CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13225, 30 September 1911, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETIN& -

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night, there being present,: The Miiyflr (Mr T. A. Hi Fietd) and Councillors Kershatf, Tasker, Hampson, Fell, Snodgrass, Mercer, Adams and Harley. An apology was received for the absence of Cr Bisley. The statement of balances wag as follows i— Da.. Cr. £ s. d. £ b. d General A/e... 16,281 7 9 \Vater „ ... 3,067 12 2 GUs „ ... 1194 19 l) Interest „ ... 1594 2 8 Abattoir „ ,;, 341 11 11 Hospital and Charitable AHA/c...i 74 10 8 Balance Dr. 19,078 1 6 .£21,217 13 3 21,217 13 3 Cr, £ s. d. Cemeteries (Trust Account) 299 9 5 Contractors' Deposits (do) 17 0 0 Trafalgar Park (do) 109 8 1 Accounts were passed for payment ■as follows: — General Account 291 0 5 Gas Account 198 10 5! Water Account 38 16 1 Abattoir Account 72 16 8 Cemeteries Account 8 13 4 Total £609 16 11 Cr Harley urged that a committee should be set up to consider the Council's expenditure and see if it could not bo reduced. Cr Hampson defended the present system of checking the accounts. ..Cr Snodgrass said it was his intention to move that a committee look into the cartage account. He thought the Council could, save 50 per cent by owning; its own plank The Mayor said there had been a reduction of £1421 in the overdraft in six months, not including tho payments of that night. The Council had kent well within the mark.

Letters coming to hand since the last meetings of tho various committees wore referred to them for consid eration aud report. ■ The ITiider-Secrotary of Public \\ orks notified that upon renewed representations being made by Dr Locking and his entering into a suitable undertaking as to building lino, Lie request for the exemption of tho extension of Wellington Terrace from the operation of section 117 of the Public Works Act had been acceded to. The Finance Committee reported as follows: As to Central Fire Station, that as tho proposed alterations to the I'ire Brigade Station for providing sleeping accommodation for three men would cost £120, and this alteration would be of little value without tho continuous telephone service, and tho result of the canvass of subseripcrs to the telephone exchange for the latter had been unsuccessful, the Committee cannot recommend the Council to incur the expenditure. A letter from the secretary of the Muncipal Association as to the cost of bringing a test case before the Court of Appeal on a matter referring to the diminishing of the width of streets was read.—The Committee recommend that the Council agree to pay its proportion of the cost.

The Mayor said tho canvass of the telephone subscribers had been very disappointing. Only a. small proportion signified agreement to tho all night extension.

The Gas Committee reported as follows:—On letter from Mr P. Kitchmgham and others, Britannia Heights. that tho Gas Manager report to the Council as to the cost of extending the main. (The Gas Manjiger estimated the cost at £42). As to requisition for supplies, (a) that the gas cookers and fittings be ordered; (b) that,six G-light, six 3-light, and three 10-light meters bo ordered. As to price of gas, that the Gas Manager and tho Town Clerk furnish a report to tho next meeting of the Committee. The report was adopted, the extension mentioned to be made.

The Works Committee reported: On letter from Mr Cecil King, that permission be granted, the fence to be removed as soon as the trees are sufficiently grown. On letter from Messrs Stringer and Atkinson, that the timetable and fares bo approved. On letter from residents Mount street, (a) that the hand rail bo extended to the foot of the hill; (b) as to footpath, consideration deferred till next meeting of the Council, the foreman to furnish an estimate of cost; (c) as to planting, consideration deferred, the Committee to visit. On letter from Mr S. A. Jennens, (a) as to nlanting, consideration deferred, the Committee to visit; (b) that permission bo granted to use a pea rifle provided shot cartridges only are used. On letter from director Technical School, that permission be granted to use the water on terms of the letter. On letter from Messrs W. Laird, H. J. Flatt and H. McArtney, applying for return of doposit, that the foreman of works report to the next meeting of the Council. As to storm water Kawai street, (a) that the ditch through the lower portion of Mr Harley's property for a distance of three chains, and also through Messrs Adams and Baker's properties to be cleaned out and the worst corners taken off ■ (b) that the matter of the water from Waimca road bo referred to the City Surveyor. As to verandah, Trafalgar street, that the Committee disapproves of the action of the building inspector in permitting the erection of the verandah in Trafalgar street in front of Mr Davies' premises. As to fence Trafalgar street, consideration deferred, the foreman carpenter to furnish a report with estimate of cost of repairing. As to boiling tar plant, that a plant be ordered from Mr Garnham. of Blenkeim, at a cost of £45 f.o.b. Picton. As to foreman's report, that a pipe to carry off storm water bo laid across Wakefield Quay, cost about £5. As to ran.ger, that the present system of collecting fees bo discontiifued and that the ranger be instructed to prosecute in cases whero horses and cattle are found grazing or wandering in the streets. As to low lying land at the back of Trafalgar and Hardy streets, that notices be served upon the owners of the properties to abate the nuisance by filling up the land. As to Washington Valley, (a) that the lamp at the junction of Hastings street and Washington Valley be removed to a site distant a few yards from the present position, cost about £1; (b) that a temporary fence be placed round the plantation in Washington Valley and Hastings street, cost about £14. That the foreman sanitary plumber be authorised to permit the use of patent silent flushers in connection with w.s.'s. The following letters have been received aid considered by the Committee since the date of the last Council meeting, and they beg to report as follows: On letter from Mr Andrew Miller, requesting the formation of a footpath in Milton Grove, that the foreman report to the Council as to the cost of forming a footpath between Trafalgar and Collingwood street bridges. On letter from Mr Percy Adams, president of tlio Beautifying Society, requesting the opening up of the street along the river bank between Nile street and_ (Houston's bridges, that notice be given to Mrs Hunter-Brown to determine the tenaucv of the portion of the street occupied by her. and requesting her to set her fence back. On letter fro.m Mr F. A. Carlisle, reauesting improvements to Mount street, consideration deferred, the Committee to visit. On