CITY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 14506, 26 August 1910, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL

THURSDAY, 25th AUGUST. The fortnightly meeting was attended by the Mavor (Mr W. A. Ott), and Cr.s. Baird, Bain, Kilby, Strang. Cooper. W. Stead. Brown, Rabbidge, Rice. Prain, Harper, Hannah, McKay. Moffett, 11cCulloch, Carnahan. Knuckey, Blocmfield, Ferrar, McNeilage, Brass, Roche, McFarlane, Carswell, Dunlop, Scandrett, Rovds, Galbraith, Lennie, Corson, Lillicrap, Ekensteen, Eraser, Brent, Todd, R. Mitchell, and Cooke. Leave of absence for the meeting was granted Crs. Wesney, Adcock, Curtis, Mitchell, Jno. Stead, Fleming and Hawke; and for three months to Cr. Simon. CORRESPONDENCE. The Southland Branch of the Navy League was granted permission to use Queen's Park on 21st October for a Trafalgar Day demonstration. The Ladies' Hockey Association was granted permission to charge for admittance to Queen's Park on "th September; and the Hockey Association to charge similarly on 14th September. The local branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers protested (as noted elsewhere) against the Corporation gettins: a locomotive for the tramways construction work from England and America.—The engineer reported on the matter, and the Council "received" the letter.

The Grocers' Industrial Union of Employers forwarded a requisition signed by 28 grocers asking that the hours of closing be fixed at 6 p.m. on ordinary week nights and 9 p.m. on Saturdays.— The Borough Inspector certified to the requisition as required, and the Council ordered it to be forwarded to the Minister.

Four residents drew attention .to the state of the footpath in Annan street, between Ettrick and Crinan streets. — Works Committee to report. Haywards' Picture Enterprise Co. intimated that it would open in the Theatre on 7th September, on the terms arranged with the Council. —Referred to the Theatre Committee to act.

D. Gait and Son (Waimatua), lessees of an endowment, intimated that they would be satisfied to accept the offer of free rent for three years for cleaning the creek through the property, but they could not accept the offer of reduced rent of Is per acre, and valuation for improvments (at end of lease) of 15s per acre for stumping and draining. It amounted to £285 5s for stumping 189 acres. It cost at least £lO per acre to free- land from stumps and roots, and to drain it, and that was what they fixed on as a fair valuation. They asked that the valuation be fixed by arbitration.—Considered in conjunction with the Works Committee's report. TENDERS. Seventeen tenders, representing £47,400, were received for the £17,000 consolidated loan, and three were accepted. —One of £SOO at a premium of £2 4s. one of £2,000 at £1 16s, and one of £14,600 at £1 15s. COMMITTEE REPORTS. In the Works Committee's report (published on Wednesday) clause 3, relating to D. and L. Gait's lease was referred back to the Committee for further consideration. The Gas and Water Committee's report (already published) was adopted. The Finance Committee's report (as published) was adopted. The Tramways Committee's report was adopted as published. OFFICERS' REPORTS. The Acting Town Engineer reported that the deep bore had passed, a depth of 160 feet. The report continued: — "The strata passed through is of a similar nature to that in the Corporation office, and of a much more open nature than anything passed through in the first bore, and carrying a large volume of water. From 53 to 56 feet a strong flow was met with, which did not appear to be affected by pumping at the well, and from 110 to 142 feet, free gravel was passed through, carrying large quantities of water. Similar tests were made as carried out previously, and there appears to be no question that there is plenty of water to warrant putting down a well at this spot, and driving to the existing one possibly, in the event of the deep bore being a failure. I mention this assuming that (he driest summer has had no effect on the supply at the present well. At the present time the whole country is heavily charged with water." The Gardener reported on the routine work of the past fortnight, and also on the conditions governing the letting of the reserves and Park paddocks. He recommended that the leases be sold on 24th September, and that a small piece of ground at the foot of Clyde street (leased by Mr Hamilton) be withdrawn from the auction sale, as the present lessee had fenced it. and should someone else get it, the Council would have to pay more to erect a fence than it would get for the lease. The present lessee would renew at £1 per year. The reports were referred to the respective Committees. NOTICE OF MOTION.

Cr. McKav was proceeding to move the motion of which he had given notice, "that the Victoria Hall be not let for meetings of a noisy nature on ordinary Council meeting nights," when Cr. Roche raised the plaint of order. That Cr. McKay should first have given notice to rescind the Council's resolution that the hall be let on any night subject to certain conditions.

The Mayor upheld the point and ruled that Cr. 'McKay would have to give notice to rescind the previous resolution, and further notice to move as he had intended.

The Council then adjourned at 10.5 p.m.