PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22286, 12 June 1934, Page 16

PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH

MEETING OF COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Port Chalmei's Borough Council was held last night, and was attended by the Mayor (Mr J. Watson), Crs A. Love, F. C. Smith, J. Annan, N. Campbell, L. F. Smith, D. A. Bell, E. G. Rouse, and G. F. Mirams. MOTION OF CONDOLENCE. The Mayor, in referring to the death bf Mrs H. Jenkins, Mr E. Fairbairn, and Mr R. Young, said they had been residents of long standing in the borough and had been highly respected.—lt was resolved that letters of condolence be forwarded to the relatives. CORRESPONDENCE. The general manager of the Union Steam Ship Company in Wellington wrote thanking the council for its action in connection with placing the steamer Maheno on the South Island-Melbourne service. The general manager stated that the company greatly appreciated the favourable views expressed by the couhcil, especially in view of the various opinions that had been expressed concerning the Maheno. A letter was received from the Mayor of Palmerston North thanking the council for the support accorded the resolution carried by a public meeting held at Palmerston North, in connection with sustenance payments to relief workers.—The letter was received. A letter was received from the Commissioner of Unemployment stating that the State Forest Service had available a surplus of trees for afforestation purposes. The council was asked to advise if it required any trees.—The Mayor stated that the council would not require any trees this year, and the town clerk was instructed to advise the commissioner accordingly. The secretary of the Port Chalmers Progressive League wrote thanking the council for its consideration of all matters placed before it for improving the borough. It was pleasing to know, the letter stated, that the council and the league worked in harmony for the good of the borough. A letter was received from Mr E. Fletcher-Roberts in connection with the widening of the corner at the south end of George street. He submitted several schemes, and it was estimated that the work would cost £B2.—The opinion was expressed that the work did not warrant an outlay of £92 at the present time, and it was decided that the matter be referred to the Works Committee to deal with. ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURE. In a review of the operations and accounts of the district fund account for the year ended March 31, the Finance Committee reported that the estimates of receipts and expenditure were well within the amounts budgeted for, and indicated that a prudent policy had been adopted and carried out, despite the fact that the council was forced to work on a depleted income through loss of revenue from water supplied to shipping. The council closed the'year with a surplus of £226. This amount represented the difference between the hioney owing to the council on the balance date and the council’s liability to the bank. Reference was made to the loss of revenue brought about by the compulsory reduction in rates. For the year ended on March 31 the total rent charge was £1241 11s 9d, which was reducable by £242 10s lid as a result of the legislation passed under the National’ Expenditure Adjustment Act.' For the purpose of the current year it was estimated that the reductions to be allowed would amount to £235 15s 2d. It was anticipated that the net rent charge'for the current year would be £982 Os 7d. The total amount outstanding for rates, rents, etc., for the year just ended was £1589 18s sd. The matter of outstanding rates, etc., had been given serious consideration by the committee, and by its efforts during the past 12 months a substantia] sum had been recovered. There was still a fairly large amount owing, and every opportunity had been given. defaulters to make good, but the leniency of the committee had in some cases not been appreciated. The total rateable value of the borough for 1933 was £24,095, and this year it amounted to £24,540, an increase of £445. The estimates for 1934-35 provided for the purchase of metal amounting to about £2OO. The Mussel Bay drainage involved a total expenditure on the engineers’ estimate of £4481. Of the total cost of this work £2OOO was to be found by the Otago Harbour Board, and approximately £BOO by the Unemployment Board, leaving a balance of £l6Bl to be found by the council. The estimates provided for the restoration of a portion of the salary cuts which were made two years ago. No provision had been made in the estimates in connection with the tar-sealing of Macandrew road. In submitting its report and estimates the committete expressed the opinion that the council would appreciate the necessity for the utmost care being exercised,' and that the proposed expenditure be not exceeded.—The report, a copy of which was handed to the press, was discussed in committee, and after the chairman of the committee (Cr L. F. Smith) had dealt with each clause at some length, it was approved. REPORTS. The Works Committee submitted the following report for the month ended on May 31:—A further 15 yards of screenings were spread on Cemetery road, one yard on Willmott’s road, and one yard on William street adjacent to Brown’s corner. Screenings were also spread on the side tracks in Harrington street and Laing street. Nine yards of U-iuch metal were spread in potholes in Wickliffe terrace, Beach street, Magnetic street, Harrington street, and Bauchop road. Metal, was raked in on Macandrew road and the highway. A fence had been erected on the new survey at Brown’s corner and repairs were effected to the fence on the top road adjacent to the Cairn. Footpaths in Beach street and Slant street were patched. The brush fence in Wickliffe terrace had been completed. The top-dressing and tar-spray-ing of George street had been completed. Repairs were effected to a culvert on Fairbairn’s road. During the month one water service was repaired. Men were still engaged thinning out the larch plantation at the water reserves. The silt dam had been cleaned out during the month. Men engaged under the Unemployment Board’s No. 5 scheme had been employed on the following works: —Cleaning out water tables, thinning out larch plantations at reservoir, cleaning and tarring water main pipes, cleaning up at cemetery, Mussel Bay reclamation, quarrying and loading.stone, and clearing blackberry in Harbour terrace. A request had been made to have a light placed over the posting boxes at the Post Office. The committee was of opinion that by shifting the street light at present erected on a pole adjacent to the railway entrance to a new position on the corner of the Post Office building would meet the situation and still provide a light for the street. Arrangements were being made to have the light in the band rotunda kept going all night. This light at present was turned off at midnight, along with the street Unfits. Complaints had been received that cyclists were makim' frequent use of the footpaths and also riding at night without lights. The matter had been placed in the hands of the police. A clause in the report relating to the council’s sanitary contract was dealt with in committee, and the remainder of the report adopted. The General Committee reported as follows: —The draft estimates for the current financial year were attached in a report dealing with the financial operations of the council during the past year, together with useful statistical information covering previous years. The estimates had been carefully considered by the committee, and were forwarded for the council’s action. The committee had dealt with the matter of outstanding rates, and instructions had been given to the solicitor to obtain judgment at (he next sitting of the Magistrate’s Court for all rates, including subsequent rates, for three years back. This action was necessary in order to protect the council in the matter of ultimate recovery of the debts. The gas engineer in his report for the month of May stated, inter alia, that 27 tons 12cwt of coal were carbonised. yielding 374,000 c.f. of gas—an average of 13,540 c.f. per ton. The faulty back walls of the two wing retorts had been repaired, and the now in good condition. Purifiers Nos. 1 and 2 were changed and refilled with fresh oxide. The committee had received an application to rent the shed at the I end of George street, and authority had been given to reply agreeing to the request under certain conditions, the rental to bo £l3 per annum. —Speaking to the report. Cr L. F. Smith said everything was going along very satisfactorily, and there wag no need for any comment. — The report was, adopted.