TOWN COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 19434, 24 December 1924, Page 9

TOWN COUNCIL

LAST NIGHTS MEETING. Tie Invercargill Town Council held its fortnightly meeting last evening, there being present the Mayor (Mr Andrew Bain), Councillors A. J. Geddes, W. H. Boyes, C. J. Broderick, C. J. Broad, H. J. Farrant, Alex Glass, John Miller, Hugh Ritchie, R. P. Meek, L. Webb and E. Sheehan. Leave of absence was granted Councillor S. M. REPORTS OF COMMITTEE?. RESERVES. The Committee reported: (1) Having considered the application by the Georgetown Hall and Recreation Committee and recommend that they be supplied with material up to the value of £lB for two swings, one see-saw and one sand-pit; subject to the places of erection etc., on tht Georgetown Recreation Reserve being chosen by the Chairman (Cr. Farrant) and the Head gardener; (2) In connection with the recent bush fires on the Seaward Bush Endowment, recommend that C. H. Powell be granted a compassionate allowance of two bags of grass seed on the distinct understanding that the Corporation acknowledges no liability whatsoever in respect to the origin of, or damage done by, the said fires; (3) With reference to the application by the Invercargill Lawn Tennis Club for permission to erect a new pavilion on their. playing area in Victoria Park, recommend that the plan which is now laid upon the table be approved and permission granted the Club to carry out the work. That portion of their letter relating to the drainage of the building has been referred to the Public Works Committee; (4) Having reconsidered Clause 4 in the previous report which was referred back, and now recommend that during the pleasure of the Council, the Victoria Perk gates at the south end of Coroaation Avenue be opened daily to vehicles for pleasure purposes, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and that the gates at the north end be kept locked so as to prevent through traffic. Speed within the Park to be limited to not more than 6 miles per hour; (5) Having received the Borough Solicitor’s report thereon. and recommend that the transfer of the lease of Sections 1 to 7, Block 6, Campbelltown Hundred, James Adamson to Liddell & Collett, as from the 25th, March, 1924, be consented to on the usual conditions; (6) In regard to the matter of C. G Ward’s lease at Awarua recommend the Railways Dept, be informed that the railway reserve adjoins the road reserve on the Corporation Endowment and that owing to the fact that Ward is occupying the road reserve, Mr Wilson has been compelled to use the the railway reserve as an outlet from hi.s property; (7) With reference to the Head Gardener’s report 13/12/24, recommend that work be continued on the Sandy Point Domain until the end of February, in order that all the manuka scrub which has been cut may be used up; (8) Having the report from the Town Engineer, 15/12/24, re drainage, Seaward Bush Endowment, under consideration; (9) Having examined accounts amounting to £174/12/8, and passed same for payment. FINANCE. The Committee Reported: (11 Having the letter from the W.C.T.U. re rest room for women, still under consideration; (2) Having discussed the matter of renewing the Theatre agreement which expires on the 12th November, 1925, with E. McKeever, and recommend that a new agreement be entered into with him, upon the same terms and conditions as the present agreement (including the additional conditions which were inserted in the assignment) subject to the annual rental being at the rate of £B5O for the first year and £9OO per annum for the second and third years, and that Mr McKeever be notified accordingly; f 3) Having authorised the Town Engineer to have the concrete wall at Pleasure Bay, which supports the west side of the Ladies’ shed repaired and strengthened, at an

estimated cost of £lO, but have no recommendation to make in regard to the Invercargill Amateur Swimming Club’s request, to have one shilling in the slot gas installed in the vicinity of the Bay, the Club to be informed accordingly; (4) With referensce to the Town Clerk’s report 15/12/24 recommend that £1.400 be paid over to the Public Trustee to the credit of the Gasworks Renewal Fund and £6,000 to the credit of the Tramways & Electricity Renewal Fund, out of the respective credit balances at 31st March, 1924; (5) Recommend further, that the old shed now lying near the Tweed Street bridge be offered for sale by tender; (6) Recommend also, that the Valuation Department be asked to have all future unimproved valuations made in multiplies of £5, instead of in single numerals as at present ; (7) Having examined accounts amounting to £579/18/7, and passed same for payment. GAS, TRAMWAYS, ELECTRICITY, AND ABATTOIRS. The Committee Reported (1) Having authorised a requisition by the Gas Department for meters £ll9/8/-; (2) Having received advice from the Clerk of Awards that the Invercargill Tram Way Employees Award takes effect as from the 22nd Deccember, 1924; (3) Having noted that an agreement was reached in connection with the Electrician’s and Linesmen’s Award, and that the same came into force as from I the Bth December; (4) Having received a communication from the Federated Tramway Employees Industrial Union of Workers regarding the question of the competition of motor buses with tramcars, and recommend they be informed that the matter is under consideration; (5) Having received a letter from the Southland Cool Stores Ltd., Bluff, asking to be quoted a special rate per unit for a night load; and recommend they be informed that the Council cannot deal direct with them, but that if an application is made by the Southland Electric Power Board the Council is prepared to come to a special agreement on the terms set out in the Borough Electrical • Engineer’s report 18/12/24, , namely, that current used by the Southland Cool Stores, Bluff, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. will be charged at the rate of jd. per unit nett cash, without discount, provided, (a) That this price shall apply only to current which is used between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.: (b) That the Cool Stores Ltd., receive the full benefit of this concession, and (c) That all records and calculations in connection with this supply are available to the Electricity Department of the Invercargill Borough Council;; (6) That the negotiations with the Southland Electric Power Board, are still proceeding; (7) With reference to the Gas Manager’s report 1 6/12/24, recommend that Miss Todhunter be definitely engaged to give further cookery demonstrations during September, 1925, and that the matter of arranging terms be left in the hands of the Chairman and the Gas Manager; (8) Having authorised the Kelvin Street Office and Showroom to be closed all day on Saturday, the 29th, December and 3rd January; (9) Recommend that the street lights (both gas and electric), be kept lighted one hour later than usual during the Christmas and New Year holidays, viz, from Wednesday, the 24th December, until Saturday, the 3rd January, both days inclusive; (10) Having examined accounts amounting to £2,049/13/11, and passed same for payment. PUBLIC WORKS. You Committee Reported: (1) Having granted W. J. Thomson a permit to erect a sign-board at No. 8, Kelvin Street (Billiard Saloon) , on condition that it does not project more than 6ft 6in from the building; that the frame of the sign be made of hardwood; that the usual indemnity is signed, and that the wAk is carried out to the satisfaction of the Town Engineer; (2) Having received an application from Thomson & Webb for a permit to erect a signboard in front of the Central Dining Room premises in Esk Street, and recommend that a permit be granted subject to the usual conditions and to the sign being erected at a height not less than

