BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1916, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL

WORK FOR AUGUST. The following reports will be read at the meeting of the New Plymouth Bor- | ough Council this evening: TRAMWAYS REPORT. Mr. R. H. Barclay reports as follows: The tramway records for the month are: Main route. Mileage run, 13,330 miles; passengers carried, 71,G54; revenue per car mile, fl.2d; passengers per car mile, 5.3; average fare per passenger, 1.72(1 j total fares, £514 16 3 6d. Morley street route.—Mileage run, -■686 miles; passengers carried, 13,798; revenue per car mile, 7.1 d; passengers per ear mile, 5.1; average fare per passenger, ÜBd; total faires, £79 Ms 9d. Combined routes.—Mileage run, 16 022 miles j passengers carried, 85,482; revenue per car mile, 8.9 d; passengers per car mile, 5.3; average fare per passenger, 1.66 d; total fares, £594 lis 3d. The returns for ttie month aire £23 & 9d less than the month of July, although the Morley street section shows an increase of £1 18s lid. I attribute this increase to extra mileage run due to specials which go to' tlhe credit of this section. The reduction on the combined routes is no doubt duo to the unfavorable wea.tb.er conditions which have ■been experienced during August, especially as the week-end traffic counts for so mudh. To date the weather conditions for week-end traffic have not been at all favorable. Since the full service was commenced our records show fourteen wet and six fine week ends. However, it is winter time and this must be expected. The service has been maintained in accordance with the timetable, with the exception of two instances, and these being only very slight, with little or no inconvenience to the general public. The -first was caused by an unfortunate accident .which proved fatal, and which has already been fully reported, and the second being due to heavy rains silting up the points in the South, road. The repairs and maintenance ha.-ve been approximately the same as the previous anontb, and generally speaking the plant is running well. In my report re time tables some little time back, I recommended that the present one should remain in issue until September. I can see no reason as yet to suggest any alteration, but it may be necessary to do so later on in the month. ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEPARTMENT. Au uninterrupted service has been maintained throughout the month and I have no plant failures to report. The storms which were experienced during the early part of the month did a little damage to lines situated in exposed posi tions; also a few street lamps were broken. Both'of these matters were speedily attended to and with a minimum of inconvenience to consumers. The Waiwakaijho River lias been in flood several times du.-ing the month, and a shingle bank was deposited at the mouth of the intake. This- was watched carefully and removed as soon as the river was low enougk On August 20 the 'river ro=e 3ix feet, and very rapidly, ttijs being the highest level.reached this season. No damage was caused to intake dam or the new spillway.. I have visited the headworks and power-station on four occasions during the month and -am preparing a report re plant, etc., to be presented at an early date. Tlio machinery | in the sub-station is working well and the storage battery is in a healthy con- , dition. No trouble has been experienced with either during the month. Certain experiments under the direction of the consulting engineer (Mr. F. Black) Slave been carried out, with a view to preventing the sound leaving the sub-sta-tion, and have been partially successful; others are in progress. I officially took' over the engineering and management of the electric light department, in accordante with my agreement, on August 9, 1910. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The committee recommends that the rent charged against Mr. Andrew Smith for cottage site on Railway Reserve from October ], 1915, to date Be written off, he having at that date donated the building to the Ngamotu Improvement Society who removed it to their own property; that, subject to the following conditions, the New Plymouth Soldiers' Club be granted a lease of the old Town flail for one year at a peppercorn rental: (a) Two rooms to bo kept available for use by the public for meetings, etc., at a reasonable rent; (b) that the Western '.Park Board be permitted to hold meetings in cue of the rooms when required without e-'hargc; (c) that the Borough retain the right to use such portions of the building as may be required for polls and other purposes. That theaction of the .ehaiirman|in ordering seats for the Railway Reserve and extra seats for the Esplanade be confirmed. That the Borough Engineer be instructed to make the fence between the. Cemetery paddock and Mr. Page's property cattleproof (estimated cost £0 -IOsJ, "' - 'THE ABATTOIRS: Mr. T. J. Reakes reports: Slaughter - ad for local consumption: Cows 194, bullocks 37, calves 4, sheep 619, lambs 2, pigs 89; 287 tripes-and one "ox Oieel cleaned. Compared with the-correspond-ing month of last year they show an increase of 23 cattle, 9' pigs, 2 lambs and 16 calves and a decrease, of 54 sheep. Four cows and five, pigs were , condemned. Slaughtered for export: Two cows, three bulls, and 29 sheep, of which one bull was condemned. This is an increase of 29 sheep slaughtered and a decrease of 50 cattle. Fees due for the month amount to £l2O 17s 6d. Rents due for the month amount to £3 us Oil. Pigs from other -works £2 3s 9d. Total £126 0s M or a decrease of £6 2s Dd. , BUILDING AND SANITATION. . Inspector Day reports: Thirteen permits have been issued, value £4472, and fees were £2O 18s (id. The usual amount of inspection has been carried out and work is generally satisfactory. Four houses have been demolished in Devon street. The sanitary services are now both fully established and everything appears to be working smoothly. 1 have been compelled fe make another change in difit-man, wlich, of course, let to a slight, disorganisation -which was soon remedied. During the month Inspector Tippens and myself, in timing fast motor traffic, spent several Afternoons. I 'have reason to believe that our effort-, have been successful in checking this dangerous practice. We propose to devote our attention to this matter at frequent intervals and at varying times, so tl-.it if 'here are offenders in this respect they may be brought to book;- All public halls"anil eliurches ■have been examined an/l reported uuon.

