BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1922, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

MEETING OE COUNCIL* BELT ROAD TRAM SHELTER. The New Plymouth Borough Coun»J met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), Crs. J. Kibby, V. Griffiths T. Blackball, W. Rumball, E. Dingle, R. L. Parkin, R. A. Large and J. Brown. An offer was received from Mr. A. R. Richard to purchase one debenture of the tramway loan, £lOO, at 5J per cent., for eleven years, to cover the erection of a tram shelter at the Belt Road section end. the work to be commenced within one month from April I.— Referred to the tramways manager for a report. STREET IMPROVEMENTS WANTED. Seven ratepayers and residents wrote directing attention to the present state of Calvert Road and Whiteley Road. They suggested that before the winter Calvert Road should be metalled to the end, and the footpath put in order, and that in Whiteley Street the footpaths be formed and gravelled. The council was also asked to give serious consideration to the question of lighting Whiteley Street, as it did not have a single light at present. Lt was decided to effect improvements to Calvert Road between St. Aubyn Street and Roy Terrace. Sixteen ratepayers and residents cf Devon and Doone Streets, Lynmouth, asked for consideration of water and electric lighting facilitiee in these streets. It was decided that the petition be held over for further consideration. On behalf of Mr. C. E. Jeffries, Mr. George Grey asked the council to consider giving improved access to a property of eight acres in Veale’s Estate, with frontage to Devon Street.—Deferred. REGISTRATION OF PLUMBERS. , The advisory board of the Technical College wrote urging that the regulations wirfr regard to the employment of only registered plumbers for sanitary work be enforced; otherwise apprentices and improvers in the trade would have no incentive to study. Reporting on this issue, the inspector stated that no unregistered plumbers were allowed to do sanitary work. At the same time be pointed out that at least six men would have been examined in New Plymouth last November but owing to a blunder somewhere they missed the examination. The council expressed the opinion that the time had arrived to enforce the old regulation. TRAMWAYMEN’S REQUESTS. A request was received from the Tramways Union asking that the position of the motormen’s seats in the Birney cars be altered. The tramways manager, reporting on the request, said it was claimed that the seats needed moving forward two inches. He had examined the seats, and personally did not see a great deal wrong with the present position. As the matter, however, was only a small one, he had given instructions for the work to be done at the earliest opportunity, and apparently it had not yet been put in hand. In a verbal explanation, Mr. Bartley said the work authorised could not be gone on with, as it was found that if the seats were moved they would foul the gong; it had, therefore, been decided to make the top of the seat bigger. The union also wrote suggesting that a convenience should be established at the breakwater terminus. In reporting on this the tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley), after stating that the matter had been considered by past councils, stated: “I think it is generally admitted that a convenience at this end of the route would be a decided advantage, but the difficulty lies in the ways and means of arranging sewerage.”—lt was decided that the tramways manager should report on the question. MISCELLANEOUS. The engineer wa? instructed to provide better access to Calvert Road, from South Road to Devon Street West, by means of a small path. The Wiestern Park Board wrote applying for a grant of £lOO to enable them to undertake the erection of iron gates on the Morley Street entrance, a cobble-stone fence along the Marley Street boundary, and a concrete dressing-shed.— The application was held over, pending the consideration of the estimates. In moving to thia effect, the Mayor said he did not know where the money was to come from. Authority was given to the electrical engineer for the purchase of battery cells for the electric ’bus, at a cost of about £l7O.

A letter from the Fitiroy Ratepayers’ Association urged the council to consider the institution of a sewerage system for the suburb, and Cr. Parkin said the object in bringing the matter forward was to illustrate the necessity for a sewerage system for the borough. Advice was received from the secretary of the East End Reserve Committee that Mr. J. Rawlinson had been appointed to the executive to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. W. Hughes, and the alteration was approved. In answer to a letter from the New Plymouth Harbor Board, asking that the council enter into an agreement for seven years for the supply of water to the board, it was decided to intimate that the charge was a by-law one, and that the council did not desire to bind the actions of any future council. A number of applications for the extension of electric light mains were held over till next meeting, when the electric light estimates will be considered. A notice of motion had been tabled by Cr. Kibby in favor of deferring the proposed trial alteration of one of the small tram-cars until the council had sought ths advice of Mr. F. Black, of Wellington, the designer of the cars. However, Cr. Kibby intimated his desire to withdraw the motion. The Department of Health wrote notifying that a conference of sanitary inspectors was to be held at Christchurch' in the first week in April, and asking if the council could grant leave to its officer to attend.—lt was decided that the inspector be given leave to attend the conference, but that the council accept no liability as to expanses for the trip. A report was received from the engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) detailing the charges of crushing and delivery of metal for the hydro-electric works, the total cost being 18s per yard. The engineer intimated that he proposed putting on a man to locate all places in the borough where waler parses from private property over or across any path, and notice would be given to property owners to make provision for the drainage of storm waters. The Mayor did not agree with the methods proposed, and th might that the work could be pbt in band block by block, a motion to this effect being carried. Advice was received from the New Plymouth Harbor Board that the conditions at Ngamotu cottages would be considered at a special meeting on April 20.—A committee, consisting of the Mayor, Cra. Brown and Kibby, was appointed to confer with the beard