DAMPNESS NOTED IN COUNCIL ROOMS..

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19236, 25 November 1930, Page 7

DAMPNESS NOTED IN COUNCIL ROOMS..

DICTOGRAPH SYSTEM REQUIRES RENEWAL. The City Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (the Rev J. K. Archer), and Councillors D. G. Sullivan, M.P., Elizabeth R. M’Combs, T. H. Butterfield, E. Parlane, L. B. Neale, A. E. Armstrong, M. E. Lyons, A. A. M'Lachlan, W. H. Williamson, J. Parlane; Annie I. Fraer, C. E. Jones, R. H. Andrews, J. W. Beanland and A. W. Beaven. An apology for absence was received from Councillor H. T. J. Thacker, who is an inmate of Lewisham Hospital. Tenders. The tenders of E. A. Empson, of £lB, for plumbing repairs at the dwelling, house at Victoria Park, and of D. E. Legge, of £26, for painting, were accepted. The Baths Committee reported that the tender of F. W. Allen, of £24, had been accepted for the provision of seat, ing accommodation at the Sydenham Baths. Dictograph System. The Finance Committee reported that the dictograph telephone system throughout the municipal offices had completely broken down. This wa« accounted for by reason of the facl that the cable was laid under the floor of the building and that it had de* teriorated through dampness. Improx* ed ventilation had since been provided but the cable was completely destrov ed. The Lamson Dispatch Company oi New Zealand, Ltd., the agents for’tin dictograph telephones, were prepared to re-cable the whole system for th« sum of £283 net, the cables to be laic above the floor of the building. I* view of the extreme inconvenience that was being caused through the system being out of action, the committee ro commended the council to have the work put in hand immediately. Th« company had agreed to accept pay* ment for the work after the end of the current financial year. The report was adopted. Electricity Advances. The Finance Committee reported that it had gone into the question of the best method of arranging for the repayment of advances, amounting to £21,389, from the Electricity Department. It had ascertained that an equated payment of £1471 per annum, including interest, would pay off the amount in thirty years. The committee was of opinion that the best solution was to reduce the amount charged to the department, i.e., £3OOO per annum, by the above amount, and recommended that that method of repayment be adopted. The total payments under the proposal would amount to £44,130, against £44,850 if a sinking fund were set aside and credited each year with interest at 5 per cent.

~M f. ?■ R- Watters. Town Clerk of Cambridge, has been appointed Assistant Town Clerk of hfapier. There were forty-four applicants.