FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 18 March 1927, Page 6

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

Thee fortnightly meeting ofi the Oamaru Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor1 (Mr J. McDiarmid) and Councillors W. S. Crombie, R. Mahan, W. H. Frith, F. Crawshaw, G. L. Grenfell, G. White., J. M. Forrester, T. A. Fox and J. M. Scott. CORRESPONDENCE. The Power Board! engineer (Mr I. Dalnier) wrote that during the last two or three years slreet lighting had heen discussed, both as regarded the system of supply and the method of charging but so far nothing had been done, He asked if the Board's letter of December 3, giving suggested rates for street ligliting liad been consi^ered. The ' Board's new financial year would begin on April 1. It would be an advantage to commerice any contract on that date. Jlnstructions were also required regarding the lighting of South African monument. , Mr A. E. Ellis, consulting engineer, advised as to his fees for a report on the supply of electric power. Councillor Frith said it seemed unnecessarjr to go to the expense of ten or twenty guineaa for'a report as to liow they should light the town. He thought they should appoint a .small committee to go into the matter with the engineer and1 ask Mr Dalmer to assist. Councillor Frith's suggestion was adopted and Councillors Woodward, Grenfell and Crombie were appointed to deal with the matter. The Power Board also" advised that the various supplies to the borough were charged at the respec-tiv-e unit rates, 110 minimuTn heing j required during any month dr quarj ter, any deficiency being made up at the end of the year. Jhis arrangement had'' been made some years ago. For the energy us>ed hy ihe quarry motors the minimum charge was £3 per'h.p. per annum but it was not charged monthly. For the total horse-power installed (50 h.p.) the annual minimum was £150 but as one motor of> 15 h.p. was not used wliile others were running, the minimum could be made £105, subject to change-over switch being installed. The Harbour Roard enquired ii the Council would supply spread and roll, 100 c. yards of metal for the road along the southern boundary of railway yard leading to the breakwater. — Referred 'to Ihe Works Committee with power to act. Mr E. F. Neilson, manager of Opera House, applied for perrnisi sion to hold a suitable entertainI ment in .the Opera House on Good Friday.1— Granted. Mr J. M. Docherty hy his solicitor (A. Hamilton), applied for a reductioii fn water charge of £10 imposed against Yee Kit, the leasee. — Referred to the Waterworks Committee. Mr D. S. Chisholm (Pres. W.B.H.S Entertainment Committee) requested that the Council consider providing more up-to-date and varied scenery for the Opera House. — Re ferred to the Town Hall Committei 'The Newborough Church Man agers applied for the removal of light in Flemington Road to a pos; tion in front of the Church. Tli Church would pay the cost of shift (ng the li^it.—Referred to tb Works Committee. - Mr E. J. Iryinei. caretaker of th Papakaio water race. wrote regard ing the bad state of repair of h' ■cottage. Councillor Grenfell said they cot 6idered the property was not wort' very, much repair and they decide not to take action during the cur rent .financial year. The letter was referred to tb Waterworks Committee. Mr. W. E. Searle applied for r p'ermit to instal a kerbside petro1 pump in Ribble Street. — Grantei' under the usual conditions. Councillor Forrester remarked that he had noticed that in Dune- - din the Post and Telegraph Department had steppec} in to stop the erection of pumps. 1 The Town Clerk reminded ihe Council that a clause. in the agreement gave the Council power to re~ move the tanks by giving three months notice if such necessity should arlse. The South School Jubilee Committee applied for the use of King George's Parlc for children's sports on May 10. — Referred to the Park Committee with the recommendation that the request be granted. GENBRAE BUSINESS. Councillor Frith said residents of the north end on the South Hill had drawn his atterxtion to the need of slot telephones in those parts of the town. It was decided to write to the Chief Postmaster on the suhjeck Councillor Frith said a number of workmen had approached hiin as to whai the Council vyas doing 'about the remaWder of the drainage. He suggested tha tthe Council should ask Mr Williams to push on with the drainage work to absorb the men who were unemployed at the present time. Councillor Frith added that there wa/5 some doubt as to whether the work would be done by contract or day labour. He moved that the question of a further immediate allocation for • work be referred to the comm:- • Agreed to. As the resuil v>f a discussion with the Conciliation Commissioner, Councillor Crawshaw moved that, notwithstanding the award between the Oamaru Local Bodies' Labourers' IJnion and the Council', the permanent employees he granted the following liolidays: — New Year's Dav and the day following, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Monday, Anzac. Day, the King's Birthday, Eahour Day and Boxing Day. The resolution amended to substitute January 2 for Anniversary Day, was carried. 6n the suggestion of Councillor Grenfell it was decided to refcr to Ihe Works Committee the question of repairing the chamvel crossing l.-ading to Ihe right-of-way between G. Snadden and A. Fraser in Itchen Street. •■jr vci- stated that the

sanitary service on April 1, and he recommended the purchase of two horses for £60 and £55 respectively, subject to a fortnight's trial and a veterinary surgeon's certificate. — The recommendation was adopted. Tenders were received for the erection of a stone wall between the Council's property and the Baptist Church, and that of J. B. Ross, amounting to £37 18s 6d, was accepted. The Maypr reported that Mr Robert Milligan, who had presented the Peter Pan statuary, had suggested the following inscription: — "Wonderland (by Thos. J. Clapperton R.B.S.), presented and dedicated to the children of Oamaru hy Robert Milligan, Mareh, 1927." The inscription was approved and on the mation of the Mayor it wns decided to place on recorcl Mr Milligan's handsome and generous gift. Referring to the visit of the Puke of Yorlc to Oamaru, tbe Mayor paid a tribute to the work of the DeputyMayor (Councillor Forrester) and Reception Committee during his absence and expressed his thanks to all those who had assisted at the civic reception. THE CARRIERS' STAND. In reference to the request that the carriers stand he moved from the south end of Thames street, the Borough Inspector (Mr 'Whyte) reported that: (1) the present private parking area was sufficient and if the business people would park their cars- in the side streets it would leave more room for people who wislied to do business with the various retailers; (2) the carriers were all ratepayers and paid an annual license fee of 22s 6d and heavy: tralfic fees from £5 2s to £25 10s per annum; (3) he suggested that for the convenience of people uoing business at the south end, the Council (^onsideria parking place n,?ar Ihe kerb between G. Snmpter and Son's right of way and Sewell's shop. \ The Mayor said in Christchurch they had rescinded the by-law allowing cars to park on the angle. Councillor Forrester thought that parking on the angle was quite i&rong, The Mayor suggested that Inspector Whyte's attention should be drawn to any abuse of the privilege. It was decided to refer the inspector's report to the By-laws Committee.