CITY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3831, 16 August 1927, Page 18

CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held on ’Wednesday evening, and was attended by the Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner), Crs Clark, Campbell, Hayward, Douglas, Munro, Larnach, Begg, Scott, Wilson, and Mitchell. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE. Tn moving the adoption of the Tramways Committee's report Cr Douglas stated that it was considered that no alteration should be made in concessions on the Maryhill line. Authority had been granted the tramways manager to have the three remaining trailers converted into power cars. The estimated cost was £5OO.

Cr Campbell congratulated the Tramways Department on the success of the converted trailers, which were among the best running cars it had. The loading and unloading was very quick. Cr Begg stated that the suggestion that the trailers could be converted into power cars had originally come from an employee. Some few years ago the council had decided that any employee bringing along a suggestion that proved of value should be granted a bonus of £5. The Mayor: Any sum up to £lO. Cr Begg asked the chairman of the committee to recognise the value of the employee's suggestion. Cr Clark asked Cr Douglas to request the tramways manager to have the “Exhibition” destination signs altered to “Logan Park.” Cr Begg; A very good designation too. Cr Clark: We arc only two years behind the times. Cr Douglas said he would investigate the matter mentioned by Cr Begg. The work of altering the destination signs was already in hand. Cr Begg: How would “The Art Gallery” do ?

GAS COMMITTEE. Cr Scott moved the adoption of the Gas Committee’s report. Cr Larnach said he was surprised to see that the Oval was being dug up and pipes laid down. He would like to know when the Gas Department got permission to do so. “I don’t think it is a fair deal,’’ he said. Councillors: Is it the Gas Department?

A few years ago, CT Larnach continued, he had suggested that a general superintendent be appointed. His suggestion had not been acted upon, but he had been assured that the heads of departments would confer. That had never been done. The Gas Department should have asked the permission- of the council. He himself was not sure yet whether the Gas Department was doing the work. “That’s how things are done,” he concluded.

Cr Clark described the department’s action as a grave lack of courtesy. He knew, however, that it had been done unconsciously. A great amount of bitterness had been expressed by users of the ground. The Mayor stated that he did not know that the Gas Department was doing the work. He thought that a drain was being put in to carry away the water on the Oval. He thought that the Reserves Department should have been consulted. Cr Mitchell said he wished to draw attention to the lack of co-ordination between the departments.—(“Hear, hear.”) There was undoubtedly a need for more co-operation. He thought it would be a good idea if the chairman of the various committees conferred. Cr Scott, in reply, said that, like Cr Larnach, he did not know that the Gas Department was doing the work. “I cannot tell you,” he said, “whether the department asked permission to put the pipes across the Oval or not.” He knew that a start had been made in laving pipes from the gasworks to take a high pressure supply to Kaikorai. Whether there was an understanding between the managers of the Gas and Reserves Departments he did not know. Cr Larnach: You ought to know. You are chairman.

The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

In moving the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report, Cr Clark drew attention to a recommendation that the council advertise the city in the Christmas Annual of the Otago Witness. The committee had felt that the city should be advertised in other parts of the world, and it had been thought that the medium suggested was a good one. During the recent wet weather the rain had percolated through portions of the walls of the Art Gallery building at Logan Park. It bad been necessary to take some of the pictures off the walls, and the place had really been in a deplorable condition. It was proposed to obtain quotations on specifications to be prepared by the building surveyor. Cr Hayward said he thought the committee should make “a proper job” of the improvements at the Art Gallery. He was not surprised at the trouble. Portions of the roof of the building were covered only with malthoid, which was really meant for work of a .mporary nature. He thought that the committee should bring down a report on rating. In Wellington, where the unimproved system was in vogue, there was a great demand for building sites. There had been continual demands on the council recently for publicity purposes, said the Mayor, and he thought that the council should make an annual allocation for this purpose. It should advertise the attractions of the city. Cr Campbell said that the only towns in New Zealand that came before the eyes of people at Home were Auckland and VS ellington as the Home boats came to

those ports. In a recent publication of note dealing with the attractions there had been several photographs of Auckland, and Wellington and only one of Dunedin. “We need to advertise ourselves,” hq said.

