CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20704, 30 April 1929, Page 9

CIVIC AFFAIRS.

FINAL MEETING OF COUNCIL. The final meeting of the City Council as at present constituted, was held last night. There were in attendance: The Deputy Mayor (Mr J. 8. Douglas), Crs Clark, Shaddock, Begg, Campbell, Lar* nach, Munro, Scott, Wilson, and Mitchell. RESERVES COMMITTEE, The Reserves Committee’s report was adopted. Cr Clark said there was quite a considerable amount of light work in the improvements it was proposed to carry out in the Rhododendron Dell and elsewhere that could be undertaken by returned soldiers who were hot fit for heavy work, Cr Shaddock called attention to damage done by thoughtless persons to beautiful trees in the Market Reserve. Cr Larnach said. the attention of the police had been drawn to the fact that certain persons were injuring trees in the reserve. .

WORKS COMMITTEE. In moving the. adoption of the Works Committee’s report, Cr Wilson said the committee had at last got Mr G. Thomson to agree to dedicate a piece of land at the corner of Highgate and Belgrave crescent for the widening of the road at that point. It was hoped to get the opposite corner attended to at an earlv date. Cr Munro said, as he understood the proposal, the Thoroughfare Advertising Company, of Auckland, was to get a right for five years to install sanitary rubbish receptacles in the city. If it was a payable proposition, other firms might wish the same privilege. Wilson, in reply, said the company would certainly have the sole right to install the receptacles. About 150 of the receptacles were to be provided in the city, and no more were necessary. The company had gone about the matter in a really artistic manner, and was using every endeavour .to do its work in a manner tliat would hot bs objectionable. The report was adopted. ROSS CREEK RESERVOIR.

Cr Regg moved the adoption of the Wator Committee's report. The speaker relerred to the measures adopted to reinstate the supply of water from Ross Creek reservoir to Dunedin North. The nines required for tapping the water direct trom the intake at the settling tank had come to hand and were now laid. Complete operation of the new temporary: scheme had been hindered by rain, but as soon as .the intake cleared again, the semce which had already been given a fnlf 1, n W -? U u d be r ® sun } ed - The supply that had been available before the rain affected the Water in the intake was quite satisfactory. In connection with the water in the reservoir now he was not sure it would be run off or whether the mud would l.e left to settle, ihe engineer would decide that point. Lr Campbell seconded the report, and ff£t presaure was 60 poor in „Pj ? ef *' Eai , d the reservoir had lost i]?* of water during the flood owing to a mam being carried away.' Since the flood the draw-off had been very heavy while the intake had been, slight. The reservoir had been given no chance to recover from the effects of the flood. ine report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE, Fi P*P lar k moved the adoption of the finance Committees report. The committee recommended that the counshould accent the very generous f 1 C e harles Todd, wlio had p ade _ r f oi ,? n area of land at r. r i e “ Island for the purpose of an airport. It was m the hands of the council to lease the area as an airport without imposing a. rent, and if the land was not inquired the council could sell the' land and app.y the proceeds for purposes sirai\f? e rr P J r ? v ,‘ de J d the draft agreement, Mr Todd had done a great service to Dunedin in making the gift. No town could hope to progress .unless it made proton ‘P,, “e-way of a port, and through Mr Todds generosity Otago would now have quite a- suitable place as an airport. Cr Munro asked whether the acceptance of the gift would involve the council in heavy expenditure. He had heard that £IOO,OOO would be required to drain the land. ‘ . Cr Clark said they were protected by a clause in the agreement, and in any case they had no power to spend any money on aviation. If . they .did they would have to refund it out of their Own pockets when the auditor came round. He could assure the council that it would not be called upon to spend any money whatever.. The report was adopted. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE. .The Deputy Mayor moved the adoption of the Tramways Committee's report. In reference to school children's concessions on the trams, the spehker said the matter had been investigated, but no means bad ppen found of giving tickets at a cheaper rate than at present. As far as extending the hours of the ticket bos at the Exchange was concerned, it was pointed out that the potential increase in business after 5.30 p.m. did not warrant the additional expfense that would be involved. Cr Clark asked whether or not a better service could be arranged to Logan Park on Saturday afternoon. It should not be difficult, as the demand for trams’was confined to very clearly defined hours. Cr Mitchell referred to departures from scheduled time tables, which caused a good deal of inconvenience. There were disconcerting gaps in the time table, and sometimes four or five cars came along together. The chairman said the layout of the tram services created certain difficulties which the departmental officials were doing their best to overcome. The matter mentioned by Cr Mitchell _ would be referred to the manager. With regard to Cr Clark’s reference to the Logan Park ser-vice-on Saturdays, he was quite in agreement, and said he felt sure it could be arranged. The report was- adopted. OTHER REPORTS. The General, Gas, and Electric Light and Power Committees’ reports were adopted.