CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 20048, 13 December 1928, Page 13

CIVIC AFFAIRS

FORTNIGHTLY COUNCIL MEETING

Tho_ fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night, and attended by Cra Douglas (deputy mayor, in the chair), Laniach, Scott, Mitchell, Hayward, Wilson, Chirk, Campbell, Begg, and Shaddock.

WORKS COMMITTEE. In moving the adoption of the Public Works Committee’s report, Cr Wilson said that tho compensation asked lor land taken for street widening was often very much out of proportion to its value, and there was considerable difficulty in getting people to take a fair valuation, and if tho step that the committee suggested be taken, and approved by the Government, that was that some steps should be taken to have the matter_ in some measure c,. -oral by legislation, it would lessen the trouble they had from time to time in dealing with sneh claims. The motion was seconded by Cr Campbell. Cr Mitclioll asked lor sonic information regarding Lite cost of putting a bitumen surface on Pitt street. He also wished to draw tho attention of the council to tho work that was being done in George street. Anyone who had been down that way would notice that metal had been lilted, and some of it had been screened and put down again. It seemed a very extravagant way of dealing with tho road. Cr Wilson, in reply, said lie would obtain the cost of the work in Pitt street, in regard to George street, to say that tho work was being done in an extravagant manner was not in accordance with the facts. George street showed only a matter of Tin of metal in the best parts with clay coming up through it, and tho engineer did not want to put down a bin asphalt surface on top of 4in of metal, and tho sumo trouble that they had had in the Museum Block in King street, which was not carefully done. It would be ill-advised simply to scarify George street aud then put down bitumen. The report was adopted. E.P. AND L. COMMITTEE.

Cr Shaddock, who moved tho adoption of tho E.P. and L. Committee’s report, said that the time had come when steps would have to be taken for the provision of the next 3,000.k.w, unit for tho main station at Waipori. The engineer was of opinion that it would ho tho best thing to instal a duplicate of tho one which was landing at tho present time. It was British made, and to instal a duplicate would bo the cheapest and best plan to adopt. The motion was seconded by Cr Begg and carried. TRAM WAYS COMM ITTEE. Tho adoption of tho report of tho Tramways Committee was moved by the Deputy Mayor, and the motion was seconded by Cr Campbell. Cr Hayward asked what the reason of the City Ratepayers’ Association was in asking for the removal of tho safety zone at the Slock Exchange. Jt seemed to him that more such zones were required. Cr Mitchell asked if tho difference in tho price of acquiring tho Takapuna trams and new trams justified tho purchase of tho former. The Deputy Mayor said lie was as much in tho dark as Cr Hayward as to the reasons of the Ratepayers’ Association in asking for tho removal of the safety zcnc, unless it was the danger to pedestrians in crossing from tho footpath to the zone. Jn reply to Cr Mitchell, tho cost of the Takapuna trams was about one-third or onc-quar-ior of tho cost of now trams, which cost about £5,000. The report was adopted. TENDERS. The following tenders wore accepted : Eor the right to sell refreshments in Hm Woodhaugh Gardens—James Hill. For the lease of the tea kiosk. Botanic Gardens (Iwo fenders) —Miss Laniach. Eor the supply and delivery of stone crusher for the Mahinerangi Dam— Booth, Macdonald, £4OO. Twenty-one tenders were received from eight firms, and, although the accepted tender was not tho lowest, it was, considering all tho circumstances, tho most favourable.