LOWER HUTT AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 8

LOWER HUTT AFFAIRS

THE YEARLY GAS REPORT

'Tlio Mayor (.Mr. H. Baldwin) presided at a meeting of the liutt Borough .Council last- evening. ■ Tho following wcro also present: Councillors liobbs, Ball, M'Dongall, Clendon, Brassel, Carver, Meldrum,.and Hodgins. A communication was received from the Minister'of Public Works, advising the Government's intention to undertake an electrical installation in the North Island on similar lines to tho Lake Coleridgo scheme. Owing to financial • reasons, however, it is tinlikely that anything will be done till the war is over.' The letter was referred to No. i Committee for a report. The Town Clerk, Wellington, wrote, stating that it was intended to tar ami sand tho decking of tho bridges at Kaiwarra and Ngaliauranga. The Wellington City Council forwarded particulars of the council's interpretation of tho position iii regard to the road through the Gracofield Estate,, and advising that if the Loiver Hutt Council fails to accept such interpretation, tlie Wellington City Council will commence an • action .against the suburban body. Mr. E. P. Bunny, the Hutt Council's solicitor, had drafted a reply to the above, and It was decided to,send the letter on to tho Wellington City Council. ' Tho district manager of tho Public Trust Office asked that tho water mains be laid on to the Holworthy subdivisions as soon as possible. It was decided to carry otit tho work as soon as the'pipes arrive. Dressing sheds.on the Hutt Itiver -tank for women bathers were asked for,' and it was decided to refer tho matter to No. 1 committee, with a recommendation that tho matter bo' favourably considered. In connection 'with tho above, the clerk of the Hutt River Board wrote stating that his board was prepared to co-operato with the council as far as possible to regulato bathing in the river by fixing sites and the erection of dressing' sheds. This matter was also referred to the committee. v - Mr. W. J. Roohe, tho borough engineer, in his report stated that the surface drain in Western Hutt had l been completed at a cost of £74 19s. Bd., his estimate being £75. Other works which have been completed in tho borough were the kerbmg and channelling on the Main Road, as well as tint in Wainui and Nikau Avenues. Metalling tho Main Road between tho railway station and Wakefield Street v has also been commenced. ' The report on gas distribution for the year ending July 31, 1916, showed that tho amount of gas taken from Potone during tlie past nine years had increased from 0,000,000 cubic feet in 1007 to 12,557,000 this year. There are Hi, miles ,of gas mains jn tho borough, while the number of consumers was 579. • Tlie gas sold to domestic consumers amounted to over 9,000,000 feet, representing .-€3353. Gas sold to power consumers reprorentcd £278, while street lighting cost £198. The 12,557,000 cubic feet to purchased from Potone at 3s. 9d. per foot, costing £2334, leaving a gross profit to the Hutt Council of £1475. On tho' recommendation of No. 2 committee it was resolved that tihe form df gas service agreement bo amended to provide that the charge for laying the sorvico pipes be tho actual cost, plus 10 per cent, for supervision. Tho number of gallons of water pumped by the council's pumping gear for tho month was 9,600,000 gallons. The gas engine used 14,200 cubic feet of gas, at a cost of £4 Bs. lOd.