BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 68, 10 August 1914, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY REPORTS. The following are the official reports to lie presented to the New Plymouth Borough Council at it* meeting tonight:— Streets.—July has been another severe month on streets and roads. Approximately 1450 cubic yards of metal and gravel has been used in repairing those portions of streets and roads which are in the most worn-out condition.

Footpaths.—A new shingle pit has been open up on the Waiwakai'ho Flat. The large stone from the pit is being broken into metal and the liner material used for concrete work. This is, I I believe, the best and largest shingle pit .in Northern Taranaki. The access has been made and metalled, and the traction engine will be able to deliver shingle for concrete work to any part of the borough at a greatly-reduced rate. This, I think, will make concrete roads possible as far as the Borough Council is concerned. Sewers.—Bell Street sewer is now complete.. Twelve connections have been laid for the month.

Buildings.—Twenty-three permits were issued, representing a totai value of £5390.

Loan Work. —Owing to constant wet weather, very little formation work has been done. The footpath 011 the northern side of St. Aubyn Street has been Tc-formed and partly covered with gaol gravel. As soon as t)he weather permits, all the footpaths wiiere new kerb and channel has been laid, will be formed and covered with gaol gravel. Kerb and Channel. —St. Aubyn kerb and channel is practically complete. Tin; following kerb and channel is now complete:—Liardet Street, each side, kerb only; Lemon Street to Pendarves Street, Leach Street to filling; Dawson Street, both sides kerb and channel; Devon Street to Powder'hain Street, west side, kerb only; Vivian Street to Fulford Street, east side, kerb only; Fulford to near Bulteel Street; Powderham Street, south side, kerb and channel.

Water Mains.—The following water mains have been laid:—Govett Avenue and Frankley 'load south of Govett Avenue. Tlie fire plugs in every instance are being put in where required. Liardct Street main is being laid from Liardet Street to Cover Street. Powderhani Street Retaining Wall.— This wo'rk is progressing satisfactorily considering the state of the weather. With two weeks' fine weather the wall will hi' complete except for the posts and handrails. Vi aterworks Intake.—The concrete lining of the tunnel is just about complete. If the wet weather continues another week, it will lie advisable to discontinue worl;, owie;4' to tin? ditlieulty ! and extra expense of delivering cement a* liie site. All t!:e work is in such a stale of progress thai there is no danger I of damage n held lip for a short time.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT. The maximum recorded load during the past month was :>f2 kilowatts, about 30 kilowatts less than the .lune peak. Although a number of new cor.-—. I'n:is are being put on a gradual dcere;--r . rube expected as thr days giow linger ;;nd the weather gets wanner. With the exception of running new servi.-c.-. most of the month has been occupied v, ;tli maintenance work and minor ait; rations. In order to leave the route of tintramways as clear as possible, it will be necessary to make a number of alterations to existing lines and a, nitn-ii a ; possible of this work should he carried out before any tramway work is commenced. \\ ith this in view, arrangements are being made to run a new main in Gill Street and also in Courteiuv Mleet, but tile latter cannot be completed until existing telephone lines are removed. The line in Liardct Street, from Leach to Gill Stn-el. will also have to be reconstructed, but some larger poles than we have in stock are required for this. WORKS COMMITTEE. ; The committee received a letter from the Town Clerk advising that expenditure on the street loan of £42,01)0 be ; ased off for the present, the work to i.'e reserved in order to provide employment for men when the tramway contracts are linished. Otherwise it was pointed out both works would be exhausted simultaneously. and numbers of men would be out of'work. It was de- | cided to take the course recommended. | It was also decided that notice be given to St. Mary's Church Trustees to abate the nuisance caused bv the stagnant I pond on the section 'in Leach Street owned by the trustees within one month, front tile date of such notice; that notice be given by Mr M. .Tones to comply with the provisions of by-law 278 in connection with the Criterion Stables; that the Borough Inspector be instructed to give effect to the recommendations contained in his letter of August- 3, 1!)!|, relating to the drainage of properties referred to therein; that the liorough Engineer be authorised to give effect to liia recommendation to lav down in concrete Brougham Street from Devon Street to King Street; that in reply to his, letter, Mr ,T. W. 11. Martin be informed that the borough Engineer reports that the greater portion of Brooklands Road is worn out and bevond repair, and that the question of remetalling this street has been deferred pend- »'#.«, -report from a sub-committee winch lias been set up to ileal with the question of remetalling worn-out streets; that the .Borough Engineer ised to form a footpath 4ft wide in Frankleigh Park from the end of the present, path to the entrance of Govett Avenue; that the Borough Engineer be authorised to give ellect to his ,-ecommendation for the improvement of the street at the intersection of Queen Stieet and St. Aubyn Street;; that the Boiough Inspector be instructed to notify shopkeepers that in future the bv- »» ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE.

