MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21998, 6 July 1933, Page 9

MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of yie Mosgiel Borough Council was held last evening. Mr A. F. Quelch (Mayor) presided, and Crs E. J. Wilson, F. J. Frew, R. Srneaton, AV. P. Hartstougc, and J. Smith were present. The St. John Ambulance Association acknowledged the council's donation with thanks. The Taieri Plunket Society thanked the council for the use of the Coronation Hall for a ball. A letter was read from the King Edward Technical College regarding a donation.—Received. The Mosgiel Baptist Church invited the council to a special sports service on Sunday evening next. —Accepted. The Mosgiel Fire Brigade invited the council to the annual meeting on July 0 and to a smoke concert on July 8. — Accepted. Mr G. Young wrote offering to carry out a special removal of rubbish at a given fee. —Referred to the Works Committee. Mr W. B. Taverner replied to the council regarding arbitration. He was agreeable to act. and stated his fee.—The Mayor mentioned such services were necessary in connection with some disputed accounts for special services rendered, such as special water supplies.—A short discussion followed, after which it was agreed to advise all concerned of the council’s intention to deal with the accounts by arbitration, and of the council’s intention to appoint Mr Taverner, The secretary of the Mosgiel Volunteer Fire Brigade wrote regarding ownership of the social hall. He hoped this would be made secure before finality was reached between the board and the council. In the event of the Fire Board renting their room, would the borough take over the social room and allow the brigade the rental received from the board, at the same time making provision for them to let the room as before. By having that privilege the brigade would derive revenue and therefore not require a grant from the board. The Mayor explained what had occurred at the meeting- of the Mosgiel Fire Board that afternoon regarding the taking- over of the property of the local brigade.—lt was decided to refer the letter to the General Committee. REPORTS.

The Works Committee reported as follows: —Boundary ditch: This ditch had had attention since last meeting and the complainants were now satisfied with the present position. Rubbish collection: The committee had considered the suggestion put forward by the Mosgiel Citizens' Association that occasional special collections of rubbish be made, and information was being obtained with a view to arrangements being made for a trial special collection in the near future. Overhanging trees: This matter, brought under notice by the Mosgiel Citizens’ Association, had been referred to the staff with instructions that the provisions of the by-law be enforced. Horsemen on footpaths: The Mosgiel Citizens’ Association’s complaint regarding horsemen riding on footpaths had been referred to the borough ranger for attention. _ Notice board at Town Hall: The committee had decided that no notices may be placed on the notice board at the Town Hall in future until they had been first submitted to the town clerk. The Mosgiel Citizens’ Association's request to post notices of their meetings on the board had been granted on tbs above condition. Footpaths: The committee had resolved that no further footpaths or outlets to the roadway from properties be constructed until the applicants for same had undertaken to pay half cost, plus the standard cost of any culverts, which might be required. Two applications ,for footpaths which bad been before the committee had been granted on these conditions. It had also been decided , that no building permits be issued in future until the builders concerned deposited the sum of £1 in the case of ordinary footpaths or £2 in the case of asphalted footpaths, such deposit to be returned if at the completion of building operations the footpaths concerned were found by the borough foreman to be in an undamaged and satisfactory state. Work carried out since last meeting: The following work had been carried out since _ last meeting:—Septic tanks—The receiving and settling tanks had been cleaned out" during fresh in stream. The secondary filter beds were now being used as settling tanks, and were working satisfactorily. Water supply: All air and scour valves on pipe line had received close attention. The dead ends of mains had been run off twice during the month. All services in Gladstone road had now been connected up with new four-inch main. One defective service had -been repaired, and one old service outside of borough renewed. One service outside of borough had been disconnected. Drainage: The stormwater drain across’ Factory road from Mornson street had been rclaid at lower grade, and a similar drain from Dryden street renewed with 12-inch pipes. The vent. p:pe ,on sewer, Carlyle road, had been extended 10 feet; Ibis was necessary asit was causing a nuisance to residents. Maintenance: The roadside in Morrison street had been ploughed and turf removed; ii, was now being graded to' conform with the centre of the road. A hand rail had been erected at the end of culvert (Dye Creek), Gordon road. Men under No. 5 scheme had been employed cleaning ditches and water tables and surfacing roads and loading drays with gravel. The grader had been out on roads two days during month. Water supply: A special meeting of the committee would be held nest week further to consider the matter of the borough water supply. In moving the adoption of the report Cr Frew mentioned a portion of a pipe that had been taken from the water mam in Gladstone road. This would show the council what they were up against in ' the matter of their water supply.—The report wag adopted. The Finance Committee reported as follows:—Estimates: The committee re-

