CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20282, 15 December 1927, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The City Council held its fortnightly meeting last night; present—the Deputy Mayor (Cr J. S. Douglas), Crs J. J. Clark, W. A. Scott, C. H. Hayw'ard, J. Wilsou, J. W. Munro, H. C. Campbell, W. Begg, D. Larnach, and J. B. Shacklock. The Deputy Mayor apologised for the absence of the Mayor who was slightly indisposed. SACRED CONCERT. The Chairman of the Benevolent Committee, Otago Hospital Board, wrote applying for permission to hold a sacred concert in the Empire Theatre on Sunday, 18ht inst., for charitable aid relief. The request was granted. MOTOR SERVICE SIGNBOARD. The Peninsula Motor Service, Ltd., wrote applying for permission to erect a signboard in Lower High street. On the motion of Or Wilson, seconded by Or Munro, the application was granted, subject to the approval of the city engineer. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The adoption of the Reserves Committee’s report w 7 as moved by Cr Larnach, who stated that everything in the garden was lovely. Cr Hayw’ard, who seconded the motion, said the point had been raised at a meeting of the Expansion League that the Reserves Committee did not advertise sufficiently the good work done by the council in regard to afforestation. Cr Larnach said that was a matter for the Water Committee. Mr Tannock certainly did the work, but it was not a matter that concerned the Reserves Committee. The report was adopted. ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE. The adoption of the Electric Pow 7 er and Lighting Committee's report was moved by Cr Shacklock, who said it was unfortunate that there had been so many breakages of street lamps. Hie committee was offering a reward for information leading to the conviction of any persons concerned in the wilful breakage of street lamps in the hope that the practice would bo stopped. The following recommendation w 7 as considered in committee : “That the offer of Mr J. Butler to accept the sum of £4BO in full settlement of all hia claims for compensation in respect of bis properties at Waipori duo to the erection of the dam on the Waipori River be accepted. The properties consist of 40 acres of freehold and five acres of leasehold, together with a six-roomed house In addition to discharging the claim for flooding, the settlement includes the transfer to the council of the claimant’s freehold property, together with his interest in his leasehold area. The house remains the property of the claimant, and is to be removed by him at his own cost. The report was adopted. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE. The adoption of the Tramways Committee’s report was moved by the Deputy Mayor, who stated that an exceptionally low price had been quoted to the department tor the purchase of a motor bus. He was not nresent at the las* meeting of the committee, but he understood that the recommendation in favour of the purchase was unanimous. iho manager had leceived a very favourable quotation for building the body. Mi Barnes had offered to build the body to. £367 10s, and he moved that the on el ‘ be accented. Cr Begg said that the North road vas beautifully asphalted from one end co tiic other except between the tramlines, where it was in a water-bound condition m wet weather, while it provided its usual quota of dust in dry weather. When he had brought the matter up previously ho had received an assurance that the matter was being attended to by the tramway officials. He understood that some bitumen was to be obtained from Christchurch. Had it been tried out, and, if so, what was the result? The section between Normanbv and the Gardens was the only portion of the tramline between Normanby and St. Clair that was not asphalted. He was sure the department would save a considerable sum in maintenance if the work were done. Cr Munro said he wanted to say a few words about the question of competition between the trams and the buses. He thought it should be made dear that the policy of the Tramways Committee was that the buses should not run .n competition with the trams, but should simply act as an auxiliary. In “the course of his reply, the Deputy Mayor stated that the bitumen to which Cr Begg had referred had been received from Christchurch, and had been tried out just past the Gardens. So far as he knew it seemed to be giving every ..atisfaction, but the department wanted to make sure by giving it a fair trial. Before the next meeting of the council the whole matter of road maintenance would be discussed as far as it affected the Works Department and the Tramways Depart meut. He thought that what Cr Begg bad asked for would be carried out n the near future, ilis advice to Cr Mum') was not to take too much notice of newspaper correspondence or anonymous letters. Reference had been made in a Letter to competition between the buses and tramways to St. Clair, but on the occasion in question there were no buses running. The buses were not competing against the trams. The management asked for authority to run buses between Normanby and St. Clair, which -eally meant between the Dardens and the Stock Exchange, and between St. Clair and the Exchange. The buses would really be an auxiliary to the tram service. It was sometimes found that buses brought out tor observation trips were not required, and the department used them to carry surplus passengers from the trams. He thought it waa good management*. The report was adopted. GAS