MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1918, Page 3

MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. The following are the official reports of the New Plymouth borough engineer (Mr- W. H. Cook) and the electrical and tramways manager (Mr. R- 11. Hartley) for the month:— ENGINEER'S REPORT. . Waterworks. —Four new services have been installed, and repairs made to services at tho baths and cemetery. The annual inspection of all water services is being made, and the result, so far, is that Oli notices have been served upon consumers in one street alone to have services attended to and leaks stopped. The filters 'have been properly attended to during the month. Streets.—Carrington Road formation is practically completed, and the metalling is well on towards completion. The Ailing in in Courtenay Street, near Currie Street, in almost completed, and metalling operations have been put in hand. The Leach Street cattle track formation will be completed in about two days. This track is not intended to be used by motorists. On the South and Breakwater Road, surface tarring has been completed. The gang is now engaged in repairing holes in Devon Street East and Gill and other streets adjacent. After this i.; done, all unfinished portions between the Terminus Hotel and tlie Breakwater will be, broken up and tarred and finished oil'. Tarring Work on Dawson Street and Standish llill h:;-; been carried out. anil a short .piece has yet to be completed. The tar-dressing coat is being applied to the paths i:i Devon Street where such have ban repaired. . Noxious weeds.—One man has been almost continually employed during the month cutting fennel. In connection with this class of work, between cutting gorse, fennel, and other noxious weeds and growth, to clean up the borough streets properly it would take from one to two men quite nine months.

Tukapa Road.—A start has been made to make this road. Tlie haulage by traction engine, whilst, cheaper than by drays, has again proved too severe u;-oii the roads passed over. TRAMWAYS REPORT. Combined routes.—Milege run, 10.151; passengers carried, 13ii,l)fi(i; revenue per car mile, 14.3 pence; passengers per car mile, 8.3'; averago fare per passenger, 1.7 pence: totaPfares. .OKO 2s !)d. The above records for February, 1318, when compared with the figures for February, 1917, show an increase oi £57 "s Id, and 10,417 additional passengers have been carried.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEPARTMENT.

During the month 11 applications have been received for the supply and seven connections have been made to the maifis. These figures are below our average for other months during the year, and I think tlie position is mainly due to the difficulties that tlie wiring contractors are experiencing in carrying out their contracts, also on account of tlie difficulties in obtaining materials. Plant-—The platn at both power-house and distribution station is operating satisfactorily, arid has given very little trouble during the month. The current was cut oli' on two occasions during the month, but only for very short intervals. In one case the trouble was due to the lowering of the water at the intake to facilitate working at -the new ilam. On tile other occasion a wrong switch was tripped tin error by one of the attendants. In neither case were the consumers subjected to much inconvenience, and it was only a matter of a few minutes to restore tilings to normal.