MUNICIPAL DOINGS.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 43, 20 January 1894, Page 9

MUNICIPAL DOINGS.

The ordinary meeting of the Invercargill Eorough Council, hekt on Thursday evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr A. Raeside), and Crs. II Mair, Sinclair, jGoldic, McEwan, Stead, Roche, Mclveown, Storie, and Eatchelor.

A. Watson applied for permission to transfer section 1, block (38, to It. Tapper. — Granted, after a short discussion, in which it was mentioned that the matter had been adjusted by the payment of a bonus by MiTapper to Mr Watson. W. Hall, captain of the Central Fire .Brigade, asked for information as to the quantity and locution of inflammable goods stored in business places in town, so that in ease of fire the brigade would know where to go to remove such materials. The Mayor said he had got the inspector to obtain the necessary particulars. In view of the terrible disaster at Santander there was great need for cure in this matter, and he was determined to enforce the bye-law requiring payment of » fee of £3 in certain cases where dangerous goods were kept.—CT. lloehe said that the was v.Uru vires, all that was required being (he issue of a license without payment. The Mayor said that, in one ease, the presence of a quantity of gunpowder had been ignored till the inspector discovered it.

Dr Lcvingc forwarded a sample of town water to show how effectual the addition of some clear lime water had been in removing the objectionable smell and causing the sediment to sink to the bottom of the vessel containing the water. —The letter was referred to the Water Committee, Cr. Stead remarking that the writer, who was owe of the few persons outside the Council who took an interest in the question, should be thanked for the trouble he had taken. They must, ho held, recognise that the town water had faults. Put for this there would have been a great demand for it during the recent hot weather. Those who understood the water were able to get good tea from it, but before it could be a success it must bo made acceptable to everybody. The question was too much for the committee —it should be taken up by the whole Council and settled once for all. — Cr. Eoehe : Have we a report from the Engineer I—The1 —The Mayor; Wo arc waiting for further information. —Cr. Roche ; Wo have been waiting for the last three years. He then went on to deal with what he termed “ a most spiteful article ” re town water which had appeared in the Southland News last week. Although they were a public body, ho thought they had as good grounds for an action against the paper as Mr Speight had against the Age. (Laughter.) If the writer went to Dunedin ho would find that although they had more ruin there, the water was not anything like as good as here. (The Mayor: Hear, hear.) The same thing would be found in other places further north. The editor of the paper had given the Council no credit for the fact that the water had been of the greatest service in fire extinction, nor had he given them the result of his experience or reading. He (Cr. Roche) thought a bonus of L3UO or LSOO should be offered for a plan that would make the water all over the (own lit for household purposes. It had been analysed, and found to be sound, healthy, and good, while they bad authority for saying that the material in the water was not deleterious ; he had drunk some of the water that day, and it was simply beautiful. The town and water engineer should probe the matter to the bottom. It was just possible that the aeration of the water would be beneficial. — Cr McKeown said he had used the water from the first, and had never tasted better. In his house it was used for every purpose except washing clothes. If the pipes were flushed, and a greater consumption obtained for the water, all would be right. — Cr. Stead said that in his own ease the water was good, but he had complaints of its quality in other parts of the town, —Cr. Me Ewan said there was no use blinking the fact that while the water was good in some parts of the town in others it was very unsatisfactory, lie thought the lime cure offered a solution of the trouble —ho would oppose expenditure on charcoal or mechanical filters. —Cr. Sinclair said although not much had been done of late, the question had been exercising the minds of Crs. The water appeared to unsatisfactory in the lower levels, where the sediment accumulated. He thought the lime water cure the right one. It would not be necessary to purify all the water coming from the well, much of it leing used for watering the streets,but experiments con Id bo made in some of the houses in different parts of the town. T’Jie motion referring the latter to the water Committee and thanking Dr. Leviuge, was then passed.

Nich'd Bros. offered 70 tone of Coalbrookdale coal at 27s per ton to be tested for gasmaking purposes. Councillor McEwan moTod that the coal be ordered. Councillor Storie thought three trucks would be sufficient for the purpose. Cr. Roche objected to the offer being accepted on the ground that it might interfere with the next contract to be let in March. Cr. McKcown objected to the Council testing coal for any company; they should do it themselves. Cr. Goldie said that if Nessrs Nichol Bros, wanted the coal tested they shoud send a truck for nothing. After some further decision the motion in favour of accepting the offer was rejected. The Works Committee recommended, inter alia, that the services of the prisoners be obtained to thin out trees and do other work in the reserves, as recommended in the Gardener’s report. —Cr. Goldie objected to the rccommeneation, as ho was opposed to prison labour. On being put, Crs. Goldie, McKcown, Stead, Batchelor and Storie voted against it, but the Mayor exercised his deliberative and casting votes and declared it carried, giving as his reason that the work was urgently required. The Gas Committee reported that they had considered the letter from Mr S. Lithgow re hi 3 gis account, and had also consulted the gas manager on the matter, and recommended

