BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 325, 12 June 1911, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY. .MEETING. The Borough Council will moot this evening, and will consider the following reports and recommendations: ENGINEER'S REPORT. Streets.—The metalling of Devon, street East is well under way. Mr. l'.irkin has commenced work under his extract for the supply of metal. The cost of filling and metalling in Devon street, from the Henui bridge to Watson street, was £2OO. The contractor for earthwork in Morley and Barrett streets fas made good progress, but has been considerably delayed by the bad weather experienced during the past few days, and all work is very much more costly when done in winter time.

Water Cart—l beg to submit here.v;:h plans for decking the llenui bridge raar Calmady terrace. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Tenders for Plant Extensions—Nineteen tenders were sent in, eleven for the complete plant, and eight for various sections. Some of the complete tenders comprise four and five alternatives, making thirty-five to select from, besides the tenders for sections. The plant called for consists of the following: Waterdriven turbines, electric generators, switchboard, and transformers. Turbines by sev«n makers were offered, twelve electric generators, twelve switchboards, and ten different makes of transformers.

Most of the makers have gone to a I lot of trouble in getting out these tenI ders, and have offered some good outfits, and I regret that after all their con- | sideration we have to decline so many. The turbine makers offer good machines, specially arranged to suit our requirements, and the plans submitted with these show that they have been carefully considered. Electric generators are mostly to the various makers' usual standards, arranged to suit the turbine speeds. Within the last few years very great progress has been made in switchboard design, and this is now an important part of a, station equipment. Many of the boards offered are of the best and in accordance with latest practice for high tension supply. Most makers have supplied drawings of proposed arrangement, with detailed description of materials and instruments proposed to be sjpplied. Some makers have not supplied drawings, and although their descriptions appear good preference has been given to those showing arrangement, as. with limited space for erection, this.is an important item. Briefly. I should y.\y that tl'» choice lies between Boving'; and Gordon's turbines, Westihghouse and British Thomson Houston generators, Westinghouse switchboard, and Fernnti and Westinghouse transformers. i

Plans of Forebay anil Pipe Lines.— These plans and specifications were received from Mr. Climie on the 14th inst., and have been perused by the cliairi>,an of the Electric Light Committee and myself, as directed. Some of the maters ro which we took exception have been altered, and we now recommend that, to save any further delay, tenders be palled for the work, and any other alterations that, may be ■decided upon be arranged with the contractor before the contract ■signed. -We suggest two months for calling for tenders, and six months for rar-'ing out the work. I wrote to Mr. Climie on these points, and he agreed to • his, but suggests three months lor calling tenders. This is to allow time for firms tendering to write to England for prices and obtain a written reply. This, if the contract is let as soon as possible after tenders close, will bring the completion of the work into March next, which is running very close. Tenders could be advertised in Auckland, Wellington and Dimedin, as well as locally. We have received enquiries from Wellington, and pipes are made in both Auckland and Duncdin. Power House—Xow that the nights arc getting long, our evening load" is steadily growing, and the three machines have to carry their full rated output for several hours. We have 160 more consumers to supply than we liad at this time last year, but the more extended use of metallic lamps by our customers and the- fact that we have been able to reduce the street lighting load by about 10 kilowatts, by the use of these lamps, ■has enabled us to meet the demand so far. Our average peak load for this year is greater than/last year, but the maximum of last year has not yet been reached this season. It is an open question yet how we will get through this •winter. On Saturday, May 27, the river was in flood, after three davs' .rain, making it almost impossible: to keep the rack clear enough to allow sufficient water to pass. Two men had to work at this rack for the whole of Saturday evening and the continued raking caused a lot of leaves and rubbish to be drawn through, with the. result that the small turbine became ■ choked with this rubbish, and could barely be. kept goin* until the load went off sufficiently to allow of its being shut down for* clcanin« .When examined it was found to be choked with leaves, grass, etc. The tur bine of one of the 45 KW sets was also found to be half choked with small pieces of driftwood. This is the nearest that we have come yet to failure in supply. It should be a great improvement when we get the new forebay, with larger area of rack, at a better angle, and with (facilities for cleaning. Street Lighting.-r-On Fridav evening 2nd inst., some of the street lights at the West End were cut out, owing to a fault on the lines, due, as we learned the next day, to a motor-car collidim* with a pole in St. Aubyn street. ° Connections.—Since March 31 last 44 new connections have been put on, making a total of 720 to date for private lighting, power and heating. ABATTOIR REPORT.

