TOWN COUNCIL REPORTS

Southland Times, Issue 16844, 21 September 1911, Page 2

TOWN COUNCIL REPORTS

Following are the reports to be ‘presented to the Borough Council at its meeting this evening. PUBLIC WORKS CO Mil ITT EE.

The Committee recommend :—(1) That Mr Harrington be informed that the "building erected close to bis boundary in Leet street, by Air Bath, was approved by the Town Engineer, and that the Council has since confirmed his action ; the committee have therefore no lecommendation u> make. (2) That Messrs' D. Gait and Son Vie informed that the Council is willing' to vary the conditions of their lease of the Seaward Bush endowment, so as to provide that •The tenant shall complete the cleaning and straightening of the creek not later than 21st March. 1014. to the satisfaction .of the Town Engineer. (3) *Ttiat the Town Engineer be instructed •to report on the question of providing suitable name places for the streets, with the view of calling tenders for same. (-1) That the Gladstone school authorities be informed that the Coun<c'l is willing to undertake the removal of nigh.tsoil from the two schools at a charge of £3 per half-year. The refuse removal to be charged at ordinary .rates, til) That, Mr Rillstone be informed that the Council purpose’taking the necessary steps authorising them to lease the quarry reserve at Greenhills. (S) That offers be invited from tlio.se ■willing to lease a suitable nightsoll despot to the borough for a term of five years from the Ist May, 1312, the date on which the present lease expires, conditions of lease to be on similar lines to the present agreement. (7) That Messrs Watson and Haggitt, acting for Mr David Norton, be informed that the lease of the present nightsoil depot expires on Ist Alay next, and that the Council is inviting fresh tenders for «. suitable depot. (S) That the trustees in the estate of the late J. T. Thomson be offered a total sum of £SOO for the atrip of land alongside the railway and through East-end. containing in all 41 acres 1 rood, as per plan submitted. (9) That Thomson street from Thames Street, Northern!, be formed and gravelled as recommended by the engineer, at a cost of £35. <10) Tliat a number of small repairs to the Gladstone Town Hall be carried out as recommended by the Town Engineer at a cost of £6. (11) That during the employment of a number of extra hands on loan work, the suggestion of the engineer to pay the men where they may be working be agreed to. (12) That Air Colin Macdonald be informed that tire Council is willing to complete the streets, drains, etc., at Wellesley, as recommended by the Town Engineer, at a total estimated cost of £577 15s ; including a third of the cost for piping in the main sewer from the North Road to the railway- The Council is prepared on payment of the amount in full to accept dedication of the streets as suggested. (13) That the railway authorities be asked if they could see their way clear to erect a fence on their boundary between Crinan and Liddel streets, as the Corporation have been planting a number of trees in that locality. The Committee report;—(l4) having held a conference with tlie plumbers and drainlayersi and recommend that the Council adhere to the previous resolution agreed to on 13th July last, viz., “That the Corporation undertake the whole of the drain laying, including private connections to ratepayers’ premises in the borough.” (15) Having approved of the requisition for goods for the Public Works Department amounting to £ll3 2s lid, and the Sanitary Department amounting to £5. ‘ GAS AND WATER COAIMITTEE. The Committee recommend :—(1) That the application of Messrs C. Lambeth on behalf of Air J. AlcQueen, and J. E. Watson, for a water supply to their respective properties be declined in the meantime, as the Council has decided that no extension of water mains are to be made until the present supply is increased. (2) That in addition to the business to be dealt with at the fpecial meeting to be held on Thursday. the 2Sth inst. the following proJosals in - connection with the water fupply be added to the order paper : (1) Increasing the present supply for the toming summer ; (2) repairs and extensions to t lie present reservoirs; (3) the method to be adopted to increase the jircsem supply on a permanent basis; (4) reticulating the outer area of the borough. The Committee report ;—(3) Having approved of the Gasworks’ requisition for goods at an estimated cost of £55 3s. FINANCE COAIAIITTEE. The Committee recommend :—(1) That the Rangiora Borough Council be informed that tills. Council is in entire sympathy with their suggestion to • censor objectionable pictures, although so far as local entertainments are concerned no complaints have been brought under the notice of the Council. (2) That the application from the Labour Department to register the Theatre under the Factory Act be agreed to and would suggest that the question raised by the Palmerston North Borough in connection with registration should be referred to the Municipal Conference for its consideration. The Committee report : —(3) Having examined accounts amounting to £10,394 6s, and recommend that they be paid. SPECIAL TRAMS COAIMITTEE. The Committee report ;—Having examined accounts amounting to £0492 15s Sd, and handed them on to the Finance Committee for recommendation. SPECIAL COAIAIITTEE. The Committee appointed re reservoir report :—After examining the following gentlemen : Messrs AV. Sharp (late Town Engineer), O. F. Clapcott (Borough Engineer). .1. Howie (contractor), and A. Harped (Waterworks Engineer), the reservoir was constructed in Alarch, April, and Alay. Edit, at a cost of £3OO. One hundred and forty-six casks of Portland cement were used, being the specified quantity. The total quantity of materia! used was about 150 yards. Tiie thickness specified was four indies. The excavation for the reservoir was done by separate contract. The Committee find ;—(1) That in our opinion the leaking of the reservoir is caused by a subsidence of the made-up clay hanks. (2) Tiie Committee think that it would have been bettor to have constructed the walls of the reservoir six inches in thickness. Instead of four, as specified, but even bad this been done, it is very questionable whether the wall would have stood tiie subsidence of tiie clay bank. (3) We find the Council at the time were not desirous of spending a large sum on the reservoir. and consequently the engineer had to design it and carry out tiie work at a low figure. (4) We find the contractor carried out his work in accordance with the specifications. (5) Tiie evidence of the engineers slows that work of tills nature should be carried out in future With reinforced concrete. WATER SUPPLY. E N GIX EER ’ S REP OU T. The Town Engineer. Mr G. F. Clapcott. reports as follows ; I beg to report as follows as to cost of installing temporary pumping plant at the waterworks to pump from fiin bore and to lie used as a standby in the event of shortage of water during the coming summer. To obtain the full benefit of How from so small a pipe the air lift principle as previously recommended i; the best to adopt, ’this will require air compressor, receiver, and power. An offer to hire a suitable compressor has been received from Auckland at £1 10s per month for compressor. Corporation pay all charges. A gas engine for driving compressor can" be hired locally for 15s per week. Compressor can be delivered in three weeks’ time. As an alternative a compressor can bo purchased secondhand In Dunedin for £135, and a portable steam engine can bo hired at 30s per week. The cost of supplementing the supply will bo fairly costly, which ever way the pumping is carried out. I would advise as follows : That a beltdriven 'compressor be purchased at £135, «fr receiver £2B. cost, of installing gas engine, fitting up. etc., including gas connection and air pipes from compressor £40 —total, £203.