CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12197, 21 March 1908, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortinghly g meeting of the City Council was Held last avening: present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Piper) and Councillors M. Lightband, J. D. Robertson, T, A. Field, A. H. Eisley, J. J. Frankiyn. W. ' McConchie, W. S. Hampson, and T. Pettit.

The Mayor reported that the debit balance at the bank stood at £14, - 579 3s 7d, and payments amounting in all to £2733 12s were authorised.

Correspondence was read and dealt with as under:

From Inspector of Scaffolding, notifying amendments to the Scaffolding Inspection Act.— Received.

From Mr George Ford, accepting appointment as manager of the abat t<nr,on the Council's terras, on condition that he was allowed tbe use of the manager's residence. —Referred to the Abattoir Committee.

3 From Mr M s A. Thomas, asking for repairs in Grove street.— Referred to Works Commitee.

From a majority of the cycle and motor dealers of Nelson, forwarding petition to the Minister of Labour asking tbat hours of closing be fixed at 9.30 p.m. on Fridays, 1 p.m. on Saturdays and 6 p.m., on other days. — Certified by the Council and ordered to be forwarder! to' the Minister.

From Mr A. F, Johnston, pointing out that it was necessary to place? the upper Oo'lingwood street sewer at a greater depth. — Referred to D rait age Committee. % »

From Mr Burrell, suggesting tbat seats be placed along Road i n the neighbourhood of Tatabi. — Ko ferred to Works Committee.

From'Mr C. R. Cotton, statin? that be bad been, wained to keep h;s cattle out of the Botanio.il Resotv , but complaining tbat boles were deliberately cut in tbe dividing fence by larrikins, so that he was powerless to keep tbe cattle from trespass.---i n g. — Ref e r red to Wo rks Conim i t tee.