Cr Clark said that he was surprised tq hear Cr Hayward suggest a report oq rating. He showed Cr Hayward a re-, port that »had already been made. At any rate the matter was in the hands of the people, not of the council, said Cv Clark. The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. The adoption of the Works Committee’s report was moved by Cr Wilson, who stated that the property offered by Misa Nelson for the widening of Burke street was necessary to complete the widening that was now in hand. The cleaning up of the eastern side of Cumberland street between Rattray street and Anderson's Bay road was necessary, as the street was in a very dilapidated state, and was like a country road. For a width of 40ft the street required cleaning up. The motion was seconded by Cr Camp-, bell.

Cr Begg read a letter which he had received from the Australian Hardwoods Company drawing attention to the state of Sturdee and Devon streets. He understood that the area referred to was on the reclaimed ground. He had brought the matter under the notice of the chairman at the last meeting of the Works Committee.

Cr Larnach referred to the request made by the trustees of the Dunedin Savings Bank for a little more light in Dowling street, although the estimated cost was only £4 9s lOd the matter had been held over till next year. Surely after what the Savings Bank had done for one department of the corporation the trustees were not asking too much.

The Mayor: It seems fairly modest. Cr Larnach said there was one light at the bottom of the street, one at the Post Office, and one opposite the old Commercial Travellers’ Club building. Ho did not think the trustees were receiving a fair deal, and he felt very strongly on the matter. He would sooner pay the cost himself than have the corporation shamed.

The Mayor : That is a rather good solution.

Cr Mitchell: I move that the offer bo accepted.— (Laughter.) Cr Scott: I will pay the lOd. Cr Larnach said that in Caversham and

Anderson's Bay the people were getting beautiful streets, and yet in the centre of the city they could not get a light or two whore they were absolutely necessary, lie hoped that the Works Committee would get a lamp up at once. If that were not done he would have more to say about the matter. Cr Clark said he thought a special effort should be made to comply with the request in view of the very generous help which the Savings Bank had given to the city on more than one occasion. With regard to street widening, he did not suggest that it was not advisable to buy the sections which were under review, but he wished to point out that the money allocated for the purchase of land was already overdrawn by £5O, and after the transactions before the council went through it would be overdrawn to the extent of £GOS. He thought councillors should take notice of these things, otherwise they would be approving of things which were not being done in a constitutional way. Cr Mitchell asked if the purchase of properties in Mailer street was nearly completed. A very large sum had been spent in acquiring properties, and it seemed rather uneconomic to delay so long.- Perhaps the chairman could tell the° council if many more properties had to be acquired. Cr Wilson said the letter referred to by Cr Begg had been sent to all members of the council. It was a matter for the Harbour Board. The question would be

raised at th© next meeting, and if the Harbour Board wished to have the work done it would have to raise the money. Or Larnach: It will always pay half. Cr Wilson said he would only be too pleased to erect a light in Dowling street, but the committee had to draw the Ime somewhere. People in other places who required lights had been put off, and the committee thought there would be no harm in letting the lighting' of Downing street stand over till next year. He would bring it before the committee with a view forgiving the engineer power to act. It was the comparison with the well-lighted P rinces street that made Dowling street look bad. They wanted more lights in the side streets now. . Referring to the allocation for street widening he doubted very much if the amount was overdrawn. Cr Clark : The city treasurer says it

Cr Wilson said the account was kept in a very unsatisfactory manner, as certain amounts should have been charged to loan. In regard to the Mailer street extension, Cr Wilson said the property under review, was practically the last they had to dea] with, except any to be taken under the Public Works Act. The report was adopted. OTHER REPORTS. The reports of the Library Committee, Reserves Committee, General Committee, Water Committee, and Electric Power and Lighting Committee were adopted.