BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1922, Page 3

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY. QUESTION OF PURITY. The New Plymouth Borough Councif met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) and Councillors J. Kibby, 1 T. W. Blackball, E. Dingle, R. A. Large. I J. Brown, F. J. Hill, and V. Griffiths. Messrs. Blair, Mason, Lee and Owen advised that, with respect to the town water supply, a 21-inch valve was being erected in the forebay, to which the town main could be connected at any time. Mr. W. H. Cook (borough engineer), in his remarks on the matter, said that the [ resent domestic water supply was drawn irom the Mangamahoe and Waiwakaiho rivers, yielding six to eight cusecs and 150 cusecs, respectively. Assuming these figures to be correct, the Mangamahoe was enriched by from 19 to 25 times by the Waiwakaiho; in other words, the supply was purrer to that extent. The former river, however, was not snow-fed, but vising outside the radius line, might be classed as a drainage river and would not always be as pure a source of supply as the Waiwakaiho. Further, the velocity of this latter river was such that its bed was thoroughly cleaned many times each year, which could-hardly be said of the former. The water from the Waiwakaiho would shortly be diverted into the new forebay, and unless provision were made for a supply from this source, only water from the Mangamahoe would be available for domestic purposes.

During the hot weather this supply mighi become dangerous to health, as the flon being small it would almost surely be impregnated with animal manure. The report continued that it might be said there would always be an oversupply in the Waiwakaiho which would pass the intake, but he ventured to disagree with this, as

on several occasions the filters had to be | closed down for want of water, while from observations during the last few months, the volume of water passing the intake had been very small, and much of it would have disappeared by percolation before reaching the inlet to the race. This,, again, was often filled with gravel, cutting off the small amount likely to pass by the mouth. To keep this race open only for the town water would be so costly as to be prohibitive. The proper way, therefore, would be provide a pipe from the new forebay. This line should not be costly, as he thought concrete pipes would meet the case.

The Mayor said he quite agreed with all Mr. Cook had said, and moved that the forebay be connected up, as suggested by him. This was seconded by Cr. Griffiths and carried.

Mr. Cook intimated that he had a special concrete pipe for the council to view, which would ensure the work being carried out at very small cost.

“UNFAIR” COMPETITION. Mr. F. H. Jellyman, of Jellyman and Forbes, complained of what they deemed unfair competition on the part of the borough electrical department, pointing out that they had to pay rates not imposed on * ie department. He complained that two of his clients, who had been instructed to call on the engineer regarding motors, had reported, only to find that he wanted to give them quotations, and further, that the department’s linesmen had used cable which private contractors were forbidden to use, while meters were also placed nt a greater height from the floor than they were allowed to.

In his reply, the electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) denied that there had bee-.i any unfair competition. As far as the motors were concerned, the clients had come to him and he had not mentioned the matter of quoting a price unt’ they raised the question themselves. They ha-1 repeatedly worried him for quotations, which had been given. Mr. Bertley admitted that they had an advantage in that tl(?y had early advice of a consumer’s requirements, and they followed them up, but they were careful, in doing so, not to take undue advantage of their position, and advised clients to obtain competitive prices. Regarding the cable mentioned, this had been rectified as soon as it was discovered that the wrong cable had been used, while in the matter of the height of meter boards they could not always be kept down to 6 ft. 6 in. from the floor, on account of doors, windows, etc., and there had to be a certain amount of flexibility in this connection. This was allowed to both private contractors and installations carried out by the council.

It was decided to inform Mr. Jellyman that the council did not consider that •there had been unfair competition, and that he could see a copy of the engineer’s letter did he so desire. FITZROY HALL. Mr. O. Johnson, hon. secretary of the Fitzroy Ratepayers' Association, advised that a deputation of residents had asked the association to request that the council hand over the management of the local hall to a committee, on terms similar to those prevailing in connection with the East End pavilion. He intimated that the suggested committee was one that was likely to bring to a successful issue anything its members undertook. On the motion of the Mayor, it was decided that no action be taken until the hall was suitable for letting, and that In the meantime the association be asked to submit the names of the residents who would act on the committee. GENERAL. Messrs. F. G. Carthew and J. Whee L-r wrote drawing attention to the dangerous state of Shortland Street to pedestrians.— The engineer reported that the road had been patched, and the path, so far as it was made, was in good order.—Left in the hands of Crs. Kibby, Brown and Griffiths, with power to act. Mr. A. J. Mack asked, further to his offer to remove spoil from Vogel and Nnrmanby Streets, that he be supplied with three men, to be paid by the council. He would then undertake to remove all the spoil and fill in Nonnanby Street to the engineer’s satisfaction, using two one-horse drays and a driver for the purpose, at his own expense.—Left in the hands of the Mayor and Cr. Kibby, with power to act. The tender of Mr. W. L. Russell, of £l4B 10s, for the Fitzroy Road cutting, was accepted. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) submitted the following monthly report: Cemetery.—The usual routine work has been attended to. A large amount of clearing and cleaning up has been done with relief labor. The soldiers’ plot has been completed and trees and shrubs planted. All large stumps and pampas grass have been taken out along the avenue and trees planted along the back. Several large trees have been re-planted in Mitchinson’s gardens. Boxes have been made and painted for use of those who remove dead flowers, etc., from graves. Carrington Road, Terminus, Watson Street and Daw«

son Street plots have been attended to. The number of funerals for the month was 12. During the heavy downpour of rain early in the month, a good deal of scouring took place, and some damage caused to paths, etc. If funds permit, I recommend some of the steeper paths be channelled to 9 inches in width, either in concrete or tile drains. Several pipe-drains are also required.

Waterworks.—Filters: The plant is in good order, and with the exception, of paving to close down the filters, on the Ist and 2nd of last month, owing to short ness of water supply, there Js nothing of note to report. The river was in flood from the 14th to the 21st, the highest record showing 4 feet on the 15th. The outer walls of the reservoir have been whitewashed. Regarding the nursery, a separate report will be laid before you when the data is to hand regarding tree-plant-ing. Mains and Services: 18 new services have been installed, 670 feet of pipe being used, 2 services renewed, and a tempory service -laid at Western Park. Nine leaky services were repaired. Fire-plugs and valves in various places received attention.

Streets.—Road repairs have been made in Vivian, Shortland, Brooklands, Watson, Gill, Molesworth Streets; Water Lane has been gravelled. Paths have been re-graded, filled to levels and gravelled in Watson, Courtenay, Molesworth, Hobson, Gill, Gower, Cameron, Powderham, Mount Edgecombe, Devon West, Hine Streets. The asphalt repairs have been continued in Devon Street and South Road. All along the tram route the road is getting frayed, and near Morshead’s nursery is getting very rough to the outside of the sleepers. Repairs are well toward completion along the upper length of. Carrington Road. Forty-eight sumpits have been installed in the channel drains, and the value of these were amply demonstrated during the very heavy rainfall experienced early in the month, no serious choking taking place and much flooding usually met with in sucn times was conspicuous by its absence. The kerb and channelling has been completed in Watson Street ; Waiwaka Terrace formation is well forward, and this portion of the work should be completed shortly. Nine private crossings and three sewer connec tions were laid. The septic tank has been under close inspection, and at periods some of the sludge has been drawn off. Both crushers have been working almost continu ously. No. 1 was down for a few days, while a new rocking-bar was fitted to take the place of a broken one. A quantity of asphalt has been mixed for path and road work. All lorries have been in constant work and our teams have been kept going at formation work in Wlaiwaka Terrace and relief works in Gilbert Street.