CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15000, 22 February 1919, Page 5

CITY COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

The. fortnightly- meeting of' the City Council was held last, night, there being present the Mayor (Mr W: W. Snodgrass) and Councillors J. A. Stringer F. Gibbons, R. Watson, W. S. Hampi son, F. A. Carlisle, J. W. Mai-ris, and T. P'ettit.

Cr. Baigent was granted leave of absence owing to ill-health, and the Council expressed a hope for his speedy recovery. An apology was also received for the absence of Cr. Rout.

ACCOUNTS. The statement of bank balances as at February 20th was as follows :— Dr. Cr £ s. d. £, s. d. General A/c ... 24 5 i24> 8 11 Water „ ... l ) 0 25 10 0 Gas „ ... 3,629 711 Interest „ ... 1940 13 6 Abattoir „ ... 170 9 q Hospital and J Charitable Aid 433 16 11 i Temporary Loan 19 851 0 0 Balance Da 9,181 7 9 £30,228 7 3 30,228~7~3 £ s. d Cemeteries (Trust Acct.) cr. 34 13* 6 Contractors' Deposits Account cr . 22 0 0 Trafalgar Park Account * 28 5 2 Drainage Extension Loan Account dr. 53 3 4 Amount owing to Bank on Overdraft 9181 7 9 Amount owing on Temporary Loan 19,851 0 0 £29,032 7 9 Amount of overdraft .at present allowed by bank 14,149 0 0 Present statutory limit of * Overdraft and Temporary Loan ' 34,000 0 0 Payments were authorised as follows :e c £ s d General Account 303 11 6 Gas Account ' - 915 910 Water Account 103 10 Abattoir Account 51 11 2 Cemeteries Account 18 13 3 Drainage Loan 199 5 2 Total £1594 1 11

The Mayor stated that the overdraft account was about £3000 below the figure at the corresponding date last year. The practice of accepting temporary deposits was saving altogether about £600 per annum.

CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows:— From secretary Fire Brigade, requesting improvements in station room.—Referred to committee. From rM F. F. Doel, asking for extraordinary water supply for driving a blowpipe for brazing.—Granted. From General Manager Tourist Department, stating that the Department had agreed to take 5000 copies of Mr Will Lawson's booklet on Nelson at a cost of £65, and to insert a full page advertisement for £10. Cr. Hampson moved that Mr Lawson be offered a subsidy of £30 on condition that the Council receive 300 copies of the book. Cr. Gibbons seconded the motion. Mr Lawson was a writer of note, and it would be money well spent. The motion was carried, Crs. Carlisle .and Marris opposing it. From Mr R. Allan as to application for extension of sewer in Hampden street East, and trusting that the Council would do the fair thing and authorise the work to be done so that a connection could be made and a nuisance got rid of.—Received. From Superintendent National Provident Fund, as to amendment of the Act adopted in 1914 to enable local .authorities to obtain superannuation benefits on terms assisted by the Government. From the Town Clerk of Napier, stating that his Council had joined the National Provident Fund for super- ' tnnuation purposes, and about sixty of the employees had become subscribers. He strongly recommended the scheme to the Nelson Council and its employees. The Mayor strongly favoured the Council taking advantage of the scheme, and advocated requesting the Department to send a representative to meet the Council and explain matters. He moved that the schedule of employees and their wages be forwarded to the Department^ and that the Department be asked to report on the probable cost to the Council and the employees of a suitable superannuation scheme, and that the Department be requested to send an expert officer to Nelson.

Cr. Carlisle seconded the motion, which was carried. •

From Nelson Chamber of Commerce, calling a meeting of delegates on April 30£n from representative bodies in the district for the purpose of considering various questions affecting the welfare of the district. It was decided to suggest to the Chamber that the conference should be held at a later date, April 30th being the day of the municipal elections. From Mr J. R. Leggo, as to state' of footpath in Waimea street, west side.—lt was decided to inform Mr Leggo that the matter was noted for attention when opportunity occurred. From Mr E. Nelson, applying for permission to give Biblical lantern lectures, at Theatre Royal on Sunday, March 2nd and 9th, in connection with the International Biblical Students' Association. —Referred to committee, further information to bo obtained. From Mr A. Taylor, road roller driver, applying for aii increase of wages' and stating that he had to put in much more than eight hours a day. Referred to committee. From Mr S. Gorman, asking that the footpath from Russell street to Stanley Crescent he top dressed, and stating that the footpath on Washington Valley side of Russell street needed repair. —Mr Gorman to be informed that the work will be done as soon as possible. From Miss Mary Daniell, requesting the cutting of an elder tree in Alton street.—Referred to the foreman with powdr to. act. . From Minister of Internal Affairs, stating that it was desirable that the Mayors of the principal cities and boroughs should be present at the Town-planning Conference, and mvitmg the Mayor of Nelson. The conference will be held on May 19t'h.—Referred to the incoming Mayor. .._ From Mr H. Jennens, reminding the Council of promise to repair footpath on south side of Grove street east.— Foreman to report on requirements. Froir. Mr W. L. Hesseltine. thanking the Council for keeping his position as chief clerk open during his absence in the Forces, and stating that he v,as at present an out-patient at the Hospital, but hoped soon to get his discharge and take up his duties at the office.