COMMITTEE. The Gas Committee recommended that the under-mentioned tenders be accepted . For the purchase of scrap cast iron now lying at the works—-Messrs A. and T. Burt, in the sum of £3 15s per ton ; for the purchase of scrap brass now lying at the works--Messrs A. Macdonald and Co., in the sum of £2B ner ton; for the supply and delivery of 24in steel conduit for the city gasworks—Messrs Stevenson and Cook En ineering Company, Port dial mers, in the sum of £505 for material to be supplied from local stocks. Cr Scott, who moved the adaption it the report, stated that good progress was being made with the erection of the retort?,. Th L . report was adopted. GENERAL COMMITTEE. Cr Hayward moved the adoption of the General Committee's report. He said the council had decided to make more room for boys at the St. Clair Baths by taking in a . portion of the veranda. The work had been carried out, and was very satisfactory. At last meeting he had promised to prepare certain information with regard to the fish depot. He had not had time to obtain nil the information he wished to give, but it would bo forthcoming at next meeting. Cr Campbell seconded the motion. Cr Clark asked if the attention of the council had been called to the condition of a property in Elm row-, and if so would the chairman make a statement on the matter? Cr Hayward, in reply, said the council ; was conversant with the position in Elm | row. It was no: possible at present for the council to go further than it had gone | unless the Health Department took action, j Tie had sympathy with those who wished ■ ;he council to lo something in the mailer. The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. On tlu- moiion of Cr Wilson, the report of the Works Committee was adopted.

WATER COMMITTEE. Cr Begg moved the adoption of the Water Committee’s report. Speaking of a matter brought before the council at a previous meeting by Cr Mitchell—the supply of water to the high levels at Anderson’s Bay—he said that .vhen the Bay Town Board laid down the water mains the upper portion of the district was reticulated on the understanding that the residents gave assistance to get the cisterns filled during some part of the 24 hours, and instructions were issued to the building surveyor’s department that no permits for buildings should be issued without a certain form being filled in. Owing to a lack of co-ordination, this instruction had not been fully 'carried out, with the result that some people had put in tanks or cisterns, while others had failed to do so. But whether people had cisterns or tanks or vessels of any kind, they should receive water during some portion of the 24 hours. Last week, when there were some summer days, the people on the high levels could not get any water at all. Investigations were made by the staff and by residents affected, and it had been found that some of the residents lower down had their hose taps running all night. These people who drew 7 the water off first should turn it off, if only for the benefit of their neighbours on the hill. Cr Clark; It is an offence against the by-laws. Cr Bcgg said he was making this appeal to the citizens in the area affected. No doubt it was largely w 7 ant of thought on their part. If they would consider the people above them who got no water during the day they would be doing their neighbours a good turn. If the grievance continued the department would be compelled to take further steps ir the matter, which it was loath to do. The engineer was still busy preparing his report on water supplies for the city, and in that report he would deal with the position at Anderson’s Bay. Until then, he was sorry to say, it would not be possible to give a better supply to the people on the high levels at Anderson’s Bay. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. In moving the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report, Cr Clark said the action of the Early Settlers’ Association in not making a charge for the use of the hall for the reception to Mr Amcry was greatly appreciated. So far the committee had not been able to get very far in connection with work for the unemployed. The council was seized of the position, and was doing all it could to find work for the men. The report was adopted. TENDERS. For the right to sell refreshments in the Woodhaagh Gardens for the period ending October 31. 1928-Five tenders were referred to the Reserves Committee, with power to act. For painting the \N inter Gardens Tender of Burgess and Hewitt (L12o) accepted. , , . , For the supply and delivery of distribution transformers—Referred to Mayor, Cr Shaddock, town clerk, and electrical engineer, with nower to act For the supply and delivery of 50 natural round poles—Tender of J. W. Wallace and Co., Wellington, 65s per pole, accepted. . For Scrap Metal.—The following ten ders wer<j accepted: Scrap copper, A. and T. Burt, £46 13s 4d per ton; cast iron, A. MacDonald and Co.. 32s 6d per ton , scrap brass, J. B. MTvay, £3B 10s per ton. SPECIAL MEETING. LOAN TO REPAY MATURING LOANS. At a special meeting. Cr Clark (chairman of the Finance Committee) moved a formal resolution, authorising the raising of a special loan of £40,000 to repay maturing loans that are about to fail duo, that is to say:—(a) Roslyn waterworks loan, balance outstanding of £13,80n : (b) Mornington tramway loan of £4f1,000 ;—total of _ £53,800 ; towards the repayment of which sum there are sinking funds and other moneys amountin'* to £13.800. Cr Scott seconded the motion, which was carried.