10 feet above the footpath; (3) Having informed D. W. Officer in reply to his letter, that the footpath in Wilton Street and Herbert Street, will be levelled and generally improved, but that asphalting cannot be done during the present summer; (4) Having informed G. N. Mackie that his request for permission to plough the flanks of the road in the vicinity of Herbert Street, North Invercargill, in order to obtain soil for filling a low section, cannot be granted; (5) With reference to the letter from the Invercargill Garden Club, recommend they be informed that the Council has no legal power to prohibit drivers of vehicles from using any part of the public street which is not set aside for foot passengers or enclosed and reserved for gardens or lawns; (6) Having declined Stanley A. Hodgson’s application for a taxi license; (7) Having declined Robert Hugh Dixon’s application for a taxi license; (8) Having gone through the draft provisions of By-law No. 9, 1925, with the Borough Solicitor (Mr Longuet) and instructed him to submit the by-law to a special meeting to be held on Tuesday next. (9) With reference to the letter from A. C. Millars, Ltd., re water supply, and recommend that a copy of the Town Engineer’s report 17/12/24, be forwarded to them with a letter stating that the Council admits no liability. (10) Having received several letters from owners of frontages in Thames street, agreeing to purchase their frontages on the terms offered, and have held the matter over pending receipt of further replies. (11) Having informed five Newcastle street ratepayers that the programme for this summer includes the asphalting of the footpath in Newcastle street between Leith and Perth streets, and that the work will shortly be carried out. (12) With reference to the matter of taking a poll on the Dunsdale water gravitation scheme, recommend that the resolution which was passed at the meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, December 9 (Gas, Tramways, Electricity Committee Report, 4/12/24, Clause 7a) be and is hereby rescinded, and that the date of the poll be postponed until Wednesday March 18. (13) Having considered the undermentioned plans of subdivision, and recommend they be consented to and certified on the usual condition: Lots 11, 12, 13 and 14, Block IV., Appleby—P. B. Macdonald. Sec. 22’ Block LX., Town of Invercargill—G. S. Keddell. Pt. Lot 24, Sylvan Band—G. E. Keddell. (14) Having considered a plan of subdivision of Lot 75, McMaster’s Estate (G. S. Keddell) and recommend it be not consented to, as it does not comply with the by-law. (15) Having granted tWo loans to instal sewerage, totalling £72 10/6. (16) Having received a letter from a casual employee, applying for sick pay, and recommend that he be granted a compassionate allowance of £5. (17) Having instructed the Town Engineer to proceed with the construction of a public drain through private property, namely, Section 4, Block XL, Township of Clinton, owned by Mrs Rosa Martin, no written objection having been lodged. (18) Having received and opened one tender from Booth Macdonald and Co., Ltd., for the construction and erection of bucket elevator, and recommend it be declined, and that the matter of having this plant installed be left in the hands of the Mayor and Town Engineer to deal with. (19) Having received a letter from S. E. Barnes, suggesting improvements in Chapman street, Lindisfarne, and recommend he be replied to in terms of the Town Engineer’s report, 16/12/24. (20) Having received a memorandum from the Borough solicitors, 13/12/24, and recommend that consent fo a right-of-way be endorsed upon a lease of Part Section 20, Block 3, Town of Invercargill, Agnes Hay to Alfred Cundall, (21) With reference to the matter of installing sewerage in the new pavilion to be erected on the Invercargill Lawn Tennis Club’s playing arqa in Victoria Park, recommend the Club be informed that the Council will lay a special drain connection to the building line from the Gala street main sewer, provided the Club is willing to increase their present rental of £4 per annum to an amount which will include the repayment of the cost of the work, with interest cal- [ culated at the rate of 6 per cent, per

annum, spread over a period of 14 years. (22) Having the matter of installing sewered conveniences at Pleasure Bay, under consideration. (23) Having examined accounts amounting to £1638 18/6, and passed same for payment. The Committee reports were adopted without amendment. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs J. G. Ward and Company wrote stating that they were requiring a site for an oil store and as the remaining sections in the present area were rather unsuitable they asked that the area might be extended up Spey street and a site allotted to them there.—Referred to Public Works Committee for consideration. The secretary of the Returned Soldiers Association wrote stating that the Association desired to discontinue unemployed relief works under the subsidised scheme as from December 31.—Received. Mr Charles A. Henderson wrote accepting appointment as a representative of the Council on the Southland Electric Power Boar*.—Received. GENERAL. It was decided that the next meeting of the Council should be held on February 3 and that an Emergency Committee consisting of the Mayor and the Chairmen of the various Committees be appointed to attend to any urgent matters should they arise in the meantime.