CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19758, 8 April 1926, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night, and was attended by the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley M.P.), and Crs Hancock, Shaddock, Hayward, MacManns, Wilson, Larnach, Sincock, Scott, Begg, and Clark. A letter was received from the official secretary to the Governor-General informing the Mayor that the King had commanded that an expression of nis sincere thanks be conveyed to the citizens ot Dunedin for their message of sympathy forwarded to his Excellency through tne Prime Minister on the occasion of the death of Queen Alexandra. HOODLUMS AT BATHGATE PARK. A petition was received from the occupiers of premises abutting on Bathgate Park praying that the merry-go-round recently installed by the council should be removed to another site. Cr Hayward moved that the petition be referred to the Reserves Committee. Cr Hancock said he thought the council should deal with the matter at once. They had thought that the trouble might die down, but this had not been brought about. There was no doubt that larrikins created trouble at nights. He thoughr. they could shift the merry-go-round to the other side o.f the park, as requested. It was a source of great pleasure to the children, for whom it had been installed. The Mayor said he had been told by one of the residents that the larrikins made night hideous with their horseplay on the merry-go-round. It belonged to the City Council. It was decided that the merry-go-round should be removed at once to the other side of the park, where there were no houses. Cr Sincock added that he thought the council bad previously asked that the police should visit the park at nights. RESERVES COMMITTEE. Cr Hancock moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee's report. Cr Wilson asked if the committee had considered its policy with reference to the Caversham playground. It apr eared to him that the council had been buying properties to complete the block without knowing the position of the council’s area. They bad bought three properties uselessly.. Cr MacManns moved that dame 1, dealing with applications for the use of playing areas, be referred back to the committee for further consideration. He understood the Rugby Football League had 12 teams in the field this year, as against five last year. It was complained that the ground they were granted on the Oval was always being used up to 3 p.m before the league got it. It seemed the league game was entitled to more consideration. Cr Hancock said permission had been given to the league to play on the ground at the Observatory. Mr Divers was satisfied that what the committee had done would meet the case. Cr MacManns appealed to his Worship to use his good offices again to get further facilities for the league game. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. Cr Clark combated the suggestion that the Rugby Union used unduly the ground that the Rugby League had later. Cr Hancock said they did not want any trouble. Cr MacManus: I don’t want any trouble. Cr Larnach: We won’t have any trouble. Cr Hancock said that the property purchased there had been purchased in good faith for the purpose of playing areas and a kindergarten school. The Mayor; I thought they were good purchases for playing areas for the council. Were you not a party to the purchase, Cr Wilson ? . Cr Wilson said his point was that the Reserves Committee did not know, the exact boundaries of the land that was available. Cr Hancock: We did not know that the kindergarten people were getting the title to the freehold, Cr Begg: After ns paying for it ? Cr Hancock: Yes. The report was adopted. GAS COMMITTEE. The Gas Committee’s report was presented by Cr Scott, who supported the recommendation for the purchase of a new compressor for the sum of £1325 from Messrs Bryan. Donkin, and Co., of Chesterfield, England Cr MacManus moved as an amendment that tenders be called for the purchase of a compressor. It was a bad principle to accept a quotation without calling for tenders. Cr Clark seconded the amendment, and said he agreed with Cr MacManus’s principle. Cr Wilson said if the manager required a twin machine to work with another it was only a waste of time to call for tenders. Cr Scott, in replying, said there was only one other type of machine, and it did not suit their special requirements as the one recommended did. The amendment was lost on the voices, and the report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. In the absence of Cr Taverner (chairman of the Finance Committee) Cr Begg moved the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report, which went through without discussion. GENERAL COMMITTEE. Cr Sincook moved the adoption of the General Committee’s report, which was adopted without discussion. WORKS COMMITEE. Or Wilson moved the adoption of the Works Committee’s report. Cr Hayward seconded the motion. He said he wanted particulars regarding 'the formation of a footpath at Highgate road, Anderson’s Bay The work had been started, but not finished. Cr Wilson: You haven’t explained yourself, but I know what you mean.