Municipal Echoes

Southern Cross, Volume 10, Issue 30, 25 October 1902, Page 11

Municipal Echoes

Progress is the order of the day Municipally. The borough ot Campbelltown is going in for electric lighting, so is Winton, while the ratepayers of Northend, now part of Invercargill, have sanctioned a loan of £6OOO for public works. * * North Invercargill, too, is coming into line, and has decided, on the initiative of Cr Garmson, who has been associated with municipal work there for a good many years, to borrow £I3OO for drainage works. ■* * « Mr J. Hawkins, manager of the Invercargill Gasworks, recommended the Gas Committee in April last to introduce double-burner incandescent lamps for street lighting. Eighteen of these have since come to hand, and a number of them were lighted in Dee street on Monday night, and put the old illuminators to shame, so brilliantly did they shine out. Further supplies are to be obtained from time to time, Gas may give place to electricity one of these days, hut meantime Manager Hawkins intends to make the service as good as possible. * =» While on the subject of gas, it is just possible that the Gas Committee may deem it necessary to raise the price at an early date. * * * The Invercargill Council are jealous of any interference with their privileges, especially in regard to appointments. In the ballot which took place over the selection of a cadet for the Gasworks department, the young man who had been temporarily engaged, and who had been on duty for several months, gave place to “ new blood ” in the person of a local young man. * * ' * “ If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” is evidently the motto of Cr. Smith. It is understood that he will make another effort to have a change effected in the management of the Waterworks Department by the removal of the plumber to a more central position. * * * The Central Fire Brigade have been at a disadvantage since the burning down of the old station, having to put up with make-shift quarters, but this has not been allowed to interfere with their annual social. This was held in Ashley’s Hall on the 16th inst., and was carried out in a manner that reflected credit on Secretary Harkness and the committee of management. The Mayor and Ora. were guests of the brigade, and His Worship, in presenting the medals gained for long service, referred to the go»d work done by fire brigades, and said that it was the desire of the Council to encourage the local brigade as much as possible, and he had no doubt that the presentation of the medals would stimulate the members, and cause them to take a still greater pride in their work, and strive to make the brigade one of the best in the colony. * =» * Mr Hanan, M.H.R., who was also present by invitation, and who presented the prizes won at the euchre party, took advantage of the occasion to refer to the Fire Brigade Bill. It had not got through during the session, but he was hopeful that next session would witness the passing of a measure that would place brigades on a proper footing as to maintenance as between local bodies, the Government, and the fire insurance companies. * * * It is expected that the brigade will get into the new station in January next. Mr Crowther is getting on well with the structure, and has the first storey practically finished. * * * A bridge for wheeled traffic is to be erected over the Park drain on Kelvin road. A foot-bridge is also to be erected over the same drain to the westward, in Northend, to give one ratepaper access to his house. Before

I long, however, other houses will go ( up in the neighbourhood. * # Or. Cleave is on the war-path in the interests of economy, and /wants the works staff reduced during the summer months. Just so, but is it not a fact that there are many works which can be more economically and advantageously carried out in the summer than in the winter —drains, to wit ? * * * Metal supplied by the Invercargill Borough Council from its quarry is to lie sold by weight instead of by the yard. The adoption of the new system will mean the saving of a lot of trouble over conflicting measurements. * * # The first of the promenade concerts under municipal auspices was given from the rotunda on Monday evening, when the Battalion Band, under Lieut P. H. Mohr, gave some of their choicest selections. An unexpected rival, in the shape of a downpour of rain, came on the scene, and sent band and promenadera into shelter in quick time. Better luck next time. As it was, the quality of the music discoursed made the abrupt ending all the more regretted. * * * The work of clearing the ground for the railway workshops goes on apace, and the appearance of Clyde and Liddel streets south of the County Council Chambers has undergone a great change. The railway men engaged in the work of removing buildings and placing them on new sites are carrying out the work in a thoroughly workmanlike style. The News is responsible for the statement that already £13,000 has been disbursed in connection with the work —this no doubt including the cost of buying the land from private owners.