BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 October 1926, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last night. Present —The Mayor (Mr G. J. Wallace), Councillors F. Chittock, D. McNab, W. H. Hunt, F. B. Hawkey, W. Tutton, P. C. Vinnell, J. A. Hay, J. R. Hart, G. Benstead, J. F. Arnold, P. J. Kelly, and T. W. Satterthwaite. MAYOR’S STATEMENT. The Mayor said that Mr Gibson, caretaker of Caroline Bay, had applied for the use of the Bay Hall today, as his daughter was getting married, and it was desired to hold the wedding breakfast there. He thought the Council should grant the request and give Mr Gibson the day off.

This was unanimously agreed to. With regard to the financial position, the Mayor said that the general account was in debit to the extent of £14,197 as compared with a debit balance of £15,353 at the corresponding period last year. The bus service account was now in debit to the extent of £BIO, as compared with £9lO at the corresponding time last year—this in spite of the opposition. The electric light department was in credit to the extent of £3033, as compared with £3332 at the corresponding period last year. He had only been given the figures that night, and had not had time to go into them; perhaps there had been some extraordinary expenditure this year. On the relief of unemployment the Council had spent £583 to date. WORKS COMMITTEE. It was decided to recommend the Council to got a written understanding from the Sockburn Tar Co. for the delivery of quantities as required by the engineer, and that the engineer be authorised to order supplies as required. That the matter of finding the road ranger a fuller time job be left to the Mayor and chairman of the Works Committee to report to the Committee.

Grant’s Hill water supply.—Resolved that the account for the six months’ readings ending 30th September, 1926, be rendered at 2/3 per 1000 gallons. Old Council Chambers. — It was resolved to recommend that one calendar month’s notice be served on Mr Shore to vacate the premises. Extension to salt water baths.— Mr Bitchener’s favourable reply was received, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to call for tenders immediately. Hoardings.—Held over for further consideration. New Taxi stand. — Resolved that the matter be again considered when further applications are before the Council. Christmas Illuminations. —-Resolved to recommend the Council to approve of street illuminations at Christmas time at an approximate cost of £BO. Extensions to Beverley Road street lighting.—■ Resolved to recommend that one additional 70 c.p. street lamp be installed in Beverley Road at a cost of £3 per annum. The Unemployment; ■:< Committee wrote asking the Council to furnish work for twenty men. Resolved to recommend the Council that ten men in the most urgent need of work he selected by the Unemployment Committee and engaged by the Council, to he placed under the supervision of Councillor Hunt, and that the position be again reviewed in two weeks’ time. Timaru Shopping Week Committee,*re reducing rent of Bay Hall. — No recommendation. J. M. Mahoney, re Watlington drainage allowance. — Resolved to recommend that the allowance be computed on the usual basis. W. Sansome, re merry-go-round on Caroline Bay, rejecting the Council’s offer, and offering £1 per week free from all charges excepting light and power.—No recommendation. C. Roundhill, re drainage allowance. —Resolved to refer the matter to the acting-Borough engineer, to ascertain if the house was built before the area came into the Borough, if so that the usual allowance be paid. Extra rates for gangers.—Resolved that 1/- per day be paid for temporary gangers and that the engineer report when he puts them off and on.

Tenders for running ponies on Caroline Bay during summer months —Tenders to be called. Extension of street lighting in Climie Street.—Referred to actingengineer to report. Bus passes.—Resolved to recommend the Bus Committee to favourably consider bus passes for departmental officers for use on Council business only. ELECTRICAL, DEPARTMENT. The Electrical Engineer (Mr G. T. Wilson) reported that Shopping Week illuminations had again been successful, and no hitch had occurred. Before dismantling the present festoons he would like to know if the same decorations would be adopted at Christmas. The power station plant had been used to check the peak load during Shopping Week at night time only. Re Beverley road extension: It was not a difficult matter to put another lamp in Beverley road, and he recommended that a 70 c.p. lamp be installed near the end of the street. Now that Shopping Week was over, he would endeavour to put into effect the reconstruction of the two Departments as outlined in his report of 13th July last.

BUS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE.

Interview with the driver of the G. 5 0 p.m. bus. Mr Tubb was present, and confirmed Councillor Tutton’s report that he and three others waited for the bus, which did not stop. At a later stage in the meeting the driver (Mr Trembath) was also present, and explained that he did keep a look-out at that stopping place, but could not see anyone. Various Councillors pointed out to Mr Trembath how important it was that drivers and conductors should not fail to stop when passengers were waiting for the bus. The engineer’s additional report on fire extinguishers was received, and it was resolved to authorise him to try out one of the powder extinguishers referred to by him, and to advise the Councillors (if possible) the time of the proposed demonstration, and to report to the next Committee meeting. From tiie N.Z. Insurance Co. and the Ocean Co., re insurance for the new buses. Resolved that the matter of the insurance on the new buses be left to the engineer and Town Clerk for covers to the 31st December, 19 26, and the Town Clerk to report in full on all Council insurances in force with a view possibly to calling for tenders. Tenders for garage.—The following complete tenders were received: E. Foden £938 10s (accepted), W. J. Harding £lls 9, A. Kennedy £1295, Munro and Prosser £l3O 6, J. T. Hunt £1312, 11. F. Bring £1336, W. G. Thomas £l3 66. From George Hall, re 10 per cent, penalty.—Received.

