CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22675, 13 September 1935, Page 14

CITY COUNCIL

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES The various committees of the City Council will submit the following reports to Monday night's meeting of the council: — ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE RETAIL SHOWROOM. The recently appointed manager of the department's retail showroom (Mr G. B. Niven) took up his duties on September 2. Matters pertaining to staffing, duties of the staff, and the future conduct of the showroom, have been carefully reviewed and necessary initial arrangements made for dealing with tliese matters. It has also been decided that the showroom will trade in all classes of electrical appliances in order that the needs of consumers may be fully met in this respect. WAIPORI TUNNEL. The report of the consulting engineers on the progress of works in connection with tho Waipori tunnel for the last fortnightly period shows that the contractors have 27 men employed, and of these 13 are working on the pressure tunnel, six on the branch supply tunnel, four on the adit tunnel, and the balance are general staff. A further 38 feet were driven in incline at the pressure tunnel. The' face is in hard and solid country, and there is no water. The dip from the surge tank has been cleaned out in readiness to resume work. A further 46 cubic yards of concrete lining was completed in the branch supply tunnel during the period. Concrete lining work was also carried out at the adit tunnel, 10 cubic yards of flooring having been laid. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE TENDERS FOR TRAM ROPE. The committee recommends that the tender of Messrs Thomson, Bridger and Co., Ltd., Dunedin, for the supply and delivery of a new rope for the Mornington line of the type known as " TruLay," be accepted. Six tenders were received, of which the five lowest were all at the same price. The "Tru-Lay" or preformed rope is a development of recent years in rope making, but so far has not been tried out in cable tramway work. In other branches of rope haulage, however, these ropes have given greatly increased life over that of the ordinary ropes, and it is considered very desirable that one of these ropes should now be tried out on the Mornington line. The cost of th& "Tru-Lay" rope is 11J per cent, above that of the ordinary rope, but, on the other hand, the rope manufacturers advise that, in actual haulage work, tho new type of rope has given from 27 per cent, to G 5 per cent, increased life over the ordinary rope. All the tenderers but one quoted for the "Tru-Lay" rope in addition to the ordinary rope, the prices again being precisely the same in each case. CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND AT ST. CLAIR. The superintendent of reserves has been authorised to act in the matter of laying out a flower border along the Bedford street frontage to the St. Clair pavilion property. The grass will also bo top-dressed at the same time. Tho cost is estimated at £lO, plus any necessary carting, which will be done by the department. TRAFFIC RETURNS. The tramway manager's etatement of the traffic returns for the last fortnightly period, as compared with the corresponding period of last year indicates an increase in revenue for the period of £5. The total increase in revenue from April 1 to August 31 (22 weeks) as compared with the corresponding period of last year is £1552, equal to 2.37 per cent. The revenue and expenditure statement for the period of 20 weeks ended August 14 discloses a net surplus of £2BBI, which represents an increase of £2350 over, the surplus shown for the corresponding period of tho previous year. GAS COMMITTEE TENDERS FOR GAS PIPES. The committee recommends that the tender of Messrs John Burns and Co., Ltd., Christchurch, for the supply and delivery of ten tons of Class A 9-inch cast iron gas pipes in 12 feet lengths, delivered, all charges paid, at the Gasworks, Anderson's Bay road, be accepted. The tender is the lowest of those received for the pipes specified—viz., vertical cast pipes. RESERVES COMMITTEE SEXTON'S HOUSE AT NORTHERN CEMETERY. A recent inspection of the dwelling occupied by the sexton at the Northern Cemetery indicates that the premises are in need of replacement at the earliest possible date. No provision has been made in the current year's estimates, but instructions have been given that the matter of providing the necessary finance is to be considered when the estimates for the next financial year are being framed. RESERVE AT CASTLE STREET LOOP. Intimation has been received from the Unemployment Board that the work of levelling and top-dressing the open space between the Castle street tramway loop and Leith street has been approved as a relief works measure. The superintendent of reserves has accordingly been instructed to proceed with the work. GLASGOW STREET PLAYGROUND. The superintendent of reserves has been instructed to give necessary maintenance attention with a view to improving the general condition and appearance of the children's playground at Glasgow street. JUBILEE INSTITUTE BAND. Permission has been granted the band of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind to give a baud concert at the Botanic Gardens on Sunday, October 27, and to take up a collection during the performance. GENERAL COMMITTEE "LEARN TO SWIM" WEEK. An application from tho New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, Otago Centre, for the usual assistance from the council's staff in the matter of attending to clerical work in connection with the next annual "Learn to Swim " week has been granted. The applicants have also been granted the free use of the baths for the purpose of the swimming carnival witli which the "Learn to Swim" week usually concludes. ST. CLAIR SWIMMING BATHS. Instructions have been given to the city engineer to effect necessary repairs to damaged walling at the St. Clair baths, at a cost of £4, and also to arrange for tho removal of accumulated gravel and sand in the pool, at an estimated cost of £22. STREET SPEAKING PERMIT. In view of representations made by occupants of dwellings in Hanover street, on the western side of George street, it has been decided that the location for street speakers in Hanover street be transferred to portion of the street on the eastern side of George street, about one chain below the George street building line. WORKS COMMITTEE REQUEST FOll SEALING REFUSED.

