MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 19801, 27 February 1928, Page 10

MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING Tlibie was a full attendance of councillors at a special meeting of the Mosgicl Borough Council on 1' riday night. Tlio mayor (Mr Mails) presided. „ The Rector, Holy Cross College, applied for the use of the reel cation ground for the* college annual sports. —Granted on the usual conditions.An application for the use of the ground for the football season was held over until the ordinary meeting on February 29. The Mavor conveyed a message to the council that Mr W. J. Mitchell was willing to address the council on i,he matter of the water supply. Mr Mitchell had offered to give information which would lend to a greater supply of water at no additional cost. II ho failed he asked for no fee. If he succeeded, he would expect, £7 10s in payment. — It was resolved to accept the offer. ' Instructions were given to call tor tenders for a continuous supply in the borough dump of 200 yards of gravel. Cr White was elected chairman of the Reserves Committee, in place of the late Cr Henderson.

The clerk was instructed to get into communication with the Railways Department with a view to having the railway corner in front of Miss Low’s shop tin Gladstone road cut away. At present the railings there were unsightly, and also made the corner somewhat difficult to negotiate on race days when the traffic was heavy. The Chairman of the Works Committee was instructed to procure some river sand from Outram for top-dress-ing the track—and, if money permitted, the football area—in the recreation ground.—The clerk mentioned that there was a sum of money in hand from picnic parties that had rented the ground. The ratepayers in Green and High streets have been pressing the council for some time regarding the formation of those streets. The mayor mentioned that at the last meeting of the council it had been announced that a quantity of quarry refuse would be spread, and the hope was expressed that this would give the relief asked for by .the ratepayers resident in these streets.— A general discussion took place, from which it appeared that the council’s actions would be limited to the amount of funds available. The clerk laid on the table a plan showing the amount of material that would he necessary to do the whole job properly. In some cases almost 3ft depth of filling would be necessary.—The question of the disposal of surface water filsd arose. Once the road was raised, the surface water on the high side would be dammed back hy the road.—Eventually it was decided that, in keeping with the funds available, Green street he completed as far as the railway line, and* a nood solid footpath made the full length of High street, provided that an agreement could be come to with the ratepayers concerned regarding the disposal of the surface water: the Mayor, Crs Wright, Garrett, and Dyer to meet the ratepayers _on the ground. In the event of this work being agreed to it was hoped that the street would bo made a passable ono for the winter, and further improvements would bo effected out of next year’s rates.

The Mavor intimated that lie would move at next meeting of the Works Committee that a schedule of allocation of expenditure he drawn up for the year 1928-29, so that a certain sum of money would bo allotted to each street in the borough for cither formation or repairs, this to take effect from Anril 1 next. Some of the council having expressed a desire for better arrangements regarding the extra horse labor necessary, Cr Mitchell introduced the matter.—At the mayor’s suggestion the question of horse hire was set aside until the, duties of the sanitary inspector had been considered. This was done, and a general discussion followed. —The schedule of duties was considered and amended, so as to include keeping in a tidy state the park and the recreation ground and the cutting of the grass therein, the horse-power mower to he used for both places.— The clerk was instructed to prepare a fresh schedule of duties for the meeting of the council on Wednesday next, when these would be cither adopted or further amended. —Regarding the horse hire, some councillors expressed the opinion that the most satisfactory way would be to call for tenders for any extra horse work; further, that the legality of present arrangements might be questioned. It was further

.staled that the most profitable way to meet the case would be to rearrange the work of 1 lie sanitary contractor, supnly him with a ffiorso, and practically make him a borough employee. 3v tiiis means his full week would be secured for the borough without additional outlay. Councillors, however, decided to t.hinK the matter over, and have it decided at next meeting. The need of an enclosure for the present horse, so that ho could not roam at largo in the recreation ground now that this was in such good order, was mentioned bv Cr M bite, and instructions were given to fence oil a portion. The poor pressure for fire fighting purposes of the water supply was introduced by Cr White. In conversation with the inspector, ho said this official had suggested cutting off the water between the pumping plant and the reservoir in time of a fire, and setting the pump in full motion. This would°give an increased pressure, but there was the risk that the eight-inch njains would not stand it. He would not - say it would not stand it, but thought it advisable to issue a cant ion. was considered that the risk would bo small, as the fire hoses would be running wliile the pump was working, and permission to make a test on Thursday next : at 7 pjn. was granted.

The council then went into oninmitlec to consider a complaint voiced at last meeting concerning the staff, and after an hour’s discussion iho meeting adjourned to pursue the subject further on Friday evening next.