TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 662, 22 April 1914, Page 5

TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Te Kuiti Borough Council, which had been postponed from the previous [Monday, was held on Monday evening last. There were present—his Worship the Mayor, Crs Grahnm, Hovvarth, Somerville, Mabbett, Mcstyn Jones, and M. J, Jonas. J. Markham, sanitary contractor,

furnished a list of those who failed to get tins for refuse removal after notice had been given.—Resolved to take action againßt defaulters. Electrical Deinonstratian.—Mr J. Kirkwood wrote stating ho had made arrangements to give a demonstration of cooking, etc., by electricity, and asked that the Council should supply the electricity for the purpose free )f charge.—Request granted. Councillors' Resignations.—The ra-

signations of Crs H. Matthew and J. F. Walsh were received. Both gentlemen thanked the Miyor and councillor; for the courtesy and consideration extended to them and regretted that the pressure of private business rendered it imposible for them to continue their public work. The Mayor said, in moving that the resignations be accepted with regret, and that the Council should place on record its appreciation of the services of the gentlemen who were retiring. With regard to Cr Ma'tthflw, while he did not wasta time with much speaking, they were all aware of the excellent service rendered and hia loyalty to other members of the Council was thoroughly appreciated. In Cr Walsh they had a colleague of a different type in many respects and one who/n they would ull be sorry to lose. Both gentlemen had done excellent service, and if the borough continued to bo as well represented the interests of the ratepayers would be extremely well looked after.

Cr Somerville seconded the motion, and endorsed the Mayor's tribute to the retiring councillors.

Electrical Engineer's Report.—Applications for Supply: These showsigns of steady increase, and the number to March 31st, is 208 registered and 187 connected to the the supply mains. The additional load connected to the supply this month is 12 h.p. or 9 k.w. Total K.W. to March 31st: Lighting 51, heating 2G, power 45, street lighting G. total 131

k.w. Alterations te Street Lighting: This was completed on April Ist, and the whole of tho street lights in the borough are now lighted between 1.30 and 2.30 a.m. Short-circuits and Network: Trouble is still being experienced duo to the cables blowing together and causing short-circuits. On April 15th trouble of this nature occurred causing ma -y consumers to ba in darkness for about half-an-hour while the fault was being traced and cleared. Mains Supplying Waiteti Road: It will be necessary to disconnect this circuit from the supply almost immediately and until the river bank is made secure as two of tho poles carrying the mains at Rora street end are in a very dangerous position, and may at any time be carried away with an earth slip, and the mains if left alive would ba apt to

cause a good deal of damage. Producer Gns Plant: The makers of this plant made an inspection on April ltith,

and claim that the trouble experienced can bo rectified, providing the plant can be shut down for four days to enable them to make the necessary alterations. It has been explained that this request ia impossible, and that tho plant cannot be shut down for

any one d»y of the week. The only way by which this work can be carried out ia to install a second producer which will form part of the plant necessary for the duplication and I understand that Messrs Frastr's are submitting direct to the Council their report and offer in this direction,— R. H. Hartley, Electrical Engineer. Foreman's Report. —General: During tho month the ordinary work in connection with the maintenance of tho borough has been carried out. The water tables have al! been attended to, and several culverts cleaned that Ko't blocked through the sum .Tier. Storm Water Ditches: The whole of the storm water ditches on the flat in the borough have been cleaned out, and should prevent any flooding of sections this winter. Rora Street Brestwork: Since last meeting a considerblo amount of damage has occur red to thi?, principally through a fire burning the manuka scrub, and letting down the earth on top. There also was a very high flood in the river on April Kith, causing a considerable amount of the embankment to fall in. These dangerous places have been made gai'e by erecting a fence right around them. Rora Street: Tho whole of the footpath in Rora street from Hurley's corner to the river has been given a coat of tarred clippings. This will require a top-dressing of tar and sane), which will be gone on with at once, tar having been obtained irom Wellington. The piece of road unfinished between Alexnadcr street and the school will be rone on with shortly. Quarrying, To Kumi Quarry: During the month the crushing plant has been kept going constantly, and worked very satisfactorily. The quarry still shows a considerable amount of clay in patches, which makes the stone more expensive to get. The quantity of stone put through the crusher last month was 12:10 cubic yards. Sewers: These are being carefully attended to, being flushed out every week, and kept in a clean condition. I might mention the sewer at present is running very satisfactorily and tho main pipe* are absolutely clean. Rimu Street Storm Water: The storm water drainage in this street is at present very had and requires attention. The whole of the storm water off this street rush right under Mi Horan'a house causing it to be damp and washing away his section. What I should recommend be done is to continue the flinch pipe down through Mr Horan'a section on to Taws street,which would then give the street good drainage. Permission to run the pipe down can easily be obtained. Recreation

