BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1915, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

OFFICIAL REPORTS. \ Following are the official reports to be presented at the meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council this evening: BOROUGH ENGINEER. The borough, engineer (Mr. E. 0. Clayton) reports as follows: In presenting my first report I desire to state that I have found many good and substantial works have been carried out recently and in the past, also that you have much work in hand at the present time, and that a great deal yet remains to be executed in the near future. Mr. Skitrop being about to leave the district to take up another position, it immediately became necessary to make arrangements for the carrying out of the works for the restoration and soltavring of the tram route from Moturoa to the Waiwakaiho. This has been done and will now be vigorously carried forward. Satisfactory arrangements have been made for the supply of stone, metal, and teams by contract for executing this important work. In the carrying out of the borough works I propose, with the council's approval, giving preference of employment to married men, residents of the borough, so long as such lahov is available and satisfactory, and to adhere to the terms and agreement between the council and the Laborers' Union in engaging all labor such labor is engaged. In regard to various matters in the engineer's department, I have to recommend the following for your consideration: — Borough Yards, Gill Street.—Much valuable material and plant is here, and as the engineer certifies to all stores and supplies in his department, and is responsible for their proper allocation, a store is required (one of the existing buildings would serve the purpose) and a reliable man placed in charge, who with certain other duties could be fully and profitably employed without having to leave the yard. This would enable materials and tools to be obtained and kept in store and do away with the present method of purchasing in small quantities. I recommend tenders be called annually for supplies of lines most in use, such to be obtained as required. No materials would 'be ordered or be issued to any employee without an order from the engineer's office, and a simple form of accounts at the yard would show what it was obtained for and to whom materials or tools were supplied. This is a very important matter, and I strongly recommend its adoption. Borough Stables and Pound.—Upon inspection I found these stables to be well appointed and highly satisfactory indeed. The condition of the horses, carts, and harness, etc., reflect great credit on Mr. Maher. T(he number of carts and vehicles now owned by tlie council make it necessary that a shelter shed be erected to protect the road grader and several drays that at present are exposed to the weather, when they should be under cover. I consider where so many valuable horses and plant are housed a 2inch stand-pipe should be provided in the vicinity, with a sufficient length of hose and branch, for instant use in case of emergency. I understand it is the council's intention to have the public* pound removed to an allotment near to the stables. This is very advisable, and I am preparing an estimate for the cost of removal of the pound from its present site and its re-erection and also plan. There will be sufficient material in the 'Fitzroy pound and m/n pound to finish the new one. Judging by appearance, the pound at present does not'appear to be much occupied, but that is certainly not because there are no stray animals requiring accommodation.

Stone Crusher and Plant.—The stone being obtained from the river obviates having to quarry it, but it incurs the disadvantage of requiring expensive haulage up to the crusher and the payment of a high rate of wage for loading" stone into the drays, owing to the men having to work in the water. I recommend that all metal required for maintenance work in the future be obtained and delivered to convenient depots throughout the borough in the summer, and thus do away with carting over the roads for long distances in the winter, when the roads are least able to stand the carting. From these depots the metal for repairs could be obtained by the surface men as required. It would certainly entail a second handling, but the small extra cost tvould be justified by the advantage. Baths.—ln company with Mr. Schwartz the custodian, I inspected the fine accommodation provided. It is probable, if some .means can be devised whereby the temperature of the water could be' raised when required at a low cost, the returns would be largely increased, as witness the remarkable success of the tepid baths in Auckland and elsewhere. From information gathered I consider two more private baths are required to meet the demand.

General Maintenance.—l find yom council have a very good and complete equipment of plant, machinery, and tools for ((his purpose, also that'there is a great deal of maintenance work to be done. The road roller should have a scarifier attached. With the new system of tar-sealed surfaces for the principal streets about to be extended, a great improvement and saving under the head of maintenance can be looked for. Instead of the present condition of having surfacemen working singly, I purpose to have the work carried out by dividing the 'borough into several areas with a gang for each, thus ensuring that a street will be finished before another is taken in hand, and able to keep, as near as possible, under the head of maintenance, a record of the expenditure for labor and materials in the respective areas and streets.

Foreshore.—lt is very satisfactory to see tile improvements that have been made at both ends of the borough, and there are few places that are more favorably adapted for making a great feature in this respect than New Plymouth and down at Moturoa. A matter that appears to me to be important and that will require consideration again at your hands is the serious erosion by the sea at the cliffs under Wooleom.be Terrace. I have to tender my sincere thanks to his Worship the Mayor and the chairman of the Works Committee for much assistance rendered, and I also fully appreciate the detailed information received from the town clerk and staff ami Mr. Skitrop, all of which has enabled me to pick up the thread of the work in a much shorter period than would have otherwise been possible. ELECTRICAL E.YGINEEK. The electrical engineer (Mr H. Black) reports as follows:—The work of the past month has been mainly fitting arms and transferring electric lighting lines to the tramway poles. Arms are being fitted on all poles erected. Wires have been transferred and most of the electric light poles taken out along St Aubyn street, South Road, and Breakwater Road from Queen Street to (Pioneer street. Poles have been erected in Dawson, Weymouth, and Hine streets and Outfield road,, and wires and trans-

formers moved from St. Aubyn street' to Hino Street. Only a short section of the new transmission line from Mangorci Road to Eobson street has been run since my last report, as all the available staff has been required for work along the tramway route. Twenty new connections were put on during the month. PROGRESS OF TRAMWAY WORK. Mr. F. Black (consulting engineer) reports as follows: Contract No. 1 (Wiring of Depot Buildings).—This work is completed. Contract No. 2.—The track work during the month has ' proceeded along Devon street east from Liardet Street as far as Watson Street, and from Nobs Line in Devon Street to the Waiwakaiho tram terminus, also in the car depot yard. The track laid during the month is 11G chains, and the length of track trench excavated is 136 chains. The total track now completed is 450 chains, and the total track trench excavated is 405 chains. The metal delivered during the month is 3947 cubic yards, and the earth excavated is 3550 cubic yards. The total metal delivered up to August 31 is 12,260 cubic yards. It has been necessary to have the water main moved at Fitzroy corner and in the direction of the Waiwakaiho terminus for a distance of about four chains in order to get the required clearance. Poles have been erected along the St. Aubyn and Breakwater Roads as far as Ngamotu Road, and also Devon Street east as far as Watson Street. The number of'poles erected during the month is 297, and the total poles erected is 317. Contract No. 3.—There is no definite news yet as to what steamers the substation machinery lias been shipped in, ttut the contractors have been advised that all material in this contract, with the exception of a quantity of hattery plates, were dispatched early in August. Advices by mail are expected now at any time. Contract No. 4.—The car bodies are now practically complete so far as framing and panelling are concerned. The builders are at present painting, which is a somewhat lengthy job. The seats and certain small fittings are now being made, and apart from this the only other requirement to complete the bodies will be the glass, which his not yet arrived from Home. The four single trucks for the small cars have arrived at the depot, but so far there is no definite advice as to the trucks for the two large cars. THE LIARDET STREET SUBSTATION. Mr. H. L. Hogg, clerk of works, in 'his report says:—The elevations to Liardet and Leach Streets are now finished, which work completes all the exterior work. The ground floor offices and machine-room have now received the finishing coat of plaster and the cornices fixed to all offices. The work to battery-room floor is now in hand, and concrete work to the machine-room floor and machine beds will bo put in hand in a few days. . ... The building should' be ready for occupation by the end of September if the contractor is able to go on without interruption.