CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 14976, 25 January 1919, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

Tho fortnightly meeting of the CityCouncil was held last night, there being present the" Mayor (Mr W. W. Snodgrass) and Councillors H. Baigent, F. A. Carlisle, J. W.' Harris, Jl A. Stringer, and R. Watson. Apologies were received for tho absence of Crs. Pettit, Hampson and Gibbons. ACCOUNTS. ■~ The statements, of banK balances as at January 23rd were as follows: — Db. Cb P £ s. d. £s. d. General A/o ... 24,384 15 2 Water „ ... 860 710 Gas „ ... 4,025^1 9 [nterest ~ ... 2,202 0 3 Abattoir „ ... 152 2 0 Hospital and Charitable Aid 241 8 3 temporary Loan 20 003 0 0 Balance Dr. 9,832 15 6 .£30,853 5 4 30,853 5 4 . £ • s. d. Cemeteries (Trust Acct.) cr.. 32 2 2 Contractors' Deposits Account cr. 22 0 0 Trafalgar Park Account cr. 29 17 2 Drainage Extension Loan Account 188 0 0 Amount owing* to Bank on Overdraft 9832 1-5 6 Amount owing on Temporary Loan 20,008 0 0 29,840 15 6 Amount of overdraft at present.allowed by bank 13,994 0 0 Present statutory limit of Overdraft and Temporary Loan 34,000 0 0 Payments were passed as follows:— £ s d Genera} Account 300 .9 9 Gas Account 453 15 9 Water Account 74 17 4 Abattoir Account 53 6 3 Cemeteries Account 17 17 9 Trafalgar Park 2 12 0 Drainage Loan ' . 6 2 11 Total , £957 1 9 CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was dealt with as follows:— From Newmarket Borough Council, suggesting legislation to "provide that the upkeep of all fire brigades be shared" equally between tho Government, insurance companies and local bodies.—lt was decided to endorse the proposal.

From Senior-Sergeant Barrett, re bad language by youths, stating that the police were giving the matter attention. Growing larrikinism, about parks and street corners made more effective measures "necessary to deal with the nuisance.

From Town Clerk, Wanganui, urging that the Government be asked to take timely steps to ensure the proper transport of troops. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Carlisle, it was* decided to support the resolution, and to add an expression of alarm at the reported h\tention of the Government to use small German steamers for the return of overseas troops. The Mayor said grave scandals occurred after the South African War in the treatment of returning soldiers, and they did not v;ant a recurrence of such incidents.

Cr. Carlisle mentioned some grave abuses that had already occurred in repatriation.

Crs. Watson, Man-is, Stringer and Baigent ■ strongly, supported the resolution. . J ■':

From Mr R. Allan, requesting extension of sewer in Hsmpden street. He contemplated further buikling on his property there.—-Referred to committee. : ' .."

From Mr V. C. Thomason, as to condition of fences, Maitaf.^ -Reserves.— The City Engineer to -arrange with Mr Thomason to have .boundary fence at Big Hole repaired, each party to pay half tho cost.

From Mr J. Watt, as to drainage, etc., from premises in Waimea street. —This was a lengthy communication, and reading of it was deferred till next committee meeting. From Mr F. V. Knapp, asking that the higher portion of Alfred street be registered as on the high levels, and that he be granted a permit to water in the special hours.—lt was decided to grant a permit.

From residents Tory street, requesting repair to footpath.—To receive attention in the ordinary course.

From*' secretary Baptist Sunday School, applying for, us© of Hanby Park on Saturday,-. September Bth, for picnic purposes.—Granted.