COMBINED COMMITTEE. The Combined Committee reported as follows:—On letter from Mr. H. P. I Washbourn as to nuisance by fr-otor. ; cyclists: That the police are being re-j ' quested to take action &s far as the f by-law s perrnits. On letter from Muni-1 / cipal Association, as to remits for j

conference : Consideration deferred ibo Town Clerk'to. prepare a list of remits On letter from Wairaea Electric Supply Company, a^ /; .to;;- supplying electrlu lighting to Abattoir houses: That bo action be taken.. That the roadway to the slaughterman's hoxise be finished at once by the road foreman. On letter from Mr. W. E. Warnes, "requesting permission to keep pigs: That permission be granted subject to iho conditions being kept satisfactory to Vie satisfaction»of the Inspector of Nuisances. On letter from Messrs. .4. i Baty. and Co., as to advertising kelson: That no action be taken. On, letter from Department of ''Internal Affairs, as to town'planning: Consideration deferred to the incoming Council. As to firing boilers at power house: Consideration deferred until next meeting of the committee. As to playground for Washington Valley: That all tho spoil from the upper ditch in St. Vincent street be placed on King's Aero and that the City Engineer be reminded of the instructions already given to use all available spoil for filling King's Acre. As to footpath in Ni/e-----street: Consideration deferred. As to trees at Cemetery: Consideration deferred. As to Electric/power Board : Consideration deferred. As to City Engineer's report: (a) As to obtaining sand, that the matter he referred t.> the Mayor and Cr. Stringer; (b) as to reservoir, that the Council visit; <<;) as to additional gas meter reader, consideration deferred., xVs to Inspector of . Nuisances report: That notico be gheu to. the owner at tile -premises to make his sanitary fittings comply .with the by-law. As to Water Inspector's _ report: That the two p-ersors mentioned in the report be given 48 hours' notice within which to remedy, defective water service, and failing same the water will be cut off, and that warning be given to the third person mentioned that in the event of ar.yfurther waste a prosecution will folloy,. It was decided that Mr EdmancLs, caretaker of the Queen's Gardens, 1-9 given leave without pay during the further term of his illness. The report was adopted.

INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES' REPORT. The Inspector of Nuisances (Mr. F. Varney) reported:—During the pa-.t fortnight- 72 inspections have been. made for nuisances and work being executed under the "sanitary by-law. I beg to bring under the notice- of the Council that complaint has been received of the offensive rubbish which was found to be lying on the sea wall along Haven road. Some of the occupiers of premises in this vicinity appear to 1.0 in the habit of disposing of their household refuse by dumping it over tho wall. Some may be thrown into tho water, but a good deal remains on the wall and soon becomes offensive. J. would respectfully suggest that tho throwing of rubbish over the sea wall be prohibited.

ABATTOIR MANAGER'S REPORT. The Abattoir Manager (Mr G. W.Mitchell) reported that the following stock were slaughtered during the fortnight:—Cattle 51, calves 3, sheeT; 455, lambs 212, pigs 26; total, 747.

ORDINARY BUSINESS. Several offers of draught horses wero received, and they were referred to a. committee consisting of the Mayor and Or*. Watson and Stringer to inspect, the committee- being given power to act.

On the motion of Cr. Hampson, seconded by Cr. 'Carlisle, the Mayer was requested to call a public meeting to discuss the question of establishing a memorial of the soldiers who went from Nelson to serve in the Avar.

Cr. Gibbons deprecated haste. There would soon be many types of memorial to choose from, and any "memorial they erected should be a good one. Cr. Hampson agreed with Cr. Gibbons, but pointed out that it was necessary to get the movement on foot, and a citizens' committee was wanted to co-operate with the Council. It was decided that the seats in Brook Park be painted.

The Council rose at 11.5 p.m