and scrub- After going carefully into the matter, the committee is of opinion that there is no pressing need to acquire this area and has accordingly advised tho ow-ner that his offer is not accented. , Tho General Committee reports that in view of reports received concerning three taxi-drivers, the committee has caused an investigation to be made as to tho fitness of the men concerned to hold a license to drive a taxi-car. As the result of its investigations, the oommittfcee is satisfied that neither of the three drivers is a fit and proper person to be in charge of a public vehicle for carrying passengers, and has accordingly directed that the licenses of tho three drivers bo cancelled. Copies of evidence which was before the committee when dealing with tho matter are laid on tho table. A report from the chief sanitary inspector respecting the recent ‘‘clean-up” week is to be laid on tho table. In all 386 loads of refuse were collected by the department, the greater proportion consisting of tins, drums, roofing material, spouting, baths, bedding, and garden and other burnable material. Tho approximate cost of the work to the council was' £209. It is hoped that the citizens will have learned to appreciate the removal of their rubbish, if only for the sake of having a clean yard, and that (he habit will be formed of getting rid of any accumulation instead of allowing it to grow larger and larger until the advent of another clean-up week. Time alone will show if the effort has succeeded in producing this very desirable effect. The Electric Power and Lighting Committee recommends that the tender of Messrs Joseph Sparrow and Sons for tho manufacture, supply, delivery, and erection at Halfway Bush sub-station of rolled-steel joist constructional steel work for watet tower and tank bo accepted. The Tramways Committee recommends that the tender of tho New Zealand Express Company for the supply and delivery of a Dennis 5 (6) ton motor-truck with three-way hydraulic tipping gear delivered at the car depot be accepted. There was one lower tender received for a 4-ton truck not equipped with the three-way tipping gear, but the manager and the engineer recommend the larger capacity truck, more particularly in view of the fact that it is equipped with the three-way gear. The Dennis truck is also guaranteed against all defects for a period of two years. The steel chimney stack at tho Roslyn powerhouse was blown over by tho wind on (ho 15th ult, and as the structure is now worn out, authority has been granted for the manufacture and erection of a new chimney.