MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 15

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

FORTNIGHTLY COUNCIL MEETING The meeting of the City Council last evening was attended by the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black), Crs Shacklock, Munro, Lawrence, Scott, Mitchell, Tapley, Campbell, Wilson, Marlow, Wilkinson, and Begg, SUNDAY BAND CONCERT. The Kaikorai Band was granted permission to hold a Sunday night concert, the proceeds of which were being devoted to the Earthquake Sufferers’ Relief Fund. The band was empowered to make a charge of Is for admission. GENERAL COMMITTEE. The report of the General Committee was moved by Cr Mitchell. The mover referred to the congestion of motor traffic in High street, concerning which complaints had been made. The difficulty was that that particular spot came under the 15-minute limit area. It was possible that this street would soon be withdrawn from the 15-minute area. The matter was now under consideration. Regarding the smoke nuisance from the railways, Cr Mitchell said representations had already been made to the Railways Department, but no reply had yet been received. The matter would not be lost sight of. Cr Wilson asked that, as a result of damage done to private property, Young’s terrace be no longer used for testing motor cars.—Cr Mitchell said it was news to him to hear of the use to which the terrace was being put. He would - instruct the inspector to discontinue the practice. The motion was carried. *' RESERVES COMMITTEE. The report of the Reserves Committee was moved by Cr Campbell and carried, the mover promising to take up with the superintendent of reserves the question of the spread of thistles on that area of Pine Hill which had recently been cleared. WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr Wilson moved the adoption of the Works Committee’s report, which was carried. ■ . Cr Mitchell referred to the rough nature of the improvements at present being effected to city footpaths, and Cr Wilson said he would look into the matter. , Complaints about the short life of road surfaces in the city were answered by Cr Wilson, who blamed the cheap material and methods that had been adopted at the instance of some of the councillors who were complaining. The trouble was that proper foundations had not been put down. WATER COMMITTEE. % . Cr Begg moved the adoption of the Water Committee’s report. . In answer to Cr Campbell s complaint about overflow water from the reservoir at the foot of Cannington road, Cr Begg said some inconvenience would have to be endured until the storm water channel improvements had been completed. When that work was done the stream would be bridged in some way. The report was adopted. GAS COMMITTEE. The report of the Gas Committee was submitted by Cr Marlow, who moved its adoption. , , T , Cr Marlow read a telegram from Napier inquiring in respect to the council’s spare gas plant, which the northern centre wished to buy or lease.—lt was agreed to dispose of the plant by sale at a price to be decided by arbitration. The motion was carried. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE. Cr Scott moved the adoption of the Tramways Committee’s report. He expressed regret at the shrinkage in the returns, hut stated that the committee had the consolation that its position was not nearly so bad as that of other tramway systems in the Dominion. The motion was carried. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The report of the Finance Committee was adopted.