PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 8

PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

There were present at the fortnightly meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council last night Mr J. Watson (Mayor), Crs Anderson, Smith, M‘Lachlan, Love, Dodds, Borrie, AJlan, Asher, and Lunn. The Mayor and councillors were invited to the Salvation Army forty-first anniversary function. —Invitation accepted. The Secretary of the School Committee applied f or the use of the Town Hall tor the school break-up ceremony. —'Resolved to grant the use of the hall. Mr D. Fletcher wrote pointing out that he put in a drain about nine months ago to the municipal and Health Department’s requirements, but the drain • was now leaking. and the writer wanted permission to use an old drain, as he was not inclined to expend another £SO or £6O. —Cr Anderson said householders should be encouraged to put in drains.—The Town Manager said Mr Armour, the Health Department’s inspector, had seen the letter, and said the old drain could not be . Used.—rCr Anderson asked whether the department was attempting to saddle this on the council, or the council trying to put it oh the Health- Department.—The Mayor said that Mr. Fletcher was told the old drain must not bo used and the new drain was put in. Something had gone wrong with the drain.—Or Lunn said Mr Armour was sanitary inspector of the borough, and the by-laws held him responsible.—Or Lupn moved that nothing be done until a report was received from Mr Armour.—The motion was carried, the Sanitary Committee to deal with the report.

A deputation from the Port Chalmers Rugby League Football Club waited on the council to explain why tho club was not represented when the matter of apportioning playing days on the Recreation Ground was under consideration by a committee of the council. It was explained that the club had a change of secretary and was not aware of the committee dealing with the matter. It was hoped the matter would be reconsidered and the club granted, say, every third Saturday.—The council decided not to re-open the matter of playing Saturdays.

Tho Works Committee reported that blinding metal had been the principal work £or the fortnight; and recommended that two washouts on Peninsula road be repaired at an estimated cost of £ls. The committee adhered to its previous proposal in regard to enclosing the corporation yard with wall and sliding gates at 'a cost of £200; also recommended that street repairing be done instead of kerbing and channelling.—Or Limn said a considerable amount of the money allotted for special work had been expended on the general work of the borough.—The Town Manager said the money expended had all been authorised.—The report was adopted. The Finance Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to £378 8s 9d; receipts £649 9s 6d. The water officer was poisoning rabbits and sowing grass on bare patches on the water reserves. The committee recommended that the dog tax be 10s, with a rebate for prompt payment also that the council adjourn for six weeks, as usual, the town clerk’s staff to have thedr annual holidays in that period.—Cr M’Laohlan said it was gratifying to see the rates coming in and tile overdraft coming down.—Mr Tait said 121 dogs were registered this year—twice the usual number. —Cr Allan said there were too many dogs, and he moved that the tax be increased to 15 per dog.—The Mayor thought four weks was sufficient for the council to adjourn.—Cr Smith said tho lessee of a portion of the Town Belt was putting the police on to children for playing football there. Hod the lessee the power to do that —Cr Limn said no lessees could keep anyone off the Town Belt provided no damage was being don©.—Cr Love said there were too many barb-wire fences on the Town Bolt.—The Town Manager said the council received £ICO for Town Belt leases.—The Mayor said lessees should understand that children had the right to play on the Town Belt.—The report was adopted. The Gas and Water Committee reported that the gas manager had laid several gas services, and that during November had carbonised 21 tons 15cwt of coal for 261,000 ft of gas Tho foreman had repaired water services.. The water officer reported the reservoir 3ft down. He had cleaned out tho silt dam. —Cr Dodds said the reservoir was down three inches, not three feet.—Tho Town Clerk said it was overflowing. —The report was adopted. Tho Mayor moved in the direction of increasing the storage capacity of the small reservoir provided the cost did not exceed £l2oo.—Cr* Borrle did not favour tho proposal because he considered they required an increased supply. He proceded to detail how the supply could be increased by acquiring adjoining land. The committee decided to make further investigations. _____