The manager reports that during Hay there were slaughtered for local consumption: 86 cows, 80 bullocks, 5 calves, Gil sheep, 29 lambs, 178 pigs, and 3 suckers. There were 153 tripes cleaned. Compared with the corresponding month of last year, the figures show an increase of 1 bullock, 2-1 sheep, 17 lambs, and 3 suckers; and a decrease of 2 calves, 58 ■pigs, and 2 tripes. Stock condemned comprised three cows and three pigs. There were slaughtered for export, five cows and six bulls, and one bull was condemned. Fees due for the month amounted to £l2O !)s fld, and rents for the month £3 5s 3d, a total of £123 los 3d, showing a decrease of £2 17s 3d. BATHS COMMITTEE.

The Baths Committee recommend that the baths be closed during the months of ;July and August, and that the custodian take his usual month's leave in July; that the. borough engineer be instructed to effect necessary repairs recommended by the custodian, ABATTOIR COMMITTEE. j The abattoir manager and Mr. 0. W. Sole (butchers' representative) were present at the Abattoir Committee meeting. ■A deputation from the Master Butchers' Association waited on the committee with reference to a reduction in the killing fees, consideration of the matter being finally deferred to enable the Association to set its proposal in writing. The committee recommended that, in addition to their ordinary wages, the slaughtermen be paid at the following | rates for all stock killed for export, the

| proportion payable to each slaughterman being fixed by the manager: Large cat- ! tie, 2s per head; calves up to lOlllb., Is per head; calves from 100 to 2001b., Is ' (Id per head; sheep and lambs, 3d; pigs, Is per heiui. That, with the exception of special engineering-works referred by the Council to the borough engineer from time to time, all matters and works in connection with the abattoir and abattoir reserve be under the supervision of the abattoir manager; that the electrical engineer supply an estimate of the cost of installing the electric light into the abattoir cottage; that the abattoir manager be authorised to put on two new men to jjrub the gorsc in No. 2 paddock; that the borough engineer supply an estimate of the cost of fixing a bath at the abattoir. ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE.

| The committee recommends that the application of the Agricultural Society for the use of electric light and motor be granted on the same terms as previously; that the electrical engineer be instructed to move back to the kerb the electric fight pole at the intersection of Devon and Mnngorei roads; that, in accordance with the recommendation of the electrical engineer, and subject te contract being entered into, tbei«tender of £21)30 12s 6d submitted by Messrs. Turnbull and Jones for the svnSply of electrical machinery and plant, as set out in the tender and the specifications, be accepted; that tenders be invited for the erection of forebay and pipeline, such tenders to close within three months from date of advertisement. • The electrh; light sub-committee recommends that, subject to the electrical engineer being satisfied, after a month's trial, Mr. C. P. Rogers be appointed meter reader and clerk at the electric light sub-station, subject to the. conditions of appointment attaching to the position; tha,t the electrical engineer be authorised,to instal a heater in the electric light office at the Town Hall. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The committee recommends the striking and levying of a general rate of o»c shilling and one penny in the £ on the rateable value of the valuation roll of all rateable property within the borough ot New Plymouth, on the basis of the annual valua; a water rate (ordinary supply), payable on all lands and buildings in the borough of New Plymouth, used as or in connection with dwelling houses, and to which water is supplied, of sixpence in the pound, on the annual rateable value; that the next fire risk taken out by the Council be placed with t/ie Queensland Insurance' Company.