REPORTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 9 January 1931, Page 6

REPORTS

CITY ENGINEER The City Engineer (Mr J. G. Littlejohn) reported:— Streets and Footways. Some patching and cleaning up have been done. Drainage: A number of blockages occurred and have been attended to. Reserves: Other than works provided for the relief of unemployment, routine maintenance only has been done. The Brook lias ceased to flow and there Is no water entering the Queen’s Gardens. The pond is very low. I would recommend that the water main be turned into it over night. Relief of Unemployment: The free grant of £IOO has been expended on the following reserves: Maitai bank. Botanies, cemetery Collingwood street, cemetery Trafalgar street; Brook park and Maitai reserves. In accordance with the conditions of the grants those who have had a fortnight’s work will be replaced by those who have not yet had any work. Water: The big dam is two feet below the spillway. In order to conserve this supply the pumps should be run continuously. This is also necessary in order to maintain tile pressure in the mains. ABATTOIR MANAGER The abattoir manager (Mr G. W. Mitchell) reported that tlie following stock were slaughtered during the fortnight: Cattle GO, calves 11, sheep 400, lambs 405, pigs 48; total 930. During the period one sheep was condemned.

Arising out of the report the Engineer was instructed to run the pumps as required and that the mains be run through the Queen’s Gardens. RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT It was decided to again ask the Unemployment Board for a subsidy on the gas main work. The Council lias previously asked twice for a subsidy for this work. Councillor Page was not in favour, as tie considered there was no chance _ of getting a subsidy. He proposed putting the Council’s employees on the maiq work and by so doing would have some money on which the City could get a subsidy and it would relieve the General Account. That would enable the Council to employ the men at • present on the mains on the work for which a subsidy could be obtained. Councillor Gibbs considered that the main work was so suitable for unemployment work that it passes comprehension why the Government should refuse to grant it. It could be pointed out to the Board that the Council would do the main work with its own men if the subsidy was not granted. Councillor Huggins considered some work in connection with unemployment relief could be done in the vicinity of the Tip. GENERAL BUSINESS The dog tax was fixed the same as last year. The motion to tar seal Cambria street was rescinded. It was decided that Grove street from Trafalgar street to Milton street be tar sealed. The Mayor explained that according to the Engineer’s report it was more economical at this stage to do Grove street than Cambria street. It was decided to erect the new shed at the gasworks in brick. It was decided to purchase oil for the

electric works from the Vacuum Oil Company. . The motion deciding to raise the Gasworks Loan locally was rescinded. It was decided on the motion of Councillors Gibbs and Page that the Town Clerk interview the manager of the local bank to find out the prospects of selling approximately £12,000 worth of debentures in London. If the reply proves satisfactory the remainder of the loan will be raised in New Zealand. The Engineer is to make enquiries into the cost of a cattle stop system for the gate at the reservoir. (The matter of a new fence at the back of the gasworks was left to the Engineer. It was decided to purchase a mirror for the ladies’ dressing room at the municipal haths. POWER BOARD’S PROPOSAL After a fairly lengthy discussion it was decided that consideration of the Waimea Electric Power Board’s proposal for the supply of. electricity to the city be deferred until a special meeting of the Council on Tuesday, 20th January. The Council rose at 11.45 p.m.