CITY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 21196, 24 September 1930, Page 9

CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. D. Campbell) and Councillors W. Hinchey, T. O’Byrne, A. J. Ball, J. G. Imlay, F. G. Hall-Jones, C. J. Brodrick, H. J. Macalister, A. C. Ford, G. J. Reed and E. Sheehan. Requests were received from the Free Kindergarten Council and the Salvation Army for permission to hold street collection days. Both requests were granted. Reports of Committees. The. clauses of public ’interest in the reports of committees as adopted by the council were as follows: Baths Committee. Swimming Carnivals: The swimming carnival held for the officers and men of H. Dunedin was a great success. The committee has recorded its appreciation of the splendid work done by the superintendent and his assistant in organizing and running the carnival. The question of promoting further swimming carnivals during the season is receiving consideration. Coal: Recommend that the baths superintendent confer with the chairman ot the Bath and Trading Committees and the gas manager with reference to the purchasing from the gas department of supplies of coal for the baths. Baths Cashier: Recommend that Miss Isaacs, of Pomona Road, Invercargill, be appointed to the position of temporary cashier for the. baths for the period from October 1, 1930, to March 18, 1931, al a salary of 30/- per week subject to conditions to be framed by the Town Clerk. Reserves Committee. Oreti Sands Township: Recommend (1) That the remaining streets in Oreti Sands township be named as follows: Dune Crescent to be extended from Beach Road to the first angle in the road on the northern side of Beach Road. Ridgway Road from the end of Dune Crescent to the south-west corner of Section 1, Block IV, and the south-west corner of Section 1, Block 111. Longwood Road from Ridgway Road to Pacific Avenue. Toi-toi Road from Pacific Avenue to the south-west corner of Section 23, Block HI, and the north-west corner of Section 2, Block 11. (2) That the approval of the Southland County Council be obtained to the construction of the following roads-at an estimated cost of £510; Pacific Avenue from Marram Road to Toitoi Road; Dune Crescent; Ridgway Road from Dune Crescent to Toi-toi Road; Toitoi Road. (3) That the upset rentals for sections to be offered for lease be fixed as follows: Sections in Pacific Avenue, £2 each; sections in Dune Crescent, except Section 1, Block 1, £2 15/- each; sections in Toi-toi Road, £2 each; sections in Ridgway Road, £2 10/- each; Section 1, Block I, £7. Playing Areas —Biggar street: Having rereceived a letter from the Southland Rugby Football Union asking that the surface of the playing areas on the Biggar street reserve be improved. Recommend that the Rugby Union be advised that it is proposed to top-dress the areas with superphosphate this season and with soil next season, if necessary. Soil Sterilization Plant: Having authorized the Superintendent of Reserves to purchase a boiler from the Works Department at a cost of £lO and to install same in the nursery for the purpose of steam sterilizing soil. The total estimated cost of the plant is £22. Top-dressing Playing Areas: Having authorized the Superintendent of Reserves to top-dress with superphosphate at an estimated cost of £8 15/- six playing areas in Biggar street and two areas in Queens Park. Offer of Land at Greenhills for Scenic Purposes: Having received a letter from Mr J. B. Thomson stating that Mr A. McDonald at Greenhills has an area of 50 or 60 acres of native bush on his property at Greenhills. The bush was. frequented by pigeons, tuis and. other small native birds. Mr McDonald had received an offer for the - timber but would like to see the property made a public reserve so that the bush would be saved for all time. He asked if the council was interested in the offer. Recommend that the letter be referred to the Southland League with a suggestion that representations be made to the Minister in Charge of the Scenery Preservation Department to have the area acquired for the purposes of a scenic reserve. Works Committee. Motor Car Parking Places: Recommend that the present private car stand situated on the north side of Esk street between Kelvin street and Deveron street be abolished and that a private car stand be created on the south side of Esk street between Deveron street and the Town Hall right-of-way, being the north-east corner of Section 6, Block 111., Town of Invercargill. cars to be parked head in to kerb at an angle of 60 degrees facing the kerb, to be lighted in accordance with the motor vehicle regulations and in accordance with the conditions adopted by council for the regulation of cars using such stands. Recommend that the private car stand on the eastern side of Kelvin street between Esk street and Don street be altered by reducing the length of the stand by 15ft at the Esk street end so that cars cannot be parked within 35ft of the corner of Esk street.

Motor Omnibus and Service Car Stands: Having under consideration the question of establishing motor omnibus and service car stands.. j. Taxi Stands: Having authorized the traffic inspector to have regulation signboards erected at the taxi stands. Inspectors’ Department: Having under consideration the question of office accommodation and clerical assistance for the sanitary inspectors and the traffic inspector. . Workers’ Compensation Act: Having received a letter from the Southland Employers’ Association stating that it had been advised that the Government was about to introduce a Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, and if it contained all the amendments recommended by the investigating committee the premiums for insurance would be increased by 50 per cent., stating that it would be necessary to fight the Bill and asking for the council's co-operation. Building Permits: Having received a letter from the New Zealand Institute of Architects stating: “It has been brought to the notice of the council of this-institute that there are occasional instances of the drawings and specifications required to be deposited with local authorities prior to the granting of building permits not being as adequate or satisfactory as they should be in the interests of the public and to fulfil their intended purposed. The council of the institute asks that local bodies will give this matter earnest consideration with a view to improvement, where needed, in the conditions now existing. It is also considered that it would be desirable that local authorities should make it obligatory that all drawings and specifications should be signed by the originator, so that he may be held responsible for the work which he has done.” Recommend that the letter be referred to the City Engineer for attention. Finance Committee. Contribution Cancer Research Fund: Having considered the letter from the Sou t Hl and Committee of the Empire Cancer Research Fund asking for a donation to the fund. Recommend that the sum of £lOO be granted. Application for Reduction of Theatre Hire: Having received an application from Cousin Betty of the Young Southlanders’ League for a reduction of the theatre hire fees for the concerts held recently in the Civic Theatre. Recommend that as the entertainments were held entirely for charitable purposes, viz., the Isabella Dryburgh School, the theatre hire fees reduced from £29 to £2O. Fire and Accident Insurance Fund: Having received from the Hon. Mr A. F. Hawke a copy of the Invercargill City Council Accident and Fire Insurance Fund Empowering Act passed during the present session of Parliament. Recommend that steps be

taken to amalgamate the fire and accident insurance funds in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Loan Accounts: In view of the increased charge to be made by the bank for keeping accounts, recommend that the council's fifteen loan .accounts kept with the Bank of New Zealand be closed and the moneys transferred to a special loan account to be opened with, the same bank. •