BOROUGH COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 20204, 15 June 1927, Page 8

BOROUGH COUNCIL

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED. OFFICIAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES. (Continued from yesterday’s Issue.) Following is the text of the report of the Borough Council for the year 1926-7. — MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE: (Held at Palmerston North, February 9th, 1927.) Six remits were submitted by Invercargill, of which five were carried and one amended, as follows: HARBOUR BY-LAWS: “That the Government be urged to amend the ‘Harbours Act, 1923,’ and Regulations thereunder, so as to bring the procedure for making Harbour By-laws into line with the procedure for making Municipal By-laws, laid down in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, vide Sections 63, 359, etc., and provide that type-written copies instead of printed copies shall be submitted to the Minister of Marine for his approval, thus saving unnecessary expense when amendments are required to be made.” CONSECUTIVE NO. ON VOTING PAPERS TO BE MACHINE PRINTED: “That the Government be asked to ajnend Section 30, Sub-Section 2, Local Elections and Polls Act, 1925, also Section 6 of the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Act, 1926, so as to provide that the consecutive number to be entered on the top right hand corner of the Voting Papers .shall not be concealed, but machine printed on the counterfoil, and also on the front of the Voting Paper.” CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER PUBLIC WORKS ACT AWARDS: “That the attention of the Government be drawn to the injustice suffered by Ratepayers of Cities and large Boroughs in being compelled to contribute towards the cost of construction, reconstruction and maintenance of Main Highways outside their own boundaries under Section 109 of the Public Works Act, 1908, in view of the fact that owners of Motor Vehicles residing in Cities and large Boroughs are already taxed by way of registration and Annual License fees which are used by the Main Highways Board to subsidise Counties and small Boroughs up to *l2/- in the £ on their road expenditure; therefore Town ratepayers are being taxed twice over and that the Government be urged to amend Section 109, Public Works Act, 1908, and Section 7 of the Main Highways Amendment Act, 1925, accordingly.” MOTOR OMNIBUSES OUTSIDE SCHEDULED DISTRICTS: “That Motor Omnibuses running outside the Scheduled Districts be required to comply with the provisions of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, 1926, in regard to the inspection of vehicles, insurance, and notification of accidents.” VOTING PAPERS AT LOAN POLLS: “That the Government be asked to amend the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1926, so as to provide that where more than one Loan proposal is submitted to a Poll of the Ratepayers, the Voting paper shall be in a form similar to that used for the Election of Mayor or Councillors; the voter to leave untouched the name of the loan for which he desires to vote and to draw a line through the name of the loan for which he does not desire to vote.” The following remit was amended:— TOWN CLERKS’ ASSOCIATION: “That the proposal to establish a Town Clerks’ Association be supported, providing Membership be limited to Town Clerks of Cities, Boroughs and Town Boards.” As finally adopted, it read:— “That the proposal to establish a Town Clerks’ Association be approved.” GENERAL: 124 remits were considered, of which 98 were carried, 16 were lost, 2 withdrawn, 5 lapsed, and 3 referred to the Executive. INVERCARGILL-BLUFF ROAD: Several Conferences with the County Council, Bluff Borough Council and the South Invercargill Borough Council were held to consider the question of apportioning the cost of maintaining the Bluff-Inver - cargill Road. At the final Conference 12th November, a motion was carried, recommending that not more than £5OO be spent up to the 31st March, 1927, and apportioned County 50 per cent., Invercargill 30 per cent., Bluff 15 per cent., W. B. Dixon 5 per cent. The Invercargill delegates, the Mayor (Mr. A. Bain) and Cr. Miller reported that they did not agree to this Resolution and did not vote, but recommended the Council that a donation of £5O be handed over on condition that it was spent on that portion of the road between Greenhills and Ocean Beach. This was agreed to and the donation accepted. MOTOR LORRY LICENSE FEES: The apportionment of these pooled fees was fixed by the Stipendiary Magistrate on a percentage basis, Invercargill receiving 12 per cent. Later, an attempt was made to carry out the Regulation requiring Mileage Returns to be kept by each vehicle showing the distances travelled within each district, but they were found so difficult to obtain and those sent in were so obviously unreliable that the percentage system was reverted to by mutual agreement between the Local Bodies concerned. Pooled fees for year ended 31/3/27 amounted to £4,043. SOUTHLAND ELECTRIC POWER BOARD RATING SYSTEM. A Conference of Southland Boroughs and Town Boards was held on the 11th March, when it was decided to take joint action to oppose the proposal by the Southland Electric Power Board to change the system of levying the Power Board Rate from the Unimproved Value to the Capital Value. Judgment was subsequently given in. favour of the Boroughs. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF WORKS: Unemployment was more severely felt in Invercargill during the Winter of 1926 than for several years past, being partly due to the Sewerage Reticulation Works being almost completed and to lack of funds to finish the remaining portion of the town. Advantage was therefore promptly taken of the Government Bill for the relief of unemployment, to authorise by Special Order a Loan of £11,700 for various works, including £2,000 for Baths, Swimming Pool, and £6,600 for Sewerage. Arrangements were made with the Returned Soldiers’ Association, as in previous years to subsidise £ for £ their Poppy Day Fund, and under this scheme £646 was expended for labour on Borough Reserves, Playing Areas, etc., work being carried on until the 30th October. Also £329 on Public Works, these amounts being divided equally between the Corporation and the R.S.A. ORETI BRIDGE: The popular agitation for a bridge over the Oreti River at Dunn’s Road to give access by way of a road across the Sandy Point Domain to the Beach was brought to a head when a deputation consisting of members of the Southland League and prominent citizens waited upon the Council on the 11th May. The matter was referred to the Public Works Committee by whose instructions plans and specifications were prepared by the Town Engineer (Mr. T. O. Fox) who estimated the cost of a one-way bridge with passing place and approaches at £6,400, of a two-way bridge complete at £9OO and of the road at £BOO. He also recommended that £4OO be allowed in case it is found necessary to construct some form of bank protection work. After consideration, the Council decided to take a Poll on a proposal to raise £11,300 for a two-way bridge. This was carried by a substantial majority on January 26, 1927. It was stated by the deputation that the work would be subsidised by a Government subsidy of £4OO. STREET IMPROVEMENTS: After considerable negotiation, the bottle neck in Yarrow Street, (East) between Ritchie Street and Lindisfarne Road, was widened to one chain and the frontages adjusted.

Kerbed grass plots were constructed in Tweed Street between Nith and Conon Streets, as part of the relief of unemployment works. £4OO had been allocated in a 1919 Loan for this purpose, and was supplemented by an additional £3OO in the Unemployment Loan, but the £7OO proved insufficient and the work is not completed. Forth Street, between Conon and Nith Streets, was authorised to be graded, kerbed and sealed. The cost proved to be more than double what was estimated by the Tow i Engineer (Mr. T. O. Fox) and the work is not yet completed. Wellington Street w’as extended through to Hardy Street, cs the result of Mr. J. T. F. Mitchell’s property Ellesland being subdivided. Further information in connection with Streets, etc., will be found in the Town Engineer’t' report. PLANS OF SUBDIVISIONS: Thirty-five plans of proposed subdivisions were approved during the year. DAMAGE TO ROADS AND STREETS BY MOTOR TRAFFIC: The following resolution submitted by the Hamilton Borough Council was endorsed by the Invercargill Borough Council (8.6.26.) “That this Council views with the gravest concern the increasing burden which is being placed on its ratepayers in respect to the formation and maintenance of the streets and is unanimous'}' of the opinion : (1) That such increased charges are due solely to the demands of and the damage caused by motor traffic. (2) That it is totally inequitable to burden the ratepayers with the whole of these charges. (3) That the Government be strongly urged to introduce the necessary Legislation, during the coming Session and as a matter of urgency, transferring an equitable proportion of this burden from the ratepayers to the user of the roads and streets.” EXTENSION OF ELECTRIC STREET LIGHTING: Continuing the policy of gradually replacing gas street lighting by electric, the Council authorised an extension throughout the districts bounded by Elies* Road on the west, Bamborough Road on the east, Islington Road on the south and King Street on the North, at an estimated capital cost of £2,900. Eighty-six gas lamps were thus displaced causing a loss of revenue to the Gas Department of £3BB per annum. ALTERATIONS TO ATHENAEUM BUILDING: Considerable attention was