DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 75

DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin City Council was held on July 14, and was attended by Crs W. B. Taverner (Deputy-Mayor), John Wilson, J. H. Hancock, J. J. Clark, C. H. Hayward, J. E. MacManus, D. Larnach, W. A. Scott, W. Begg, J. B. and E. Sincock. SUNDAY CONCERTS. The Kaikorai Band wrote applying for permission to hold concerts in His Majesty’s Theatre on July 18, and August 1, 15, and 29. The concerts would not be commenced before 8 o’clock, and the right to take up a silver coin collection was asked for. The Secretary of the City Tramways Band also wrote applying for permission to hold a sacred concert in the Empire Theatre on Sunday evening, July 25, at 8 o’clock, with the right to take up a collection in aid ot the band funds. Mr Charles Parnell also wrote that a local musician had been sent to the Wakari Sanatorium in an advanced stage of tuberculosis, and his wife and family of six were in dire distress! With the object of raising funds to assist this unfortunate family in their distress he desired to organise an orchestral concert at the Empire Theatre on Sunday, July 25, or August 1, with the right to take up a silver coin collection at the door. Cr Scott moved that these three requests be granted. The speaker said he had had the pleasure and privilege of attending two similar concerts previously, and he could state that the music given was well worth while. Such items as /? e^ rer » My God, to Thee” and “Lead, Kindly Light,” were contributed, and he felt sure that they could not but have a beneficial and uplifting influence. The motion was seconded by Cr Hayward, and carried on the voices. LOCAL MANUFACTURES. The^ Secretary of the Dunedin Manufacturers Association wrote asking that locally-made materials and fittings be used as far as possible in a new town hall bmldirg.—Referred to the Finance Committee. WORKS COMMITTEES REPORT. Cr Wilson, in moving the adoption of the Works Committee’s report, said that the committee had again considered the question of renaming a portion of Jfcaclagtan street. He thought it was probable that it would be necessary to rename a further portion of Maclaggan street in the future. —The report was adopted. WATER COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Cr Cegg moved the adoption of the Water Committee’s report. Cr Hayward seconded the motion, and asked if the chairman of the committee would take into consideration the possibility of giving the residents qf Woodhaugh a better water service. Cr Begg said the matter was kt present being investigated by the committee. That was Cll he could say meantime. The adoption of the report was agreed to. ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE. Cr Shacklock moved the adoption of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee’s report, which was carried. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE. Cr Scott, in moving the adoption of the Tramways Committee’s report, said the present Momington cable had run for 52 weeks, which was rather a surprise. They had in the past had ropes which lasted from G2 and 74 weeks. They were trying out the new Bullivant rope, which was a compound rope, and the committee was asking permission to get another rope. A new working agreement with the cable tramways employees would shortly be discussed by the Conciliation Council. He was pleased to state that the tramway traffic returns were up a little. Cr Hayward, in seconding the motion, said that lhe time was ripe for a change over of the tram from one side of High street to the other. It was only quite recently that one of their magistrates had drawn attention to the danger resulting from the cars running on the wrong side of the street. of the street. He approved of the new bus service from the St. Kilda terminus to the cemetery. He considered it a great improvement. Cr Wilson said that in regard to clause 1 uttering the fares on the Exhibition line, they had the Caledonian Ground, to which a penny fare was charged. He could not see why a peuny should be charged for running from Harbour terrace to the Exhibition. Cr MacManus moved as an amendment—“ That the fare from the Monument to the Exhibition be reduced by one penny. This tramline had cost some £20,000. The Deputy Mayor: More than that. Cr MacManus said very little more as the council’s share of the Forth street bridge was £2500. He thought the cost of this line should have been written down. It was, he considered, most unfair to attempt to exact an extra fare at the prese’it juncture. Cr Clark, in seconding Mr MacManus’s amendment, said the charging of one penny for a 28 chains’ run was contrary to Till the principles on which the tramways had been conducted in the past. He thought it was regrettable that members of the council should be sent tc represent the corporation on the Conciliation Council. This was work which should be undertaken by the corporation officers. He would like to hear from the acting chairmop of the committee as to what tramway extensions were going to be undertaken next. It would take at least six months to get any extension put in hand. There was the Mornington extension, for example, which was being urged. Cr Shacklock said councillors were mistaken as to the distance between Harbour terrace and the Exhibition gates. The distance was really 19 chains. Although it was not, perhaps, quite clear in the agenda paper, the tharge from the Monument to the Exhibition gates was really twopence. The management had reported that it was just as easy to

