CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14157, 20 April 1916, Page 5

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 Mercer, Robertson, Watson, Harrison, Pitt, Webley, Piper. Moffatt and Hampson. , FINANCE. The statement of bank balances was as follows:-*-Dr. Cb. £ s. d. Ji s. d. General A/c ... 21,507 18 8 Water „ ... 1,347 3 8 Gas „ ... 3,464 3 3 Interest „ ... 316 1 3 Abattoir,, '... 568 6 11 Hospital and Charitable Aid 32 13 11 Balance Dr 26,189 13 10 £26,758 0 9 26,758 0 9 £ b. <L Cemeteries (Trust Account) 137 9 9 Contractors' Deposits (do.) 116 0 0 Trafalga-r Park (do.) 50 i 9 5 Waterworks Land Purchase Loan Account 15 15 0 ilaitai Lands Purchase Account 300 0 0 Amount owing to Bank on Overdraft ■ ' 26,189 13 10 Amount of Overdraft at present allowed by the Bank 30,000 0 O Present Statutory limit of Overdraft and Temporary Loan 33,469 0 0 Payments were authorised as follows : — £ c. a. General Account 379 13 8 Gas Account 316 0 9 Water Account 59 7 5 Abattoir Account 44 18 1 Cemeteries Account 16 16 9 Contractors' Deposits 17 0 0 Total : £833 16 8 CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows: — From the Secretary Hospital and 1 Charitable Aid Board, notifying that the amounts apportioned to the respective local bodies for the year ending March' 31st, 1917, were as follows:— Waiinea County Council £1355, City Council £1070, Takaka ' £252, Klurcbison £168, Motueka £124, Collingwood £139, Richmond £91; total £3200; Government subsidy £3520. The Town Clerk reported that the levy on the city was £77 more than last year. From the secretary, Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, stating that the Board was communicating with the Minister of Hospitals re legislation relieving the Board from liability for the maintenance of any additional children who may be brought to the Convent from outside districts. It was decided on the motion of Cr. Piper, seconded by Cr. Harrison,, to support the Board in every possible way. From Rev. Dr. Weeks, inviting the Mayor and Councillors to attend service at the Cathedral at 11.30 a.m. on Anzac Day.—The invitation was accepted. From Mr. J. E. Milner, attorney for the contractor for the gas holder, "stating that the work was being pushed on with, and it was hoped to have it completed by the contract date. Attention was called to the small progress payments the contractor was receiving. Up to April Bth. £340 19s 2d had been received and £774 8s Id paid in wages. —It was decided to invite Mr. .Milner to nieet the Gasholder Committee to discuss the matter of progress payments. From Messrs. Ruffell and Orsman. re payment for cartage.—lt was resolved that I6s 7d, the amount claimed, be paid. ■■

From Mr. R. Kenning, Council foreman, re his position and wages.—(The City Engineer added his strongest recommendation for favourable consideration by the Council).

