CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13892, 25 September 1915, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night, there being present the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Harley) and Councillors Hampson, Mercer, Robertson, Moffatt. Watson, Harrison, Pitt, Webley, and Piper. The statement of bank balances was as follows: —■'

The Mayor explained that the accounts included £1533 11s 8d interest and £425 transferred from the Gas Account to the General Account, a sum of over £1900 of the total being thus accounted for.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows:—

From Mr. J. E. Allen, asking that .Manuka street, near the tennis courts, be put in order.—Referred to the Works Committee.

From Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Littlejohn expressing appreciation for the Council's resolution of sympathy on the death of their (son at the Dardanelles. From the secretary National Reserve Band, asking the Council to forward its usual subsidy of £10, and asking the Council if it could raise the amount of the subsidy, as during the last t.wJ.ve months the band had done a lot of wtra playing at patriotic concerts, etc.— Usual subsidy to be paid, it being considered impracticable to raise the amount at present. From Mr. H. A. Shirtliff, asking to have road formed leading from Waimea Road at the city boundary to Ngatitama street.--Referred to Works Committee.

From Messrs. E. N. Nalder and Co., Ltd., applying for the right to run two aerial electric lighting, gables 'from their factory in Nile street East across the Maitai river and from thence to' the block on which is situated "Wainui House." The letter continued: "Wo would respectfully-point out to your Council that the illuminating properties of the town gas #re exceedingly poor in this locality, and we ha.ye received numerous requ'este to supply the electric light. We believe yours to be a progressive Council and on© not likely to use its ..perogatiyes in a manner detrimental to private enterprise. Inerefore we feel confident of our applxcatiort being -granted." The Mayor said the letter raised a' very important question. There was no objection to a man lighting lri s own premises with electricity, but when he wanted to supply others it was a. v>^y different matter. Before elecfrio mains could be carried' over fctreets the permission of the Government had to fee obtained. Electric plants were heiup established all over the town, and tbe Council had to-be prepared to face i'ho position. Personally, he objected to private persons controlling the lighting of the town. If there was a demand for electric light in the city he would be prepared to nut a proposal to-the ratepayers to establish their own system. Cr. Piper/said the position was becoming serious. He considered the gas supply was good and the trouble was chiefly with the fittings. Cr. Hampson moved, and Cr. Pitt seconded, that.the letter be referred to the Finance Committee. An amendment by Cr. Moffatt that the request be declined was not seconded, and the resolution was carrio<J. From Mr. J. R. Burge, as to neglected state of the triangular piece of North Esk street and also as to the need of some metalling on the streets m this locality.—(A""memo. by the City Engineer stated that the metalling was already authorised and would be on with very shortly. He had no recommendation to make regarding; the trinngular niece of land referred to.)— Referred to Works Committee.

From Mr. P. Jones, of the abattoir staff, applying for an extra week's leave of absence for his annual holiday, and offering to pay a-substitute.—The request was granted, provided the substitute is approved by the manager # From Mr. C. ;N, Wilkinteon, complaining of annoyance! from bathers in a hole near Normanby' Bridge last, summer, and asking that steps be taken to-ore-vent similar annoyance this year. Referred to the police. From the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, stating that the Rev. J. H. MacKenzie, in forwarding a contribution from the Nelson Women's Belgian Relief Fund to the department for transmission to the Belgian Relief Commission, stated that the amount was to go towards the Nelson province monthly quota. Mr. MacKenzie at the same time said the committee hardly knew where they were in the matter of this monthly contribution except that they were in advance of what,.was due, and further added that the Council had been in communication with local bodies but had made little progress, and that in any case the Council's reading of the Government's circular was that it was to end all voluntary contributions, 'with which Mr. MacKenzie did not agree. In order that the Council and Mr. MacKenzi© might know what amounts h/id been contributed, since the i-Departmont became the < central .authority, . the Under-Secretary forwarded-, a' statement showing the igenerous donations made by-residents cf the Nelson provincial I dt&rict,' which the Council would be ! gratified.to know, was-£llsO 7s 6d in credit. The' scheme outlined by the Government in March last was that con- ! tributions were on an entirely vtiluni tary Jbasis.—-Referred to ■ the Finance j Committee. I From Mr. T. A. H. Field, M.P., re ; railway overhead bridge at Bishopctale, I onclosing letter from the Minister statj ing that the plans had been forwarded bo the Council.—The Town Clerk stated that the plans had been submitted to Mr. Cawthron. - . ■ From Mr, C. P. Butterworth, Dune;din advising? that the. pontoon had •been returned to Nelson, and thanking the Council for.its courtefcy.-

ten tion to the bad state of North Esk street, and asking that it be gravelled. ■—Referred to the Works Committee. From Mr. H. H. Johnston, asking that money voted for Mount street footpath be spent, as the track was. in a disgraceful state.—The City Engineer said the metal was now being £ot ready and the wofk would be put in hand as soon as possible.

