BOROUGH COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20505, 25 August 1936, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING COMMITTEE REPORTS The ordinary meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last night. resent: The Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell), Crs. J. R. Hart, P. B. Foote, W. G. Tweedy, H. J. Mathers, A. G. Foster, F. B. Hawkey, M. H. Richards and A. S. Kinsman. Omnibus Committee. The Omnibus and Electricity Committee reported as follows: Street Lighting: The engineer reported that until the scheme of street lighting was finally decided he was unable to make a recommendation in regard to the tenders. Resolved that same be returned pending a report as regards the lighting proposals ot the electrical engineer. Purchase of Buses: Correspondence from Councillor Hall and G. J. Dawson, London, in regard to the offer >f second hand Leyland Lion omnibuses was considered, together with blue prints and photographs. Recommended that in view of the radical alterations required to the bodies by the New Zealand Transport Regulations that Dawsons be informed that it is regretted that their offer could not be accepted. It was also recommended that no further action be taken in regard to the purchase of second hand machines. Repairs and Overhauls to Council Motor Vehicles: The Town Clerk was instructed to inform executive officers that the decision of the Council must be adhered to that the overhaul and repair of all motor .vehicles must be undertaken by the omnibus garage where it is possible for it to do so. The report was adopted. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee reported is follows: Timaru A. and P. Association, Water Charge: The Town Clerk reported that there had been a dispute in regard to the water charge, which had been satisfactorily settled by the conference with representatives of the Association, and the matter of the alleged overcharge was settled by the sum being reduced by ha|f. Recommended that the amount in question, £23/13/7 be written off. Purchase of Allen’s Property, Ashbury Park: The Town Clerk reported that approval of the Minister was required to pay the amount in instalments and to the rate of interest, and a letter to the Minister was approved by the Committee. In regard to the leasing of the area it was recommended that tenders be called for the lease of the property for a period expiring on June 30, 1939. Lumby’s Agreement: Draft agreement with Lumbys, Ltd., was approved and the Town Clerk instructed to submit the same to Lumpys and on his concurrence therewith, the same be submitted to the Council for execution. In reference to the purchase of Allen’s property, the deputy-Mayor explained that there had been no guarantee to provide £5OO by the North End Association and the Waimataitai School Committee. It was purely a gentleman’s agreement. At the conference which had been held, Mr G. H. Andrews, on behalf of the deputation, promised that the Association and the School Committee would endeavour to raise £5OO towards the cost of the land. The report was adopted. Works Committee. Bicycles: The danger to traffic of cyclists riding several abreast and also riding at night without lights was discussed, and the Traffic Inspector was instructed immediately to put into operation an organised attempt to remedy this matter and that such should be undertaken at regular four monthly intervals. Registration of Bicycles: Circular was considered from the Minister of Transport stating that a reissue of the Motor Vehicle Regulations was in the course of preparation and would be circulated to local bodies for con- | sideration and comments, also stating that the provisions relating to registration of bicycles had been omitted from the,Bill but it was felt that t’-e matter in the meantime should be left to local authorities, and asking that this subject be given careful consideration. The Committee was not in favour of the registration of bicycles. Lease of Section, Otipua Road: The Sanitary Inspector’s report was con • sidered, and it was recommended that permission be not granted, and that the general policy of the Council be against permission for the grazing of horses and cattle on small building lots in the borough. Exchange of Gardener with Kew: This report was further considered, and it was recommended that the Council should grant every facility to its apprentices to go to Kew, but that it should not undertake to take a man in exchange. Gardeners’ Award: Report _»f August 17 was considered from the Curator, together with further schedule dne? received from the Union, giving its final claims in regard to award wages. Recommended that the chairman and Mr Andersop should attend the meeting with the Union representatives, and that the policy should be that the Council apply for exemption from the award and that it urge that there should be a Dominion award for local body gardeners. Scenic Reserve: The offer of hall an acre of land adjoining the Scenic Reserve from Mr Hardie was further considered, and it was recommended that whilst Mr Hardie’s public spirited offer was very much appreciated, yet there being no present benefit to the Council resulting therefrom, that the offer be declined with thanks in the meantime, and that Mr Hardie be thanked for making the offer to the Council. Sound Shell: A deputation from the Caroline Bay Association waited on the Council relative to the sound shell. Resolved that the proposal be referred to the Council with a suggestion that the matter be held over for a fortnight and that Councillor Hall be cabled and asked if his report >n sound shells in England was on the way. College Road: Petition signed by 42 ’ residents of College Road asking that the tar sealing of the road be unde' - taken was referred for consideration with next year's estimates. Referring to the offer of Mr Hardie of a piece of land adjoining the Scenic Reserve, Cr. Mathers said that he did not think it politic to turn the offer down because in years to cc .:e

they might be glad of the land. Cr. Foster said that the matters had been very fully discussed, and they had turned it down on the ground .' t ic had no access. Cr. Tweedy said that the piece of land in question might not be very attractive, but in conjunction with other areas might prove valuable. The matter was referred back for further consideration. The report was adopted. Timaru Airport. The engineer reported as follows. “At the last week-end Mr Gibson, Public Works Engineer, advising on the layout of civil aerodromes, visiteci Timaru and made an inspection of alternative schemes for the placing of the hangars and administrative offices. A plan of Redruth, showing the position of all the houses is being forwarded to the Department and it is possible that a further recommendation will come to the Council to reserve the area reclaimed within the last few years with the town’s rubbish, as a site for airport buildings. With regard to the location of the embankments to be built to control the Salt Water Creek, it appears that no steps had been taken to negotiate with the property holders upon whose lands these embankments will be built. Seeing that they will benefit greatly by the proposed works no trouble is being experienced in obtaining the necessary permission for the construction.” Cr. Richards asked \ hen a start was to be made on the airport. He said that the money had been available for six months, but they did not appear to be any further forward. The Deputy-Mayor said that every member of the Council and the executive officers had done their utmost in the matter, but the trouble was t hat the Government Departments were very busy. They felt, however, that they were getting very near starting. Cr. Tweedy asked what the actual delay was. stating that there was a good deal of public interest in the matter. The Town Clerk read correspond ■ ence that had passed between the Council and the Government on the matter, and intimated that the cause of the delay was with the Treasury Department. Timaru Milk Supply. A letter was received from the Timaru Milk Vendors’ Association asking the Council to receive a deputation in connection with the milk supply of the town. It was decided that the milk committee should receive the deputation.