commended that the following estimates for the current financial year be approved and adopted by the council: — Estimated Expenditure.—Mayor, £4O; salaries, £200; Printing, stationery, etc., £130; Eire Board, £120; lire brigade, £2O; Municipal Band, £2O: Taieri Pipe Band. £7 10s, Plnnkot Society, £3 3s; roads and works. £1100; highway maintenance, £150; interest on overdraft, etc., £100; valuation, £ls; election, £35; road loan, £250; audit, £25; section, interest and principal, £100; miscellaneous, £150; sanitation, £225; interest temporary deposits, £SO; unauthorised, £ 10 7s; interest and sinking funds, £2002 10s; water, £500; Town Hall, £275; Hospital levy, £426 2s 9d; lighting. £2so;—total, £3453 12s Od. Estimated Receipts.—Outstanding rates, £SO; refunds roads and works, £125; licenses, £150; building fees, £10; Government subsidy, £150; fees and lines, £5; highway subsidy, £ll2 10s; miscellaneous, £SO; sanitation, £320; heavy traffic fees, £100; transfer from Town Hall account, £200; transfer from water account, £595: additional sum to be raised by rate of 3,1 rl in the £l, £948 I0s;~total, £2816. Separate Accounts. —Estimated revenue: Water account, £1450; Town Hall account, £615; Hospital rate, £485; lighting rate, £250; special interest rates, Xf4l2 JOs; — total, £4192 10s. Rates. —The committee recommended that the following rates be struck at a

special meeting of the council to be called in pursuance of the provisions of the Rating Act;—General rate, 3Jd in the f; water rate, 2d in the £; Hospital rate, lid in tlie £; lighting rate, Jd in the £; £14.000 loan interest rate, 2|d in the f; £4OOO loan interest rate, Id in the f; Leishman’s loan interest rate, id in the £: — total, Hid in the £. Receipts and Expenditure, May 29 to June 27, 1933.—The clerk’s report setting out details of receipts totalling £343 15s 2d, and expenditure totalling £921 18s 3d for the period ended 1 June 27 last had been considered and received by the committee. Accounts for Payment.—Accounts totalling £B7B 17s 5d had been examined by the committee and were recommended for payment. Insurance.—The committee had decided to place the insurance of the Coronation Hall and other buildings with the State Fire and Accident Insurance Office for the ensuing year. In moving that _ the estimates of receipts and expenditure by the Finance Committee be publicly notified as required by law and notice of intention to levy the required rates be given, the chairman of the Finance Committee (Cr Hartstonge) stated that he proposed making an explanation of the matters which the committee had to take into consideration when discussing the estimates and deciding upon the rates for the present year. He said that the reduction amounted to 11-16 d in the f on general rate, and 2-16 d in the'£ on the £14,000 loan account rate, making a total reduction of 13-16 d in the f on these two rates. In addition, the committee had after consideration decided upon a\ reduction of 5s in the case of the sanitation service, the opinion of the committee being that as this rate had previously been increased from 17s fid to 25s advantage of a reduction should be given on this rate. With respect to the hospital rate the committee had found it necessary to make an increase of 6-16 d in the £ for the purpose of wiping off debit brought forward in this account of £SB 17s 3d, and also to provide for an increase in the hospital levy of £24 19s 7d. Owing to the formation of a Fire Board for Slosgiel it was necessary to provide the sum of £l2O in this year’s estimates, being the contribution of the borough towards the Fire Board during, the current financial year. It was also found necessary to provide the sum, of £l2O to meet an instalment of Sinking Fund which was in arrear in connection with the £4OOO loan. This amount has been provided for by transfer from the -water account of the sum of £l2O. The estimates have made provision for the payment during the present financial year of an instalment of £IOO towards the balance of approximately £2OO which has been owing for a number of years on the section adjoining the hall which has been used as the borough yard. It is proposed to make a similar provision in the estimates for the coming financial year so that the purchase of this section may be completed and the title to it obtained by the borough.. The reduction in the £14,000 loan account has been brought about by the recent interest reduction’ legislation, but it has not been possible to pass on to ratepayers the reduction in interest in the Leishman’s and £4OOO loan account until the small debit balances in these two accounts are wiped off. With respect to improvements to the water supply the committee has tentatively allocated a sum towards this purpose, and a special meeting of the Works Committee will shortly be held to consider what steps it is possible to take in the direction of improving the water supply. Cr Hartstonge moved the adoption of the report and also the necessary resolution _ to give notice to advertise the intention to strike the rates as outlined.— Cr Frew seconded, and complimented the chairman of the Finance Committee on placing the statement in such detail before the ratepayers.—The report wag adopted. The General Committee reported as follows:—Breaches of by-laws by cyclists: The committee had had before it the foreman’s report giving the names of cyclists who had been discovered riding after dusk without lights. It had been decided that proceedings be taken against the persons concerned for breaches of the borough by-laws. Food premises; The town clerk had been authorised to procecd < with the preparation of a by-law dealing with the registration of premises used for the manufacture or sale of foodstuffs. Dance in hall;. Permission had been granted to a local sports body to hold a dance in the Coronation Hall, subject to the recently drawn up license form being first completed. Railway service: The committee has agreed to support the Green Island Borough Council in an endeavour which was being made to obtain better railway facilities on suburban lines.

The Reserves Committee reported as follows:—Recreation ground: The committee had agreed 'to the suggestion that a portion of the recreation ground be treated with tannery trimmings from Green Island, it having been reported that good results had been obtained by the use of this dressing in other places. Tree planting: The suggestion of the Unemployment Board that local bodies might consider tree planting on a large scale had been before the committee, but it had been decided that it was not desirable to adopt an extensive tree planting programme at the present time.— Adopted. GENERAL. Cr Frew referred to a report he had received from an officer of the Health Department on the water supply. It was of a private nature meantime, but he would hand same to the members of the council for their perusal prior to ,the special meeting the council intended holding at an early date. Cr Smith reported on his investigation of the heater for the hall.—After bearing his report, it was decided to carry out repairs.