NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1917, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. j The New Plymouth Jiorougli Count il | met last night. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess I presided, and there were present Crs. ,1. Clarke, J. W.. Hayilen, F. J. Hill, W. F. Short, E. Griffiths, W. A. Collis, I}. ,1. Deare, and G. W. Browne. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows: Waterworks.'—The usual routine work has been attended to.' During the early part of the month considerable quantities of moss and, after the wind storm, large quantities of leaves, lodged in the forebay. Gleaning has therefore taken much time. The revolving .screens are showing signs of wear, and temporary repairs are made from time to time. The finer mesh screens in connection with the inlet to the main water supply are also showing signs of wear. Enquiries are being instituted, but it is doubtful whether similar material is available for repairs. The head of water has been very low during the dry spell, and at times only one filter could be used. Each evening it has been necessary to close down until the peak load is past. Mains and services.—4l chains of 4inch has been laid in Paynter's Lane to provide for services to the cottages now in course of erection. Nine private services and two for cleaning gutters have been installed. A lj-inch meter has been installed for the ironsand service. The •3-inch mains in Gill street have been repaired, and leaks in the G-incli spiral pipe in Mill road repaired. A new outlet, pipe has been placed in the .fountain at Marsrland Hill, and reported leaks in services attended to. Public troughs.—During the hot weather it is not possible to prevent dogs bathing in the troughs. This is likely to contaminate the water, a precaution, and to make the water more palatable. I have had the ball cocks adjusted to allow the water to run sufficiently to overcome staleness. Sewers. —Several sewers have been inspected. and in some cases accumulations of sewerage removed. The whole of the sewerage system will be inspected from time to time when labor is available. Streets.—Gill street resurfacing and lowering is practically completed, a small amount of retouching in places only being required. Retaining wall. Young street. —The wall along Mrs. Dowling's frontage is more than half, finished, and as far as our portion of the work is concerned, we will be about finished next week. While at work here, Mrs. Dowlitig wishes us to erect a fence along the top, making for greater security against possible accident. This f have agreed to do, Mr 3. Dowling having agreed to pay for the extra work. > '' ' ■ Cut field road culvert. —As similar work is being done in the locality, and it can be very well fitted in with such work, I propose to have the hand rail and posts erected along the parapets of this culvert; also two short wings added to toe of wing walls to direct waters into the culvert. The formation between Courtenav and Yivian streets is all but completed, and the metal from the old road is being re used as far as it will go. The surface between Vivian street and the hill further south' is being stripped of metal. During the course of the work the roller got buried, the road giving away beneath the wheel. Upon inspection, it was found that a largo scour had taken place over the existing pipe culvert.

Several electric light poles luive been removed to new positions. pathway in Pendarves street has beenN, formed along the boundary, and metalling work put in hand. The pathway to the bridge in Pendarves street has been filled in, fenced, and another pathway cut. Widening is in hand along the west side. Alangorci road. —Resurfacing has been commenced, and is in progress. Haulage has become a somewhat acute question, and, although the traction engine has caused some damage to Rimu street, it was not possible to do away with it altogether. Instructions have been issued to take the first opportunity to lay aside the tractor, and I should be glad indeed if .1 could report its sale, and that it has been replaced by a less cumbersome method of haulage. itt. Byron Reserve.—The fencing lias been attended to. Street sweepings are being tipped upon the reserve. L'nfortunately the instructions were not fully understood, with the result that the heaps were left about for a few days.

Tar macadam. —The old concrete mixer has been taken to the Lemon street yards and installed. A considerable amount of work has been done. Jt is arranged to draw the tar from the well into the tar boilers placed alongside by pumping, three boilers being available, either of which can be heated independently ofyfche others. On a raised platform the gravel or screenings will be tipped, and from here easily filled into the hopper of the mixture, which is placed on a lower level, thus doing away with the high lift previously necessary. The chute will then deliver into the dray underneath, the Whole work being performed with the least labor possible. When covered over, tar macadam can be prepared and xtored during the winter, and .in readiness for the summer season's work. In two'or three days, tar macadam will be made for repairing Devon and other street paths, and this work given preference over all others untouched.

General and other cleaning.—Before .the holiday season a general cleaning and tidying up of the most important streets will be made. Labor. —The available labor has to a large extent been concentrated upon three chief works in band, i.e., Carrington road, Mangorei road and the wall in Young street. It has been even necessary to draw away from their areas the surfacemen, also those engaged on tlie kerbing and channelling, Unless more labor offers, it is unlikely that this hitter will be proceeded with for some time, as it will take from four to five men in Devon street, and at least a similar number to form a tarring gang in St. Aubyn street, and from here to the! Breakwater. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. R. Day, inspector, reported as "follows: The month has been a busy one as regards repairs and alterations to drainage, several important works being in progress in the central area requiring a good deal of attention, but making a distinct improvement in the sanitary conditions of the town. As the outcome of the house-to-house inspection, a lot of repair work is still proceeding as workmen arc available. The late fatal lire ' in Cliristchurch opens up again the question of Jiro escapes; but, after again looking around various premises, 1 feel sure that people would have no difficulty in getting out of any building in New Plymouth. Twenty licensed halls and churches in the borough have been inspected during the month. Inspector Harvey lias devoted his time to impounding, -traflic oud ffirsUHWlwr.