that Mr Eithgow be informed that the Council are satislled with the explanation already given him by the gas manager.— CT* Sinclair moved the adoption of the report. The gas manager had examined Mr Lithgow’s meter, found it correct, and had informed him accordingly.—Cr. Mair seconded the motion.— Cr. Stead thought they should be careful in this matter, seeing that it was the word of one practical man against that of another. The variation in the quantities had been very slight till Jtho time at which complaint was made. Was there any truth in the report that after the complaint the meter was taken away and something done to make it correct, the inference being that it was not previously correct Tn some cities, if a consumer thought his meter was not registering properly, ho could have it tested on payment of a small sum, whereas hero the only course was to lodge a complaint, which put a consumer in an invidious position. Judging

from Mr Lithgow’s accounts he appeared to have burned more gas, although he had obtained patent burners, which should have made a saving. Were the Committee satisfied that they could stand by the decision he would support the motion, or had they simply accepted the statement that Mr Ligthgow must have burned more gas, and that the meter was correct ? He did not for a moment doubt the manager, but still Mr Lithgow had had a good deal of experience. J— Cr. Eoche said that while their officers should be supported, the Council had a duty to perform to the ratepayers. Mr Lithgow had made a written statement, and should have been heard by the Committee.—Cr. Goldie said he believed the manager’s report was sent to Mr Lithgow. As to patent burners, he had tried them for three months, only to find that they used mc&'e gas than the ordinary ones. If Mr Lithgow looked up his own pipes he would probably find the leakage there. The manager stated that he had tested the meter, and found it worked correctly, but he (Mr Goldie) did not think lie said that he had done anything to it.—The Mayor: He had to take it away in order to test it.—Cr. MeEwan said the meters wanted looking to periodically —they were like clockwork, and were apt to get out of order after years of use.—(Cr. Eoche : They are examined periodically.)—Cr MeEwan also wished to know why the deck facsimiles on the receipts were not filled in, and added that he objected to the meter rent. Why should a man who perhaps used a lot of gas in the winter have to pay fid a month if he did not happen to use any for a month in the summer? One man, sooner than pay it, allowed the meter to bo taken away for the time being, which would surely cost the Council more than the rent. — The Mayor; It was very parsimonious.— Cr Mair said that Cr. Stead had practically made a charge against the manager.—Or. Stead denied having done so, or having had any such intention —he had simply asked for information.—Cr. Mair, continuing, said that after the manager found the meter was right Mr Lithgow might have repaired his pipes. As to the rent question, the gas bill of the person who refused to pay it would probably be very small—perhaps he was one of those who kept a front room which was only used or lit up when visitors called.—The report was then adopted.

It was decided to inform the dog tax collector that his request to be allowed the fines imposed on defaulters could not be entertained, and to hold over the question of supplying East Invercargill with gas till next meeting—further information to be obtained in the interim.

It was resolved to inform the Government that the Council would accept authority in licensing matters provided the Government supplied the rolls free of cost, an amendment by Or. Sinclair to the effect that the reply be that the matter is under consideration being lost. The mover stated that in Dunedin it was thought the cost of carrying out the duty would be considerable. They were in communication with the Government on the point, and it might be well to wait and see if they obtained any concession.—Cr. Eocho said that in any case they could obtain the same concessions.

Th* Finance Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to £929 Gs 7d. — Cr. Sinclair moved that the clause be added to to the effect that all new works be suspended for six weeks. This he thought was necessary in view of the heavy overdraft and the attitude of the banker.—The Mayor and Cr. Eoche held that the position of the town was good, and that this was the season to carry out new works.—After further discussion the clause was carried without alteration .

Departmental reports were next read. The Gas Manager reported that everything was going on satisfactorily, and the Waterworks Engineer stated that since the beginning of the year the tax on the well had been very great, the consumption during the day having been from 13,000 to 11,000 gallons per hour. This had necessitated prolonged hours of pumping—from 13 to 16 hours daily, and on one day 23 hours. The well, however, had proved quite equal to the tax upon it. Ton new services had been put in, and there were applications for six others.—Deferred to the Water Committee, with the expression of a hope from Gr. McKcown that consideration would be given to the long hours worked by the men.—The Mayor also remarked on the need of accommodation for the Engineer, who at present had to “ steam and stew ” at night among the boilers. Cr. Goldie, in the unavoidable absence of Cr. Ilanan, moved “ That an electric fire alarm be erected in Dee street between Don and Spey streets connecting with the Fire Brigade station or gasworks, whichever place the Engineer decide upon.” The mover pointed out that the need for the alarm was all the greater since the removal of the brigade station to Tay street. The resolution was not seconded, and on the motion of Cr. Eoche the Council, at 10.15 p.m., adjourned, the mover explaining that he acted out of no disrespect to the mover of the resolution.