PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24896, 21 April 1942, Page 6

PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH

MEETING OF COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council was held last night. The Mayor (Mr H. S. Watson) presided, and others present were Crs W. Campbell A. L. S. Cassie, T. Harrison. F. Smith, W. Leftwich. J. Sar.som, and Dr R. W. The Otago Hospital Board advised that the approximate maintenance and capital levies on local bodies for the current vear would be £72,499 16s 9d. which was an increase of £15,288 Is 3d on the figures for the previous year.—The clerk reported that the levy on the borough for the year would be £686, as compared with £533 in the preceding year. The council would be obliged to increase the hospital rate from s£d to 7d. Financial Position

It was reported by the borough clerk that the balances in the bank accounts at March 31, 1942, were as follows (the figures for 1941 being given in parentheses):—Gas ove'draft. £469 13s <£'' l 7 15s 4d); district fund account overdraft, £ll7l Is 6d (£1678 13s 6d).—The Mayor congratulated the council on the improved financial position. Accounts totalling £2037 2s were passed for payment ;»; follows: —General account, £930 5s 4d; gas department, £l2O 16s lid; scheme 13, wages, £985 19s 9d. It was decided that copies of resolutions received from the Pukekohe Borough Council dealing with a total war effort should be given to each member of the council, and that the resolutions should be discussed at the next meeting.

The engineer (Mr F. J. Williams) reported that a portion of the main highway to Dunedin had been tar-sealed, and it was hoped that several other parts would soon be similarly treated. It was also reported that the Main Highways Board had given instructions to use tar on this type of work, as road oil was not now procurable. Building of Shelters

Mr Williams reported that, after he had served the necessary notices regarding the provision of air-raid shelters, it had been ascertained that the Port Chalmers area was not included in the districts covered by the provision for subsidies from the Government. The matter had been referred immediately to the head office of the Public Works Department, but no advice had been received regarding the position The engineer expressed regret that this important work had not been put in hand, but, he said, it seemed impossible to do so until it was certain that the whole of the cost would not fall upon the owner of premises, the occupier, or the council. Mr Williams further reported that no structures which required the use of cement, bricks, or sawn timber would be permitted to be built by the authorities, and that shelters must be constructed of round timber and clay. The engineer's report was adopted. Tlie Port Chalmers Football Club was given permission to use the Recreation Ground for the winter season on the usual terms. A donation of £2 2s was made to the funds of the Port Chalmers Regatta Committee.