BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 20488, 16 May 1928, Page 2

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

TOWN COUNCIL MEETS. The Invercargill Town Council met last evening, Mr John Miller (Mayor) presiding over Councillors W. Hinchey, Robertson, G. R. Cooper, J. H. Tattersfield, C. J. Brodrick, S. M. Macalister, C. B. Tapley, A. C. Ford, G. J. Reed and E. Sheehan. The National Mortgage and Agency Company wrote drawing attention to the fact that the road in the front of their store in Tyne street required some attention. Some time ago the company at their own expense procured a truck of gravel from Oporo and spread it on to keep the road in order alongside the store. On the other side of the street there were about four or five feet covered with grass and the company suggested that a day or two with the grader might fix it up in such a way that instead of water remaining on the road and running back into the sections upon which the stores were it could run into the railway channel. It was hardly necessary for the company to remind the Council that the rates they paid were £65 per annum and it was a long time since they had asked the Council to do anything in the way of fixing the street up.—Referred to Works Committee with power to act.

The Medical Officer of Health in Dunedin wrote as follows: —“In reply to your letter of April 19 I have to state that approval has been given to your request that this Department continue to supervise public health matters in South Invercargill until September 30, 1928. This will be done on the same conditions and terms of payment as were in force in South Invercargill prior to amalgamation.—Received and noted. A petition, signed by D. F. iScott and others, with reference to a fence on Pomona Road was laid on the Council table. After the ordinary business the Council went into .committee to review salaries and wages of Council servants. COMMITTEES’ REPORTS. The following reports of committees were dealt with:— RESERVES. The committee reported having gone through the draft estimates in connection with the endowment, reserves and Gardens, Waihopai, Queen’s Park and cemetery and referred them to the Finance Committee. PUBLIC BATHS. The committee reported having gone through the draft estimates for the year 1928-29 and referred same to Finance Oommittee.

With reference to the Town Engineer’s report 24/4/28, recommend (a) That the Southland Technical College Board be advised under the “Fencing Act, 1908” that the Council intend to erect an iron fence on the southern boundary between the municipal baths and the old High School and requesting them to advise the corporation if they are agreeable to defray half the cost thereof, (b) That upon receipt of the reply from the Southland Technical College Board, the Town Engineer be authorized to proceed with the work ot erecting the iron fence at an estimated cost of £37 11/-, provision for which has been made in the 1928-29 estimates.

With reference to the architect, Mr E. R. Wilson’s letter 4/5/28, recommend the Town Engineer be authorized to carry out the work of repairing the asphalt in the yard of the Technical College adjoining the baths building, at an estimated cost of £l5, which has been provided in the 1928-29 estimates, the work not to be proceeded with until the fence authorized in clause 2, has been erected.

GAS, TRAMS, ELECTRICITY AND

ABBATTOIR.

The committee reported having approved the following draft, estimates for 1927-28: Streets public lightings, abattoirs, gas works, power supply, tramways, electricity, and referred them to the Finance Committee. Having received a letter from Messs. Keddell and Hewat, 23/4/28, on behalf of Messrs Lynch and Coutts, in respect to accident on the Main North Road on April 4 and recommend they be informed that the Council disclaims liability. Having received a letter from Gordon J. Reed 1/5/28, on behalf of Mr T. L. Gilson with reference to damages to cart through colliding with a corporation tram car on April 30, and recommend he be informed that the Council disclaims liability. FINANCE. The committee reported: With reference to the letter from the Main Highways Board, having noted that the board has approved payment of the sum of £306, covering the petrol tax collected to March 31, 1928, recommend this sum be placed on fixed deposit for a term of six months and credited to a separate account to be called the “Petrol Tax Trust Account.” With reference to the letter from the Southland League, 24-2-28, recommend that the contribution to the league for the year ended March 31, 1929, be increased from £lOO to £llO owing to the fact that a large portion of South Invercargill Borough has been amalgamated with the main borough. Having received a letter from the Southland Hospital Board, 1-5-28, and noted that the council’s portion of the levy for the year ending March 31, 1929, will be £4442, payable by equal quarterly instalments of £lllO 10/-. W'ith reference to the letter from W. A. Ott and Co., 24-4-28, recommend the borough auctioneer be authorized to offer by public auction lease of parts sections 11, 12 and 13, block 9, Town of Invercargill, on the usual condition and at an upset rental of £B5 per annum, plus insurance, refuse removal and sewerage charges for a term of seven years; lease to contain provisions similar to those of the existing lease.

Having approved the following transfer of leasehold: Section 13, block 5. Town of Invercargill, A. E. D. Stuck and others to C. R. Burnham, on the prescribed conditions.

With reference to the electrical reticulation in the recently amalgamated area of South Invercargill Borough, recommend the borough solicitor be instructed to take the necessary steps to serve formal notice on the Southland Electric Power Board, that the Invercargill Borough Council intend to take over the reticulation of this area under clause 7 of the agreement, 7-4-25, and request the board to make the necessary arrangements for the change-over and valuation as soon as possible. PUBLIC WORKS. The committee reported: Recommend the Town Engineer be authorized to proceed with the work of draining and filling in three chains of the open ditch in Elies road north at an estimated cost of £l4O, to be charged against the Unemployment Loan No. 1, 1926, vide his report, 4-4-28.

Having received and noted the letter from the borough solicitors, 4-5-28, advising that the application to have the Oreti beach vested in the Corporation, has been forwarded to the Minister of Marine, and have also forwarded copies to the Chief Surveyor and the Southland County Council.

Having received a letter from B. J. Ager, 4-5-28, referring to the erection of a fourstorey block at the south-west corner of Dee and Esk streets (Lewis and Co. building), and recommend his letter be referred to the borough solicitors for legal opinion and that the reply thereto be left in the hands of his Worship the Mayor and the Town Clerk.

With reference to the petition from ten Elizabeth street ratepayers, which was referred to the committee with power to act, having informed them that the council intend to remove the South Invercargill refuse to the Spey street tip. ‘ With reference to the letter from R. Barry, having left the matter of allowing a second coffee stall during May Fair Week in the hands of the Borough Inspector to deal with, providing it is moved to a different position in the Crescent away from the present stand in Esk street; license of £1 to be charged for the week.