BOROUGH OF INVERCARGILL.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 26, 10 September 1920, Page 11

BOROUGH OF INVERCARGILL.

OFFICERS' REPORTS. Angust 31, 1920. Tlie Town Clerk, Invercargill. Sir, — For the fortnight ending 28th Aug. ust, I beg to report as follows Carshed. — Wheels have been changed on one car, axle boxeg and springs changed on twQ cars, one defective armature changed, and sand gear and brake gear overhauled. The sample heaters have been fitted to car No. 10, and the car put into traffic for trial. A slight delay to traffic was ckused by a hroken anchor ear in Elles Road. In this connection I should like to point out that the electric truck is not fast enough for emergency work, or for outside work on the electric lines. The periodical examination and overhaul of the trolley wire is in progress. The usual car equipment, cleaning , and adjustment has heen carried on. . The track gang has renewed a check rail. at corner of Conon and Tay streets, and tightened up check rails at Tweed and 6onon street corner. The track is being laid and ballasted in the carshed extension. Electricity. — Fourteen poles have been erected and mains run for several coiisum. ers, inculding Stirling street. The connectors on the aluminium wires in Dee and Tay streets have been overhauled. An extra light has been installed at sewerage pumping station. Three stopping place lights have required attention. Nine. teen new installations and eleven alterations and extensions have been tested and c-onnected to mains. Power House. — The output for the weeks ending August 21 and 28, were 49,760 units and 45,980 units respectively, the coal burned being 179 tons and 163 tons. The supply of local coal has been very good and we have been able to fill thc bunkers. The drop ixi the loading has also helped. Two boilerg have been blown down and drums examined, all in good order. The usual cleaning and overhauling is being carried on. Electricity Charges. — I beg to report having examined the comparative statement of the old rates and the proposed new rates. The result is much as 1 anticipated. It was not my intention in the revision of the rates to make any appreciable incxease, but to xemodel the power rates on a fairer hasis, and to provide for any hicrease that rnight be necessary in

the future. Such an occasion has now arisen in the increased cost of coal. Tho new railway rates mean an increase of at least £500 in coal freight for the next twelve months, also two of the largest suppliers of local coal have increased their prices considerably. In view of the necessity of establishing a depreciation and renewal fund these extra costs cannot be met out of income, and must be met by increased prices. Tramways and Electricity Depreciation and Renewal Fund. — In connection with tramways and electricity undertakings the establishing of a Depreciation and Re. newa.1 Fund is not a matter of question, but is a matter cf finance. The electricity branch of this Department is in a strong enough financial position to carry this charge, as the balance sheets of the last few years will show. On the other hand the tramways have not so far been able to meet actual running expenses, including interest and sinking fund.

The question of instituting the fund should he faced at once, as the tramway track and overhead ' will be requiring renewal in many places within the next few years, and there is no money available to purchase material. During the next twelve months the superheaters of the four original boilers in the Power House will require renewal at a cost of "about £2000. This will have to be charged against work. ing expenses, making a heavy charge in one year, as the result of nine years wear. Tramway Shelter : I beg to report having received the following letter : — August 27, 1920. Sir, — I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 23rd ultimo, with referenee to the erection of a shelter shed on the boundary of my property at the corner of Elles Road and Grace street. In reply, I may state tliat«T am quite willing to let such a building he placed on this property but on condxtion that same will be removed at my request. This would be necessary should I wish to place a building on this section. Yours fa^.hfully, (Signed) Robert Longley, 79 Dalrymple Road. OFFICERS REPORT.

From the Borough Inspeetor, August 31, 1920. As instructed by you I called on all the proprietors oi motor garages in the Borough with a view to ascertain how many would apply for a second-hand dealer's license, in accordance with the provisions of the "Second-hand Dealers' Act' 1902." I hereby attach seVen applications from persons anxious to comply with the provisions of the said A ct, and may state that three owners of garages declined to take out a license as they maintain that they do not come under the provisions of the Act. 1 would respectfully rocommend that the seven attac.hed applications be granted. During' the past fortnight, and as usual at this period of the year, I have notified several owners of dirty hack yards who are in the habit of having accumulations of insanitary refuse lying about. All butchers, bakers and boardinghouse keepers other places where food stuffs are manufactured or stored, have beon notified to have a good spring cleaning in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws. The general sanitary condition of the Borough is good, and the services performed by the Sanitary Staff are fairly satisfactory. During the past. 12 months eighteen notices have ben sent out with respect to the following Acts: — "Impounding," "Dog Registration," and "Noxious Weeds." From the Head Gardner, September 1, 1920. As requested at last meeting of Committee, I submit report on Golf L|nks. With tlie departure of the frost and the advent of sunshine the greens are again in good order. I have liad the greenkeeper mowing the greens and approaches with the Shanks in his spare time, and once he gets over them all, they will be in first-rate order. Finance. — To all appearance the income will be larger*'this year than last. Since the 1st April, sixty-eight member's tickets have beai i.ssued; the takings since that date amounting to £92 17s 6d. As there were seventy tickets issued previous to that,, all of which will likely be renewed, the revenue for the year should be well over the £200 mark. As it has been the custom to issue tickets on all dates, I would suggest that they he issued on fixed dates, yearly, half-yearly and quarterly, say 1st January, 1st April, 1st July and 1st October. This would make less work for the greenkeeper, also the cleiical staff. I have to report having visited the cemetery and consulted with the Sexton. We decided to complete the esctlonia hedge along the railway line ; also to plant suitable shrubs when possible. For this purpose. I have sent out forty escalonias,

30 shrubs and 40 rhododendrons, tolal value £5 10s. I do not know if it. has been customary to debit the Cemetery a*> count for plants, but I think it is only right to do so. vVill await instructiona from the committee. Some five years ago a number of citi/eus planted some hundreds of narcissxig in Block IV. They have done well, an.-l should make a good display. In previous years the blooms have been plucked i hihi ediately they opened. I will have noticea put up warning anyone not to pick th| flowers; but I think with a view to pxep ventlng people from gathering the floweu% a local in the newspapers should bi inserted. I would remind the Committee that it is time to decide which oi the reserves are to be let for grazing, as all leases ex-s pire at the end of this montb, so this ma.L ter requires immediate attention.