PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19762, 13 April 1926, Page 5

PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

The fortnightlv meeting of the Port Chalmers Council held last night was attended by the Mavor (Mr T. Anderson), Crs W, Limn, F. Smith, A. Love, W, Love, J. Morgan, T. Mackie, R. Willmott, A. Bell, K. Allan and N. Campbell. The Mayor welcomed Cr Bell back again after an absence ei several months in Wellington. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Port Chalmers Shipwright Company applied for a reduction of the cost of a special water supply as the conditions had changed since the water was laid on tortile sheds some years ago.—The Water Committee to report. , Mr J. B. Shanks applied for the trantfer of section 407, Beach street, from himscif to Walter Corbett. —Reserves Committee to act. . Mr E. Boqth, secretary of the tennis club, reminded the council that its predecessors had promised to assist the club, and such assistance would now bo appreciated in connection with the laying down of a second court. —The Mayor read the minute lecording a resolution to supply material to the value of £25. —Cr W. Love moved that the money be donated and that course was adopted. REPORTS. The Works Committee reported that the staff had been occupied during the past fortnight cleaning streets, grubbing grass, and cleaning steps in Belle Vue place and Burns street; kerbing and cnanselling in Currie street, which was about completed; carting and spreading 55 loads of, material from Beach street bank to Currie street, as filling to build up the road to the new channel; carting and spreading rock from Constitution street quarry to Harrington street to adjust and decrease the depth of the channel; spreading ashes in Island terrace from the quarry to Kaio lane; filling pot-holes in Beach street near the goods sheds testing drains in Mr Fogo’s cottages. Beach street, which were all connected and passed. Regarding a petition for electric light in the south end of Meridian street, it was held over until the estimates wers being considered. The committee recommended that the subsidy for rats be discontinued and reviewed again at the end of six months. As the gasworks’ shed was full of coal, the committee was making other arrangements for mixing asphalt.—The Mayor said that £lB 5s was paid for rats in 1925.—Report adopted. ® The Finance and Reserves Committee reported that the receipts totalled £239 3s 6d, and the expenditure £9OB 9s 6d. The committee recommended that the shrubs in the plantations in Scotia, Bernecia, and Daly streets be trimmed back and elderberry cut out in the native bush on the cemetery reserve; that the Kaikorai Band be granted the free use of the Town Hall for a sacred concert on Anzac evening; that Mr Tunnage be granted the site selected for the motor garage according to the pjan submitted.—Cr W. Love said the Kaikorai Band had often assisted in local affairs, and it merited consideration by the council. —It was decided to have the shrubs trimmed. —Report adopted. The Gas and Water Committee reported that the receipts for gas amounted to £sl 4s Id, and the expenditure to £245 4s sd; 26 tons of coal was carbonised, and 66 tons 1 carted to the gasworks. The committee recommended thaf the water main be opened up at Reservoir road to test the valves and also the pressure and flow of the water. Mr Price had commeneced to replace the mains at the end of the peninsula.—The report was adopted. Cr Smith, in terms of notice of motion, moved that a previous resolution to appoint a town clerk at £350 and a borough inspector at a similar salary be rescinded, as he considered it would be in the interests of the borough to get one man to do both jobs, with a girl assistant in the office. Cr Allan seconded the motion. The Mayor said they had a very capable assistant in the office, and he thought her services should be retained, and a man appointed at, say, £350 a year to take cargo of the work inside and outside. He would like to see a unanimous decision arrived at. Cr Bell said they would not get the man they wanted for £350 a year. Cr Campbell thought a salary of £4OO should be offered. Or \V. Love could not see how they could do any better at a salary of £350. The man they were looking for would want £SOO a year. Cr Mackie considered the most economical way would be to have one inside and one outside. The present office assistant should be appointed town clerk at £3OO a year. Cr Morgan said they would have to pay a big salary to attract a man capable of carrying on the office and the outside work. This matter was discussed on the lines of the previous debate, when it was resolved to have one man inside and one outside. On the question being submitted to the vote, only three councillors voted for reviewing the previous decision to have two men at £3OO a year each, seven votes being recorded against such review. The matter was then dropped. The Mayor said the Railway Department desired permission to lay rails along the street to take (he Exhibition sleeping carnage to the sheerlegs for shipping it on board a steamer. —It was resolved to give the desired permission. The council then went into committee to consider a communication in _ regard to the upkeep of the road to Dunedin.