BOROUGH COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 19 May 1925, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. ■ The fortnightly meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor and Councillors P. J. Kelly, P. C. Vinnell, J. A. Hay, W. H. Hunt, G. Benstead, D. McNab, F. B. Hawlcfey, W. Gibb, J. R. Hart, J. F. Arnold,' F. Chittock, and T. W. Satterthwaite. A NEWSPAPER • CRITICISED. The Mayor said he was surprised to read in a sub-leader in that evening’s paper that blame was attached to those representatives of the Council (Councillor Hay, chairman of the Works Committee, and himself) who had been responsible for the allocation of Anzac reserve as a playing area for the Rugby Union and the Soccer Association. The comment to which he took exception was quite unjustified. As a matter of fact Councillor Hay and he had decided this matter in consultation with the accredited representatives of the Rugby Union and the Soccer Association, and all had agreed that the best possible allocation had been made. The only stipulation made was that school children must not be shoved off the reserve by senior clubs. The arrangement made had not yet been reported to the Council for confirmation or rejection, and until it was so reported, criticism was uncalled for, and in this case it vas also erroneous. Councillor - Hay endorsed the Mayor’s remarks, and added that the evening paper had evidently fallen into the blunder by having been supplied with a false statement of the position, which it had accepted. Councillor Benstead said the evening paper inferred that the Rugby Union had. been given preference over the Soccer Association. The Mayor said that no such preference had been given, and all interested parties had agreed that the best had been done.

ANOTHER COMPLAINT.

Councillor Gibb, (chairman of the Electric Light Committee) said that he also had a complaint to make against the evening paper, for having misrepresented the facts in connection with the failure of Coleridge power in Timaru on Sunday. There had been no ‘‘conspiracy of silence” on the part of the Council, as suggested by the evening paper, and no failure of any sort on the part of the committee. The committee were in complete ignorance of any arrangement as to when the power would be cut off by the Department. The Mayor said there was no definite arrangement. Continuing, Councillor Gibb said the position Was most unsatisfactory, and it was time the authorities were called to account. Mr C. Dash (secretary of the Power Board) had informed him that he had written to Mr McGibbon (engineer in charge at Lake Coleridge) asking that a repetation of the failure of Ihe previous Sunday should not take place, but he had received no acknowledgment of his letter,; and no explanation had been tendered him of last Sunday’s failure. It was due to the users of power in Timaru that such a failure should not be repeated; and if satisfaction could not be got from Mr McGibbon the Council should go to a higher authority, in Wellington. So far as the Electric Light Committee were concerned there had been no ‘.‘conspiracy of silence,” and they could not properly be charged with neglect. to inform consumers of something ;6f which they had no knowledge. He moved -—"That representations be made to the South Canterbury Power Board with respect to the failure, on the part of the Department, to restore the electric current in Timaru at 4 p.m. on Sunday, and that an explanation be asked for.” Councillor. Arnold seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The Mayor said that apart from the failure on the part of the Government, he thought the Council’s Electric Light Department might have done better by providing light on Sunday evening until Coleridge power was restored. It was bad management to assume that Coleridge power would come on by 4 p.m. If the Council’s stand-by plant was capable of carrying the load during the day it should have made some attempt to carry on in the evening. But the way the Department was treating Timaru was certainly bad business. At the same time, repairs to the line had been in progress for some considerable time, and the Council’s plant should be available on Sunday evenings.

WORKS COMMITTEE. Present— The Mayor (chairman),

Councillors Hunt, Satterthwaite, Benstoad, McNab and Vinncll. Section at corner Howling and Stafford Streets. Recommendation: That the Inspector give the owner notice to remove barbed' wire fence and gorso.

