CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14139, 15 July 1916, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Couj-icil was held last evening, there being present the Mayor (Mr 0. J. Hariey) antl Councillors Robertson, Moffatt, Watson, Harrison, Pitt, Webley, Piper, Hampson, and Mercer. " -FINANCE. -The schedule of bank balances was as follows:— ' Db. Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. General A/c ... 23,027 ' 5 .4 Water ; „ ... 3,560 5 11 Gas „ ... 3,733 13 11 interest „ ... 2,345 17 7 Abattoir,, ... 711 17 5 Hospital and Charitable Aid 275 17 10 . i Balance Dr 30,231 3 % £30,943 0 7 30,943 0 -.Cemeteries (trust account) . «♦ S 7 ■ Contractors' Deposits (do.) 34 0 0 > Trafalgar Park (do.) 50 j 9 5 1 Waterworks Land Pur- . 1 chase Loan Account • 15 15 0 I Maitai Lands Purchase * Account ■ 700 0 0 Amount owing to Bank on overdraft . ' 29,531 3 2 Amount of Overdraft at present allowed by the Bank 30,000 0 0 Present Statutory Limit of Overdraft and Temporary Loan 33,198 0 0 Payments were authorised as follows:— £ s. a. General Account 377 9 8 Gas Account 776 16 4 Water Account 57 9 9 Abattoir Account .. ; '105 15 5 Cemeteries Account ... 105 15 5 Total ... ... 1521 3 7

DRAINAGE LOAN

The Mayor moved t a resolution authorising the raising of a special loan of £3000, to be issued in £100 debentures bearing 5 per cent, interest with a sinking fund of 1\ per cent, for a currency of 30 years for the purpose of completing the drainage scheme, the loan to bo secured by, a rate of one half-penny in the pound.

In repiy to Cr. Piper, the Mayor said the City Engineer had prepared plans-for sewering all the occupied parts of the town in which sewers were not already laid. In most cases only short lengths of sewer were required.

Cr. Hampson said that as the Loans Consolidation JJill had been passed, he thought the terms of this loan should be in conformity with the Bill, so that it would become part of the consolidated loan. The currency would then be 50 years and the interest 4£ per cent.

The Mayor said he was prepared to fall in with Cr. Hampson's views as far as the term and the sinking fund were concerned, but he did not like the idea of the lower rate of interest, under Vfhich debentures would realise only £90, and the loan would be £300? short of the amount required.

Cr.'Hampson said the lower-interest and sinking fund would more than counteract that. It seemed to him to be undesirable to raise more loans outside the consolidated loan.

The Mayor said it was doubtful if the loan could be brought under the consolidation scheme, which only provided for specified indebtedness and the overdraft as at 31st March last.

The motion was amended by substituting 50 years for 30 years, and making the sinking fund 13s 4d per cent. In this form the resolution was adopted, Cr. Piper dissenting. It was decided that the special rate be not col-

lected, the interest to be paid out of general account.

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows:—

h rom - Hon. A. T. Maginnity, forwarding letter from Minister of Public Works as to closing Maitai roads, stating that a report was being obtained.

The Mayor, Cr. Mercer and the Town Clerk were appointed a committee to confer with Messrs Maginnity and Field on the matter.

From secretary conference of delegates re hospital and charitable aid matters, forwarding copies of the resolutions passed at the conference."

From secretary Hawke's Bay AntiGerman League, requesting the Council to support the Naturalised Subjects Franchise Bill.

The.Mayor said it seemed that a German who became naturalised did not renounce his nationality, and if he returned to Germany he "was as much a German subject as ever. He Avas in favour of.stringent action being taken to prevent aliens getting any hold in New Zealand, but this was an Empire question, and the Government would have to be guided by the Imperial Government.

The letter Avas received

From Mr R. B. Jackson, enclosingcheque for £3 10s, subscribed by Mrs

Lyell and. Messrs J. H. Cock, J. Porter Harris, and R. B. Jackson, for the purchase of shrubs for the Church Hill. —The. gift was accepted with thanks. From secretary Silver Bullet Cannonade Committee, requesting the free slaughtering of stock for Paddy's Market.—The request was granted. From same, requesting use of Trafalgar Park on Monday, July 31st, for gala purposes.—The application was granted, any damage to be made good. From secretary Nelson Hospital and Charitable ilid Board, complaining as to want of water at the recent fire at the Alexandra Home, and pointing out that there were other public institutions in the locality. The Board asked the cause of the shortage, and what action the City Council was taking to improve the supply. > ■ ■ t

The.City- Engineer reported that the main was being examined for a blockage, which was possibly in the dip in the road nf?ar the Home, and more probably in Brook street, i

In reply to a question, the City Engineer . said that Franklyn street and W 7aimea street were both shut off at the time of the fire;

Li was decided to inform the Hospital Board that the matter was being investigated, and that the Board would be advised in due course.

The" 'matter was also referred to the Works Committee for consideration.

From Mr T. Taylor, re&uesting formation of an approach to t his premises, Britannia Heights.—Granted. From Mr J. Wyllie, applying for an extension of time within which, to complete contract for erection of gasholder.—Referred to Gasholder Committee.

From secretary Nelson Provincial Apple Show Committee, requesting the Council to appoint delegates to attend conference of apple growers in October next.—The Mayor was appointed delegate to the conference.

From the District Health Officer, stating that there would be no danger in using gravel from the mudflat for asphalting, provided it was treated with tar and not used in its natural state.

Mr F. Plurr. wrote on the same subject, stating that he did not see why he could not be allowed to take gravel from the nuidflat, as the gravel was practically washed in removal, being taken, from the running water in the' river bed. Otherwise he asked if he could have screenings from the Maitai quarry when the crusher was working. It was decided^to permit the removal of gravel from the mudflat for asphalting purposes under the supervision of the City Engineer, a royalty of Is, per load to be charged. From the Waimea-Port Grenadiers, asking for permission to hold a Sunday evening concert and to make a charge, the proceeds to be devoted to the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund.—Permission was granted to hold the concert, but the Council had no power to permit a charge to bo tiado for admission..