CITY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 21578, 16 December 1931, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL

LAST MEETING OF YEAR REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The last meeting of the Invercargill City Council for the year 1931 was held last evening. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller) and Councillors N. D. McKenzie, J. Robertson, J. H. Tattersfield, A. J. Ball, J. G. Imlay, C. B. Tapley, C. J. Brodrick, 11. J. Macalister and A. C. Ford. The clauses of public interest in the reports of committees, as adopted by the Council were as follows: Reserves. Education Reserve, Otatara: Having received a report from the chairman regarding the suggestion that the education reserve adjoining Dunn’s Road, Otatara, containing approximately 131 acres, be acquired for the purpose of a City Reserve. Recommend that the chairman, be thanked for his report and that the advisability of obtaining the area be referred to the Town Planning Committee for its favourable consideration when it reports on the extension of city parks and reserves; that the Commissioner of Crown Lands be asked if he would be good enough to see that no more wood is cut from the reserve as the council is considering its acquisition and it is possible that it may be included in the reserves to be acquired under the* town planning scheme. Rose Gardens, Garden Party: Having received an application from the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand Youth Committee for permission to hold a Garden Party in the Rose Gardens, Queen’s Park, on Saturday, January 2, in connection with the Presbyterian Bible Class and Sunday School Teachers’ Conference to be held in Invercargill. Permission had been granted by his Worship the Mayor. Recommend that the action of the Mayor in granting the application be confirmed. Oreti Beach, Patrolling by Surf Club: Having received a request from the Oreti Surf and Life-Saving Club for two iron standards suitable for erection at Oreti Beach for the purpose of marking off an area on the beach which will be patrolled by the Hub. Suitable standards are available in the Works Department yard. Having granted the request. Works. By-law regarding playing of music: Having further considered the matter of the amendment of Section 22 of by-law No. 21 with reference to the playing of music to the nuisance of the public, which was referred back to the committee, Having no further recommendation to make. The paragraph as previously submitted is again recommended for adoption: Having received a report from the city inspector that the case against Messrs Dickeys Ltd., under Section 22 of By-law No. 21 for playing music. to the nuisance of the public, had been dismissed by the Magistrate, and having been in communication with the city solicitors regarding the by-law and having received a report from the Town Clerk. Recommend that the by-law relating to the matter be amended to read as follows: “No person for the purpose of the advertisement of any trade or business shall on any street or within the hearing of persons on any street sound or cause or permit to be sounded any musical instrument, gong, drum, bell, gramophone, megaphone or loud speaker without the permission in writing of the council. Such permission may be given in respect of one particular occasion, or generally, and shall be revocable at will.” Tuberculosis: The city inspector reported regarding the checking and Visiting ot a number of patients on the T.B. register. Recommend that a copy of the paragraph be forwarded to the Southland Hospital Board with a suitable covering letter. It is gratifying to note that such satisfactory progress is being made in the control of the disease. Petition Regarding Tram Stop, Elies Road: Regarding the petition from Mr F. Thompson and eight other tram patrons asking that a tramway stop be made at the corner of Elies Road and Martin road, having received a report from the city electrical engineer giving particulars of the existing stopping places from Ness street to the South Invercargill terminus. Recommend that the petitioners be informed that the whole of the tramway undertaking is at present under review and their request will receive consideration. Tenders for Erection of Sub-Station, Nith Street: Having received six tenders for the erection of an electricity sub-station at the corner of Wood and Nith streets m No. 1 Gardens. Recommend that the lowest tender, that of Messrs Ayres and Bayne for £362, be accepted. Finance. Tenders for Pump, Reclamation Area. Regarding a paragraph in a previous report of a meeting of the Finance Committee regarding the proposed purchase of a centrifugal pump for the purpose of draining the reclamation area, referred bad; to the committee by the council, a report was received from the city engineer giving the information asked for by the council concerning the cost of operating the pump and what it will accomplish and the advisability of installing another floodgate. The paragraph as under is again submitted to the council for adoption: “Having received nineteen tenders for contract No. 211 for the supply of a low-lift centrifugal pump to be installed near Stead street at the south-west comer of the .reclamation area for the purpose of draining the reclamation area by pumping. Having received a report from the city engineer regarding the tenders. The city engineer reported that the total cost of pump, pump house, suction well and discharge pipe would be well within the provision of £B5O. Recommend that the lowest tender, that or Messrs A. and T. Burt, Ltd., for a Worthington pump, motor and control gear at £3Bl 5/- plus spares for pump, motor and control gear and including testing at works, £29 12/6, a total of £4lO 17/6, be accepted.” Invercargill Unemployment Committee: Having received a letter from the Invercargill Unemployment Committee advising that the sum provided by the >Southland County Council and the Invercargill City Council to provide funds for necessary expenditure incurred in the administration of the Unemployment Board’s relief schemes was practically exhausted and asking that a further sum be provided to meet expenses. Sums of £2O and £lO were voted in May and September of this year. The Southland County Council is making equivalent contributions. Recommend that a further sum of £lO be donated. Staff Suggestion, Superannuation: Having received a suggestion from a member of the council’s staff that a remit be forwarded to the next Municipal Conference that local body servants be placed on the same footing as civil servants in regard to retirement on superannuation at 60 years of age or after 30 years service. Recommend that the member of the staff be informed that on account of the financial stringency the council cannot approve of his suggestion.

Hire of Civic Theatre: Having received a letter from the Presbyterian Church Youth Committee, advising that it proposed holding a Foreign Missions Pageant in the Civic Theatre on January 1, in connection with the Bible Class and Sunday School Teachers’ Summer Conference, to be held in Invercargill, and asking for a reduction in the hire fee. No charge will be made for admission. Recommend that the charge for the use of the Civic Theatre for the purpose be the same as that for school concerts, viz. £lO, and that the council make a donation of £5 to the funds of the committee. *