—(Laughter.) If the work had not been completed he presumed that there was not sufficient money in the allocations. The motion was carried. WATER COMMITTEE. Cr Begg moved the adoption of the Water Committee’s report. Cr Larnach said he wanted to know what was wrong with the water on the previous day. The water bad been discoloured. ("r Begg; Where was that ? Cr Larnach (emphatically): At my house ! Cr Scott (significantly): What did you have in it? Cr Larnach ; Clay. Cr Begg, in reply, said be would make a note of Cr Larnach"r complaint. Work might have been going on in the mains at Maitland street. He could not give any indication when the report on the city water supply would be ready. The matter, however, was being investigated, and in due course the engineer would bring down his report. The report was adopted. ELECTRIC ROWER AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE. Cr Shaddock moved the adoption of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee’s report, and the motion was carried without disci ’on. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE. Cr Scott moved the adoption of the Tramways Committee’s report. Cr Begg asked if the department was going to take steps to recognise the fine service of the staff during the Exhibition season. This excellent service had been most in evidence probably during the past few holidays, and had always been highly commended by visitors. He would suggest that the department might reward the staff by a bonus or an extended holiday, but he would leave it to the department. Such a recognition would be highly appreciated by the staff and bo fully sanctioned by the public. Cr Begg strongly criticised the department for the utilisation of the corporation buses on other routes instead of to the Exhibition during the Easter holidays. The result had been that a great number of private motor lorries had been transformed into motor busts. The corporation buses had been badly wanted on those days. His complaint applied to the day traffic only. He wanted to lodge his protest. He had m a former occasion spoken of the drawbacks to the north end of the city through diverting the buses to other routes. Cr Siucock said ho thought they might express their appreciation of the action of the owners of the private motor buses in stepping into the breach. A Councillor: Oh! Cr Hayward said he understood the buses wore to be used in any part of the city. 'T Scott said the committee thoroughly recognised that their employees ad enabled them lo carry on a good service. The chairman of the committee (Cr Douglas) bad previously thrown out a suggestion that some recognition might be made of the good services rendered, but nothing had been done in the meantime. The bus business was not, the easiest of the tramway wrier* to run to snourn the best remits, Probably the public would consider that

the buses had been run in the bt_ interests of the city—to Waipon. die Peninsula, and otlier places.—(“Hear hear.”) At night the buses were all ready to relieve the neak load of the traffic. He believed that no part of the city had had more consideration than the Valley. Cr Begg; Rot! Cr Scott said the k-ss said in regard to Cr Sincock’s suggestion the better it was for Cr Sincock. He would therefore say nothing. Cr Begg; Say something nice. The motion was carried. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted for supplies and services for the year ending March 31. 1927;Horses, Caus, and Drivers. —Anderson's Bay Division —Uuniord Bros., single drays lbs, double 26e t>d; Central Division—M. Btevenson, 13s and 525 ; Leith Division —.VI. Stevenson, IBs and 325; Maori Hill Division—D. Anderson, 15s tnd 295; Mornington Division —Simpson and Frame. <sus and 28s; Koslyn Division —D. Anderson, 15s atu 295; Southern Division—C. J. Meade. 20s and 27a 6d; Valley Division —R. Long, 27s 6d double teams; Woodhaugh Quarry— R. Long, 255; Tainui Quarry—o. J. Meade, 2Us and 27s 6d. Supply and Delivery ot Cement and Lime.—Milburn Lime and Cement Co. (cement 6s per bag, burnt lime ss, hydraulic lime 4s 3d). Supply and Delivery of Bituminous Coal. —John Mill and Co., at schedule rates. Supply and Delivery of Metal for Valley Division.—Calder's Quarry, -t the schedule rates. Supply and Delivery of Stoneware Drainage cipes.—Lambert Bros., at schedule prices. Supply and Delivery of one 10-ton Steam Roller. —W. A. M’Laren and Co., Christchurch. £963, delivery within 10 days. The tenders for the supply of 200 tons of 6in castiron pas pipes were referred to the Gas Committee. A number of others tenders were also referred to the respective committees.