BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 December 1925, Page 13

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the linmiii Borough Council was held last night. Present —The Mayor (Mr G. J. Wallace), Councillors T. W. Satterthwaite, P. J. KeJly, IV. H. Hunt, j. A. liar, D. McNab, W. Gibb, F. It. Hawkey, G. Benstead, J. R. Hart, J. F. Arnold, B. C. Yiunell, and I'. Chittock.

THE FINANCIAL POSITION. The Mayor went into detail to show' that so far as could be. seen at present the Council would be about £2006 in excess of their estimated expenditure at the end of the financial year - March 31, 1928. The estimates had boon exceeded • by about £3320 up to the end of November, last, but against this they had effected sayings amounting to £1425. Ho- mentioned this, he said, to indicate that they would have to curtail their expenditure from now onward. He liked to see the borough progress, but tile ratepayers should be given to understand that if they wished to have all their desires met there would have to be' an increase in the rate. The borough was at present being re-valued by the ’Government valuer, and the Couneil could look forward to being relieved of the necessity for increasing the rate, through increased valuations. - .Councillor Hay said that lie had gone into! tlie figures very carefully, and at ■ scptiydd to him that they would be Lully £2OOO in excess of their estimated expenditure at March 31 next. ~ " "Councillor Arnold said lie understood that' the valuation of the borough was /iiily-about three-fourths done, and he was wplglering whether the work could be,, completed in time to effect the '’Comicil’s rate for next year. '■ iTlie'• Mavor said the. Government vnlueF.had told him that he hoped to ■have the work completed in time for next year’s rates. It was decided to ’ ask the town clerk to write to the Valuation Department asking them to expedite the work.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER’S REPORT ivlMr ;$•. T. Wilson reported that tile ClloieriS'ge supply had been a little Bette#,■ during the,past two weeks, only ■Three having occurred... Th'e pdlver house plant overhaul wasnearing, completion, No. 4 . gas engine Mid Ifo. 2 steam engine being conlpje'ied: SNo 3 was now being taken in san<s' find the producers were '.algo' receiving a thorough overhaul. New street,; lights had been erected at thy ebrner of Evans and White Street, an I near the viaduct at the bottom of Waiiti road. This had improved the lighting at these corners. The erection of festoons was under way. ’This would he completed before Christmas Eve.

WORKS COMMITTEE. This committee reported as follows. ’Tenders lor castings and hydrant Connections. —The --.borough Engineer reported the following totals of each » tender,-based on actual , purchases Lroiiv ■ ■ J/imifabjl 1, 1925 to ;Novc,mber ,30, 1920 : /alßLiTlAustin £403-495-6d, AViHonyaiid ’TF'aThTeF’Ltd. £392TS,' Jits": StoTrler and Gov. £389 2s Od (accepted). Tendons for ironmongery.—the Borough engineer reported the following totals lor each lender based oir, actual purchases from January to NoVeipber 30, 1925—Briscoe and Coy,,;. Ltdyosl2 17s 4d,,Priest and Holdgate’ I £505 3s Bd, John Edmond Ltd. £4, t 13sj'10d (accepted)..; ■ . ~V , | The ’'Rorougli Engineer,„infprmed the. I Ciuhcil\that it would yßeV.pecesisary to;, j replace the steel pipe across the VVai- . L dntfiaitai-Creek as it had become leaky. Ho was instructed to report as to cost to next meeting. The Secretary to the South Canterbury Centro, N.Z. Swimming Associa--1 tion, forwarded the following resolution passed unanimously at; their annual mepting :—“That - the Cquupil be # iipprhac|red with a yiew; to Having the i Bjiy,bathing facilities ofien/on Sunday J.>ait ; ernoons during , December and January.”—Recommendation that the application be not granted. Mr B. Shaw sought permission to

exhibit a pony in a tent.—Not granted The manager, Theatre Royal, applied for a licence '.for Christmas Day.— Recommendation; That application be ■4>nt granted*. - . ~ ~ • V-MVA-.,Hart’s subdivision, , PrestonJ. ~R,Hart ,wrote'.'that he/ is‘willing to increase the dedication of reserve from 32 perches to 74 perches, ■ provided the Council fences isyne as soon as the road is completed, and plant ornamental trees, tfie, Council to bear the cost of dedication-. —Recommendation: That the application bo held over until the Works Committee inspects ythe property. . The District Dioptrical Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote suggesting jib at,the Council put in a larger pipe to supply the substation and other customers, and that his Department should not be put to any additional expense owing to the necessity for in- • Stalling a larger niai;i-.-,~-Reeommeiida-ticn : 'That the Public' Works DepgrtnMit be notified that • the present arrangement for the supply of water toffthe substation will be terminated on jyfarch 31. and that the Borough '■Ehifineer report as to the use of water

