NELSON CITY COUNCIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 9 May 1925, Page 11

NELSON CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

Tlic ordinary fortnightly mt'Hihg of the Nelson City Council—the first, one as newly constituted —-was held at the Municipal Chambers last evening. There were present: The Mayor (Mr W. Lock) Crs. E. R. Neale, W.'C. Harley, A. 0. Nightingale, J. A. Stringer, J. Wigfccit, 11. Watson and F. Plum. Crs. tlibbs and Moffatt. who are absent from Nelson, were excused from attendance. A formal resolution adopting the new charges for slaughtering at the Abattoir was passed. PAYMENTS

Total £2206 5 3 It was resolved, as the District Fund Account would be in debit after the night's payments, to transfer temporarily £IOOO from the Gas Account, which is in credit £3OOO. The Mayor explained that by adopting this method interest oil overdraft would be saved.

CORRESPONDENCE Following correspondence was considered : From E. E. Wasfnoy, offering £4 for old water cart. —Accepted. From residents, Mdton Grove, requesting the. putting in of a lire hvdrant.—Referred to Committee. "From 11. and 1. Ciiing. requesting permission to concrete a grave in the Old Cemetery and to remove a tree.— Granted, under supervision of Engineer. From head teacher, Hampden street School, requesting permission to use Victory Square for school games two afternoons in e- r 'eh week.—Keferred to Committee. From .Regime"'al Band, asking that the concert- given last Sunday evening in the Botanical Reserve lie regarded as a municipal one.—Granted. From Plunket. Society, as to erection of new Women s Rest Room and asking for a contribution. —The Mayor thought there was no hope of placing a sum on the estimates this year for a new building, but he was agreeable to making a donation. —£10 was granted. From Nelson Bowling Club, applying for a reduction of rates on greens.—(l he letter was referred to the incoming Council by the previous Council for favourable consideration). —The Mayor said that in view of the debatcablc value of the subject and that two councillors were absent, lie thought- the letter should be deferred for consideration. Personally lie was absolutely in favour of making sonic concession.—Referred to Committee.

From Nelson Rugby Union, applying for use of Trafalgar Park during the season.—Tlie report (already published in The Mail) of Mr Brewer, who recently made an inspection of the ground was read.—The Mayor said the question was a big one and should be referred to Committee. —The question of fees to bo charged and other matters needed attention.

Cy. Neale considered the Rugby Union should be asked to submit a statement of gate keepings covering the past three or four seasons, which would give some indication as to what fees to be charged. lie asked the Engineer for what period it would he necessary to close the ground in order to carry out Mr Brewer’s suggestions. Ho thought it would be a very serious tiling for the Rugby Union if the ground was closed. Personally he did not think it would he necessary to close the ground at all.

The Engineer replied until the start of the next cricket season. Cr. Nightingale agreed with Cr. Neale as to the closing of the ground. He thought the fees should be on a gate percentage basis. The Engineer said the most important thing was when football had to stop, in most places there was an interval of at least a month between the seasons. After some further discussion a motion, moved by Cr. Neale and seconded by Cr. Watson, was carried that the Union bo allowed the use of the Park on the understanding that any fee charged will commence as from the beginning of the season. Cr. Neale asked if anything had been done in reference to appointing an official who had the power to say when the ground was unfit to plav on. When ke waited on the previous Council as a deputation ho had made the suggestion solely in the interests of the ground and not with a view to stopping football. The Mayor replied that the matter had not, yet been dealt with. From residents Tipahi street, requesting improvement to street. —Referred to Committee, Council to visit. From residents street off Richardson street, requesting improvement and offering to contribute to cost. —Referred to Committee. From residents Queen’s road and Victoria Heights, requesting improvements gild sewer extension. —Referred to Committee.

From R. B. Jackson, donating £25 for provision of children’s swings.—Accepted with thanks. From A. Gascoigne, asking permission to plant a portion of Halifax street. —Agreed to.

CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT The City Engineer reported : —Streets and Footways': The regrading of the lower end of Washington Road also piping and filling in of ditch in Kawai Street are completed. The washout in Brook Street near the Convent Farm lias been repaired. Some patching has been done and cleaning of ditches and watertables on the hills is being attended to.—Drainage : The plant has worked smothly and there is nothing adverse to report.—Plilces of Public Recreation: Routine work only has been done.— Water : The pontoons necessary for the work at the Weir are ready and work will be started within a fortnight. ELECTRIC A L DEPARTMENT The Electrical Engineer (Mr C. A. Henderson) reported : —Consumers’ applications 1201; consumers’ extensions 98; lighting load applied for 968 k.w. ; heating load applied for 717 k.w. ; power load applied lor 305 k.w. ; total 1720 k.w. Acting on instructions of the Council meeting of February 27, 1925, I have inspected the two second steam •iHernators under offer to you and report as follows: — Public Works Department, Mangaliao Plant: This is a very suitable plant fur power station work. The engine is m good condition and shows little wear. The alternator has however broken down under stress of lighting in two places in the station winding and lias been working with two coils' cut, out. rheso coils could lie replaced at. a cost of probably 1325, but. mv opinion is that when a machine Ras broken down under stress of lighting in one place it, is

strained in many other places and is Halite to break down if subjected to lightning or surges in the future and is consequently not a. reliable plant. J th ere fore advise the Council very strongly not to further consider this machine especially ns the price asked is within fcso of that of a new set of the same size. 1 mentioned this to Mr Furquliart but. he stated he was not in favour of reducing the price as one of bin engineers was asking fur the plant fee work in hand. Wanganui—Rangitikei Plant: This is a very nice little plant and i.s in good order. " It is however too small to be of any vaiue to us, 150 k.w. being its limit of output, on our steam pressure. The power board is parting with it because it is too small and the efficiency compared with their steam turbines is too low, tl. i« evident from the above that 1. do not. recommend the purchase of cither ot the plants inspected and would urge the Council to appoint a committeo th(> eoimider the question of additional plant. My reasons for asking this are: My estimate of June 1924 has so far been fully realised : in fact, the number of connections is 9 per cent above my estimate. 1 anticipated that during the months of June, July and August of this year it will be necessary to run the entire engineroom plant nightly for a few hours. There is, of course, an element of risk in this, but the period during which the two machines will bo indispensable will be short, and the risk must be taken this year.

