BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1921, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

«EW PLYMOUTH COUNCIL. THE HTORO-ELEOTRIC WORKS The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: The May or iMr. F. E. Wilson), Cis. J. Kib-by, V< Griffiths, T. N. Blackball, W. Rumball, E. Dingle. R. L. Parkin, J. Brown, and R. A. Large. The consulting engineers (Messrs. Blair Mason, Lee and Owen) wrote en* quiring as to what dimensions tho re*, maining portion of No. 2 tunnel was tOj be driven. j 'Jr. Rumball said that after the vhit£ of councillors last week he would eup*»< port'continuing the tunnel on the en« larged dimensions. He moved in thisH direction. • « Cr. Large seconded, and said he (lu# so because he thought that the cottn* cil had partly committed itself in de< . ciding to re-open negotiations with English firm (through Mr. J. 8, Leg-? gatt) in connection with £he supply ©l} power for ironsand works. The Mayor denied that the counoik had entered into any obligation. Thejjhad simply cabled to Mr. Leggatt sta.tr' ing that they were prepared to enter into negotiations with him. u was on the. understanding that he was*, fully conversant with the scheme as proposed by the consulting engineers, and not becaiise the council had decided to enlarge a portion of tihoj tunnel. The consulting engineers had! brought down a scheme which they saidS would produce 9000 horse power. Tharf council’s electrical engineer queried tliiaJ estimate, am) said the scheme wouldj not produce 9000 horse power continn-M ously. The consulting engineers, wherij asked, practically agreed with this co#4 tention. Thus the council were in the| position, of having a tunnel to produce 9000 h.p., but which apptfj ently would not 'be utilised to its fuW capacity. It was proposed to spend aa| extra £BOOO in. enlarging the tunnels but why? If it was proposed to tapj extra resources of supply, what would! be the cost? The council had not aj figure before them on this aspect. Its J would require a tremendous amount ofl ' water to be brought through the Maa-1 gamahoe to produce 9000 h.p., for the tunnel was at present designed. Ha was totally opposed to the question ofl enlarging under the present problematic cal advice. Cr. Parkin agreed with the Mayor's? views. He pointed out that the flow off the Waivvakaiho was 150 cusecs. Aa itt took 50 cusecs to develop 1000 h.p., it? would be sceu that the continuous sup* ply was only 3000 h.p. Cr. Kibby aid he agreed that that small tunnel was quite ample for tha' Waiwakaiho scheme, but they also had other sources of water further back that? might ‘be utilised. Whether it could be done at a workable cost was problematical at present, but having invited negotiations with the Lagl.sh firm, he thought it advisable to leave the position open so that if th y deiirej to make investigations and found extra sources of f pply the tunnel would be available.

n amendment was moved by Cr. Blackball tha. the quest i n of enlarging the tunnel be held over for further consideration. He pointed out that if by an extra expenditure of £BOOO lhe council would he fostering the iron , manufacturing industry in the town, the .expenditure would; be amply justified. At the present time mor- 1 information was wanted on the question of enlarging the tunnel. The amendment was seconded ‘by Cr. Brown and subsequently carried GENERAL BUSINESS. A letter was. received from Mr. An* drew Neilson Waiwnka Terrace, directing attention to the need for a footpath in Courtenay Street Etut, and a report was received from the engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) stating that the cost of the suggested work would bo £6 or £7. —The council decided not to take any action at present. The engineer was 'nstrueted to submit an estimate of the cost of raising the intake dam at Manga.nahoo by 3 feet. Tn reply fo a question the electrical engineer said it was advisable to have this work done if feasible, as the addition would give relief to the de-, partment in (Jie summer months. The engineer was instructed to round up the formation of Calvert Road giving, access from Devon Street. West to Veale’s Estate. Authority was given to the committee in charge of the. Lake Rotokare Reserve to plant 200 native trees ati the reserve. Attention was directed by Messrs. IL H. George and IT. S. Brookman to the state nf the footpath on the east aido of Standish Hill, and abn’ fho route leading to their properties, as at present they had practically no approach at all. They stated that‘if; he council was willing to assist in cleaning up the ground and fencing, they would he prepared io do the planting of some ghrtib% —After discussion it was decided to in-x form the applicants that the council has no funds available at present for ths class of work mentioned.

On behalf of St. Mary's Vestry, tbd secreta.-j, (Mr. IT. C. Raker) wrote directing attention to the state of the culvert .-Ilrated .. at. the junction of Carrington Road and Vivian which was in a dang, ms co .ditic fof pedestrains.—Report’.'; ? on this the engineer said he assumed what was refer* red to was the water table, as the cuh verts were' i iderground He was awaits i ing an opportunity to , complete, the I kerbing and channelling, which would effectively deal with the trouble. It was decided that a copy of the engine ear’s report be sent to Mr. Baker.