BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1921, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

NEW PLYMOUTH COUNCIL. DAMAGE AT POWER WORKS. The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), Crs. .1. Kibby, V. Griffiths, T. N. Blackball, W. Rumball, E Dingle, R. L. Parkin, J. Brown, and R. A. At a later stage Cr. Kibby (deputy-Mayor) presided, as the Mayor could not attend throughout the meeting. The electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) wrote reporting that some time during the last week-end two fairly substantial cracks had appeared in the eastern wall of the forebay. “On close examination,” he said, “I am of opinion that these are due to a slight subsidence of the south-eastern foundation, and measures must be adopted immediately to make the structure secure. This can be done by tie rods and anchor blocks, or by buttresses adjacent to the eastern wall. After consultation with the borough engineer, I favor the latter method, and would ask permission to do this work at once. The cost will not be a large amount, and I have not yet had the time to take out an estimate, but the position is that whatever the costs, it must be attended to without much delay. 1 would advise an examination of the forebay floor, but to do this the supply must be shut down for at least five or six hours, if not more, and this would have to be done in the daytime, as it would be practically impossible io see properly under the conditions with artificial light. It is quite possible that no appreciable damage will be found, but if it should be the concrete will need to be cut away and repaired, and this will take a much longer time. In reply to Cr. Brown the engineer said a Sunday would be the best day to do the work, but it meant closing everything down. The engineer’s recommendations wore approved, and it was decided that he be empowered to close down on a Sunday if necessary. PIONEER ROAD. The borough engineer reported on the proposal to form and gravel a path along the east side of Pioneer Road, and submitted the following estimates: Road and path formation, £ll4 10s; gravelling path, £67 10®; metalling road, £255; total, £437. He stated that the formation of a path must go hand in hand with the road, as the material for filling must come from the road itself. The general manager said he believed the work was provided for in the £57,000 loan. The deputy-Mayor said he presumed this would have to come out of the general fund, and it was too much. Cr. Brown thought that the council at least might provide a footpath, but it should be of a permanent nature; he Would not favor spending money on temporary work. In view of the financial situation consideration w. deferred till the December meeting. A QUESTION OF PERMISSION. i Advice Was received from the resident engineer (Mr. R. L. Pearless) to the effect that on the 20th inst. he had received intimation from Mr. Marsh, the owner of certain land in the locality of the hydro-electric works, that he would not give permission to proceed 1 with certain fencing till a settlement with the council had been obtained. _ Mr. Fearless remarked: The position now is that in the tunnel Al I am rapidly approaching a point beyond which, in my opinion, it is not desirable to drive.—another week at the present rate will do this. From a constructional point of view it is becoming more urgently necessary for me to know definitely' at what size the tunnel is to be lined, partly because if driving is to 'Continue aS at present 1 shall require additional timber, and also because it affects the lay-out of the central heaaTn a note on the above letter the general manager stated that the tunne had been driven over ten chains, and six chains had been concreted. The letter will be dealt with by the hydro-electric committee.