collect a threepenny fare to their sports grounds as to collect twopence. Cr Sincock said that much had been said about the Mornington line, and he was very pleased to see councillors were now realising the necessity of putting that line on a proper basis. He thought the change over of the running from one side of High street to the other would have been effected when the change was made from steam to electric drive. The question of headlights on tramcars was also worthy of consideration. The present headlights were not satisfactory. Some of their side streets on which trams ran were not at all well lighted. He instanced Richardson street, but lie explained that there were other streets outside the city on which the trams ran which were poorly lighted. With regard to the wire rope on the Mornington line, the last rope was a hard one, and it was predicted by some of those who ought to know that it would have a short life. He hoped that the new rope which was now being experimented with, and which was a compound rope, would prove successful. Cr Scott in reply said Cr Shacklock had dealt with the more important points. The tramways was a lean trading concern of the corporation, and had to be nursed to make both ends meet. The committee had gone carefully into this matter and it believed that in the interests of the ratepayers. and the tram system generally, it would be wise to adopt the course set out. The amendment on being put was lost. Cr Scott, referring to the Mornington line, said the committee had taken into consideration that if the line were extended and turned over from right to left there were several points at the top of the hill that would have to be discarded. The time was now probably ripe when the committee would go into the question whether Momington should be the next extension to be undertaken, and what would be done there. Some said one road and others said another. As to lights, Mr Alexander had thought they would be better if they were higher up, but it was the intention of the Government that they should be loosened. Which was best he could not say. The report was adopted. GAS COMMITTEE. Cr Scott, having moved the adoption of the Gas Committee’s report, Cr Begg referred to the clause relating to the chimney stack at Caversham and said the proposed expenditure seemed to him to be throwing away money He moved that the clause be deleted, the amendment being seconded by Cr Clark. The amendment was lost and the report adopted in its original form. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee’s report was adopted on the motion of Cr Taverner, who remarked that it only referred to formal matter*. LIBRARY COMMITTEE. Cr Clark moved the adoption of the Library Committee’s report and quoted figures to show an increased use of the Library. He said the average number of volumes issued had been 874, which was a clear indication of the use that was being made of the Library. He regretted to report that the Library had suffered loss through thefts. That was « regard to the reference library. There had been one very valuable book lost, and as they knew it was of use to students for their studies, the honest student had been deprived of that book The committee felt very sorry indeed in regard to this matter. The committee had gone so far that anyone getting a book was called upon to give a receipt for it. The committee was loth to take more severe methods, but if the trouble continued the committee would have to view the taking as a criminal act. and proce3dings would be taken in the ordinary way. Other people treated the Library so well that no complaint could be made. The Deputy Mayor suggested that the names of tne missing books should be given. Cr Clark then mentioned them, and they were a Latin classic “Catullus,” Goyen’s Arithmetic, and Dr M'Nab’s copy of “From Tasman to Marsden.” The report was then adopted. RESERVES COMMITTEE. Cr Hancock having moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee’s report, Cr MacManus asked if the chairman would agree to some of the seats recently given to the council being placed in the neighbourhood of Ross Creek reservoir. Cr Hancock replied that the seats had already been over-applied for, and there were not sufficient to go round. The report was adopted. GENERAL COMMITTEE. Cr Sincock moved the adoption of the General Committee’s report. The Deputy Mayor said that the General Committee deserved there best thanks for the way it had tackled the problem of the traffic. The time had, however, arrived when the congested traffic in the city should be controlled. There was evidence that the motorists generally recognised the rules much better than they used to, and he suggested that the traffic was well conducted. He thought that the congestion that sometimes occurred should, however, be further controlled. He went on to point out that pedestrians would stand about the streets, and much of the fault found was due to this fact. They were responsible to a very great extent for the danger that arose. He thought the committee might direct its attention to this aspect of the matter. Cr Sincock said the point raised would be considered, and the report was then adopted. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted:— For 100 tons 3in and 100 tons 4in castiron gas pipes in Oft lengths, Duthie and Co. (Wellington),, at £l2 14s per ton. For 150 tons rails, Duthie and Co. (Wellington) at £l3 18s 9d per ton. For the removal of fernery building from Logan Park and reconstruction of same in the Botanic Gardens, Love Bros, at £215.