’frbni this connection. Wirth’s Circus wrote applying for the use of Anzac Reserve on the 30th inst. To be granted the use of the north- j past pdrtioh subject to the payment _of license fee £TO. i*ent £ls, tent lees 355, water £2, in all £23 Ids. and that they also deposit £lO as security against damage to the ground, fences, etc., which are to be left in' good ' condition. United Friendly Societies Picnic Committee.—From the secretary asking the Council to declare January 30, a public holiday, and to allow employees a holiday on that date.—Agreed to. Bowser Tanks.— Letter from Mr A. Dunnett . asking for permission to put in two petrol bowsers and one free air. standard on the edge of the footway in frbrvt - of/hew premises in Sophia Street. —Granted. T - ■ . Napier -Street. —From Mr M. Higgins ass.king the Council to exempt" this: street’ from widening pander, the pro'.Yisioms.-. of the Public Works Act.— Agreed''to. , . , . Mrs I lertnon wrote applying for financial consideration m respect ot rates pal'd "on land 1 routing Preston Street; and- which she recently sold. Recommendation : 'That Mrs llertnon be advised that the Council lias no power to grant the application. 1 Hertjion '' Street.—Recommendation : I That the blind street between sections i QR- . m a 37 D.P. 2080 on the west side j of -Preston Street, bo named Hertnon i‘ Sl Councillor Bcnstoad asked for in-

formation to ascertain whether the. blacksmith’s shop at the _ municipal quarry would justify its existence The Mayor said that the work o building the shop had been authorised and it. passed his comprehension, why Councillor Benstcad, who had nrevions- . Jv voted for the erection of the. sliop,should now wish to hold it up. m Council had authorised the work and it was under progress now. Councillor Hay (chairman. of the ! 'Worlcs' Committee) said he oillu doty anyone to show a shop of the kind in Canterbury that was worked mole cheaply than this one. Councillor Sattertl'w: if 0 c; ‘"'l could be no question of hohlm- the work up, bill, the figures asked t" l ' ! could lie. supplied to Councillor Beu- ! stead. “ , , Councillor Arnold said it was absurd ! pi ask that this mutter be held oyer 'at this stacc. Tie had visited the | ounrry and knew the necessity for tlve L ' phop.’" The fi e’l i res tasked. Tor Councillor Benstend could be : sunpli.ed by the, ofr: Peers, hut. Jhev'would ho , valueless to. 1 Councillor Benstead when lie had them.

Councillor Hunt said that he too had visited the quarry and could say that while he was not opposed to the erection of the shop, lie saw no reason why an estimate of the cost of the tools required should not be, supplied. As for the building in which the blacksmith had been working in the past, it wRs a miserable, draughty place, hardly fit for a dog. , Councillors Benstead and Kelly moved that the clause in question be referred back to the committee for information as to the cost of the tools required. ■ . Councillor Benstead said he merely wanted to ascertain whether the cost of the shop in question was justified. Councillor Jvellv said that he did not wish to hold the work up, and added that lie was pleased to hear the sentiments expressed by Councillors, who were .anxious.to provide reasonably good conditions for their men to work under. The amendment was carried by i votes to 6. ’ ' :■ ' With regard to the application of the manager of the ’Theatre Royal for leave, to show on Christmas Day. Councillor Hawkev moved an amendment that .the request be granted, and he ■spoke in support. On a vote being taken, the amendment was; lost. An amendment thfct the street proposed to be called Hertnon Street, brimmed Waverlev Street, was proposed by Councillors Benstead and Hart, bid was lost, only mover and seconder voting for it. The report of the Works Committee, as amended, was adopted. j The report of the Electric Light an ’ Bus Committee was adopted. BUS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE.

The Committee reported that the. had been received a petition from abi, 78 residents in the Craighead di-sti. protesting against the abolition of t Healey Street stopping place, Wai-i Hoad, and the substitution of Ranfuri St-.'eot cqyner, and stating that Bui. Lane was only a very short distance from Ranfurly Street and was in fact the shortest distance on any bus route. Recommendation: That the petitioners be advised that their request will receive consideration when the Council deals with the proposed shelters on the Wai-iti Road, route; that in the meantime it is not advisable to revert to the Healey Street stopping place; and also tliftt me. distances between the stopping places are approximately as follows :—Craighead Street and Park Lane 28 chains, Craighead Street and Sealcy Street 10Jf chains, Craighead Street and Ranfurly Street 16 chains, Ranfurly Street and Park Lane 12

chains, r Park Lane and Avenue Road 10 chains. Consequently the Ranfurly Street section is not by any means the shortest. Theatre Buses.—Recommendation ; That the Waimataitfii, Church’ Street, and .Wai-iti Road buses at 10.5 p.m. and specials, leave the Theatre Royal instead of Bank .Corner as at . present. , The Mayor and 'Councillor Gib.b reported, that They had accepted the tender of Mr. A. C. Watson, at £35, for renovating and varnishing No. 8 the Minister of Public Work's, acknowledging itbe .Council’s resolution re the proposed conference between the Chief Electrical Engineer and Power Board Engineer and Committee, and stating that lie would be pleased to give the matter consideration. , ./" . GENERAL. A letter was reueived from’the Cairoline Bay Association, inviting Councillors to be present . at the official switching on' of the eldctrip ,;light?-.tj» itlio "new lights. at- Caroline? inorroW night. ' "" The Mayor said lie hoped that _a» many Councillors as could do so woulu be presenU^^^^^^^_^