MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 22145, 27 September 1935, Page 6

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES The following are extracts from the various committee reports which will be submitted to the meeting of the City Council on Monday night :■ ELECTRIC POWER. Waipori Tunnel.—Progress report: The report of the consulting engineers on the progress work in connection with the Waipori tunnel during the past two weeks shows that during the period a further ,80ft were driven on the incline in the pressure tunnel, representing 179 cubic yards of excavation. A good class of hard and solid rock is now being met . with, and. there is no water. A further 216 ft of arch concrete has been placed -in' the branch supply tunnel, also a further 42ft of side wall, making a total of 106 cubic yards of concrete for the period. The contractors have 24 men employed. TRAMWAYS. Octagon Stopping Places.—The ques- / tion of eliminating one of the stopping places in the Octagon, which has been . the subject of .investigation on several previous occasions, has again been reviewed. There is no doubt that the present stops are too close, and after ' going fully into the matter the committee recommends that the stops _at the northern side of he Octagon for south-bound cars be cut out,, and that such cars stop at the south side of the Octagon before .crossing the way, as at present; The y north-bound car stops should remain as at present, if the foregoing recommendation, is approved. . , „ _ Fares, School Special Classes.—The committee also recommends that the fare for secondary, school pupils while travelling to soecial classes in woodwork and home" science be reduced to *ld per return trip—that is, plractically the same as the average monthly school ticket rate. • , „ Automatic Pick-up,_ Maryhill.—Consideration has been given to a request from the. Tramways Union for the installation • of' an automatic pick-up at Mornington tram sheds for the Maryhill line to obviate the necessity for the gripman leaving the - car to pick up the rope. It has been found, on investigation, that the proposal, if given effect to, would render conditions extremely dangerous in the shed, and that in any case it would not be possible to comply with the Government regulation as to the provision of a minimum clearance between the side, of the car while in the shed, and the nearest fixed object. The union has been advised accordingly. South Road Line.—A suggestion submitted by Mr P. Braithwaite that the tram lines in South road, between the entrance to the Roman Catholic cemetery und the present stop at the top of the hill be straightened, has been investigated. The same proposal has been looked into previously -When it was found that the improvement would involve the acquisition of three properties and two houses. In the opinion of the committee the expenditure that would be incurred in giving effect to the proposal is not warranted at the present juncture. Traffic Returns.—The tramway manager’s statement of the traffic returns , for the last fortnightly period shows an increase in revenue, as compared with the corresponding period of last year of £155. The total increase since April 1 (24, weeks), as compared with the . same period last year, is £1,696, or 2.38 per cent. GAS. Agreement for Gas Supply, New Zealand Railways Department.—l he committee recommends that authority be granted to enter into a fresh agreement with the New Zealand Railways Department for the supply of gas for lighting railway carriages for a further term of five years, the gas to be supplied at the council’s standard rates for day-time supply, with a reduction of fid per thousand feet if the gas is taken between the hours of 8,30 p-m. and 5.30 a.m. of the following day. The consumption last year by the Railways Department was 2,000,000 cubic feet Carbonising ' Returns. —The gas engineer’s summary of the carbonising results obtained at the works for the month of August shows a decrease in the gas sent out, as compared with the corresponding period of last year, of 67,000 cubic, feet, or 1242 per cent. Coke sold was 430 tons 4cwt, as compared with 373. tons Bcwt for the same period last year. Tar sold amounted to 6,601 gallons, the figures for the corresponding month of last year being 12,785 gallons. ' Gas Examiner’s Report;—The. report of the Government gas examiner on )us tests of the city gas supply for the month of August shows that the gas was in all respects in accordance with the required standard. RESERVES. Improvements—Stafford street, and Reserve, Castle street.—At the suggestion of the 'Amenities.- and 'Town Planning Society, • authority has been : granted the superintendent of reserves to proceed with'the work of levelling and grassing the tip at the top of Stafford street, and the planting of maples thereon. An offer from the society to contribute the sum of £5 towards the cost of this work, and also the sum of £ls towards the cost of the improvements—already approved—to the surface of the reserve between. Castle and Leith streets, has been accepted with thanks. , ’

Proposed Bowling Green, Bathgate Park.—An application from the Otago Ladies’ Bowling Association for the reservation of a portion of Bathgate Park, at the Cargill road end, for the purposes of the construction of a ladies’ bowling green thereon, has ’ been granted. This area will be used by the ladies in lieu of a portion at the Macandrew road end of the park which was reserved for them some time ago. The committee recommends that the schedule to be laid on the table setting out details of the performances to be given by the various city bands participating in the council’s subsidy during the incoming summer season, be approved. The concerts are to be given on Sundays at the Botanic Gardens and at the St. Glair rotunda, _ and, as in previous years, each band is to render two concerts at the Gardens and two at St. Clair. One concert is also to be given by each band on a week day evening in one of the council’s halls. The Salvation Army Band renders its performances at the Dunedin Hospital and the Benevolent Institution. The bands participating, who will each receive a subsidy of £SO for the season, are the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band, Kaikorai Band, Artillery Band, St. Kilda Municipal Band, First Battalion Band, Tramways Band, and the Salvation Army Band. GENERAL. The General Committee will recommend that the application from the National llrcmployed Workers’ Movement for the installation of power plugs at all places sanctioned for public

speaking, to permit of a loud speaker being used, be not acceded to. The committee is of the opinion that, as a matter of policy, the use of loud speakers in public, places for any purpose is undesirable. Licenses have been granted as under: —Trade sign 1. meat hawker 1, billiard room license-(transfer) 1, coffee stall license (transfer) 1, playing musical instrument in streets 1. WORKS. Byron street.—Authority has been given for widening Byron street on the frontage of sections 137 and 138, Glen Estate, where land has recently been acquired for the purpose. The estimated cost to the council of the work, providing for the necessary excavating to level the widened portion to street level, erecting a sft high jarrah paling fence and gates and metalling the widened portion, providing for relief labour, is £153. St, Helier’s, Court.—A petition has been received from 11 ratepayers and residents of St, Helier’s Court, requesting additional lighting, walling on the north side, and gravelling of paths in this street. Consideration has been given by the committee to these matters, and authority has been granted for the shifting of one light in the street and the installation of an additional light at the intersection of St. Hetier’s Court with Leckhnmpton Court. No funds are available for carrying out the walling at present, and the gravel paths referred to lead to properties above the roadway level, and are not maintained by the council. The petitioners have been advised to this effect.

Instructions to City Engineer.—The city engineer has been instructed to

act in respect of tho under-noted matters —viz., (a) Treating with tar of a special grade the surface of the road through the Town Belt, from the top of Young, street to Maori Hill electric tramline junction; estimated cost, £2B. (b) Constructing kerbing and channelling, making good the tarred macadam footway, and building up the carriageway in portion of Maitland street; estimated cost, £2O. (c) Extending a culvert in Lawrence street; estimated cost to the council, providing for relief labour, £25.