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HOBART CITY COUNCIL
Gas Company "Trenches"
Cornelian Bay Boatsheds
At the meeting of the Hobart City
Council held last night there were pre-
sent—Alderman J. J. Wignall (Mayor),
G. Crosby Gilmore, F. B. Cane, C. Will-
ing, L. M. Shoobridge, M.L.C., Ben Wat-
kins, M.H.A., A. R. Park, D. Crisp, K. J.
Harvey, and L. H. Saunders, and the
Deputy Town Clerk (Mr. A. W. Cecil
Johnston).
Reporting on a motion carried at the
last meeting of the Council, that he
should be asked to furnish the approxi-
mate cost to the Council of completing
work which should have been done pro-
perly by the Gas Company after cutting
up streets, the City Engineer reported
that it would be impossible to estimate,
even approximately, the cost of "pro-
perly completing" the trenches that had
been cut and filled by the Gas Company.
He complained that the Gas Company
cut trenches in the roads and footpaths
without having given notice of their In-
tention to the department, whereas the
Act stated that it shall not be lawful tor
the company to break up or disturb the
pavement or ground in any way, road,
street, lane, or other public place with-
out the consent In writing of the sur-
veyor of the city, acting under the direc-
tion of the Council.
The engineer recommended:-(1) That
the Gas Company be not allowed to
Interfere with any road or footpath
without first informing him in writing of
their Intention, and giving details of the
position and dimensions of the proposed
trench or trenches; (2) that when any
trench had been excavated by the Gas
Company it should be properly filled in,
each layer being well tamped; (3) that
the Gas Company might be called upon
at any time, if any trench filling sinks,
to bring it up to the correct level at the
company's expense. The trench would
have been excavated solely in the in-
terests of the company, and the Council
should not have to suffer in any way;
(4) when the trench had been cut
through a road surface, whether metal
only, metal and rubble, bitumen or con-
crete, the surface should be reconstruct-
ed in its original form and design by the
company or by the Council at the Gas
Company's expense.
Alderman Gilmore said that the pre-
sent position was very unsatisfactory,
add should be ended. The Gas Co. had
not carried out repairs to street damage
caused by its workmen.
The report was adopted.
BOAT SHEDS AT CORNELIAN BAY.
The Town Clerk reported that a
considerable time ago permission was
granted to one or two prívate Indi-
viduals to erect boat sheds on the fore-
shore of Cornelian Bay. For some years
very few sheds were erected, and no
trouble was experienced. Of late years,
however, the number had largely in-
creased, until there were 34 of these
buildings, which, in some case, were
being used as week-end residences, and
In at least one instance for undesirable
objects. Last December it was decided
to give all owners notice of the deter-
mination of their licences at June 30,
1032, with the object of framing terms
of occupation on more stringent lines.
Unfortunately, owing to pressure of
business, mainly connected with the
operations of the committee regarding
reorganisation and economy, the pre-
paration of the amended leases was
overlooked. In the circumstances, he re
commended that the leases be renewed
until December 31 next on the follow
Ing conditions: (1) That all arrears of
rent, plus a further half-year's rent, be
paid forthwith; and (2) that all Instruc-
tions of the Medical Officer of Health be
carried out. If the Council, agreed to
this proposal, steps would be taken to
prepare new formal leases as early as
practicable.
The report was adopted.
TIMBER ON WATER RESERVE.
On a letter from the Conservator of
Forests, forwarding a working plan in
connection with timber getting rights
on the water reserve in the vicinity of
Mountain River, the Deputy Town Clerk
reported that the Conservator had Inter-
preted the Town Clerk's letter of May
25 to mean that while the Council re-
fused to relinquish an area of 3,813
acres, it had no objection to the removal
of timber from an 80-acre block in re-
spect of which the Council had granted
conditional permission. Acting on that
assumption, the Conservator of Forests
had invited tenders for the rights to the
timber area. The question was whether
the Council, in the face of its resolu-
tion on May 23, was prepared to re-
open the matter to allow consideration
being given to the removal of timber
from the smaller area of 80 acres.
