PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21772, 11 October 1932, Page 11

PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council was held last night, and was attended by the Mayor (Mr J. Watson), and Crs W. Lunn, A. Love, D. Fletcher, P. Smith, J. Annan, T. Anderson, 0. Loll, L. Smith, and S. Miraxns. BELIEF WORK CONDITIONS. The town clerk of West Harbour wrote forwarding copies of resolutions passed at a meeting of local bodies held at Dunedin on September 12, protesting against proposed new conditions of relief work, and requesting that country and suburban workers be placed on the same footing as city workers. —There was also enclosed the reply from the Commissioner of Unemployment, which stated that the extension of the city scale had been considered on several occasions, but the finances of the Unemployment Board absolutely precluded any possibility of this being carried out. lln regard to the eligibility of seasonal workers for relief work, the commissioner had -said that until the commencement of the next season, certifying officers had been authorised to grant a certain measure of relief to married seasonal workers in necessitous circumstances.—The writer also enclosed a letter from the Mayor of Mosgiel (Mr W. M'Lean), which had been sent to Mr A. E. Ansell, M.P., requesting him to assist in the matter. —The co-operation of the Port Chalmers Council was solicited.—Members expressed strong approval of the action that had so far been taken to improve the conditions of country and suburban relief workers, and a motion moved by Cr Anderson that the council co-operate with the other boroughs was carried.

A circular was received from the Commissioner of Unemployment (Mr G. C. Godfrey) stating that tho Unemployment Board had decided to take over, as from October 1, the liability hitherto carried by local bodies in respect of accidents to relief workers. Where the wages were supplemented, however, from another source, the employers would be requiredto accept responsibility in proportion to the wages paid by them.—Received. THE CEMETERY TREES. The secretary pf the Port Chalmers Progressive League wrote asking if it would be possible to have water laid on at the cemetery, and also requesting that the pines in the cemetery be trimmed, as falling cones constantly damaged the ivreaths laid on graves. The writer also requested that a rail or some such protection should be placed on the side' of the footpath between Mr Holey’s house and the Technical School. After a good deal of discussion, a motion by Cr Anderson; that the matter of providing a water supply be left, to the Water Committee, with instructions to have one provided as soon as possible, was carried. Cr Anderson said, regarding the pines, that, apart from the damage done by falling cones, the roots of the tree* were destroying tombstones, three of which had fallen in the last Ugh wind. He moved that all the pinus insignia trees at the cemetery be removed, and no more seedlings of this type be planted. The Mayor said that if the motion were carried they would be taking a very drastic step. The trees had been planted .many years ago to provide shelter. Cr Anderson: This place is for corpses, not trees. It’s a cemetery, not a plantation. - The Mayor moved as an amendment that the matter of the damage resulting from the pines should be referred to the Cemetery Committee to report to the next meeting. On a vote being taken, the motion was carried by six votes to four. It was decided to erect a . railing on the footpath referred to by the Progressiva League. INADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY. The secretary of the Port Chalmers Fire Board wrote stating that thn pressure in the water mains in Ajax road and Wickliffe terrace was still very bad. It was several years since the council’s attention had been drawn to the state of the mains in that locality, but the work bad always been shelved. Now,: however, the board felt that it must take up a definite stand, as the position was too serious to be allowed to exist any longer. He had therefore, to inform the council that’ the work must be proceeded with by October 15 at the latest. The Mayor said that they should wait until all the valves in the borough had been overhauled and tested before proceeding with the mains. Cr Anderson moved that the necessary action be taken immediately to improve tho supply in accordance with the Fire Board’s request. , '' The Mayor: I refuse to accept that: motion. . ' __ Cr Anderson (in amazement):' You won’t? Show me the Standing Orders by which you refuse to take a motion. The Mayor: I won’t take a motion stultifying what the council is already doing. Cr Loll referred to the fact that the water supply had been the subject of resolutions over a long period. 'We are a resolution-passing machine," he said, but when it comes to getting things done we’re not like Mr Coates." Eventually Cr Anderson’s motion was carried. CORREgpO N DE NCE. The secretary of the’Municipal Association of New Zealand advised that the annual conference of delegates would he held at Rotorua on March 2, 1933.--Received. In reference to the council s lease of the weighbridge-site at Port- Chalmers, for which it was proposed to charge £1 per year, the district engineer, Railways Department (Mr P. H. Morey), wrote stating that the sum named was a fairrental. —It was decided that the Mayor should interview the district engineer regarding the matter. WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The Works Committee reported ns follows: — General Maintenance.—Three yards of metal were carted and spread in the potholes on Bauchop road. Surplus stones were raked up and removed from the top road. Mud tanks were attended to. and also the usual street cleaning and channel sweeping. Six yards of soil and 12 yards of sand were cni’ted to the recreation ground. Directions have been given fos tarring and sanding of paths to be put in hand as early ns possible. Mussel Bay Sewers.—Good progress las been made with the laying of the new drains at Mussel Bay. The 18in main sewer is completed and is now working. A commencement has been made with the laying of the 15in sewer to intercept the two Oin sewers at present discharging on to the foreshore adjacent to the Jlfussel Bay railway crossing. The old outfall sewers from Mary street and Currie street have now been disconnected and the pip es taken up. A stone tank has been built at . the point where the new sewera converge, and from which point the main pipe line will be carried out seawards. Water Department.—During the month two new water services were laid, .and repairs were effected to three water services. All the water mains in the borough are to be scoured out at an early date. In spite of the dry spell the reservoir is maintaining its normal level. There were 18.000 trees planted on sections 6 and 51, Relief Works. —No. 5 scheme workers have been engaged on the following works;