Caroline Bay. Recommendation: That tho raft off Marino Parade bo taken ashore and cleaned tarred during the winter months'. See-saws and swings. —Proposed removal to sands. Recommendation: That this matter bo held over until this committee confers with the Caroline Bay Association on matters affecting the Bay generally. , ~ Park. Floodlight. Recommendation: That this light be placed on a longer polo oil the high ground alongside the bowling green. Hockey.—Letter from the hen. secretary South Canterbury Hockey Association asking for permission to use the Park ground for hockey during this season. Recommendation: Granted, subject to the usual terms. North End Park and Anzac Reserve. Letter from the South Canterbury Rugby Union asking for the use of the above to be used during the week for school games, and on Saturdays for Union competitions. Recommendation: That the application bo held over pending a conference with the Mayor and chairman and representatives of the Rugby Union, and the School Sports Association. Charles Street. Recommendation: That tho Inspector give occupiers notice to put fences in repair and tidy up sections fronting tho avenue. Beverlev Road. Recommendation: That the Borough Engineer be instructed' to ticly up the road and give frontagers notice that they will bo prosecuted if tlieY dump refuse thereon. Sehvyn Street. Recommendation: That tiie Borough Engineer be instructed to improve the condition of this street, pending metalling at a future date. , ~ Butler Street. Recommendation: That this street be improved at its junction with Arthur Street. Corner Grev Road and Arthur Street Tho Borough Engineer recommended that the street at this corner be metalled. —Agreed to. . Raymond Street. Petition from sixteen residents ashing; to have the north footway lcerbed, channelled and asphalted. Recommendation : That the petitioners be informed that the policy of tho present Council is to kerb and channel one side of a street only, and that the Borough Engineer be intsructod to trim up the side channel and give the footway a Jiglit coat of shingle. _ Perth mid George Streets. Anplication to Government for piece of post office section for imoroving the corner. Letter from the Chief Postmaster that ( this was receiving consideration. Trafalgar Street. Bowker v. Council. Claim for compensation for a strip of land dedicated for street widening. Letter from tho Borough solicitors stating that claimant had appointed' Mr Foote his assessor, and asking for tho name of tho Council’s assessor. The Mayor stated that lie had, Appointed Mr W. Hall the Council s assessor. . Recommendation: That Mr Hall s appointment bo confirmed. The Borough Engineer recommended the following new lights:—Latter street •1, Woolleombe street 1, College road 3. Brenda street 1, Quarry road 2, Athol Place 1, LeCren’s Terraco 1, Wai-iti road, north side between Nile Street and Park Lane 1. The recommendation was agreed to. Art Gallerv and Museum. Letter from the Society asking for additional cases at a cost of £32 10s. —Held over pending estimates. ’ Blacksmith. Letter from Mr _R. Welsh anpealing against the termination of his. engagement. Recommendation.' That Mr Welsh attend tho next meeting of this committee. _ Borough Extension. Petition to include Redruth. Letter from the Under Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, that a commission consisting of Messrs E. D. Moslev (Magistrate), F H. Bollard (Commissioner of Crown Lands), and F. Stowell (District Valuev), had been appointed to inquire into the petition. Waterworks. Trees on race. Letter from Messrs R. Casey and Son, offering to cut down the trees on the water race opposite Mr Hill’s property and cut into posts etc., at daily wages.—Hold over. ...

Heavv traffic regulation'! and’ license fans. Letter from the Town Clerk. Christchurch, advising the result of the conference of local authorities in District, lfi, bv -which it was agreed that Christchurch should collect fees and that the allocation thereof should be nro rata acoordinc to the amount spent bv each local authority on road maintenance.. I?f?cornrnenrlntfmi : That of local authorities in fins District CI.D which includes Ashburton and Waitaki Counties and the whole of Son lb Canterbury, he convened for an carlo dote. OH Council Chambers. Letter from Mr G. T. Kolter for the Workers Educational Association applying for the use of the old meeting room upstairs. - Recommendation : That the a pH'cation he gr n nted for six months. Rent 5s ner week. Horse feed 1 tenders fchaff and oats). Resolved that the chairman. Councillor McNab and Borough Engineer consider and report to Council. Motor truck. Tender for solid tvres. Recommendation: That Mi- A.^Dunnett’s tender he accepted at- £7O 4s. sul-’oct to m’leage o-uarantee. Waterworks. Tenders for water meters. Recommendation : That the tender of A. cud T. Burt, Ltd., at £9S 4s he accepted. Letter from the Chief Postmaster applying for a reduction in the charge tor water supplied to the Post Office.. Recommendation: That the application be not granted. Motor Vehicles Act, 1924. Speed limits. Letter from tho Department ot Internal Affairs stating that it was proposed to issue regulations that no perbon shall drive a motor vehicle at a rate of speed greater than that specified on any sign or in any by-law of a local authority, and that a copy ot draft regulations would be sent to all local authorities for their comments. The report was adopted.

ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHT. the hdectric Lignt jiuigiueer (.All G. T. Wilson) reported that the annual boiler and macmnery inspection iia-.i been earned out and everything was satisfactory. 'Hie gas engines were being run every day to enable the plant to be started m approximately tnirty minutes, and between 8 a.m. and HI p.in.j the plant could be started within that time, should Coleridge tail. 't oe crossing over the railway at North Street was being put in, and this would enable the a.c. power to he delivered in this area. The Caroline Dairy Co., and W estland '.Limber Coy. were installing 115 h.p. between them, for a.c. supply. During his leave ol absence, lie visited Auckland, Hamilton ana Wellington, and investigated as much as possible any installations of interest, gaining some usciul knowledge. He went also over the Awapum senemc, the Wellington sub-.station, and the new 'Wellington power house, and was convinced that the demand for electrical -‘applies would be as well catered lor in Auckland and Wellington as in Canterbury. 'lut report was adopted. DUS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE. Present —The .Mayor, Councillors Arnold, Hawkey, Gibb, Kelly, Hart and Chiltoclc. Councillor Gibb ho appointed chairman of this committee. Recommendation : That tenders be invited for the supply of 10 barrels of lubricating all, 2 barrels of transmission oil, and 2.140 m-m by 850 m-m .solid tyres. Pu ,'vor Robertson resigned his position.