The electric light and tramway committee reported:— ELECTRIC LIGHT AND TRAMWAYS. The letter from t;he Sanitary Inspector with reference to the sanitary fittings at the sub-station building was referred to the Electrical and Tramways Engineer wiflh power to act. The correspondence with Mr. -Herbert Martin with reference to extension of the lighting mains to his property Smart road was referred to the Electrical and Tramway Engineer to interview Mr. Martin and report. Application was made to the Public Works Department for permission to use bare wire on the proposed power main to the Breakwater. The Electrical and Tramways Engineer was authorised to extend the'mains from the present Ironsand Works to the new site and to supply power as heretofore. Consideration of the installation of the series system of street lighting, was deferred. The committee recommended that the sum of £53 93, being the amount by which certain goods shown on the list submitted by the Electrical and Tramways Engineer having been reduced in price owing to the length of time they havo been in -stock, be written off. The report of the Borough Engineer with reference to making provision for drainage of stormwater at the carsheds (estimate £00) was referred to the Electrical and Tramways Engineer with authority to have the work carried out. Recommended that Messrs. McLcod and Slade, in view of the increased cost of paper, be allowed nn additional %d per thousand on the remaining 1,378,000 tickets ordered; that Messrs. J. Williams and others be informed that the Council cannot see its way to grant any further concession on fares until the cars have been running at least a year; that Mr. Andrews be informed that the amount charged against him for damage to tram car No. 1 was the actual cost to the Gouncil and tihat no reduction can be made; that Mr. F. C (Deacon be informed that the Council cannot accept any liability in regard to the accident sustained by him, and that the papers in connection therewith be referred to the United Insurance Co., the 'holders of the Council's public risk policy for the tramways; that the Electrical"and Tramways Engineer be instructed to prepare specifications for a further turbine alternator set 250 k.v.a. for the power house and to obtain quotations for same; that the Electrical Engineer be authorised, with the approval of the chairman, to carry out any extensions to the value of not exceeding £lO in each case, such oxpenditurc, however, to be reported at the licit meeting of the committee BOROUGH ENGINEER, Mr. E. 0. Clayton reports:— ' Waiwaka Terrace—The forma lion of the carriage way on this street is progrossing satisfactorily. The plan and particulars of the easement required for filling has been prepared. For the tilling it is proposed to utilise material from Mangorei road widening, when that street is undertaken. Baths: The caretaker reports that the work in connection with alterations ana repairs to the premises commenced on Ausnst 15 and continued until the 25th, when he prepared the biv'Jhs for the opening on September 1, Ea-cments: A number of sketch plans and particulars for various easements re, .(red have been prepared so as to enable the several street formation works to be h.orcoded with at"an early date, 'icier for hospital: A 3in. Guest and Gahne ~,,, ~ j IM been ~„,.. chased and insf'-d nt ~c f v M(M . al lm . pital as duvctea . r t. th.< will give a record of the watt u ,, p i. l, with the exception of an ino! , ip6 fum Dawaon street which supplies , ho foull[]l - 1 and cottage. Maintenanet - tarred ro:> Is: lam supplying a report ,f ih n arc . a 0 f: tarred roads in the Boroug: for record i purposes and which will the' quantity of material and cte. their i general upkeep to be arrived it '■••nsv iugs: Instructions, -have been given to pay attention to breaches of the by-laws in regard to carting over the footpaths,' especially where building operations are in progress. I recommend that a deposit be .required of £1 for all temporary crossings desired, such sum to be refunded on completion of the carting provided the patli and kerbing is not damaged. Bank on Frankley road: The committee visited this place on Wednesday 0, and will be reporting on same at Council meeting. I have prepared a sketch plan of the approximate area, o! ground required to increase tlhe batter to make the overhanging portions safe.