CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12469, 20 February 1909, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the City Council, held last evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr J. Piper), and Councillors W. K. Turner, W. McConchie, J. D. Robertson, W. SHampson, T. Neale, A. A.' Grace, T. A. Field, and T. Pettit. The Mayor reported that the debit balance at the Bank amounted to £18.79G 3s 6d. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £2805 6s sd. " - Correspondence was dealt with as follows : — From Mr W. Child, applying for exemption from drainage as he was giving up business.— The request was acceeded to. From Mr F-.-.St John, 1 on behalf of himself and others, asking for jpermissionto take material for top dressing from Jennen' s quarry. — Permission was granted, applicants "to pay ninepence per* load and quarrying charges. From Mrs Fisher, Washington Valley, asking for a street improvement. — Referred to Works Committee. From Secretary : Education Board, enclosing copy of report of the instruction in agriculture on experimental farms in the North Island, and. ask-, ing that the Council join in represenstructor in agriculture on experimenttablishment of an experimental farm in the Nelson district. Cr Hampson moved that the letter and report be referred to the Finance Committee to frame a resolution for next meeting. It was essentially^ a matter in which the Council should interest itself. • ' The motion was seconded by Gr Grace arid carried. ■ . ■ From the Town Clerk of Auckland urging opposition to the recent amendment to the Loans to Local Bodies Act, making .the Public Trustee the sole sinking fund commissioner. _ It was' decided that the Town Clerk of 'Auckland be informed that the Council is already taking action in the matter. ■. •.■■■• ' ' „ ■ From Mr George Page and others, asking that a footpath be formed in Hampden . street west.— Referred to the Works Committee. - . . A second hand dealer's license was granted to Thos H. Smith. Requisitions for fixing the closing hours under, the Shops and Offices Act were; received from booksellers and newsagents, and boot sellers. Tlie requisitions were passed for submission to the Minister of Labour. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Finance Committee reported recommending that Mr F. W. Worley be thanked for his letter on the Roding river water supply and that it be filed . for reference. The Council should join with , the Christchurch City Council's representations in coiihectio'n' with the vesting"" of sinking funds in the Public Trustee. The Committee recommended that £40 be granted the Fire Brigade. The. report was adopted.- '. WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Works Committee_ reported that the opinion of the Municipal Association's solicitor be obtained on Mrs L. H. Bisley's application.; ...Consideration of tlie proposal to use water from the Maitai river for flushing sewers had been deferred until Mr Alestayer's report was received. The report was adopted. The Inspector of iNuisances reported that the. city was free trom infectious diseases. - ■ ~ The report of the manager of the Abattoir was received. The whole question of abattoir fees was referred to the Finance Committee to report. .; ■■' . ENGINEER'S REPORT. ..J* The City Engineer (Mr W. Aitcheson Smith) reported as follows : — The work in No. 2 gravitation area has now approached completion, but owing to moneys available becoming exhausted/ I have been compelled to close do.Wit on all operations to-day. I would respectfully submit thait to cease operations at this stage practically—defeats the intention of the scheme, and I am thoroughly convinced that Mr Mestayer will recommend its completion/ and probably the Health Department will make strong representations in the same direction. A fact that must not be neglected is that no scheme is stronger than its weakest part, . and there is not the slightest doubt in "my mjnd tljat the Nelson drainage scheme is, owing to its incomplete state, decidedly weak. Another point worthy of consideration, is that we have a staff of men thoroughly competent who are executing the work in a manner consistent with the highest standard of efficiency and economy. By a complete, cessation of operations, there is every possibility of losing the . services of these competent men, and to obtain or educate men to fill such vacancies would, as in the past, entail expense on the ratepayers, and also increase the labours and time of my works superintendent and myself, which would indirectly increase the ratepayers' load. I would earnestly and respectfully advise your.. Council to .weigh with the deliberation, manifestly merited by the circumstances, the completion of the scheme, and I would also point out with all. the emphasis at my command, that ; unless the scheme of drainage is carried out as designed, then so surely will its principle object be defeated, and the city rendered no more sanitary, than it is at present. Power station : This work is now completed, one boiler installed, and the others being' placed in position lam advised by the agents for the compressors that we ma^ expect these machines in New Zealand by the Indradevi, due about the Ist of March. So soon as they arrive I will lose no time in geting them in-posi-Works.— The metalling of Cambriastreet has .been completed, and the. men are now employed effecting repairs to the Rocks Road wall, and effecting general repairs- to some of the streets in the city. Gas.— The men are employed laying the 3-inch mam .in. Weka-street, which, owing to the subsidences in the- street, had become out ° High Level Water Supply.— The weir in connection with this work has been completed, and the valve on the large dam closed down preparatory to coupling up the high andL low levels system on Monday or Tuesday.next. Abattoirs.-rl -would -point, out to the Council that complaints, havo been made by residents at the outfall sewer, and I. would desire to . advise . .you that the matter is receiving attention. It was decidedthat Mr Mestayer be asked to expedite his report. ...The" Mayor stated that he. would call a meeting of the Drainage. Committee for Friday evening.