Letter from Mr F. J. Smith, Old North Road 1 , stating that this Department had wired his house and that he was not now- able to obtain a supply of electricity, as the property was m tho county. Recommendation: That ihe manager report thereon, and that in the meantime Mr Smith be recommended to apply to tho Power Board for a supply of electricity.

FINANCE COMMITTEE. Present— The Mayor, Councillors Hav, Vinncll, Gibb, Kelly, Benstead and Hawkey. The Mayor was appointed permanent chairman. The pay sheet and accounts were considered and payment was recommended ■of accounts totalling £4993. Letter from South Canterbury Hospital Board forwarding a copy of its estimates for the current year and advising that the levy on the Council would be £3933 17s 2d. . Letter from Mr T. Taylor asking the Council to review the position with the object of granting drainage allowances to Watlington residents. Recommendation : That Mr Taylor be asked to wait on this committee. The report was adopted.

LIBRARY COMMITTEE. _ Present: The Mayor, Councillors Arnold, Hunt and Hart, Mrs Paterson, Messrs Cotterill and Washer. Councillor Arnold was elected chairman. New books were recommended for purchase at a cost of £l7 6s Bd. The librarian reported that the Juvenile Library had re-opened on May 1. The report was adopted. GENERAL. The North End Ratepayers’ Association wrote suggesting that the Council should purchase from Messrs Smithson and Raymond three acres of land between the North. End Park and the railway line. The Mayor said the _ Council already had twenty acres in the North End Park, and he thought that the £275 asked for this land could be better spent on improvements to the land which they already had. But they had not got £275 to spare for the purchase of this land. Councillor Vinnell said he thought that every opportunity of securing land for breathing spaces should be taken advantage of, and he moved that the matter be referred to the Works Committee.

Councillor Gibb seconded the motion, and said that if they did not secure this land now it would probably be cut lip and built upon. It would not cost the Council £275, as the North End Association proposed to raise some of the money.

Councillors Hay, Benstead, Hunt and Satterthwaite, spoke strongly in support of the motion, and of the Council purchasing the land at the price asked for. Councillor Satterthwaite said that this was a glorious opportunity for some person of means to make a gift of this land to the Council. He also expressed a strong hope that owners of the native reserve at Maori Hill would be persuaded to put a reasonable price on the reserve, and that the Council would give the ratepayers an opportunity of voting for ra loan for the purpose of purchasing it. He was looking forward to the time when the reserve would be connected up with Caroline Bay by an overhead bridge spanning the railway, and when the reserve would be beautified. Councillor Vinnell’s motion was carried.

The Mayor explained that he was not opposed to the purchase of land for public parks, hut he considered it was much better to have five reserves of twenty acres each in' different parts of the town, than to have one reserve of one hundred acres. A reserve was needed now in the vicinity of the Fairview road.

A letter received from an advertising Arm, suggesting that Timaru should participate in a publication in connection with the Dunedin Exhibition, was referred to the Exhibition Committee. Councillor Satterthwaite moved: “That the Electric Light Engineer be instructed to report to the Council on all the electric light loan work completed up to April 29, 1925; the names of the streets in which the work had been done; the cost of same. (2) What work mentioned in the loan, proposals yet remained to be completed, with the estimated cost of same.” Councillor Satterthwaite explained that his object in moving the motion was to secure for the Council, information as to how the loan money had been, and was being spent. The loan was for £50,000, £27,000 of which was supposed to be for reticulation, but he understood that £33,000 had already been spent on reticulation.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Vinneli and carried.

TENDERS. *

The tenders of the N.M. and A. Co. for the supply of 5 tons of oaten sheaf chaff, at £5 per ton, and that of Morton and Pearson for the supply of 25 tons at £5 7s 6d per ton, were accepted. The tender of J. Meehan and Son for the supply of 500 bushels of oats at 3/11J, and that of Morton and Pearson for the supply of 500 bushels of oats at 3/9 per bushel, were accepted. One tender was received for trees growing along the Council’s waterrace at Pareora, and being considered too low the matter was referred to the Works Committee.