SHORE’S DESTRUCTOR

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 362, 24 May 1928, Page 12

SHORE’S DESTRUCTOR

DEVONPORT TO PAY HALF BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETS (■Special to THE BUN) On a basis of capital valuation, the Devonport Borough Council will be called upon to contribute about half the cost of the refuse destructor, which it is proposed to erect at Takapuna. The combined valuation of the three marine boroughs, Takapuna. Devonport and Northcote, is £5,673,000, of which Devonport has £2,874,000. The town clerk reported to the Devonport Borough Council last evening that while the borough had in hand £1,500 of a loan previously raised for a refuse destructor, the Devonport share of the cost of a combined destructor at Takapuna would be in excess of that; the exact amount could not yet be stated. The powers under the Health Act gave the borough authority to raise the money without a poll, and such action should be taken so soon as the sum required was fixed. The council, it was decided, will be represented at a meeting convened by the One Tree Hill Road Board to discuss the Hospital Board levy. The proprietors of the Victoria Theatre have agreed to make certain arrangements to control traffic from the exits; the fire inspector Is to observe the working of the new scheme. Rock' work, for a distance of 150 ft, is to be put in ' hand at the Domain, but a suggestion for similar work at Stanley Park was deferred. The town clerk said that the general account had borne the cost of widening Victoria Road, but power should be taken to raise the cost of tha*t work by loan and refund it to the general account. WORK AHEAD The footpaths along Lake Road, beyond the gas works, ard to be temporarily repaired; pedestrians are now compelled to use the concrete carriageway with attendant risks. The estimated cost of reconditioning the paths and portion of the main road to complete it from Owens Road to the gas works, is from £3,000 to £4,000. As the revenue could not carry this amount the work will have to be done out of a loan specially raised. The engineer and foreman reported on the work ahead and the number of employees required. They regretfully advised tha,t five men would have to be dismissed; this would leave the payroll at 36, including office staff. Twelve months ago the number drawing wages was 106. The Mayor remarked that it was most unfortunate that men had to be dismissed, but if there was no money for wages, they could not be paid. The best possible organisation was being made to get full value for money paid. Little loan money work remained to be done. The order in which several major works would be carried was fixed:—William Street, Lake Road footpaths, Stanley Point Road, Kiwi Road, Jubilee Avenue, metalling Regent and Wesley Street, Vauxhall Reserve, Malvern Road, and Cheltenham Beach improvements.