Ground: This has now been levelled and sown down in grass sesd. Aa the seed which came to hand was only sufficient to sow five acre,?, this has been spread on the playing are::. [ It" one more sacit was purchased the whole ground could bo euvered. King Street West: Thia street has been formed from the railway line along to Mr Johnson's house, arid treated with a coating of limestone metal, then blinded with river shingle. Total metal spread on this street is GOO cubic yards. Carre!! Street: This street ia being formed to a width of 30 feet and treated with a coating of limestone metal and then blinded with river shingle. Approach to Ahuroa Road: The whole of tha approach to this road hag b?en graded and formed up, and is now being metalled with river shingle. Owing to tha wet weather work on thia road ia suspended and the storm Water ditches are being cleaned out to let away the water which Isys en the road. Esplanade: The portion o£ the Esplanade from Lawrence street to Ngarongo Dlrcet ■, has been graded and formed up mak- i ill".' a greet improvament to this por- | tion of the read. Fire Brigade Sta lion Floor: The floor of the station occupied by the reel has been Riven a coating of tarred macadam. When I am top-dresaing the footpaths this floor will b° given a top-dressing of tar and sand. Water Main Extension: The water mains have bean extended on to the recreation ground to provide for a fira plug branch, being placed at a position shown by the captain of the fire brigade. Mungaorino Road: This road is being formed up where necessary and being blinded with river shingle from, the borough boundary down to Jenning'a street; when thia is completed this road will be in fine order. Kowhai Street: The contractor for this street has all the excavation done and is now ready to go on metalling, which will be done with river ahingle. As there was no provision mado for a pipe under the entrance to this road, we will have ti lay one ourselves, which will require to ba 9-inch and should ba done at onca as the storm water 13 running down the road in Tawa street. Thß bank on the entrance to this street is going to be dangerous owing to it slipping down on Tawa street. This will require a rough elab wall, and fencing on the top. Fire Plugs at d Valves: These have- all been cleaned out,and are kept clear so as to be easily found in case of fire.—T. Dix, Borough Foreman. Thn following reports and recommendations were submitted by the various committees and adopted: Works, Water, and Drainage Committee. —That the following streets require urgent attention, and the aph proximate coat of work necessary will amount to the figure sat opposite each road: Te Kumi road £225. Mangaorino road £2OO, Ssdaon street £llO, Ngatai street £6O, Waiteti road £BO, total £G7S. The committee recommend that tha foreman be instructed to proceed with these works as fast as weather conditions will allow Two applications were received for the position of poundkeeper in respan 38 to public advertisement, and the committee, having power to act in the matter, resolved to appoint George McLaren, of Te Kuiti, to the position, in accordance with the terms and conditions of appointment. Two reports! from the clerk of works Cor the dam contract, dated March 21st and 27th, 1914, were considered, together with a detail statement and certificate for £370 in favour of the contractor as a further progress payment, which tha committee authorised the town clerk to pay. That the application of Messrs J. Trinnear and J. A. Willams for extension of water mains to their properties be dealt with under the terms nf clause 4 of the Waterworks By-laws; that tha piece of road connectiorg Carroll street with Eora street at the southern end be metalled: that tenders be obtained for sewerage connection, etc., to Mrs A. Sinton's shop property, Eora street, in accordance with plan and specification prepared by the borough foreman; that the borough foreman be authorised to continue the necessary assistance required by him temporarily,during the heavy work, for the purpose of checking time-sheets and accounts and preparing wages sheets; that the contractor for Kcwhai street (M. A. Mernin) be granted n further progress i payment of £25 in acordance with ths i' borough foreman's certificate submitted ; that a light top-dressing of river ahingle be applied to Duke street; that George street be metalled with limestone- and top-drassed with river ahingle; that the borough foreman be granted a week's holiday at Easter in lieu of Christmas holidays which he did net partake of owing - to the amount of works going on at that time; that the piece of the Esplanado from Ngarongo street; to Lawrence street ba graded

Electric Light Committee.—That the tender of A. and T. Butt, Ltd., amounting ct £4O lf>3 lOd, for improvements to the battery floor be accepted, and the work put in hand forthwith; that Tv3r H. Vauae bs inform or] that tha Council will be prepared to erect (lis required poles and cables, etc., to give him light to his house on condition that he pays the whole cost and expense in connection with the work, which will amount to &W, and in the event of others consumers connecting on to this extension at a Jmlg? pariod, the Council will bo prepared to refund him a proportionate amount form time to time aa the consumers connect; that the consulting engineer (S. I. Crookes) be notified that in view of tho very unsatisfactory working of the producer plant, the Council now w:=h him to immediately call upon the contractors to have the entire plant replaced with a new one, which will do" the work satisfactorily and in terms of the contract; that further consideration of various accounts and certificate* from Mr Crookes, dealing with tii9 main contract ami extras, be held over pending Mr Crookes' next viait to Te Kuiti, when the Committee will go into tha matter thoroughly with him.