Cr. Hampson moved that the City Engineer's recommendation be adopted land that j\fr. Kenning be placed on the permanent staff at a salary of £4 per | week, with a fortnight's holiday in the vpjir. He thought it was time. Mr. Tvenning's position was properly defined and his services recognised. Cr. Harrison seconded the motion, which was supported'by the Mayor and carried unanimously. On the motion of Cr. Piper the matter of the number of men employed on works was referred to the Works Committee. From Mi*. A. G. Thompson, re storm water on Mount street, and stating that the offer of the Council, to construct a culvert did not in any degree mitigate the danger to which he had previously referred. —Kef erred to the Works Committee. From the Deputy-Chief Health Officer. Wellington, forwarding regulations under the Plumbers' Registration Act, and asking the Council to nominatel nn enpineor member nf tho Plumbers' Board.—The City Enei'ieer wns nominated as a merr-ber of the Ron^d. From the Fire Brigade eovpni":: vonort on the Brigade's operations during tho last twelve months. The Mayor spoke nnnv^ciativoly o f the good work of the brigade find, moved that the members bo. thanked for their services. The motion was seconded by Cr. Hampson. who congratulated the Brigade on the number of men it had sent to +he front. The motion was carried. From the so"ior-sergeant of police, on the prosecution of two boys for damaging trees on the Maitai river bank. From Mr. W. Hill, expressing willingness to sell a piece of ground to enable p. new approach to the new cemetery to be made, and risking that a oonnr.ittee of the Council moot him on i.hp ground.—lt was d^oided that the Works Committee meet Mr. Hill on the ground. .From.24 ratepayers, asking tho Council to fill in the drain on the western side of Vanguard street from North Esk street to the junction opposite the jir.nJJK.'ton.-. The Jotter ndddd : "P.o n-nch hns been said and written already about this open drain that further cennniwit is uuneces^f!ry." The M:\vor said that before anything was done all the property owners concerned should give written consent. He moved th.it the petition •■'> referred to the Works Committee, the City En- I gineer to report. The motion was carried. From counsel to the Municipal Association, advising that the Council was not obliged to receive into tvhe sewers farrory waste rak'iilntnd to interfere 1 with the working of the drainage system or unduly increase the pumping operations. Factory owners could be ' required to abate any nuisance. ; WQ.RKS COMMITTEE. [ The Works Committe reported :—On [ lot-tor from Messrs. Rout, Milner and r (!-n})y. requesting exemption of part of [ Russell street from section 117 of th.c . Public Works Act, 100S: Considera- [ turn deferred until next meetiiu', and that Messrs. Eout. Milnsr and Ovtlly/s -ii .;-,!.. I>e ir.vited to meet the Corj;T:-iit-■;-"o <-■) tho ground. On letiyv ]W. limit, as to dangerous condition of ) steps .i'l Ti'afalgar street fioutii: Oonjsidnraliwii deferred until the next meot-

ing of the committee and that Mr. Rout be asked to visit the locality with the committee. In the meantime an endeavour be made to ascertain by. whom the steps were erected originally. That notice he given to several persons to connect their premises with the new I sewer. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee reported;— As to Cr. Piper's motion re water supply :' That whilst generally approving Cr. Piper's scheme so far as the linking up of the dead ends of the mains is concerned the Committee consider that the matter should be deferred until such time as the arrangement of the reticvi' lation is finally decided upon for getting a better supply of water as far as the Saltwater bridge, and that the City Engineer's report upon the matter be read at the next meeting of * the Council. As to wages of lamplighter (WoodIward): That Woodward's wages be fixed at £3 per week with a horse allowance of 15s per week in addition. •iut the following supplies be obtained for the Gasworks Department: Cookers, etc., value, £273 15s; one Boy's calorimeter, £32 7s 6d ; twenty tons, of | shale, £63; all . prices . f .o.b. ' Cr. Piper's proposal was deferred for six months, Cr*. v Piper, consenting to cuis course. An agreement reached between the City arid Gas Engineers to prevent overlapping was approved. The report was adopted. | ClTt ENGINEER'S REPORT. The City Engineer (Mr. J. G. LittleJohn) reported :—Streets and footways :. Bridge street and Halifax street between Trafalgar street and Waimeastreet have been scarified and rolled, and the Port road from Russell street -> Franzen's is being similarly treated. The formation of the footpath in Hastings street is completed and also the tarring of the path on the south side of Washington Valley.' The stormwater channels and culverts on Britannia Heights and the invert in Washington Valley have been cleaned out and repaired where necessary. The stone breaking plant has been removed to the quarry, and if possible will be kept busy for the next month in order to get a good supply of stone for the winter requirements. The covering in of the ditch in 'Vanguard street is being con~ tinued. The tip has been well cleaned up, but large quantities of rubbish are constantly coming to hand and if the man is withdrawn it will quickly become as bad as before. Four building [ permits for work valued at £1197 have been issued. j The Inspector of Nuisances reported that two services had been discontinued and one service had been replaced temporarily. The total on service at data was 34. There had been an increase of three rubbish removal service? in the 2£tst fortnight, the total on service at . uate bein^ 169. He had taken steps which had resulted in a serious nuisance in the Maitai river being abated. Other business was dealt with and the Council rose.