PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 22450, 22 September 1936, Page 6

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the council last night was attended by the mayor (Mr T. Scollay), Crs Willmott, Smith, Jack, Forsyth, Annan, Watson, Farquharson, and Armstrong. The council resolved to forward messages of sympathy to the relatives of the late Mrs E. Pritchard, G. R. Hill, and J. Timlin. CORRESPONDENCE. Cr T, F. Mackie tendered his resignation from the council as be is leaving Port Chalmers. —The resignation was received and the returning officer instructed to take steps to fill the vacancy. The Rev. E. T. Cox advised that the Government would be allocating a sum to each district from the Centennial 1940 Fund. The amount available for local memorials would carry a subsidy of £1 for every £2 raised locally. Active local effort was therefore needed for national centennial celebration.—Subject to be again brought up at the next council meeting. ' , x , The Secretary .of the Cricket Club acknowledged receipt of account for £5, rental of cricket ground for the season. In the event of the club paying the rent what would it get in return? The mayor and councillors were invited to the club’s opening day.—Received. The Railway Traffic Manager advised that the lengthening of the station at Mussel Bay would be put m band in the near future.—Cr Watson and the town clerk to consult the traffic manager in regard to front for extended platform. The Director-General of Post Offices asked support for the forthcoming health stamp campaign.—Resolved to do the same as last year. The Secretary of the South Island Travel Association wrote for a donation.—Received, and to lie on the table. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The borough engineer (Mr J. F. Williams) reported: The work undertaken on the reserve since my last report consists of thinning out larch plantation, cutting firewood and posts, burning rubbish, and cleaning out supply race and still basin. Repairs were necessary to the Mount street main, and it was found that it was badly corroded. I recommend that it be scraped when an opportunity occurs. Very little work has been required on the main highways. The completion of metalling on the Port Chalmers-Waitati highway No. 642 is recorded, and the surface is much improved. The repairs to Wickliffe Terrace have been completed, and the Otago Harbour Board should be advised of the cost, half of which is payable by them. The repairs to Ajax road will be put in band, and the balance of the estimate will be expended. Good progress is being made with the erection of conveniences in the yard, and I expect the work will be completed during the incoming week. An entirely new connection was made to the street and the drainage generally was put in a satisfactory condition. The conveniences have been placed in the south-west corner of the yard, and, after consultation with the chairman of works, it was decided that they should not be open to the public. The old gun has been carted to the Mussel Bay reclamation and dumped, the wheels having been retained, as they may become useful. The yard has been cleaned up and is\ in a tid” condition. Re the foul sewer, Wickliffe Terrace: This work is well in hand, and should be completed this week. It has been a very heavy undertaking on account of the depth necessary to carry the sewage into the Mussel Bay system. From the first of the month the conditions under which the outdoor staff work are governed by the provisions of the amendments to the I. and C. Act. The principal alterations are the total number of hours any members can work is 40 per week, increased overtime rates are payable in excess of that amount, Saturday work is to be eliminated as much as possible, and there is to be no reduction in the wages paid previous to the Ist inst. Based upon the time worked alone this represents an increase of 10 per cent. The estimated cost to prepare for sealing the part of the Allen highway between Currie and Mary streets is £SO 7s fid. One coat of sealing would cost £54 7s fid. An examination of the footpath on the eastern side between Bernicia and Mary streets shows that much improvement could be effected by kerbing and channelling for nine and a-half chains of the distance. It appears a work on which intermittent workers could be employed under the supervision of one of the permanent hands, and the estimated cost of material is £42 15s. In accordance with the wish of the council the workers under intermittent and No. 5 scheme have been grouped as much as possible, and one of the permanent staff has been attached to each group. The works undertaken during the month were: Mussel Bay reclamation, making turnout Island Terrace, widening and Beach road, clearing channels, repairs to roads at Harding’s and Dalkeith, clearing noxious weeds, breaking stone in quarry, construction of playground (Carey’s Bay) and laying sewers. WORKS. The Works Committee made the following recommendations for adoption by the council; —That tenders be called for carrying out council cartage work for the ensuing 12 months. Tenders to be opened and considered at the next meeting of the Works Committee in order that recommendations may be made to the following council meeting. That the further recommendations contained in the engineer’s reports in connection with declaring Kaio lane a public street bo adopted. That the 4in main in Mount street be scraped and cleaned at first opportunity. That proposals

already reported upon by the engineer in the matter of replacing the water main in Magnetic street be given effect to and instructions issued to have the work put in hand immediately. The rainfall registered at the reservoir at Sawyer’s Bay for the month of August was 3.99 in. with rain on nine days. For the corresponding month last year 2.76 in were registered, with rain on 14 days. The city electrical engineer has drawn attention to the _ great danger involved in the flying of kites in the vicinity of electric light and power lines. The committee wishes to draw attention to the_ matter, and hopes that publicity will_ be given to the danger of flying kites close to power lines. After discussion it was decided that further works be not undertaken until the half-yearly financial statement was available. The water main in Magnetic street would be considered with the tar-sealing of that street. With that modification the report was approved. GENERAL. The General Committee reported ;■— The gas manager, in his report for the month, states inter alia that 24J tons of coal were carbonised, yielding 337,200 cubic feet of gas, an average of 13,700 cubic feet per ton. The small exhauster has been dismantled, and minor repairs will he necessary to put it into working order. The gas manager has been authorised to have the repairs effected. The remainder of the manufacturing plant is working satisfactorily. The committee finds that a number of hawkers are still coming into the borough and evading the payment of the necessary license fee. The borough inspector is being instructed to keep a sharp look-out with the object of apprehending those who are evading the payment. The question of hawkers and itinerant traders has exercised the mind of the council previously, and the committee is of opinion that this question should now be finalised. It will be remembered that the. matter was previously held over pending the presentation of a report on the whole question of licensing of hawkers, to no submitted by tlie Municipal Association solicitor to the executive of the association. The Municipal Association has recently advised that the preparation of the report lias been deferred in the meantime. If this amendment to the by-law is to be made operative the committee would like authority to consider the matter of bringing it up to date at the same time as any other by-laws which it may think necessary to revise. . 'l'he Chairman of the committee said that housewives would help by requiring to see hawkers’ licenses before making purchases. The report was adopted. It was decided to call attention to the need for a shelter shed at Carey Bay for railway bus passengers. Mr H. S. Shent. the council’s representative on the Hospital Board, was present, and discussed hospital matters with tlie councillors. One of the reasons, he said, why iiospital rates were increased was that the public wanted more service. By resolution the council decided to ask Mr Sheat to bring before the Hospital Board the desirability of the Government instituting a national art union to meet hospital charges. Mr Sheat said he was in favour of reducing the hospital rates, but could not see how it could be done. A deputation from the local branch of the Now Zealand Labour Party waited on the council and asked that

all relief workers bo started on Mondays, instead of some of them having to wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to get a start. In regard to the difficulty of supplying up to 250 men with tools and a job in one day, the deputation felt sure that many relief workers would provide their own tools in order to get a start on Monday. In making a start on Monday they would be able, if a job were available, to take on other work later in the week. In discussing the position after the deputation withdrew', it was decided to start as many men as practicable on Mondays, a start to be assured to all those bringing their own tools. It might, of course, not be possible to find work for all the men in one day. The council further resolved to urge the Minister of Public Works to continue the duplication of the St. Leonards railway, so that useful work, such as the Minister desired for relief workers. might be available. Cr Smith was appointed to the vacancy on the Works Committee.