Electric light account arrears.— Resolved to recommend the Finance Committee, that consumers with accounts for electric current overdue for two months, be given seven days’ notice that the supply will he discontinued, and legal proceedings instituted for recovery if not paid within seven days from date of notice. Resolved that the Town Clerk report on all outstanding electrical accounts. Councillor Vinnell asked that consideration be given to the establishment of a bus service along Church Street. Councillor Hunt suggested that a Sunday morning service be run along Wai-iti road for the convenience of church goers. Councillor Hay said that if they ran such a service they would have to pay Sunday rates, and the service would not pay. Councillor Hunt said that if the people were given the service, he was sure they would be willing to pay for it.

Councillor Kelly spoke in support of a Sunday service, not only on Waiiti road, but also on other routes. Councillor Chittock said that if they gave a Sunday service, the drivers would have to work on Sundays, and it would he impossible for them to go to church if they wanted to. He would like to see a week-day service on Church Street, however. The Committee’s recommendations were adopted. It was decided that the insurance referred to in the report should extend to March 31, 1927, instead of to December 31, 192 G. The report was adopted. THE BATHS. Councillor Benstead suggested that they should go still further with the additions to the hot sea water baths on the Bay, and that the Works Committee should go into the possibility of employing a lady attendant, in uniform, to give massage to ladies. Councillor Benstead also suggested that a toilet massage department might be provided. With regard to the telephone at the baths, he thought this should be moved from the massage room to secure greater privacy. It was decided that the matter should he put on the agenda for next meeting. THE UNEMPLOYED. Councillor Arnold congratulated the Works Committee on having found further work for the unemployed; he was sorry that they could not employ still more. Councillor Arnold further expressed surprise that it should be necessary for a member of the Council to have to supervise Council work, and he feared that if they agreed to this they might set a precedent for which they would be sorry. He quite appreciated Councillor Hunt’s offer to do the supervision, but doubted the wisdom of accepting it. Councillor Hunt said that he had made the offer to the Unemployment Committee because it had been represented to him that they could not employ more men owing to lack of foremen. He was getting nothing for it, and he had made his offer | solely in the interests of the unemployed. The Mayor said that was so, and the Unemployment Committee thoroughly appreciated Councillor Hunt’s action. (Hear, hear.) Councillor Vinnell said that per-. haps if they did adopt the recommendation that Councillor Hunt should act as a foreman, temporarily, they might set a precedent for which they would afterwards he sorry; it might be said that they were interfering unduly with their paid staff. Councillor Satterthwaite said that if it did establish a precedent, it would be a very good one. They were fortunate to have a Councillor like Councillor Hunt to offer to oversee the work in question. He was a practical men and should he thanked for what lie had offered to do. (Hear, Kelly said he believed that Councillor Hunt should he commended for his offer, but the Council should be able to carry on its works without calling upon Councillors to personally assist. Councillor Hunt said he would rather not do the work unless the Council was unanimous that he should do it. He would be willing to withdraw his offer and give a £5 note to the unemployed fund instead. Councillor Vinnell said he would not object to Councillor Hunt overseeing this work, seeing that It was to aid the unemployed.

Councillor Hay said there could he not harm at all in Councillor Hunt directing the operations of these men; in fact he would he doing a sei’vice to the unemployed.

Councillor Hawkey said that Councillor Hunt’s offer was a very generous one, and should be accepted unanimously.

The Mayor said there was no question of establishing an awkward precedent; and in order to make this quite certain, he suggested that some words be added to the motion making it clear that whatever work was done would be subject to the approval of the Engineer.

In this form the recommendation was unanimously agreed to.

On the suggestion of Councillor Benstead, it was decided to instruct the Borough Engineer to remedy a drainage defect in White Street, this defect causing the school children to get wet feet on their way to school. The Works Committee’s report was adopted. GENERAL. Councillor Hart aslcod that while they were finding work for the unemployed, some cleaning up should be done on the footpaths in Evans Street. Councillor Benstead said that he had brought this matter up some time ago, but had been given to understand that there was some question as to whether the Council could legally undertake the removal of spoil which fell on to the footpaths from sections privately owned. Councillor Kelly said the work was certainly very necessary. It was decided to refer the matter to the Borough Engizieer. On the motion of Councillors Hay and Hunt, it was decided to call tenders for thirty tons of oaten sheaf chaff. In reply to Councillor Kelly, Councillor Hay (as chairman of the Works Committee) said it was proposed to leave the question of how the water-race should be cleaned this year until the arrival of the new engineer. TENDERS.

Messrs W. Pauton and Son forwarded the following tenders for additions to the Municipal Buildings: — W'. J. Harding and Co. £6289 (accepted), A. Kennedy £6 39 0, Rennall Bros. (Christchurch), £0777, J. T. Hunt £6796, Munro and Prosser £6B 08, Shillito, Ltd., £69 09, Malcolm and Lund £6929, W. J. Adams £7550, H. T. Bring £7798.