devoted by the Library Committee to the matters of releasing the various offices and shops in Colonial Chambers and Athenaeum Building. The corner shop, occupied for many years by the Bible and Book Society, becoming vacant, it was decided to carry out extensive alterations, and to construct a verandah round the Dee Street and Esk Street frontages. Plans having been prepared by Mr. E. R. Wilson, Architect, the Building Inspector Mr J. Flaus) was given charge of the work, who carried it out to the complete satisfaction of the Council. Finance was provided under an arrangement by which the General Account advanced the capital cost, being repayable by 23 annual instalments equal to 8 per cent on same, charged annually against the Library Account. FELDWICK MEMORIAL GATES: An excellent bronze bust of the late John Feldwick was unveiled and the Gates officially opened on the 22nd December, 1926, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. Bain) performing the ceremony. NEW BAND ROTUNDA IN VICTORIA PARK: An offer was received from the Trustees of the late Dominion Band to donate £3OO towards the cost of erecting a Band Rotunda in Victoria Park, in Memory of Bandsmen who fell in the Great War. This has been subsidised £ ior £ by placing £3OO in a Separate Bank z\ccount, although the money has not yet been received. The total cost of the new structure was estimated by Mr. E. R. Wilson, Architect, at £1,300. OLD FIRE BRIGADE STATION: Invercargill Fire Board terminated their lease of the Fire Brigade Station and land on the 30th June, when it was decided to convert the first floor into offices for the accommodation of the Town Engineer and staff, Borough Inspectors and Building Inspector. APARIMA (RIVERTON) BRIDGE: Objections were lodged by the Council to Invercargill being made a contributing Authority to the cost of constructing or establishing the Aparima Bridge on the grounds (a) That the Borough of Invercarg : ll is not a district adjacent to the Borough of Riverton: (b) That the bridge will not be of advantage or benefit to the who’e or to any considerable portion of its inhabitants. AMALGAMATION WITH SOUTH INVERCARGILL: The following answers were given to a communication from the South Invercirgiil Amalgamation Committee, 20/7/26: 1. That the Invercargill Borough Council would be prepared to take in a portion of South Invercargill and abs<>rb it in the main Borough. 2. That approximately three years must elapse before a water supply would be available in this area. * 3. That a water and sewerage vite would not have to be paid in this area before these conveniences were obtained. 4. That it is not considered necessary to meet the Amalgamation Committee to discuss the matter, as if further information be required it can be asked for by letter. MODEL PLOT FOR COMPULSORY AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION: The Middle School Committee were granted the use, free of charge, of half an acre of the Reserve, known as the No. 4 Gardens, at the corner of Ythan Street and Forth Street, instead of the area previously granted on the Eastern Reserve. A similar sized plot adjacent thereto has also been granted to the Technical College, a condition being that the ground is kept clean and tidy. STREET COLLECTIONS—I 926-27: The following permits were granted for street collections, etc., Returned Soldiers’ Association, (Poppy Day) April 24. Y.W.C.A. July 24. Ladies Hockey Association, August 21. Children’s House and Free Kindergarten Association, October 2. Barnado Day Fund, October 30. Southern Princess Committee, July 17. A REDUCED CHARGE FOR HEATING WATER BY ELECTRICITY : A reduced charge was authorised ota March 2nd as follows: Electric supply for continuous water heating: One heating element of not more than 500 watts capacity in water tank on separate meter 1 l-Bd. per unit less 10 per cent. Minimum charge 2/3d. per month less 10 per cent. REDUCED CHARGE FOR GAS: An important alteration in the method of charging for gas was adopted (December 7) by authorising a sliding scale under which users would be charged lower and lower prices as their consumption increased. The Sliding Scale commences at 8/4 per 1,000 up to 5,000 cubic feet, and drops to 5/sd. Iser 1,000 where 250,000 cubic feet are consumed. TAXI STANDS AND PARKING PLACES FOR PRIVATE CARS: Owing to road improvement works being carried out in the main streets, various changes had to be made in the situation of stands for taxis and parking places for private motors. MOTOR OMNIBUS REGULATIONS: Invercargill was officially appointed the licensing Authority in Motor Omnibus District No. 13, the Mayor (Mr. A. Bain) being appointed to represent the Council on the Transport Appeal Board. HARBOUR RECLAMATION: Reclamation Area Lot No 2, comprising 200 acres, was handed back by the Prisons , Department, on the 31st March, 1926.