BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1917, Page 8

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

7 ADJOURNED MEETING. '■ An adjourned meeting of the New, Plymouth Borough Council was held last night, there being present: Mr C. H. Burgess (Mayor), Crs. A. E. Watkins, J. V. Mannix, S. J. Smith, F. J. Hill, W. F. Short, \V. A. Collis, A. 11. Johnstone, K E. Wilson, J. W. Hayden, J. S. S. Medley and L. M. Monteath. THE SCOUR AT THE WATER WORKS Mr. R. H. Bart-ley, electrical and trainways engineer, reported that a washout had occurred at the Mangahume dam on Sunday at about 3.30 p.m., with the result that the water supply to the power house was exhausted before anything could be done in the way of coupling up with the old intake. This necessitated the current being off the lines and the stoppage of the trams for approximately an hour and a half. The water supply is still being obtainptl through the old intake, and every effort will be made to continue the electrical supply and the tram service until normal conditions can be resumed. It was difficult- at- this juncture to estimate the cost of repairing the damage, as certain work in the nature err- pumping, etc., must be done before a proper examination could be made. The wash-out had taken place right under the east end of the dam and tunnel foundations, leav. ing the walls of the dam and tunnel suspended at that point. Further details will be furnished as soon as ppssib'e, Mr. W. H. Cook, borough engineer, also reported. He stated that, with Mr. Hartley, he at once visited the dam, when it was found that the scour had undermined the tunnel, and completely emptied the stored water. He continued: After making a preliminary examination of the damage we returned and notified the Mayor, chairman of Electrical Committee, Fire Brigade, and others to whom it was necessary to give instructions. From to-day's inspection it is certain that the scour took place at the eastern end of the dam, the scoured bed being about,, ten feet deep. It is quite evident that the dam was not taken lielow the tunnel, and in all probability not taken to a firm and solid foundation. It is a question whether it was taken to the same level as the invert of the tunnel. This, however, has been pumped from the scour hole. In the meantime, the old intake tunnel is being used to maintain services, but it is possible that some re-arrangement of these will have to be made. Until a more complete investigation has been made it is not possible/to give more than a rough estimate of the cost of the work required to replace the dam, and this I place at £7OO or £BOO, but I must reserve the right to alter these figures after I find out what work Is ready necessary to be done, which can only be when the foundation is cleared from mud and cleared up. In restoring the dam I am strongly of opinion that an iron scour gate be erected, as the existing wooden gate is practically unworkable. I also advocate that similar gates be erected to the intake, and that the bed of the race from the dam to the tunnel be concreted, and the remaining length repaired with similar material, and that an apron be put to the stream side of the dam and by-wash. The dam itself should also be raised some two feet higher than at present."

The engineer was Instructed to proceed with the necessary work, reporting to the council from time to time as the work proceeds. WORKS COMMITTEE. The same members then sat as a works committee. / BULLER STREET A. S. Brooker, and 27 other residents of Buller street, petitioned the council, asking that, instead of the seven-foot lnned paths proposed, the paths should be widened, concrete kerbs provided, and the footpaths formed of gravel. Cr. Smith congratulated the ratepayers on taking notice of what the council proposed doing, but he wanted to know if the departure from the engineer's plans would be satisfactory. The engineer said the plan provided for a narrow metal roadway, with tarred footpaths and grass edges between. Personally, he would prefer the dry footpaths, but he understood that the residents of the district favored the under metal footpath with the kerbing. A councillor stated that there would be difficulty in keeping the grass edges clean. It was stated that the ratepayers had agreed to see to this. The council decided to give effect to the residents' suggestion, GENERAL. It was resolved to ask the police to report on all the billiard rooms in the town. Messrs y R. Johnstone and Purdie naked that lupins in front of their properties, Richmond Road. Fitzroy, should be removed.—Referred to the engineer. Cr. W. P. Short drew attention to the rough state of Brooklands road, which he stated had also to be used as a footpath by residents in that locality.