BOROUGH COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19629, 25 October 1933, Page 12

BOROUGH COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING WINDING OF TOWN CLOCK Tlie ordinary meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last night. Present—The Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite), Councillors G. Benstead. W. G. Tweedy. W. H. Hall. H. J. Mathers, P. B. Foote, A. M. Paterson, F. B. Hawkey, and -P. C. Vinnell. Omnibus and Electricity Committee. The Omnibus and Electric Power and Light Committee reported as follows: Briggs's Gully Camp.—The question of transport to Brigg’s Gully unemployment camp was raised and referred to the town clerk to enquire into with a view to ascertaining whether a less costly means of conveyance could not be arranged. Power Board Contract.—Letter was considered from the secretary of the Power Board forwarding contract duly executed by his Board. It was resolved before recommending the same for sealing by the Council that it be referred back to the Power Board to have the following additions made to Schedule B:—After the words “ampere of maximum demand’’ insert the words

“maintained for any continuous period of half an hour.” Tenders for Cable and Circuit Breakers. —Resolved to recommend tint the recommendation of the electrical engineer be adopted, namely: The tender of the British General Electric Coy. be accepted for 150 yards of fourcore cable for £B7: the tender of A. Reyrolle and Coy. for 1100 volt circuit breakers at £205 be accepted: and that the two tenders for five-pole circuit breakers be referred to the chairman and electrical engineer to obtain further particulars, and make a recommendation to the Council. Town Clock.—A meeting of the town clock committee was held between the meetings of the electricity and finance committees. A letter was considered from Messrs Bolt and Sutherland giving a firm price of £l2O for installing the clock and providing for electric winding with the exception of the motors and switch; the proportion of the quotation being £SO for the replacement of the clock and bells and £7O for the alterations required for electric winding. Resolved x to recommend that the electric winding be proceeded with. The report was adopted. Finance Committee. Street Days.—Letter was considered from the South Canterbury Employers’ Association, directing attention to the frequent street collections in Timaru, which were detrimental to retail shopkeepers and suggesting that not more than five street collections be allowed per year, and that such collections be on any day other than Friday. Resolved to recommend that as the Council was committeed so far as this year was concerned that the matter should be brought up before the end of the financial year with a view to next year's street days being re-considered together with the letter. Municipal Conference.—Advice was received from the Municipal Association of the conference to be held in Wellington during March 1934 and asking for remits not later than November 30. Resolved that the town clerk should put forward remits for the consideration of the Council at its next meeting, and that Councillors should also be asked to bring forward any matters which they consider should be the subject of a remit. Timaru Borough Consolidated Renewal Loan of £45,500.—The town clerk submitted the following summary:—Loan £4s,soo—Amount of renewed debentures £18.200, amount of new applications £27,300. Expenses re raising of loan— Brokerage paid £69/10 -, exchange £2 16/3, advertising £l2/7/2, printing debentures £l3/6/6, legal charges £3/3/-; total £lOl/2/11. Resolved that the committee express its satisfaction with staff keeping the cost of raising the loan to the lowest minimum. Hospital Board Debentures.—Letter from the Municipal Association was received stating the executive did not approve of Hospital Board debentures being made trustee securities so that Local Bodies Sinking Fund Commissioners could invest their funds in such debentures. Referring to the winding of the clock, the Mayor said that he would like an assurance that the changeover from hand winding to electric winding would not interfere with the clock. Councillor Hall: Mr Sutherland said It would be all right. The Mayor: I have not seen it. I think it would be w T ise to ask Mr Sutherland to assure us that everything will be all right. Councillor Benstead: Has this been referred to the engineer? The Mayor: Oh, yes. Councillor Benstead: We should get a report. The Mayor: There is no occasion for it. Councillor Benstead: What does he think? Councillor Paterson: He thinks it will be all right. It was agreed to accept the offer, subject to a guarantee that the clock will be as efficient when electrically wound as it was when it was hand wound. Dealing with the renewal loan. Councillor Foote said that they did not hesitate to criticise the officers when they did bad work, and they should not hesitate to compliment them when they executed good work. The raising of the loan at 4 per cent, was the lowest secured by any borough for the past twenty years, and the officers wore deserving of credit for having put through particularly good business. The Mayor supported Councillor Foote’s remarks, and the report was adopted. Works Committee. The works committee reported as follows: Reserves Department.—Pavilion West End Park.—Letter was considered from Messrs Turnbull and Rule submitting plan and specification for separate men’s cloak room and conveniences in order that the hall could be licensed, if necessary. Builders’ tender £66 5/-. Resolved to recommend that no action be taken, but that arrangements be made instead for access to the men’s conveniences at the baths. Letter from Manchester Unity Cricket Club asking for a practice ground in Russell Square. Resolved to recommend same for approval subject to curator’s approval of site. Letter from the Star Cricket Club asking that water be laid on to their pitch at Anzac Square. Matter held over for inquiry as to distance and cost. Aerodrome, Otipua Domain. —Borough engineer’s report was further considered, and it was recommended that the Council was not in a position to lease the ground until the result of drainage work was seen; but that the use of the ground be permitted as a landing ground in the meantime. Tenders for Tyres.—Recommended that the tender of E. W. Pidgeon and Co. of £6 14 - and £5/19/- be accepted. Towti Planning. — Letter from secretary South Canterbury Builders’ and Contractors’ Industrial Union of Employers, dated October 18. forwarding

a resolution of the Union asking that a copy of the Town Planning scheme be submitted to a committee of the South Canterbury Builders' Association for their consideration nnd information. Resolved to recommend that a reply be sent that when the scheme was received back from the Town Planning Board and before final adoption a copy would be available for information and comments of all concerned. Tree Planting near Roads.—Letter from the Canterbury Roadside Beautifying Association asking that the Council would do all in its power to assist in the promotion of a scheme for the beautification of roads by the planting of trees. Resolved to recommend that the Council express its wholehearted support of the proposal and its willingness to do all to assist. Offal at Abattoir.—The Government Inspector and Mr Paterson, abattoir manager, attended the meeting with regard to a letter from the assistant secretary of the Canterbury Butchers’ Industrial Union of Employers, and it was resolved that the town clerk reply to the letter stating that inquiry failed to elicit any grounds for complaint, and that the Council would be glad to know at whose instigation the letter was written. The town clerk was also authorised to supply the receipts and payments of the abattoir for the past three years. Councillor Foote made reference to the tenders for tyres, and asked what they were for. Councillor Hall said that they were solid tyres for the Council’s lorry. Councillor Foote said that the Council should consider converting the lorry wheels so as to take pneumatic tyres. In order to conserve their roads, they should seriously consider the point. Every lorry user was taking this course, and the Council would be wise to do the same. Councillor Hall agreed that the suggestion was a good one, but said that the life of the lorry might not warrant such action. On the motion of Councillor Foote, seconded by Councillor Vinnell, the matter was referred back to the committee for consideration, and if not found feasible, then the committee be given power to adopt the recommended tender. The question of planting trees on road sides was also discussed, Councillor Foote stating that some years ago trees had been planted on a road side, and because they ultimately shaded the road, keeping it wet, a request was made by the County Council that the trees be cut down. Councillor Mathers said that trees on road sides were a problem in these days, when the Telegraph Department had one side of the road, and the Power Board the other. In some cases, the Po er Board had had to exercise its statutory powers to have trees cut down where they were a danger. The Mayor said that the Council would not be committed to anything by supporting the proposal. The report was adopted