Tin- .subcommittee appointed to rcl""'t whether it was ;i<l visai»l.- to obtain expert advice upon the <|iicstion of con--11 it 111 njf the present *-iiiglc-phasc electrical system recommended that such advice l,e procured, an ,i the recommendation was adopted. Iteforc obtaining such 'I ,t ] Wls - however, decided tliat tile elei-trn al engineer should at the earliest possmlc date submit a report upon the w Ikilc (|Ui'stion. I lie commitlee recommends:—That Vr''"r"T. ry Stl ' |M tilk, ' n O.u-liKlina a I' 11 " ot the ratepayers) to borrow !,V way Ot special loan C2O.I.0I) at not e\ : - '■•;''diiif.' .) per cent., with a sin'hin" fund 'inril i" mm" 1, n, , l,lilio " al - n-pavahl.. on ■ ' K U! "> 8,1,1 t<> I"' for the following purposes:--To provide additions and '•x tensions to lie electric either !" In.!',,,ljrh anil tQ -upply electricity; to acpiire lands, casements. appurtenances, building, ensin-s and machinery: to pay compensation to any person injuriously ail'eetcd hv such acquisition; that the Council pledee as security . an special nhuWi' 1 f"n ° C °" tho annnal , all iutal)l« property in the boron;;],, and that the cost of raising the loan and the first year's interest and sinking tund thereon be paid out of the

proceedings of such loan; that the petitioners for electric lighting at Brooklands Road be iufs-ir.u<l that the Council regrets that it cannot see its way to accede to the request at precent; that the Public 'Works Department be asked Whether it would permit Mr Parry, Chief Electrical Engineer for the Dominion, to report upon the New Plymouth electrical installation and what charge would be made. RESERVES COMMITTEE.

The committee.•recommends: That the following be the conditions upon which the East End Bathing Reserve Commit,tce shall have control of the East End Reserve and buildings:—

The committee to be authorised during the pleasure of the Council to control sections 1900 to 1905, part Buller Street (elided road) part Oriental Orescent (closed road), and subdivision 1 A of Purakau Native Reserve No. 16, and to administer any power possessed ■by the Council in regard to the beach from Hobson Street to Nobs Line. The Council undertake not to dissolve the committee or to withdraw the authorities hereby granted without one month's notice in writing. The committee once in each year to •appoint an executive' committee of not exceeding seven members and to submit the names to the Council for approval.

The chairman of the Reserves Committee or such oOlier member of the committee as may I>k appointed by the Council to be an ex-ollicio member of such executive committee.

• Neither the general committee, the executive committee, nor any member of such committees to havo power to commit the Council to any expenditure or 'liability, but all improvements shall be effected from the committee's own funds. The Reserves Committee shall have the power of veto in connection with any scheme of improvements. No buildings to be erected without the consent of the Borough Council. Buildings not exceeding £25 in value, the plans for which shall Uiave been approved by the Council's representative on the committee, shall be exempt from this provision. , The committee to see thai, all buildings are in good sanitary condition, and to use their best endeavors to ensure that any other buildings, tents, etc., on tlie foreshore and the laud in connection therewith are also kept in good sanitary I flondition.

The Council offer 110 objection to a reasonable charge being made by tile committee for admittance, to liny land or buildings under their control or to the b,-a<'h at any gathering hi Id by the coinmil tee for the purpose of raising tunds, nor to a reasonable charge being made for the right to erect temporary boot,lis, etc. The committee shall have power to let the buildings from time to time for any purpose of public or private entertainment for not more than one day or night at any one time. All funds derived from such gatherings or from the sale of such rights or from such rentals shall be spent in improvements 011 the lands, buildings, or beach. The committee have 110 power to grant to any other person permission to take up any collections or make a charge. -The committee to undertake to pay all rent due under the lease of the land and to comply with the terms of sueh lease.

, The committee will be required to enforce compliance with all by-laws of the Council relating to .bathing or to the behaviour or conduct of persons on borough reserves or public places. The Borough 'lnspector shall have the right of entry on the land and buildings' at an,- time to enforce any bv-law a Dove referred to.