From Messrs. Pitt and Moore, forwarding letter they had received from Mr. E. Davis re demolition of old Synagogue. He stated thai he had asked Mr. M. Myers, solicitor, Wellington, to communicate with the Council. As far as he know the place had been leased to Mr. Kinzett on the understanding that he wa.s to. pull it down, but legislation might be necessary to enable that to be done. —The Town Clerk and the City Engineer were instructed to have the Council's previous resolution carried out.

From; .Mr. Jair.es Hunter, re lease of abattoir paddock.—lt was decided to in- 1 form Mr. Hunter that the Council could not put the fences- in order and that unless the lease was signed it would be forfeited.

BY-LAWS COMMITTEE

The By-laws Committee recommended that the following draft by-laws be approved:—Pedlars and hawkers, width of.tyres, abattoir, bathing, cycle tracks, laying out private streets, buildinn. line, reserves, miscellaneous.

The report Avas adopted

WORKS COMMITTEE,

The Works Committee reported:— As to conveniences for women and children : That the Committee has made inquiries from other centres and finds that in most instances the conveniences are constructed underground, and that the cost of providing and maintaining the conveniences is very heavy."' ; They have therefore no recommendation to make. On letters from Messrs. Gledhill and Cotton, as to culvert, Alfred street: That the culvert be lengthened six feet on one side and three feet on the other at each end. As to application from J. Wood and Sons, Ltd., for retail license to store kerosene: That as the quantity required to be stored exceeds that allowed by a retail license, Messrs. Wood and Sons be required to take out a wholesale license and that no reduction in the fee of £1 be made. As to Gas Engineer's report re complaints as to supply: That the Gas Engineer's recommendation as to improving the reticulation be earned out at a cost not exceeding £1500, and that for this purpose the necessary pipes and fittings be ordered, (b) That the erection of the new gasholder and the putting in of new retorts be proceeded with with all expedition, (c) That the inspection of fittings now being carried out be continued and that the meter readers be instructed to inquire for and receive complaints.

Cr. Piper advocated giving attention to consumers' fittings which were in many cases the cause of complaint. They must not allow complaints to go on, or they would be faced with a serious loss of revenue.

The Mayor said consumers could greatly improve their light by, regulating the air vents of gas burners. Cr. Webley strongly favoured the Council taking over the maintenance of gas fittings. He moved that the recommendation re inspection of fittings be referred back to the Committee.

Cr. Hampson said ,Cr. Webley's proposal would involve a.»lakrge outlay and the employment^ several hands. He thought the proposed inspection would meet the case.

The Gas Engineer said his proposal was merely to undertake the maintenance^ of gas burners. That would inrolre- the employment of an inspector and perhaps a boy. He ■ would not advocate the Council undertaking more extensive work for private consumers."

The Mayor said the report's recommendation was merely to advise consumers concerning their fittings. The protests of gas fitters against the Council undertaking gas fitting work was read.

Cr. Webley's. amendment was not seconded, and the report was adopted.

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

The Finance Committee reported :— As to Workers' Accident Insurance: That the risk be given this year to the Royal Exchange Office.' As to Gas Engineer's report re gas supply: That the recommendations of the Public Works Committee be adopted. That a periodical inspection be made especially in cases where complaints have been received and reported to the Gas Engineer and where fittings are found to be defective, notice be given to the consumer of what is necessary to be done in order to make the supply effective. As to abattoir: That such repairs as may be necessary to the abattoir buildings and houses be- attended to. 'That the inside of the abattoir buildings be whitewashed and the lower walls repain tedwhere necessary. Tliat the -manager-s and head slaughterman's houses be repainted. That a branch telephone be installed in the manager's house, cost 20s per annum. That the lessees of paddocks be notified to repair and put in order the fences'of their paddocks in terms of their leases within one month, failing which the work will be done by the Council^and they be charged with the cost. That the Engineer report on the best means of dealing with the surface of the sheep drafting pens.

