CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20644, 16 February 1929, Page 7

CIVIC AFFAIRS.

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS. The various committees of the City Council will report as follows to the fortnightly meeting on Wednesday night;— LIBRARY COMMITTEE. The Library Committee will report that the return of attendances at the library during the month of January, as compiled by the librarian, is as follows: — Attendance. —Newspaper and magazine rooms, open on 28 days, 15,185; reference library, 25 days, 1285; number of books consulted in reference library, 2044. Lending Library.—Adult tickets issued to January 31, 1929, 5443; juvenile tickets issued to January 31, 1929, 484. Number of books issued for home reading, 16,773 volumes, at the average, rate of 671 per day. Books added, 267. Total stock of books to January 31, 1929, 45,098. Donations as per list cimpiled by the librarian have been received and acknowledged with thanks. Special letters of thanks have been sent to the following;— Mrs Primmer, for a parcel of war material, including war posters published in Great Britain during the war, together with a collection of photos and other articles which were collected by the late Mr Primmer. Colonel Stewart, Milton, for a manuscript .copy, of the Transport Magazine of troopship Tahiti, No, 31. This manuscript is a most valuable possession. It was prepared for publication, but owing to circumstances was never printed. There are, therefore, no other copies in existence. The Tahiti was at the time carrying the men of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. The yearly re-issue of readers’ tickets has now been completed.' This year there was a big demand for tickets, and at January 31 5439 adult and 485 juvenile tickets had ,been approved. It is noteworthy that many applications were received from residents in the boroughs of St. Kilda, Green Island, and even Port Chalmers. These latter were, of course, refused. It is worthy of note that last year there were no less than 10,489 readers’ tickets issued. That total is certain to be increased this year, and gives an indication of the widespread and'everincreasing popularity of the library. The first period of the school library scheme has been completed, and all books were withdrawn from circulation during the first week in December for checking and inspection. It is gratifying to report that every book was accounted for and that the books had been carefully used by tiie scholars. _ Five schools have so far participated in the scheme. The number of scholars supplied was 413, and the total issue of books 6746. The librarian states that there is every reason to be satisfied witli the first year’s work. GENER AL COMMITTEE.

Au application has been received from the secretary of the North-East Valley Ministers’ Association who, on behalf of the Evangelical Churches of Dunedin North (Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, and Salvation Army), has applied for permission to hold united open-air religious services near the entrance To the Botanic Gardens on Sunday afternoons between the hours of 4 and 5 o'clock. The committee recommends that a license, in terms of the by-law in that regard, be issued to Harry V, Utting and representatives of the above-men-tioned denominations comprising the evangelical churches of Dunedin North to hold such meetings on the grass margin of Opoho road at about 20 feet east from the entrance to the Botanic Gardens. WORKS COMMITTEE.

The Works Committee will submit the following recommendations:— Petrol Tax Distribution.—lntimation has been received from the Main Highways Board that an additional sum of £1613 3s 6d has been allocated to the Dunedin City Council, being proportion of the petrol tax for the quarter ended December 31, 1928. That makes the fourth quarterly payment received, and the total sum allocated to the council for the 12 months ended December 31, 1928.

is £5732 12s 9d. The committee will recommend that the last payment of £1613 3s 6d be allocated for continuation of the road paving works in George street. Weighbridges.—ln accordance with instructions from the council, the committee has further considered the matter of the proposed closing of the Crawford street weighbridge in view of the petition received from users, who states that such closing would be a serious inconvenience to their business. A return has been prepared showing the extent to which the weighbridge has been used by the several signatories to the petition. The figures set forth in the statement confirm the view that there are fc».v users of the weighbridge and that the custom given by the majority _ of such users is trifling. Under the circumstances the committee re-submits its previous recommendation that this weighbridge be closed down and removed. As previously reported, it is also proposed to review the charges for the Rattray, street machine, with a view to covering the loss thereon. Quotations (garbage collecting drays). —ln terms of instructions from the council to act in the matter'of the quotations received for the supply and delivery of six garbage collecting drays, the committee will report that after making full investigations, it has authorised the acceptance of the tenders which werei recommended to the council, viz.:: Mr N. E Brown for two drays; Messrs Macdonald and Kenyon for one dray, Messrs T, Scurr and Co. for three drays. The type of dray as specified by the chief sanitary inspector with the approval of the city engineer, is the result of many years’ experience. The dray has been specifically designded for the purpose of (a) avoiding an increase in plant and. teams, (b) obviating the necessity of employing leaders on the hills, and (c) enabling the collection works to be out at the minimum cost. The committee is satisfied that any alteration in the type and size of dray will have the effect of considerably advancing the annual cost of the service to the council. Verandas (Mailer street). —The widening of the footway on the south side hf Mailer street will necessitate alterations to the verandas of several premises as the posts now stand out two feet on the footway, and are a danger to pedestrian traffic Notices have accordingly been served on the respective owners to altar the verandas to conform to the altered width of the footway. Permission has been granted the Neuchatel Asphalte Company, Ltd., to use temporarily portion of the unformed street, off Lower Portobello road, known as Shore street, for the purpose of erecting ami operating a hot-mix plant to be used on the Portobello road paving contract. The permit is issued subject to the condition that the company reinstate the surface after the completion of their operations, that they pay a rental for the privilege at the rate of £2 per annum, and that the occupation shall be during the pleasure of the council. The city engineer has been instructed as follows;—Record for consideration with next year’s estimates the matter of effecting permanent improvements on the track crossing the Town Belt from Steep street to Mornington, comprising the widening of the path to four feet, concreting the kerb on both sides and forming a channel on , one side at an estimated cost of £238. In the meantime the existing track has been put in good order. ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE. The Electric Power and Lighting Committee will report as follows*— With a view to ensuring the earliest possible completion of the work of constructing the Mahinerangi dam a definite instruction has been issued to the city engineer that he is to take all steps he m.r consider necessary, including the engaging of additional labour, with the specific object of, accelerating the work of construction up to the limit of the plant now available. On the subject of tnc class of spillway to be provided f< r, the city engineer has been instructed to take the matter up with the Public Works Department, and if considered advisable to depart from the original intention, hnd r-.oort accordingly The quotation of Messrs Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., for the supply and delivery of an air compressor to replace the plant at

present used for cleaning out generators and for other purposes at Waipori has been accepted at the price of £157 12s 6d. Authority has also been granted to obtain quotations for the supply and delivery of a drill-sharpening machine. The Tramways Committee ’ will report as follows:

In response to a communication from the North-East Valley Progress League, suggesting that distinctive lights be placed at tramway stopping places, the writers have been advised that the matter has been considered on several occasions and that expense involved, which is estimated at not less than £9OO for installation, plus an annual maintenance charge of not less. than £5lO, makes such a scheme prohibitive. The department, is, however, going into the whole question with a view if possible of finding some other suitable method of lighting stopping places other than by lights. GAS COMMITTEE. The _Gas' Committee will recommend that with the object of creating a wider field for the sale of dehydrated tar, authority be granted to reduce the scale of prices by Id to IJd per gallon, according to the quantity taken. It will also be recommended that authority be granted to lay 11 chains of 3inch main in Fitzroy street, Caversham, for the purpose of supplying new properties at an estimated cost of £125.