MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1919, Page 7

MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

MONTHLY itjuIPOKTS. Following ara suiarrarits of (hn reports made by the officials of the New Plymouth Borough Council tor the month of December:— TRAMWAY MATTERS. The tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley) reported that the revenue had not yet recovered from the effect brought about by the influenza epidemic mid the returns for the month were £156 18a Id less than the corresponding month of last year. The passengers carried during December, 1927, were 146,551, as against 109,645 in December 1918, showing & deficit of 36,908 passengers carried. The returns for the moiith were as follows: —Mileage run, 13,868 miles; passengers carried, 99,180; total fares, £722 17s 4d. Electric bus.—The building of the bo'!y of the bus is now progressing favorably and it is expected that the building work Will be completed some time this month.

ENGINEER'S REPORT In the course of his report the engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) stated: —The usual routine work in connection with water works lias been attended to. Several floods have been experienced during the month, the water being very turbid on such occasions. One new service ivas installed, ard the service in Lemon Street extended. The service pipe in Vivian street was lowered, valves repaired, fire plugs cleaned and mains partly flushed out.

Streets.—The main work taking precedence over others is tarring, which has been carried on as weather and holidays permitted. The lengths treated are as] follows:—Courtenay street: From Hobson to Eliot (first coat and part second coat), 2580 square yards, Gover to Liardet (two coats) 6430 square yards, Liadet to Currie (ono coat) 2038 square iyards; Powderham Street, Currie to Dawson (ono coat), 6542 square yards; Dawson Street, Powderham to Fulford (one coat,), 2383 square yards; Carrington Roard, Courtenay to Vivian (one coat), 1210 square yards; total, 29,183 square yards. Reducing this to the standard width of the road, 12ft wide, is equivalent to nearly 2$ miles in 12 days. When the organisation of the plant and labor is completed, r.nd aj we get away from the traffic better results will be obtained. Re-metalling and patching has been carried out on various other streets.

Septic Tunk.—The clearing out of the tank was completed by the 13th and shortly afterwards the plant was dismantled. The outlet pipes are being extended to the bridge into deeper water. This will complete the work for the preoent.

Reserves. —The thanks of the Council are due to the gaol authorities for allowing the prisoners to clean up Marsland Hill and especially are our thanks due to the New Plymouth officials who have given every consideration to the ivellcarrying out of the work. By their efforts we gain a quantity of hay, and the reserve Cs in a thoroughly clean order.