PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19218, 8 July 1924, Page 8

PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Port Chalmers Council was held last night, and was attended by Air J, Watson (Mayor), Crs Anderson, Smith, Cable, Jiorrie, Allen, Lunn, Asher, Dodds, Love, and Dodds. It was received to send a letter of condolence to tho family of the late Colin MacLacldaui (chairman of the Waikouaiti County Council!. Mr W. Connor, town clerk, West Harbour, wicte asking if tho council were prepared to give a grant towards repairing the Dunccbn-l’ort road. Tho road was costing about £250 to £3OO, and the West Harbour Council was finding this amount too much to keep up ut present.—Cr Anderson moved that tho letter be received, but regretted there was no money available to make a grant.— Cr llorrie said the West Harbour Council proposed to got a commission to put this road on the same basis as tho road to Portobello on the other side of the harbour. Tho road was barred from being a public highway because it ran through a borough. He believed that the Dunedin City Council, tho Waikouaiti County Council, and the Port Chalmers Council should contribute to the upkeep of the road.—-Viter further discussion the motion to receive the letter was carried. The Health Department wrote pointing ot that a fire escape was needed on a twostorey boarding-house in Beach street.—Tho By-laws Committee was instructed to report. Tho local Fire Brigade culled attention to the lack of fire extinguishers in the Town Hull and to the accumulation of paper and rubbish in tiie operating room. —The matter was referred ot the Reserves Committee, with power to actSix hotels and three’ boarding-houses applied for registration as eating houses, and registration was approved. Three butchers’ licenses were renewed. A report on increasing the borough water supply, compiled by Mr M'Curdie, was received, and was referred to the Water Committee to report a month hence, councillors to consider Mr M’Curdie’s report meanwhile. Mr A. Brennan wrote stating that the steps in Bellevue place needed attention.— The matter was referred to tho Works -Committee, with power to act. The Works Committee reported that the foreman had finished concreting tho top of the wall at the quarry, and while his men were there ho got out and spread some quarry refuse on the track to Mansford Town, and blinded it with sand from Ajax road; he also cleaned out and deepened tho water channel above tho gate. Channels had been cleaned in Beach, Mount, and Currie streets, also in Ajax road, while the principal streets and square have received the usual attention. Asphalt had been repaired in Grey street, and ashes spread on depression over the sewer recently laid. The committee had accepted the tender of Messrs Port-man and M'Brido for 25 sanitary pans at 9s (51 each. —Cr Borrie said that the foreman considered lacal tar was all right for top-dressing, but for other work other ta,-r was better.—Cr Anderson said the local tar had been analysed and found to be as good as any other tar.—Cr Smith thought local tar should be used.—The report was adopted, and the committee authorised to procure 10 barrels of Melbourne tar. The Finance and Reserves Committee reported that the receipts amounted to £-573 18s 2d; accounts totalling £233 6s 6d were recommended for pavmcnt. The painting of the passage and office had been completed, and the committee asked for authority, on the certificate of the architect, to pay the contractor. The committee recommended that outstanding rates for the year 1921-22, amounting to £S Gs £d, be written off. The committee reported having accepted the tender of Mr H. Whyte for supplying and fitting two new tanks at the sexton's house for the sum of £7 19s 6d. The water officer reported having finished repairing tho fence along the upper road line and poisoning that portion of the reserves to destroy rabbits. — Cr Dodd s sa id tbe rates proposed to be written off included a rate on the soldiers’ rooms and should not have been levied. —The leport was adopted. The Gas and Water Committee reported as follows:—Receipts £62 Is 4d. expenditure £ll Is lid, debit balance £-196 Is 7d. Tho gas manager had laid a new gas service, and during tho month of June had carbonised 25 tons 12 cwt of coal for 384,000 cubic feet of gas. Water services had been repaired and gorse cut on the embankment ot the reservoir, which was fuff.—Cr Anderson said that in order to increase consumption of gas, it was proposed to reduce the price by 91 per cent, to users of over 10,005 ft per month,—The report, was adopted. RECREATION GROUND. Cr Cable moved that sailors and firemen he allowed to play football on tbe recreation ground on Sunday.—Cr Bunn seconded the motion, asying that he did not believe in football matches being played, but seamen who were huddled on ships all the • week should be allowed to stretch their legs on Sundav. Gipsy Pat Smith was needed in Port Ohalmercs to clear the atmosphere. The council really had not the power to prevent Sunday games.—Cr Anderson said life on board ship was a. dog’s life, and the men should be allowed the. use of the recreation ground on the only dav they had an opportunity for recreation. —Cr Borrio thought the sailors playing football on Sundays was no worse than others playing lawn tennis. —Cr Smith -said the police stopped the seamen from playing on the recreation ground on Sunday.—Cr Love Raid the council should not encourage football on Sundays. Somebody must, have instructed tbe police to interfere. Playing should be restricted to seamen. —An amendment by Cr Anderson that the matter be referred to the Municipal Association was canned.