Next year 1 anticipate an increase of [ lead that will make it distinctly foolish j to risk the present plant dealing with it and as far back as June 1924 I recoin-; mended arrangements being made . whereby additional plant would be in ' operation by April 1926. I. have recom- j n ended a 500 k.w. or a 600 k.w. turbo alternator for several reasons: — (1) The . foundations for any new plant will be i costly owing to the nature of the site j and the cost will vary very little what- j ever size plant i.-i installed up to 1000 ! k.w. It- can therefore be regarded that j there will he no saving in the founila- ! lion work by installing a small plant. (2) There is only room in the engine room for one additional unit and it is therefore obvious that when this is installed it should he permanent and not

temporary. Throughout the world electric supply stations are being increased almost' annually and there is no obvious reason why development should not take place here, especially as the city is nourishing. I assure you that if a smMl plant is installed (250 k.w. or thereabout) it. will be removed inside three years and a larger plant installed, I therefore advise a 600 k.w. turbo alternator. (3) I recommend an alternator because they are more efficient at this size than reciprocating engines, and at half load, 300 k.w., a turbine would have a lower steam consumption than one of our present; engines on the same load. Above half load the efficiency would bo even greater and would effect quite a saving in coal. (4) lam viewing tlio installation of extra plant, not, from the. point of immediate requirements but with a view to the future and generally what is the best plant to instacl with a view to the economy both now and for the next few years.

The undertaking must develop and provision must be made for this development,. The financial position is good and although capital must bo obtained for payment of tlie new plant, this will not be required for approximately a year, by which time there should be no question that the department will be in a. position to meet interest charges. Tlie consideration of this is a matter that must ba dealt vvit.li at an early date for there is hardly sufficient turn? to have new plant quoted, order*!, manufactured and erected by Aurl 19b6. I therefore again ask, that a sun:, committee he appointed to "confer with me and advise the Council 'what course to adopt. The question of additional plant was referred to Committee. SANITARY INSPECTOR’S REPORT

The Sanitary Inspectors (Mr M. Busbridge) reported :--Systematic house to house inspection has been interfered with to some extent owing to the large amount of work in connection with drainage and plumbing work. Eightyfive private premises have been visited, most of them I found in good order. Fifteen premises have been inspected where permits have been issued for structural alterations and repairs to sanitary fittings. and drains. Four permits have been issued for new connection to the sewer, ten for extensions and repairs to existing drains and thirteen for plumbing work. Thirteen applications have been received for registration of eatinghouses. An inspection of these places will he made during the next few days in order to see that they comply with the regulations before a certificate can be issued. Two cases of infectious disease have been notified, in each case, of illness notified the premises were visited and examined and any insanitary defects discovered, made 'good. Disinfection of the premises was carried out in the usual way. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR The traffic inspector (Mr C. E. Parkinson) reported:—“For the past fortnight I have patrolled the parks reserves, also bridges. Th e habit of riding over the bridges seems to be abating. I am taking action against four persons regarding breaches of bylaws, i have had a number of complaints regarding speeding at night and having no silencers, making undue noise. I intend to try and stop it if possible.’’

ABATTOIR REPORT Tlie Abattoir Manager (Mr G. \Y. Mitchell) reported that the following stock were slaughtered during the fortnight:—Cattle 103; calves 2; sheep 612 ; lambs 106 ; pigs 46 ; total 869. During the period, one lamb was condemned. GENERAL The. Mayor and Crs. Gibbs, Watson, and Wigzel! were appointed to represent the Council on the Nelson Insti. tute, Crs. Watson and Stringer to be the representatives on the. Fire Brigade and Cr Moffatt, on the Technical School Board of Managers. In reply to questions the Engineer said lie understood there was no possibility for the parties concerned coming to an agreement regarding the Parere street, drain. As to the St. \ incont* street drain, it. was stated that (lie consent of all parties but one had been obtained for the drain to go throiodi private property. Cr. Neale asked if anything could |,e done at once to purchase certain plant, for the reserves; or would they have to! wait until the loan money was raised? A reply was given that probably the j matter could be arranged.

Tlie Engineer isaarl preparation for i top-dressing and liming the Park were now under way. On the suggestion of Cr. Neale the Engineer was instructed to obtain information concerning (lie noeessarv plant i required to carry out Mr Brewer's ro- ! commendations. Cr. Harley intimated that be would' give notice of motion that, a bvlnw, bo framed prohibiting dogs being al i lowed in the city streets without bein' r under proper control. Cr. Neale, at tlie risk of being charged with “parochialism” drew attention to the state of the streets in the eastern portion of the town. Cr Wigzell bad a word (o sav for the southern end of the citv, !)n( j thought all streets and footpaths' should he inspected. Tlie Council rose at 9.15 p.tn. «

Following payments were nntlinriseil: £ «. d. Gottorn 1 Account. 741 10 4 (ins Account 422 6 7 Water Account. 56 n 8 Abattoir Account. 41 13 0 Trafalgar Park Account 2 10 0 Fleetrics Account014 18 3 Water Reticulation boat) Ac . 17 10 0