GAS ENGINEER'S REPORT,

The Gas Engineer (Mr. A. Neil) reported : The concrete work for the holder foundations will be commenced early next week. There is approximately 200 cubic yards of crushed stone in the ■works- and 200 cubic yards of Boulder Bank stone on the Commercial Wharf waiting to be crushed. The two punts at my disposal for the work of procuring stone for the holder foundations proved to be in a very bad condition and practically beyond repair. The only alternative was to hire Messrs. Stewart and Johnson's punts and launch to bring the stone across from the bank, the work to be done by day labour. The result of the above arrangement is that sufficient stone can be discharged at the wharf to enable the concrete work to be proceeded with without interruption.

CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT

The City Engineer. (Mr. J. G. Littlejohn) reported :—^Streets and footways : A further length of Haven road from the Gasworks nearly to Russell street has been repaired and. patching has been done in other streets. A slip came down on the Rocks road, and ha.s been cleared sufficiently for .traffic. Drainage: The extension of the sewer in Hampden street East is in hand. The old sewer in Halifax street has been cleared and the new sewers in Ka.wai street and Waimea road are blocked. Water: The men are putting in all spare time in adjusting the fireplug covers to street levels and renovating the index posts. Places of public recreation: A systematic stealing of the flowers on the Church Hill and Milton's Acre has been going on for some time and wanton damage to-seats and shrubs is constantly taking place. I have reported these matters to the police and have erected notice boards' offering a reward for the "detection of the culnritls. Miscellaneous: The water from the Cathedral organ was found to be getting under the Church Steps, causing further Subsidence and fracture "df- the stepsl. V have diverted the wa.ter.from the steps

and have been authorised to do the work necessary to carry it -to these^er in Church street. Four building permits valued at £47 10s have been issued.

GENERAL.

On the motion of Cr. Hampson it was decided to "■ ascertain the Council's liability in the-event of a.n accident resulting from collision with a lamp in the centre of a street intersection. He^ explained that another Council had te-* cently been mulcted in damages in consequence- of a lamp so placed being responsible for an accident. .- ■ On the motion of Cr. Watson, it was decided that the taxi-cab stand be fixed a chain from the Trafalgar and Hardy street intersection, in order to minimise the risk of accident. Mr. H. Coltman's report, accompanying has resignation of the position of 'sanitary inspector, was referred to the Works Committee.

On the motion of the Mayor the mat-

tor of recovering arrears of rates was referred to the Finance Committee. In reply to the Mayor, the Gas Engineer said the installation of the automatic lighters would be finished in three weeks.

The City Engineer stated, in reply to the Mayor, that the drainage connections were proceeding as fast as possible. On the Mayor'B motion, seconded by Cr. Hampson, the schedule of lands to be acquired in the Maitai Valley was slightly amended in accordance with -the plans approved by the Survey Department. The Mayor said the matter wa.s now ready for advertisement, and the acquisition should be completed about November. The Council then rose.

Dr. Cb. £ s. d. £ s. d. General A/c ..''. 22,333 7 7 Water „ ... 1,767 7 4 Gas „ ... 12132 4 10 Interest „ ... 2361 13 0 Abattoir,, ... 553 4 u Hospital a n cl Charitable Aid 371 4 0 Balance Dr 24,128 2 8 . . , 11 11 26,833 11 11 ' " Oft. I £ s. d. Cemeteries- (Trust Account) 177 6 5 Contractors' Deposits (do.) 31 0 0 Trafalgar Park (do.) 54 9 7 Maitai Lands Purchase Account 300 0 0 Waterworks Land Purchase Loan Debenture Account 16 0 0 Amount owing to Bank on Overdraft 24,128 2 8 Amount of Overdraft at present allowed by the Bank 30 3 O0O 0 0 Present Statutory limit of Overdraft and Temporary Loan 33,469 0 0 Payments were authorised as follows : — £ e. a. General Account 847 8 0 Gas Account 1130 11 3 Water Account 661 7 11 Abattoir Account 200 10 11 Cemeteries Account 15 13 9 Total * £2855 11 10