—Breaking stone at quarry, William street extension, Quarry road widening, tree planting, cutting gorse and broom on reserves, Mussel Bay reclamation, topdressing recreation ground, breaking up hulk, cleaning up lawn tennis courts and cemetery, widening Henry street. Rainfall.—The rainfall registered at the reservoir for the month of September was i l.Olin, and rain fell on seven days. For the corresponding month last year the rainfall was 3.59 in. Ir. moving the adoption of the report, Cr F. Smith stressed the urgent need for a fire break near the reservoir. The report was adopted. GENERAL COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The General Committee reported as-fol-lows: Gas Depai’tment.r—The gas engineer in i his report for the month states, inter alia, that 2UJ tons of coal were carbonised, yielding 354,000 cubic feet’ of gas, an average of 15,100 cubic feet per ton. During the month a minor hold-up on the plant occurred through the failure of the bye-pass valve. Purifiers Nos. 3, and 4 were charged. The mains in Harrington street ana Meridian street were linked up with successful results, the supply of gas to the vicinity being now milch improved. The main in Wickliffe terrace was opened and cleaned immediately on completion of the above work. During the month nine prepayment and two ordinary meters were fitted. The new roof has been put on the retort house, but one or two minor details still remain to be completed. r Authority has been given to paint the roof, of Johnston’s building wbgn the rotunda roo;' is finished. Mr John Watson has made application to make a small addition to a building at i;he bacli of his furniture shop in George street. As the proposed work Trill be carried out in wood and iron, the committee recommends that permission be granted. An application has been received from the Port Chalmers Lawn Tennis Club asking that space be allotted at Mattel Bay for an additional court. The committee has held the question over for discussion at the next meeting. , While the report was under consideration, Cr Anderson, who moved iti) adoption, referred to a statement made by a member of the cricket club that if the council would do something about the Recreation Ground it would have a fine asset. This remark, he contended, was uncalled for, as the council had always dona all in its power for the sports bodies in the town. Moreover, the chib had applied to the Unemployment Committee for a man to cut the grass, thus: going past the council, which had'done its best to lelp the club. The general opinion was expressed that the zeal of the club outran its discretion. • The report was adopted. ■.. GENERAL. ■

Cr Anderson moved, in accordance with notice he had given, " That a ladies’ and children’s retiring room ; with conveniences, water, gas,, and a' penny in the slot meter for boiling water, be placed upon the . children’s playgroundi)."—Cr Loll seconded -the motion pro forma.— 1 Cr L. Smith moved as an amendment that the matter be referred to the General Committed ixi present a report on the probable dost, etc. 1 , and this was carried. Cr Anderson said he thought tho council should protest strongly against the closing of the Magistrate’s Court it Port Chalmers, ae recommended in the report of the National Expenditure Commission. •