BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1922, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. STREET IMPROVEMENTS. The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), Crs. J. Kibby, T. N. Blackhall, V. Griffiths, R. L. Parkin, W. Rumball, E. Dingle, R. A. Large, and J. Brown. Eight ratepayers who were desirous of obtaining improved access to their properties petitiotaed the council to have that" part of Nob’s Line from Mangorei Road to sections 22 and 23 of Chilman’s extension formed and gradif possible to the permanent levels. The engineer reported that the length was approximately ten chains, ana at its junction with Mangorei Koad would neo i fair cutting down to allow of an -y gradient. If the council proposed to have the work done levels would be taken and plotted for consideration. The council decided to take no action at present. Eight ratepayers of Water Lane Street petitioned the council to have the road and footpaths formed and also noxious weeds removed. They considered it was a disgrace to the town and unsafe for pedestrians in wet weather. The engineer reported: This road, a short blind one, has been formed evidently years ago, and periodically is cleaned up. The owners are themselves liable for cutting and grubbing the noxious weeds. The engineer reported verbally that he had since arranged to put the street in order, and the council decided to refer the letter to the officers responsible with power to act. AUDIT FEES, f The Otago Hospital Board wrote seeking the co-operation of the council in protesting against the increased rees charged for audit. The Mayor said he did not think a resolution would have any effect. Or. Brown agreed with the opinion of the Otago Board that the charge was excessive and moved that the protest be endorsed. Or. Blackhall seconded. The general manager said it was conceded that the charge was high, but the Municipal Association, who sent a deputation to the Minister, ascertained tnat the cost included not only the salaries of officers engaged, but also the head office charges. The' motion was carried.

PIONEER ROAD. Referring to the authorisation of an expenditure of £5O on Pioneer Road, Or. Brown said this was a fine weather job and should not be delayed. Or; Kibby spoke in similar strain. Cr. Griffiths urged that works should be done in the order of the schedule of works authorised. He pointed out that there were a number of streets for ex P en^^u f e had been approved in Cr. Brown, in reply, did not dispute Cr. Griffiths’ argument, but said that it would be only a waste of time and money to try and do work of the nature required on Pioneer Road in the mfadle of winter. THE NEW INTAKE. The electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) reported that he understood the contractors put water through the new intake at the hydro-electric works on the 14th inst., and that one gate and a part of another was sufficient to deal with the whole river, which was, just now very low. This was an excellent opportunity of measuring the flow, as all the water was coming through a tunnel. However, he did not know of it till the day after, when it was too late to do anything regarding further testing. Records at the present intake no we ver, were taken on the 15 th inst. and showed that 101 cusecs were flowing in the race and also a quantity of water was flowing in the river past the intake, which could not be guaged. Cr, Parkin hought it was remarkable that the contractors did not let the electrical engineer know of the occur-) rence.

The Mayor said he understood that putting the water through was not in the nature of a test, but rather to clean up the tunnel. PROTECTING WATER SUPPLY. The inspector (Mr. R. Day) reported having inspected the watershed of the Mangamahoe stream. There was only one possible source of pollution near its head, namely a small pigstye hold ng two pigs. He had arranged with the owners to remove the pigs at once and discontinue the use of the stye. At fthe same time he found that the new farmers in the watershed were quite unaware of the heavy* penalties they were liable to for fouling a water course of this description. The Mayor said a periodical inspection was apparently necessary, and the Inspector replied that he had made occasional visits to the locality. Many of the residents, however, did not seem to know that the stream was the water supply for the town. THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTE. The report of the Carnegie Institute received from the committee stated that since the last meeting of the committee a month ago twenty persons had joined the library and eighteen had left, a net increase of two. During the same period fifteen new books comprising the latest fiction had been placed on the shelves. The librarian’s report stated inter alia: In the museum a table was procured, and this has enabled three cases (which were stored away) to be utilised and so relieve some of the pres ure on space. Minor improvements have -o been made in the arrangement of some of the exhibits. The chairman (Mr. W. H. Skinner) and Cr, Brown were appointed a subcommittee to arrange for an opening of the early history room. MISCELLANEOUS. Suggested improvements at Lake Rotokare were dealt with in a letter from the secretary of the Reserve Comiyittee (Mr. V. C. Davies). He'intimated the committee's intention of lowering and cleaning out the lake, the total of the proposed expenditure not to exceed Cloo. —The council approved of the proposals. Or. Blackball inquired if there were not a number of poles on the Cutfield Road which could be used in connection with the proposed installation of street lights. The electrical engineer replied that there were four poles on the wrong side of the road, but if these were removed and used for the installation it would make a difference of only about £8 less on his previous estimate. The alteration of drains on the Cutflald Road was reported on by the en-

gineer, who estimated the cost at £'llJ 2s 4d. The matter was referred to tne estimates committee. The engineer submitted a report on suggested improvements to the outlet at the septic tank, three proposals being set out, the cost extending up to £2OOO. It was decided to refer the question to the estimates committee. With reference to the suggested erection of a meteorological observatory on Marsland Hill, the assistant secretary of the New Plymouth Astronomical society (Mr. F. J. Morshead) wrote asking that the council should consult the executive of the society before fixing a site. He explained that the society hoped to proceed with the erection of their 12-inch reflecting telescope and building to house same within a year or two, and although there was undoubtedly sufficient space for both observatories, the society hoped to see a suitable site reserved for the telescope. —lt was decided that the rtqu bo noted.