MUNICIPALITY OF DUNEDIN

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 53

MUNICIPALITY OF DUNEDIN

TOWN CLERK'S ANNUAL REPORT

Mr R. W. Richards, town clerk and city engineer, has prepared his fifth annual report upon the various. matters that have engaged the attention of the Dunedin City Council during the year ended March 31 last. The report, which is of a very comprehensive nature, embodies a great deal of information that should prove of value for purposes of reference, and also oon tains lengthy particulars of a multiplicity of matters connected with municipal government. • The principal clauses contained in it are the following: Building Operations.—Not the least significant feature of the year is the extensive building operations that have been prosecuted. Buildings of more than ordinary magnitude have been erected, and add much to the stable character of this feature of the city, but perhaps the most interesting reference would be to the building constructed of reinforced concrete by the New Zealand Express Company. This fine build ing was erected at a cost of £32,000, and is situate with frontages to ""id street and to Crawford street, and ii. .uiensior.s are 100 ft by 97ft, while it consists of 6even storeys and a basement, with a maximum height above the street level of 112 ft, and is a fair type of such methods of construction. Again, buildings in Stuart street to be appropriated as warehouses form a striking and distinctive feature in the city's advancement, while similar works, deserving of favourable .comment, have • been erected, and are in process of being erected in George street and Princes street. The residential areas, too, present, to a lesser degree, a characteristic advancement. The estimated value of buildings, etc., erected is £172,346, comprising 56 brick dwellings and warehouses, 226 alterations and additions, and 130 wooden dwellings. Subways for Services.—Perhaps it is opportune that the council should be advised of the necessity for subways for the carriage of telephone and telegraph wires, electric cables, and other services that afc present somewhat disfigure the overhead views of our main thoroughfares. For instance, the network of services that cross Princes street and Custom House square form a striking example of the necessity for subways. Then, again, Lower Stuart street is somewhat unsightly, and the unnecessarily large posts on the footways are obstructions and equally unsightly for the carriage of service wires and cables. At these sites it is desirable to have suoh services 'carried in subways, and thus the city would be stepping further into line with -modern municipal practice. If not . now, the time will certainly come; but, with a view to economy, it is not too early, even at this stage, to consider and devise the ■means on the lines indicated. Underground Conveniences. —One of the most pleasing duties in this report is to state that the council has i*esolved to erect underground conveniences within the city. Such have been a long-felt want, and in years past have, to a greater or less degree, engaged the attention of the council; it is satisfactory now to note that a tender has been accepted by the council for the erection of an underground convenience (urinal and latrine) in the Octagon. The successful tenderers were Messrs:. M'Kinnon and Hamilton at a contract price of £1566. The accommodation is up to date, as also is the construction. A tender—that of Mr A. Ferry in the sum of £B73—has also been accepted for the construction of an underground convenience at the Custom House square, adjacent to Cargill's Monument, while it is also under consideration to construct similar conveniences in London street at Frederick street. Condemned Buildings Under " The Public Health Act, 1908."—The council experiences considerable difficulty in the exercise of its powers under " The Public Health Act, 1908," more particularly in relation to the provisions of sections .90 et seq. The position is that the council may appeal to any magistrate to obtain an order for the pulling down of the" premises. In such an event the magistrate may or may not order the pulling down. Our experience has been in the negative. Again, the council may remain supine, and inform the District Health Officer that the buildings have not been removed as required by notice, . and if he (the District Health Officer) still considers it to be insanitary and unfit for human occupation, in the council's opinion he should serve notice and prosecute to completion or otherwise as he may in his wisdom deem fit. The position has been before the council in a very pronounced form more than once during the year, arid on July 30, 1909. opportunity was taken of the presence of the Hon. D. Buddo (Minister of Public Health) in Dunedin by a deputation, consisting of the Mayor and councillors, to address him upon this and other subjects, and various anomalies and difficulties existing were brought under his notice. The Minister, in reply, endorsed the remarks made by the Mayor and councillors, and said he would favourably consider the propositions and extend his support as far as consistent with his position as Minister of Public Health. Abattoirs.—The attention of the council is rust now very much directed to the abattoirs. Plans for extensions have been prepared and repeated visits made bv the Mayor and General Committee with the object of becoming fully informed ns to the requirements to bring thp*& buildings as nearly up to date as possible. The disadvantages of the present provisions have Keen set out. by Mr Snowball (superintendents and by the visit recentlv made by the MV»vor and General Committee it oin be readilv gauged that the said disadvantages must, perforce, be removed, as speedily as possible. There, are difficulties, however, that prevr-nt the immediate execution of the prono?.°d ev+"»r>*JonS that are before the council —the difficult" of drainage is njj.rumount- Application h«« been made to the Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board

for leave to connect the drainage to the sower, but the- board, upon expert advice, has refused the admission of the effluent thereto; moreover, it is held' that the premises are not within the drainage area, and if it were ever so desirable to admit of the drainage an act of Parliament would become necessary to empower the board to consent to the council's request. The "recent inspection, perhaps, will likefy bring about a reconsideration of the circumstances and probably some decision will be arrived at in respect of the necessities and their execution. Crematoria. —This is a most delicate subjeot to deal with in a yearly report, but the matter has been brought prominently under notice in a letter from Dr Stenhouse, of this city, to his Worship the Mayor, which has been before the General Committee for consideration'. Theatres, Music Halls, and Halls of Assembly.—These buildings have from time to time been dealt with under the powers prescribed by the by-law "Safety- in Theatres." Minor alterations and additions have been required at His Majesty's Theatre, as also in the Princess Theatre, Garrison Hall, and Salvation Army Ba.rracks. In each and every case the proprietors have readily complied with the requirements of the notices served by direction of the council. My experience of the proprietors of these halls is that they all manifest a keen desire to meet the demands of the council, and to insure the safety of their audiences. Municipal General Markets.—The General Committee has at various times had under consideration sites that have been offered as suitable for the erection and establishment of general markets. The most important consideration, and. indeed,the most essential, is finance. Funds are not . available at present, and the General Committee has referred the matter to the Finance Committee to determine wavs and means. Extenson of Castle Street Tram Track. — The Tramways Committee has considered reports from the tramways engineer and tramways manager respectively anent the extension of the Castle street line to the Botanic Gardens, and the abandonment of the Howe street line. At first it was determined to adopt the recommendations therein made. The removal of the Howe street line, however, met with considerable opposition from those citizens whom it served. A deputation waited upon the council, and again on the Tramways Committee. Thereupon it was resolved merely to extend the Castle street line to the Gardens, and in the meantime to allow the Howe street line to remain. Fire Protection in Car-houses. —From time to time the Tramways Committee has had before it proposals for protecting the car-sheds from fire. In all well-organised systems—small or large—means have been adopted to ensure the prompt extinction of any outbreak of fire that may occur. The means most generally employed is the Grinnell automatic sprinkler. This system has been before the committee, but no definite decision has been arrived at in respect thereof. Again, too, a fire alarm installation has been determined upon, but to the time of writing the same has not been installed. The latter, of course, is very valuable in giving an alarm, but much damage might be done in a building stocked as a car-barn usually is beware the efforts of the " fire fighters" could be brought! into operation, whereas, although the initial cost is somewhat high, the fire extinguisher would likely prove, in the event of an outbreak, more beneficial in effecting a save. The importance of protecting the rolling stock and cars from damage or destruction by fire is obvious, commend the necessity notwithstanding all the precautions for safety established in respect of our tramway property.