PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19206, 24 June 1924, Page 4

PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council woo presided ovei by Hi- J. Watson (Mayor), the councillors present being: Crs Lmnu. Allen. Love, M’Lach!an, Cable, Asher, Anderson, Berne, and Dcdds. Tho Mayor bespoke tho patronage ol councillors for a relumed soldiers’ concert, a concert by the Kaikorai Band, and tho Plunket Society campaign. COERESPONDFxKCE. F. C. Peters wrote pointing out that pipes Were blocked aud this, with an uncleared slip, was sending tho water down the middle of -..lie road near his property.—Cr Anderson said the matter should be attended to, .and the letter was interred to the Works Committee. which already had the matter under consideration J. Hunhy wrote asking that tho path to Xo. 50 Constitution l>o aphalted, as it was covered with yellow clay, which was left there when a car road was mode over Flagstaff. —Rot'erned to the Works Committee. REPORTS. The Works Foreman reported having finished repairing steps and handrail in Heridan street He hud repaired and tarred part of the, paths in Bernccia street, and Bellevue place; carted ashes to Harbour terrace, cleared channels at eastern end of the same, also at Deborah Bay beach road; channels cleared in different parts of th° town, water turned off roadways, and tbo principal streets and square received the Usual attention; also had tested drains m George and Beach streets. The Works Committee recommended that 20 casks of distilled tar bo procurer! inom Christchurch, and that. 25 vsaniiary pans ho ordered. —Cr Lunn explained about the tar referred to.—Cr xVTide! son thought tho tar from their own gasworks should bo used. The tar was now. —-Cr Love thought a trial should T-o made of tho new patent jinoduct for improving tar for asphalting.—Cr Allen said tho local tar was useless for the streets. A better quality was needed.—Cr Borrie thought that a report from the works foreman as to tho most suitable tar should bo obtained, and tho report was adopted with the exception of the clause relating to tar. The Finance Committee reported that receipts for the pact fortnight totalled £ll6 l)s !)d. expenditure £291 Os sd. debit balance ,£314 11s Gd. The question of taking a supply b£ water from the borough mains to tho sexton’s house had been looked into, and it was found that there was not sufficient pressure to enable this to be done. The Committee therefore asked that the previous recommendation to have two new galvanised iron tanks fitted be given effect to. Reserves The Water Officer reported having started poisoning rabbits. —Cr M’Lachlan said tho overdraft was increasing, but that was usual before the rates began to come in.—The report was adopted. The Gas and Water Committee, reported that tho gasworks account showed receipts £39 Its Gd, expenditure iTI.T Os 6d ; debit balance £ll7 Is. The auh-committeo to which the matter of lighting the town clock was referred recommended that two additional gaslights be installed. This, it thought, would do away with all cause for complaint.

Tho Water Foreman reported having repaired three water services in Wickliffe terrace and one in Grey street. Four of tho main stop valves in the borough end one in Sawyers’ Bay were out of order, and the committee recommended that authority be given to have these attended to. The committee wan going carefully into tho question of Hie water supply to the Crescent Hotel, and would report when fuller information was available.—Cr Anderson pointed out that the committee proposed to put two extra lamps to light the town clock, as an experipwnt.—Cr Burn said that if these two lights meant that the lighting of the clock was to coat £l9 per annum it was ton much, and electric lighting should be used. —Cr Dodds moved—” That the lighting of the clock he left as at present, for it was alj right.”—Cr Allen pointed out that the council had already decided to install electric lighting.—The Mayor said electric lighting would cost £G(t or £3O, whereas by using their own gas tlie actual cost would be. about £5 per annum.—Cr Gable dissented, staling that if the actual cost were only .£5, then their customers were paying 75 per cent, more for their gas than it, actually cost. Ho doubted that.—Cr Dodds's v.-r.s carried, and the balance of the report adopted. TOT,TV MANAGER. By way of defining the duties of town manager, the town clerk having teen aplointed to that position, tha Mayor moved-- ” That council to settle the general policy in rcpnrd to works, etc., make and levy rates, allocate expenditure, pass accounts and authorise payments; subject ,to the above, the town manager., to, have sole control of the office gnd staff, and to be responsible , subject to finances being aviiable, for carrying cut at] the works of the borough, and report to the council.” Cr Bunn said he liked to have time to think things out for himself. He moved—- " That every councillor be supplied with a copy of tho motion, and that the matter be brought before the next meeting of the council.” —The amendment was seconded, and, after a heated discussion, it was lost, those in favour if it being Crs Anderson, Cable, Allen, and Bunn.—The motion was carried. Cr Anderson moved—” That tho committees of the council be dispensed with, as they were automatically disbanded by the resolution."—This was not carried. The Mayor then proceeded to move that the town clerk’s salary be increased to £.IOO, av the other employees had had increases. Tlie motion was challenged as not being in order, but the Mayor over-ruled the objeotum. stating he had tho right to bring tcvward any proposal. The motion was put and carried in an atmosphere of tension When it was declared' carried, Crs Anderson, Cable, and Bunn left tho chamber bv way of protest. The council thou considered ’ the matter of electric lighting.