'~N ! hedges. He i* at present assisting in the ivork of clean-up week. During tin* month I took a prosecution for a dirty rubbish receptacle. L would like to issue n general warning on this matter. Rubbish tins can and must be kept sweet and clean. I have issued to stable keepers during i.lie month a warning as to their liability under the by-laws if stable manure is not cleaned up twice a week. Then stable keepers must not complain if 1 prosecute them. The report was adopted. TRAMWAYS REPORT. The tramways engineer reported: Advantage has been taken of the fine spell of weather to effect repairs to tram road and track, between the railway station and the Breakwater, and the remaining portion will be attended to as time and weather permit. Four additional track drains have been made and installed at the Moturon freezing works, Morsliead hill, Gover street and Hill's store, South road. Careful observation has shown us that it is necessary to get rid of the water travelling along the rails at shorter intervals, especially as the track is carrying much water from the road. The drains have also been arranged to assist in getting rid of water from track foundations, which is increasing very much in certain parts of the track. The equipment has received a good deal of extra attention during the month, and is operating satisfactorily. The summer time-table was brought into operation on December 1, and the revenue has already • shown signs of a substantial increase. The report was adopted. ELECTRIC LIGHTING REPORT. November has been a busy month for this department, and much work lias been done on the supply mains, etc. The applications received during the month are 17, the connections S, and additions to existing connections G. The plant at the power house, distribution station, and tramway generating plant are* operating satisfactorily, the maintenance being quite normal. The Waiwakaiho river has been very low all the month, and, under the disarranged conditions at the head works, has required very careful attention. It may be necessary, unless conditions alter, to I remove more shingle from the mouth of the intake and allow the whole river to come through. Messrs Roberts and Son have completed their contract at the power house, with the exception of a few minor details and maintenance. New plant.—l am advised by the National Electrical Company that our alternator was shipped from the factory on September 17 last, and should reach us shortly. I have been unable to obtain any advice with reference to the shipment or expected arrival of the Turbine. The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. \ The Rev. H. L. Richards wrote on behalf of the New Plymouth Ministers' Association, intimating that if the council would give its support, as on previous occasions, the Ministers' Associations would undertake the arrangements for a united service of intercession on January fi, in accordance with the wish of his Majesty the King that such services should be held, on that date, and that the day should be observed as a day of national prayer. —Tt was decided to concur in the suggestion of the Ministers' Association, and that arrangements be made for a united service.

The secretary of the Ngamotu Seaside Committee wrote intimating that the following had been appointed to the executive: Messrs. C. C. Ward, (Jeo. Gray, W. T. Hookham, R. T. McQnade, .1, Hayden, R. ,1. Dean and R. 0. Ellis. —The appointments were approved.

The secretary of the New Plymouth Efficiency Board trustees wrote thanking the council for the loan of chairs for the board's ofiiee. —Received.

The engineer reported regarding the dust nuisance originating from the Central school grounds. He suggested that the large square of ground would be greatly benefited by being la'id in either tar macadam or several coats of tar and, sand, failing which sharp gravel should be used. —It was decided to send a copy of the engineer's letter to the Taranaki Education Board.

If. AT. t'ornev wrote on behalf of the Frankley Road Settlers' Association, asking for attention to the main Frankley and Frankleigh Park roads, which, bv reason of so much loose metal, were dangerous; also that the water tables were overgrown with gorse and rubbish; that at the entrance to Frankley road trees and rubbish were overgrowing the footpath, and needed cutting back; and that in the same locality there was a considerable growth of noxious weeds. The engineer reported that very little could be done without incurring heavy expenditure; also that the surfacemen were required for work in oilier directions, and during the dry weather the outlying roads were being neglected. A general clean-up would be done later.—lt was decided to forward a copy of the report to the association. general. In respect to the rough metal for Cutfield road, only one tender was received, which was above the engineer's estimate, and was therefore not accepted. It was decided that lvurta and Co. be notified to instal a meter for gauging their water service, and that,' in "the meantime, the borough engineer be instructed to make a report on the supply taken by certain other premises. The question of installing electric light in the Borough Council's cottages on the beach was brought up by Or. Collis, and was referred to the electric light committee.