CITY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 22107, 30 August 1933, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The three-weekly meeting of the Invercargill City Council was held last evening, there being present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller) and Councillors J. A. Doig, H. Ritchie, J. H. Tattersfield, T. O’Byrne, B. W. Hewat, C. B. Tapley, C. J. Brodrick, R. N. Todd, L. Webb, A. W. Jones, G. J. Reed, and W. M. C. Denham. The clauses of public interest in reports of committees as adopted by the Council were as follows: Library. Library Stocktaking: Recommend that the librarian’s suggestion that the lending and reference departments of the library be closed for stocktaking and cleaning from Monday to Saturday, September 25 to 30 (inclusive) be approved and that the above closing be notified to the public by advertising. Repairs to Public Library Building: Having received a report from Mr E. R. Wilson, architect, advising that the repairs to the reference library ceiling had been completed and stating that the amount involved did not exceed the original estimate. Library Staff: The committee has discussed the matter of the inconvenience suffered by the library staff during the period of the recent alterations to the reference library and recommends that a letter of appreciation be forwarded to the staff thanking them for their continued loyal service during the difficult period referred to. Works.

Rest Room Revenue: Having received a letter from the Rest Room Management Committee in reply to the council’s letter suggesting that the committee might be able to suggest some manner in which the revenue of the rest room might be increased. The letter stated that the rooms had proved a boon to large numbers of city residents as well as country visitors, and that it had never been anticipated that the rooms would be run at a profit. They suggested that the Southland County Council be asked to continue their donation towards the expense of the rest rooms. Recommend that the Southland County Council be written to asking for a donation toward the cost of the upkeep of the rest rooms and that the Rest Room Committee be requested to write also supporting the council’s application. Street Frontage St. Mary’s Church: Having received a report from the chairman and the city engineer advising that with reference to the request of the St. Mary’s Parish Committee for gravelling outside the site of St. Mary’s Church, North Invercargill, representatives of the committee had been interviewed and the position still remains that the council will carry out the gravelling asked for when suitable drainage has been supplied by the Church Committee.

Suggested Paving, Ettrick-Nelson Streets Comer: With reference to the proposal to pave the roadway in the vicinity of the Ettrick and Nelson streets comer, following a visit of inspection, the committee is of the opinion that nothing should be done regarding paving in the meantime but that the roadway in the vicinity of the intersection of Ettrick, Nelson and Rodney streets should be built up to conform with the level of the tram rails at an estimated cost of £5O. By-laws: A letter was received from the Invercargill Master Plumbers’ Association stating that in July, 1932, a conference had been held between the Works Committee and representatives of the Master Plumbers’ and Master Builders’ Associations to discuss proposed amendments to the city by-laws. They asked whether any action had been taken to give effect to the proposed amendments as discussed at the conference referred to above. Recommend that the writers be informed that the matter of the revision of the bylaws is still under consideration. Ness Street Footpath: Having received a letter from Mr R. Riordan asking the council to repair the footpath on the west side of Ness street for about 2|- chains from O’Hara street. Having received a report from the city engineer stating that the footpath referred to was on the east side of Ness street, not on the west side as stated. The footpath would give access only to the rear of the dwelling concerned which already has a path at its front in O’Hara street. Having no recommendation to make.

Herbert Street Kerbing: A letter was received from the Southland Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools Board making application to have improvements made to the roadway in front of the Boys’ High School in Herbert street in continuation of what has already been done at the western end of the above street in the same block. The board asked that similar improvements be continued eastwards past the Boys’ High School grounds. Recommend that the applicants be advised that the council regrets its inability to accede to the request owing to no funds being available for this work. Repairs Street Surface Ness Street: Having received a further request from Mrs F. C. Beere for the surface sealing of Ness street from Tay street to Tweed street, recommend that Mrs Beere be informed that the work will be done on her paying £8 10/-, being half the estimated cost of the work on her frontage, also that the Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools Board be offered similar work on their frontage at the same cost. That the Town Clerk in conveying this decision to the above parties emphasize the fact that the central strip of 15 feet only is to be surface sealed primarily with the idea of abating the dust nuisance. Petition, Salford Street: With reference to the petition from Mr George Robb and 63 others asking the council to complete the formation of Salford Street between George street and Catherine street, after consideration and recognizing that the matter could not be dealt vfith until the council’s previous resolution declining to do anything in the matter was rescinded, it was resolved in the meantime that the Southland County Council be asked if they would be prepared to contribute their share of the cost, Salford street being a boundary street. Finance. Fire Board Levy: With reference to the council’s inquiry whether the Invercargill Fire Board would take steps to reduce the levy on the city which is a direct charge on the rates, a letter was received from the board stating that recognizing that its expenditure was a direct charge on the contributing bodies the board’s estimates had always been carefully considered in an endeavour to reduce its charges as much as possible consistent with the efficient equipment and maintenance of the brigade. Recommend (a) That the letter be received; (b) That with a view to later forwarding a remit to the next Municipal Conference to request Parliament to amend the Fire Boards Act in the direction of making provision for increasing the insurance company’s proportion of the fire board levies and thereby making, a consequent reduction in the contribution of local bodies—local bodies where fire boards are operating be circularized to ascertain their opinion on the matter. Rates on Land subject to Crown Mortgage: With reference to the letters received from the Manakau County Council and the Wairoa Harbour Board dealing with the non-payment of rates on land where the Crown is concerned as owner or mortgagee, the Town Clerk submitted a schedule showing the information received as to what extent the surrounding local bodies have been adversely affected by the Crown as mortgagee. Recommend that the Manakau County Council and the Wairoa Harbour Board be advised of

the steps the council had taken including interviewing members of Parliament and a Minister of the Crown, and assuring them of support in any steps they may take towards alleviating the position. Special Payment to Rates Clerk and Assistant: Having received a report from the Town Clerk advising that the rates clerk and his assistant had been regularly working long hours of overtime for some months in preparing the current year’s ratebooks and rate demands and that such work had been 1 increased greatly owing to the recent revaluation of the city. Recommend that a similar amount to that made last year, namely, £lO, be granted, to be shared between the two officers conicerned,