CITY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 21648, 9 March 1932, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES CLAUSES ADOPTED The ordinary meeting of the Invercargill City Council was held last evening, there being 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, H. J. Macalister, J. Gilkison, A. C. Ford, G. J. Reed and E. Sheehan. The Town Clerk of the South Invercargill Council advised that his council had consented to the nomination of the Mayor (Mr John Miller) as representative of the combined boroughs on the Southland Hospital Board in succession to, the late Mr John Matheson. Advice was received from the Southland League that a meeting of representatives of local bodies interested in the completion of the Kingston-Queenstown road would be held in the league rooms on Saturday next. It was requested that the council appoint delegates. TLis Worship the Mayor was appointed the council’s delegate. The Southland County Council advised that a meeting of county ratepayers would be held on March 9 to consider drainage works in the Waihopai River Board area. As the City Council was interested in the drainage of the Waihopai river it was suggested that the council might be represented at the meeting. Ills Worship the Mayor was appointed the council’s representative. Reports of Committees. The clauses of public interest in the reports of committees as adopted by the council were as follows: Reserves. Lookout Station, Orcti Beach: Having received a letter from the Oreti Surf and Life-saving Club requesting the council to erect four telegraph poles on Oreti Beach at approximately high water mark for the purpose of erecting a lookout station. They pointed out that the present lookout is situated too far away from the beach and that an excellent view of all swimmers within the safety swimming zone could be obtained from the proposed situation. The club suggested that if the poles were erected as proposed they be painted white to act as a guide to the road entrance for motorists using the beach at night. Having received a report from the city engineer advising that the cost of erecting and painting the posts and fixing bracing, but leaving the club to shift the present lookout, would be £l3 13/10. Luminous paint would cost 5/extra. Recommend that the Oreti Surf and Life-saving Club be advised of the amount of the city engineer’s estimate for the work and informed that the council regrets that it has no funds available for the work.

Paths Through Queen’s Park: Having had under consideration a proposal to construct a footpath through Queen’s Park from the corner of Elies road and King street, joining the present footpath from George street to Coronation avenue, and having received a report from the superintendent of reserves advising that further pathways through Queen’s Park cannot be considered owing to the lack of funds for formation and maintenance work. Having no recommendation to make. Seaward Bush Endowment, Access Roads: Having received a letter from the Southland County Council regarding the council’s request that the access roads to the North Invercargill and Gladstone Endowments be constructed when the present unemployment relief works on Mason’s Road are finished and advising that the matter would receive due consideration. Tree planting, Seaward Bush: Having received a letter from the Unemployment Board advising that the State Forest Service had a surplus of tree stocks and they would be available to local authorities on payment of lifting, packing and freight charges only. The board was desirous that where possible local bodies having suitable areas should avail themselves of the offer and organize a tree planting programme for the utilization of unemployed labour in preparing the ground and planting the trees. Having received a report from the superintendent of reserves advising that no large areas were available for an extensive forestry scheme but that the Reserves Department could do with 59,000 pines for the purpose of sheltering 200 acres of the Seaward Bush Scenic Reserve, mainly on the West Boundary. The estimated cost is £ll3. Recommend that the superintendent of reserves interview the occupiers of properties in the vicinity of the scenic reserve and arrange for a systematic poisoning of rabbits before the trees are planted, and that in cases where the occupier does not comply the matter be referred to the rabbit inspector; that the question of proceeding with the planting be considered with the estimates.

Military exercises, Sandy Point Domain: Having received a letter from the Officer-in-Charge of Regimental District No. 12, Southland, advising that the Southland Regiment intended holding its annual bivouac in the Showgrounds, Invercargill, commencing on March 7, and that it was proposed to hold a tactical exercise on Friday, March 11. Sandy Point Domain was considered most suitable for the purpose and permission was asked to manoeuvre and fire ball ammunition over an area to the south of the Beach Road and as shown marked red on plan submitted. Mr T. Watson, the lessee of portion of the domain, had given his permission. If granted the necessary permission the authorities intended having all roads and beach patrolled before firing commenced and red flags and notices posted. An advertisement would also be inserted in the Press. Having granted the application subject to council’s confirmation and to a large notice drawing attention to the firing being erected on the Oreti River Bridge and subject also to the Defence Department accepting full responsibility for any claim for damages which might arise out of the manoeuvres or the firing. Works. Dog licensing: Having received a report from the city inspector regarding the licensing of dogs. Recommend that all owners of unlicensed dogs be prosecuted forthStreet improvements, Teviot Street: With regard to the letter from Mr C. Davis asking that improvements be effected to the street frontage to his property in Teviot street. Having directed that Mr Davis be informed that the street will be cleaned up in due course if the work of levelling flanks of streets is continued. Shirley Terrace: Having further considered the following paragraph contained in the report of the previous meeting of the Works Committee; “Having further considered the following recommendation contained in report of the previous meeting of the Works Committee with reference to the Rev. K. D. AndrewsBaxter’s request that some improvement be made to Shirley Terrace and having no further recommendation to make. ‘Having received a letter from the Rev. K. D. Andrews-Baxter, suggesting that some improvement be made to Shirley Terrace, fronting his property, by the formation of a footpath. Recommend that the writer be informed that the council could not agree to his suggestion on the grounds that there seemed little likelihood of such a work proving of lasting utility, judging by the small amount of use made of the track recently formed on the opposite side of North Road, i.e., Gladstone Terrace.’” Haring received a report from the city engineer stating that the cost of forming a 6ft wide gravel footpath, 2ft above water mark, would be £45, and if formed to correct street level the cost would be £95. This path would serve Mr Andrews-Baxter’s property only.

Recommend that no action be taken. Cartage Contract: Having received advice from the city engineer that the existing cartage contract will expire on April 22, having directed that certain minor alterations be made in the specifications. Recommend that tenders be called for a similar contract for a further period of twelve months from the date of expiry of the present contract. Finance. Commission for Collecting Power Board Rate: Having received a request from the Southland Electric Power Board that the council reduce its charge for collecting Power Board rates from 4 per cent to 2i per cent. Representations to the Southland County Council had resulted in that council reducing the charge front’ 3 per cent to 2 per cent. Having received a report from the Town Clerk regarding the matter. Recommend that the board be advised that the council is sympathetic with its request, but in view of the fact that the Southland County receive three and a-half times the commission received by the council for less than double the work it is not willing to reduce the rate of commission; that the council is, however, prepared to favourably consider collecting the rates at a small percentage above cost provided that the other local authorities collecting rates on behalf of the board are prepared to do the same. Hire of Civic Theatre: Having received a telegram from Messrs Williamson Films (N.Z.) Ltd., agreeing, without prejudice to the rights of the council or themselves, to the council letting the Civic Theatre to Messrs J. C. Williamson (N.Z.) Ltd., for its Gilbert and Sullivan season in Invercargill on Saturday evening, April 9, the company to be credited with the rent received if they were still under any liability to the council. Having received a telegram from Messrs J. C. Williamson (N.Z.) Ltd., stating that they had been advised by Messrs Williamson Films (N.Z.) Ltd., that they had requested the council to allow them to pencil the theatre on April 8 and 9 and making application accordingly. Messrs J. C. Williamson Ltd., had previously booked April* 11, 12 and 13. Recommend that Williamson’s Ltd. be granted the use of the theatre on April 8, 9 and 11. Accident Insurance Premiums: Haring considered the suggestion that the accident insurance premiums be not paid in respect of wages and salaries paid during the current year. The premiums would be credited to the council’s fire and accident insurance fund. Having no recommendation to make.!