From Cabragb House School Hockey JJlub applying for use of Botafli-

■' 'i"mimi iii '-* r»— —"—**** cal Reserve on Mondays and Thursdays.—Granted, ou tbe usual conditions. From a number of residents asking for repairs to Cleveland road — deferred to Works Committee. From a nunber of residents stating that a number of English municipal Councils bad authorised tbe placing of placards in prominent positions in their districts, on the danger of over indulgence in intoxicating liquors, and asking tha NelSon City Council to adopt a similar course. ' A copy of tlie suggested, placard was enolosed and the Council was requested to receive a deputation oh. tbe subject at its next meeting. It was decided to receive the deputation at thd ne.\t meeting and con aicle.i'ation was deferred until tnen: lhe "Works Committee roported, recommending: That the attention of tbe owner of the wall in Examiner street be called to tbo state of the wall, and that the owner of the wall m Manuka street be requested to make it safe. Consideration of several matters had been deferred. Tbo Finance Oomaiittee reported, recommending that toe City Engineer be requested to report on the cost of putting the water mains in a serviceable condition, and that he further report on tbe question of obtsining water from tbe Roding river. I: recommended that the balance •■■l the" order fov Neath coal be cam;. 'lied; that the City Engineer be tiuiu. vised to sell such of the Nlirtth .coal in stock as he considers advisable, -and that he be authorised to pass the account for Neath coal, provided one shilling per ton rebate be allowed. The committee advised that the arrears of rates* as per list submitted by the Town Clerk, be Wiitten off. Consideration of several Ininor matters had been deterred. p ' The report were adopted. The City Engineer (Mr W. Aitcheson Smth), 'reported that the construction of the retaining wall at the septic tank had been completed, and the laying of cast iron mams Should b 6* finished in about sis weeks. The work of reticulating tbe Wood aiva was proceeding as rapidly as possible, but operations bad been somewhat delayed through the recent rains. JFootpatb works id Collingwood and Waimea streets had been completed. Some work bad been done in Emano street. He would lme the Council's authority to attend to the ditches in that street, and the laying of the three inch gas mains in Vanguard street was neariog completion, and he would suggest that it be carried to Totara street. For this eighty three-inch mains would be required. The clearing out the old reservoir had not yet been completed owing to the depth of drift shingle. The water reticulation work in Waimea street, would be put in hand as soon as tbe purChase of pipes was authorised. He directed attention to tlie number of three- inch mains in thickly populated localities Mot only were they badly corroded inside? impregnating the water with iron, but tbe flow through them would bo absolutely inadequate in "case of fire. In such districts mains should be not less than six inches in diameter. L r e had cone carefully into tbe matter of the Golf Club' road, and had found that the centre portion of the read for a distance of about twenty-two chains did not come within the jurisdiction of the Council, not being on its property. As instructed by the Council, Mr Smith continued, he had inspected the Collingwoad street bridge, as a result of which be made the following recommendations: — . South span : Both lower-chords in this portion of tbe structure are, on the shorejend?, in an advanced state of decay, and would require the construction of a new abutment three feet to the northward of the existing one. Thi3 would also necessitate'shortening the upper chords and effecting alterations to the shore bay of the bracing. The corbels are of totara, and were found to be perfectly sound. The'ttansoms are all iv an advanced state of decay and will "require'to| be entirely renewed. The same remarks apply to the decking or this section of the bridge. '.Centre span: The upper and lower chords of this portion of tbe bridge, although showing signs j of incipient decay, are still in a condition capable of a few more years' service. The transoms and decking are in a very advanced state of decay and would require to be entirely renewed. North shore span: This span is without doubt in a bad condition, and is decidedly unsafe for other than light traffic. The eastern lower chord is badly decayed for a length of 4 inches on the shore'end. Tbe western lower chord is also in an advanced grate of decay at its shore end. The western upper chord although being badly [flawed "and showing incipient decay, may yet be made to serve for a few years. The western upper chord is in a very advanced state of decay, and will require to be renewed. The transoms and decking are badly decayed (some of the transoms being broken), and will require tJ be entirely renewed. 1 estimate tbe cost of repairs at £495. It must be borne in mmd that undertaking repairs to a bridge of such age may be termed a risky business, usually attended with unforeseen conditions which^materially add to tbe. cost and trouble of the undertaking. Had this bridge received proper care, and attention been paid to fainting and maintenance, its life should certainly have extended over a much greater period. The same remark applies to all the otner bridges J»nd I wouJd respectfully suggest to your Council that the following bridgea'receive attention in this respect: Bronti street bridge, painting: Nile street bridge, repairs and painting: Hardy street bridge, repairs and painting; ' BroolrstTOTt* bridge, comrletely renewed. Total estimated cost, £84. Trafalgar street bridge: Thi3 bridge is in parts in a very advanced state of decay and in t-iives of heavy traffic is a positive menace to tbe" public safety. This bridge will require to be entirely reconstructed and I would like tbe Council's instruction- in the matter. The report, was adopted. Councillor Pettit moved übat it be a recommendation to the .Finance Committee in considering the report on the Collingwbod street bridge to go into the question of erectmg nn iron structure, omitting one span. . The Mayor held that this' was dictating to the committee wnich be said Was capable of doing its duty without dictation from Cr. Pettit. Cr. Pettifc, like tbe rest of the Council, knew nothing about the bridge, and the committee wanted no recommendations from him or anyone else. Cr. Pettit resented the view the Mayor took of his suggestion, which he contended was perfectly in order. The motion not being pressed, the subject dropped. The reports of the Inspector of Nuisances (notifying two cases of infectious disease) and the abattoir manager, were read and adopted. Cr Hampson moved that it be a recommendation to the Finance Committee to bring down its allocations for the new year in the first week in April. The motion was carried. Cr. Hampson moved , that it be a remit to tho Municipal Association's Conference to urge that in any future amending Acts provision bt made for Council and mayoral elections to take place in March, and for the installation of Mayor in the tirsi week in April, so that the Council might fully control the expenditure jciuring their terms of office. A number of uaimportaat matters were referred to committee for coi sidfatiop, or otherwise dealt with. Cr Hampson moved the resolu ti n standing in his name framing a remit to the Muniipal Conference on the subjet of keeping "separate accounts for abattoirs and gasworks. This resolution was deferred from laßt meeting. Cr Field seonded tbe motion, whiot was carried. Or Pettit moved, according t( notice, that in future the CV-.uci meat on 'Thursdays Jns.tea^l of oi Fridays, and that the Council's paj d*y be in future Friday instead o Saturday, in consequence of Satui rliy having been gazetted the da;

upon which the weekly balf-holiay shall bo held. Aftre some discussion, Or IVttit was granted permission to hold the motion over till next meeting. The Council then rose.