A petition lias? been received from 30 ratepayers and residents of the district served by Moana crescent and Kewa street, requesting that the macadam surface of the carriageways of these atimim

be sealed with tar or bitumen. . The matter has been duly considered, but, as no provision has been made in the current year's allocations for this work, which is estimated to cost £555, .the committee is unable to see its way to accede to the request of the petitioners, who have been advised to this effect. BLACK'S ROAD.

The committee has given consideration to a petition received from nine ratepayers and residents of Black's road, complaining of the condition of the kerning and channelling on the south side oAhe street between Evans street and Marquis street. The present kerbing and channelling and gutter is reported_ to be in fair order, except for a few isolated places, which will be repaired, and the grass growing between the cobblestone's will be removed. A petition has been received from residents and ratepayers in the Opoho district requesting kerbing and channelling and paved footways in Black's road, both sides, from Signal Hill road to Warden street. The committee lias given consideration to the matter, but, as funds are not available to meet the eost of the work involved, it has been recorded for consideration with next, year's allocutions. INSTRUCTIONS TO CITY ENGINEER. The city engineer has been instructed to act in respect of the undernoted matters- — (a) Placing a seat at the intersection of Cliffs road and the road leadin" to the quarry at St. Clair, and one at°tbe corner of' Reach street and Redford street (total estimated cost £1 ss) ; (b) removing an accumulation ot spoil and rubbish in Duchess avenue and erecting a notice board prohibiting the deposit of rubbish (estimated cost £0) ; (c) constructing a length of guttering to a mud tank in Duchess avenue (estimated cost £2 10s) ; (d) constructing about one chain of kerbing and channelling in Cairnhill street (estimated cost £10); (e) surface sealing the present screenings footway in Tomahawk road, between Spottisvvoode street and Minto street (estimated cost £37); (f) constructing a proper channel in portion of Bruce street (estimated cost £18); (g) taking down and reerecting a fence at a property in Highgate to bring it into alignment witli adjoining properties (estimated cost £7).

WATER COMMITTEE DEEP CREEK PKOGKESS REPORT. Ileports by the city engineer ou the

progress of works in connection with the Deep Creek water supply scheme during the past fortnightly period show that during the fortnight 10,138 feet of pipe were laid, the total length of pipe laid to date being 10.10 miles. Of that length 10.50 miles is under test. The trench contractor (Mr J. Butler) has now completed contract 060 C excepting for a length of 3002 feet, which has been left unexcavated across ploughed paddocks. Trenching contract 900 D is proceeding satisfactorily, 1000 feet having been completed during the fortnight. Corporation labour has been employed on the erection of break-pressure tanks, laying and jointing scour pipes, clearing

lines, trench excavation, erection of gate, and sundry other -works. Tree planting work at the caretaker's holding, Deep Creek, as recommended by the superintendent of reserves, has been approved, arid the planting* will be carried out by the superintendent at an early date. Drainage at the residence is being provided for by means of septic tanks to the approval of the Health De-. partment. - . FINANCE COMMITTEE GRANT FOR SWIMMERS. The committee recommends, that, as in previous years, a grant of £lO be made to tha Otago Centre, New Zealand

Amateur Swimming Association, s|s < contribution towards the cost qti. or* aanising and carrying but this year'* " Learn to Swim" Week at the Municipal Tepid Baths. . REDUCTION OF INTEREST i RATE. I The committee also recommends that the rate of interest payable' by the Otago Early Settlers' Association on tha outstanding balance of the amount dua by the association to the council for tha purchase of the former Art Gallerjf building adjoining the Early Settler? Hall be reduced from 5 per cent, to 4 per cent. The association is well ahea4 of its stipulated payments to the cbu» cil onaccount of the building. '