It was decided that the Council
should adhere to its former decision.
TRAMWAYS LOAN.
The manager of the Commonwealth
Bank wrote, advising that the matter of
raising a London loan of £250,000 (tram-
ways) had been brought under notice ot
the London manager, and suggesting
that the Council's position would prob-
ably be strengthened, if as opportunity
arose, investments of the sinking fund
were realised with the object of apply-
ing proceeds for the purchase of Its own
securities in the loan.
The matter was referred to the Fin-
ance Committee.
RETIRING ALLOWANCES.
The Finance Committee, in a report,
recommended that a Council employee,
aged 76 years, and with experience over
about 50 years, should be granted a re-
tiring allowance of £30. and that an em-
ployee, aged 67, and with experience
over 25 years, should be granted a re-
tiring allowance of £15. In reference to
two other applications of a similar na-
ture, the committee stated that the
period of service in each case was in-
sufficient to carry any retiring allow-
ance rights.
Tho recommendations wero adopted.
WEST HOBART GROUND.
The West Hobart Progress Associa-
tion wrote criticising the attitude of
the City Council towards improvement
of the West Hobart recreation ground,
and asking for a special inspection of
the locality by competent, outside In-
dependent authorities.
FENCING OF RESERVOIR.
The city engineer recommended, as a
safety measure, that a close-boarded
fence, 8ft. high, should be erected
around the Domain service reservoir,
at an estimated cost of £86.
APPEALS AGAINST ASSESSMENTS.
The city valuer submitted a list of
appeals against assessments in the roll
for 1932-33, and recommended that the
adjustments as set out in the list be
approved. The total reduction was
£8,442, and of this amount £8,049 was
on account of reduced rentals. All ap-
peals had been adjusted except one, and
the city valuer recommended that the
appeal be referred to the Appeal Court
for settlement.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL.
On a letter from the manager of the
Perpetual Trustees and Agency Co. Ltd.,
suggesting that an exceptional oppor-
tunity presented itself of securing pre-
mises at 313 Macquarie Street, to pro-
vide for future extension of the Infec-
tious Diseases Hospital, the Finance
Committee recommended that the mat-
ter should be brought under notice of
the Government.
The report was adopted.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A request was received from the
headmaster of the Stale High School
for a reduction In the charge for the
North Hobart ground for girls' hockey
practice, and it was referred to the Fin-
ance Committee, with power to act.
A request from the West Hobart Pro-
gress Association that the terminus on
the Inward line from West Hobart
should be altered from Elizabeth Street
to the Railway Station, was referred to
the engineer and manager for report.
It was decided to lease the Corpor
ation garage in Lower Collins Street to
the Farmers' and Citizens' Insurance
Co. Ltd. at a rental of £220 a year, to
garage the Corporation motor vehicles
at Hedberg Bros.' garage at a rent of
£1 a week, and to increase the rental
of that garage from £2 to £4 per week.
Permission was granted for a period
of 12 months to Mr. J. P. Suckling to
erect a sawbench at the corner of High
and Queen Streets, Sandy Bay.
The city engineer reported that the
cost of widening Cascade Road on the
Brewery Company's side only was esti-
mated at £1,100, the use of atone from
Strickland Avenue lowering the cost.
(Continued in Next Column.)
(Continued From Preceding Column.)
It was decided to hold a special meet-
ing on July 25 to elect representatives
of the Council on the Board of the Ho-
bart Public Hospital.
It was decided to call for tenders for
repairs to .the Springs Hotel. On the
recommendation of the Finance Com-
mittee, it was decided to reduce the rent
of the hotel from £286 to £250 from
July 1 to the end of the lease, on Octo-
ber 1, 1933.
Permission was given for the erection
of saw-benches by Mr. T. Wilson, at the
corner of King and High Streets, Sandy
Bay: Mr. J. W. McNeil at 15 Cedric
Street; and Mr. C. Bain, at Proctors
Road.
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