COMBINED COMMITTEE

The combined committee reported as folows:—On letter from secretary, Navy League, Christchurch, asking for a donation: That the writer be informed that the local branch of the Navy League has already made direct contributions to the fund for killed and wounded sailors. On letter from Mr. A. G. Thompson, requesting extension of water service to his properties in Mount street and North Esk stro&t: That he be granted an extraordinary ■water supply to £he North Esk street property at a special charge. of £1 per annum. On letter from Mr. R. Sannazzaro, requesting permission to keep pigs: That permission be granted to keep a pig on this occasion until it is ready to kill, but that no further permission be granted. As to electric lighting to Abattoir manager's house: That an estimate of the cost of lighting both houses at the Abattoir be obtained. As to .lagoon, Sands reserve: Consideration deferred until the meeting on February 14th. As. to motor cars: That a case be siibmitted to the city solicitors for their opinion upon the following points:—(a) Whether the Council is entitled to. become a registration body under the Motor Registration Act; (b) whether the Council has power to insist upon all motor drivers being licensed after passing a satisfactory test; and (c) whether the Council has power to charge a license fee for motor vehicles; whether for hire, parrying mails, or used as private cars. As to City Engineer's report regarding planting of Old Cemetery: That a sum not exceeding £10 be.expended in proparing the ground for planting. St. Vincent street ditch: Consideration deferred, the eomimttee to visit. As to trees at Cemetery: Consideration deferred. As to invert at back of Baptist Church: That the water be diverted from the Queen's Gardens overflow into the Maitai river, and improvements in connection with the two gullies on the northern side of Bridge street be carried out. As to Electric Power Board: (a) Consideration deferred; (b) that a special committee of the Mayor and Crs. Pettit and Baigent be appointed to make arrangements in connection with the visit of the Government expert and the members of the Blonheim Borough Council. That the following licenses have been granted: Motor car, R. B. Stratford; motor car driver, R. B. Stratford-.priver's passenger, R.. B.^Jury; ditto, J. W. "O. Millar. Oil letter from Mr.: J, H. Ssharland, requesting carryin/jp out of drainage work to his premises in Milton Grove: That the drainage be carried out to the boundary ox the. property at Mr. Sharland's expense. As

•:-i-..—•->•*:- ... -. .._j£»,<saßS" to blocked watercourse, Parere street: That the committee was unable to come to any- decision in the matter.

On the motion of Cr. Marris, seconded by Cr. .Stringer, it was decided to fence the Sands lagoon 'and erect warning notices. The report was adopted.

CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT

The City Engineer (Mr J. G. Litfclejohn) reported as follows:—Streets and footways: Repairs to watertables are in hand in Trafalgar Square and Richardson street. Tarring of metal for the Port road has been proceeded with. The concrete bottom has been completed at Saltwater bridge, and some further progress has been made; with the invert in the ditch. A short- j age of cement has caxised a temporary suspension of all work requiring this material. The shortage, I understand, is directly attributable to short coal ' supplies, all available ships being engaged in coal carrying. For the same reason tho sand for tar work has not yet come to hand. Spraying of the main block has been continued every week, and all the ditches have been done. Some of the credit for tho factthat Nelson had the smallest death rate ! during the late epidemic might be attributed to these operations. The Council will note that the whole of the aqcormts for the disinfectant used have been rendered against the Council. Drainage: There have been no emer^ gencies of any sort. Eight tests have been applied to works, and six plans have been amended to agree with the work on the ground. Water: Th© high level main Has been tested from the weir to tho Rocks. No defect has been found, and from all appearances the shortage on the high levels is-entirely due to abnormal consumption during tho day and watering out of hours during the night. A ranger has been appointed, and is now on duty. Places of public recreation: I would call the Council's attention to the wooden breastwork on the northern side of Trafalgar Park, large sections of which have fallow away, allowing the filling to escape. Routine work only has been done on the city reserves. Gas: The cleaning out of the tar wells is proceeding. This work has been delayed by the wells being filled up with water from the roofs and yard after every rain. I propose to nave the water diverted into the main drain as snou as opportunity offers. 'Work will be "resumed on the coal store almost immediately, and. I propose to make every effort to get in a good supply of coal as soon as the store is finished. Four hundred and seventy tons of f^fcate coal came to hand last week, but no "Westport has been received. Miscellaneous : The lights at the Post Office clock wore reported to be completely' disarranged. It is practically impossible to maintain the chimneys and mantle* and i fco keep the gas alight with tho present system,■ which in; any case is Useless as far as illuminating the dial is concerned. I have therefore ordered tho K«is to be turned off; Building permits Kave been issued for eight works valued at £781 10s.

The City Engineer was requested to make a test of the water main in Waim'ea road from Bale's corner to the town boundary to endeavour to locate a supposed blockage.

ABATTOIR MANAGER'S REPORT

The- Abattoir manager (Mr. G. W. Mitchell) reported that ths following stock were slaughtered during the fortnight ended January ,21st:—Cattle -~4, onlves G. sheep 471, lambs 21G, pigs 21; total, 768.

ORDINARY BUSINESS

It was decided to impose the ten per cent, penalty on rates unpaid by February 12th.

in reply to a question, tho City Engineer stated that the valve on sewer opening in vacant land opposite the Post Office- had been attended to.

The Council then rose