BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1915, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. Monthly report on the progress of works for the period ending October 2nd. Permanent re-eonstruction of carriage way along whole of tram route. The weather has been continuously showery during the month, which has made it very difficult to proceed with the tarring and shingling of the metal surface. The two systems of conveying road making materials to the works from the Waiwakaiho, viz., by traction engine and trailers, and by drays, has been very instructive and there is no question that the first mentioned method is more than twice as economical. Every effort is being made therefore to obtain on hire a second traction engine. I do not consider an engine with trailers is likely to do more damage to a road than a number of drays. I purpose so carrying out the work, that it will not be necessary to cart over any completed portion, or to use any bye streets for bringing in the materials. As Council are most anxious to have the trams running as early as possible, I recommend that such work as is necessary to be done to obtain the necessary authority be made a first consideration for the whole length of the line. This would facilitate matters very much indeed, and will not add much to cost of construction of road.

Forebay at Power Station. The necessary work of strengthening the wall which recently showed signs of weakness is now well advanced. When this is completed it will be necessary to investigate a leakage that was found. It ini;st be effectually stopped or the ground around the Forebay will become waterlogged. Arrangements have been made to plough up and sow down the old waterworks reserve in oats. The new filter at the reservoir has been set up and is in use, but several small matters must bo attended to before it can be passed as satisfactory. Building operations during the past month have not been very active, judging by the permits applied for. The value of same was £1,139.

I recommend that a section of roadway in Devon Street be laid down with a layer of tar macadam (using distilled tar) not as an experiment, but for the purpose of comparison with the material being used as regards cost, and would suggest taking one side of the tram line for a block in length. Baths.—The baths were re-opened for the season on Ist September. The attendance for the month reached a fotal of 425, and the receipts amounted to £l3 2s Id, of which £2 6s was for hot water baths. This is a slight increase as compared with September last yeijr. Progress report of £22,000 loan up to week ending Oct. 2nd. 191.5: —Devon Street West: Length excavated 8J chains x 24ft; length metalled 4 chains [x 24ft. Devon St. from Queen St. to Liardet St: 18 chains excavation by 14ft. wide; paving, 18 chains x 14ft.; metalling, 23 i chains x 14ft. South Road: Soltaring, 4 chains 50 feet x 25 feet wide; soltaring 2:) chains 23 feet x 16$ feet, t coats. St. Aubyn St.: Soltaring 154 chains x 15 feet wide ,1 coat.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT. During the past month twenty-one new connections have been put in, making 114 for the half year and a total to date of 1596. Alterations to electric lighting lines along the tramway route have been continued. Wires have been transferred and poles taken out in Devon Street West from Queen Street to Morley Street, and at Fjtzroy and Devon Street East from the Waiwakaiho Bridge to Eliot Street. Some of the insulators for the transmission line have just come to hand and these are being put up in Leach Street and along I Avenue Road, so that the wires may be | transferred to the new poles. None of the low tension insulators on order have arrived yet, but we were able to secure I a small lot from New Zealand stocks, i about sufficient for alterations now in hand. We are advised that delivery of the new switchboards has been delayed, I owing to the makers being engaged on I Admiralty and War Office orders, but ; we are informed that they are completed land were to be shipped in September, so I that they should arrive some time in November.

• 4 PROGRESS REPORT, Contract No. 2:—Track construction has been carried out along Devon St. between To Henui Bridge and Nob's Line, and along the Breakwater Road between the Breakwater Hotel and the western tramway terminus. This work completes the platfclaving and ballasting. The length of track laid during the month was 4GJ chains making a total of 497 chains of track. On the overhead work 385 poles have been erected and a start has been made in fixing the span wires. Owing to the delay in arrival of a (shipment of globe strain insulators for the spans, I have approved of the use of porcelain strain insulators which are equally efficient and were obtainable without need of waiting.

Contract No. 3:—The concrete for the plant foundations in the sub-station has been' put in place, and the insulator bolts fixed in the cable trenches. The arrival of the plant is daily expected. So far the glass cells for the battery and one drum of high tension cable has been delivered.

Contract No. 4:—Work on (ho scats for the cars has been proceeding, also on small fittings and on painting and 'varnishing. I expect to be advised at any time now that the car bodies can be .shipped. The erection of the car trucks jti Fitzroy is in hand.

CLERK OF WORKS. Tlie following work 011 Contract No. 0 has yet to be completed. Tlie counter to public office, glazing to fixed sashes, and to doors and bulkhead locks on front and vestibule doors, correspondence lift, finishing coats of paint on woodwork, all the distemper work to interior, a little plumbing, Neuchatel floor to battery room, cable trenches in machine room, the front gates and general cleaning up, etc. FINANCE OOMMTTKK.

The Finance Committee recommeds: — That the Borough Engineer be authorised to Jay water services to vacant sections on the Tram Route on the side of the road where the water mains are ut present laid (estimated cost £B7), and also to lay tees and cross connections at streets branching oil' the tram route, in which mains are not at present provided I (estimated cost i'OG). That with the exception of the account of Soltar, Ltd., accounts as per schedules be passed for payment, KESEItTE COMMITTEE.' The Borough Engineer was instructed to ssbmit a report as to the best way of dealing with the entrance to the Marsland Hill Domain. The Chairman was authorised to arrange for the survey of the unsurveyed portion of tha

Catholic Ground. The sexton be instructed not to sell grave plots in the flower beds, nor under the large macrocapa tree near the Mortuary Chapel. The Borough Engineer was instructed to effect repairs to Bains Terrace and to remove obstructions from the river. That as recommended by the Ngamotu Beautifying and Improvement Society the following executive for that Society for the ensuing year be approved by the Council: —Messrs J. Honeyfield, J. Hayden, R. Deare, G. Braund and R. Ellis. That Crs. Collins and Johnstone be authorised to affix the seal of the Borough to the lease to the High School Board of Sections 37/41 Avenue Road Reserve, and to sign the same on behalf of the Council. The thanks of the Committee were tendered to Messrs Duncan and Davies and Mr. L. A. Nolan for donation of trees for the Cemetery, ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE. The Committee recommend: —That the question of authorising the Borough. Engineer to repair the leak in the tunnel be referred to the Chairman with power to act after receiving a report from the Borough Engineer.

The letter from the Electrical Engineer with draft regulations for electricity supply was referred to a sub-committee consisting of the Chairman, Crs. Burgess and Hayden to report upon. Mrs. F. K. Pott was informed that the Committee could not see its way to agree to any alteration of the draft of the agreement to be signed by her, but that if further connections are made to the lighting mains referred to in the agreement the Committee will endeavour to arrange that any new consumers shall undertake to pay proportionate part of ihe annual turn of £2 guaranteed br her.

Mr. D. J. Hughes was thanked for the suggestion contained in his letter of 13th September, but informed that the, greater number of poles referred to had already been removed. Ihe draft agreement with Messrs Sk'ltan and Hawkings was approved, and the Chairman and Cr. Watkins were authorised to sign the agreement on behalf of the Council when engrossed. The action of the Chairman and Elec'irieal Engineer in agreeing to the extra freight on switchboards, in order to ensure early delivery, was confirmed. The question of terminating the engagement of the Clerk of Works was referred lo the Chairman, with power to act.