BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1922, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

COST OF ELECTRIC POWER. RUBBISH REMOVAL SYSTEM. The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Preflent: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), and Cra. J. Kibby, E. Dingle, R. A. I>irge, J. Brown, R. L. Parkin, F. J. Hill, and V. Griffiths. An apology for absence was received from Cr. T. N. Blackhall. The electric light committee reported: It was decided to offer the Tatanaki Power Board the following rates for bulk supply subject to the terms of the draft agreement: Up to 150 h.p., £l2 per h.p. per annum; 150 to 300 h.p., £lO per annum; 300 to 400 h.p., £9 10s per annum; these term!? to be withdrawn if not accepted on or before December 31 next. —Adopted. A trial has recently been given to the use of motor wagons for the removal of rubbish in the borough, and a report submitted by the inspector (Mr. R. Day) stated that the trial had resulted in favour of the motors. The motor vse.rvico was much quicker and more reliable than the horse service, the report stated, and it enabled more work to be done without an increase in the plant. A trial had also been made with the electric lorry, and it had proved just as good ns the motor, while it was much cheaper. A comparison of costs showed the horse service cost £270 10s 6d, the motor service £238, and electric lorry £l9O.

The report was referred to the finance committee. THE HUATOKI OUTLET. The engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) submitted a plan for the improvement of the septic tank outlet, which he said had been agreed to by the Railway Department. The plan was approved, and the engineer was authorised to call for tenders for the work. It was pointed out that the plan provided for the carrying of the outlet to the river mouth, and the Mayor stated that he hoped that provision would be made in next year’s estimates for the outlet to be extenued to below low water mark. RIGHT-OF-WAYS. The engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook), in a letter drawing the counciFs attention to the right-of-ways in the borough, said that for many years past the owners. when applying for a. right-of-way to be granted, had asked the council to waive the demand for construction until some time later. In many cases, these owners had ceased to retain interest in the properties, and perhaps a year or two later the properties had become built upon and the right-of-way used as a vehicle roadway, and, in some cases, for drainage purposes. “Seldom has any right-of-way been properly laid down.” the letter continued. “with the result that during heavy rainfall the water pours into the street, with resulting scour, while it also brings down debris.” The engineer suggested that if the council agreed to allow any future work to stand over indefinitely, it should inaist on the construction of at least half a chain, commencing from the back of the path or the street boundary, such construction to be so made that all water likely to he discharged or fall unon the surface should be directed to the street channels. The length constructed should also be tarred. The Mayor said the council had power to enforce the conditions under which each right-of-way was granted, and if any particular one was creating a nuisance steps should be taken to enforce the conditions. STRENGTHENING THE FOREBAY. The electrical engineer (Mr. R. HBartley) reported that a further examination had showed that the wall of the forebay was moving, and that there was a very great strain on the buttress. He suggested that in the meantime some tie roda and plates, etc., should be put through to tie the eastern wall to the western wall. Mr. W. H. Cook (borough engineer) concurred, and suggested also that the buttress should be raised and underpinned. While the work might have to be varied as it proceeded, a rough estimate of the cost would be from £4O to £50.-—Authority was granted to carry out the work. IMPROVING A STREET CORNER. With the object of improving traffic conditions at the corner of Dawson and Powderham Streets, the inspector (Mr. R. Day) conferred with Dr. G. Home, and the following terms were agreed upon: Dr. Home to convey to the borough a triangle of land having frontager of 14 feet to Dawson and PowderIham Streets, the borough to pay all costs and to erect a rustic stone fence, at least five feet high, with a wooden gate and concrete posts, the gate, if necessary, to swing into the street. The karaka tree close to the new line is to be preserved at all costs, and the roots are to be protected by a low stone abutment, while the "branches of the tree arc to bo allowed to grow into the street at a height of not less than 9 feet. The inspector estimated that the work would cost £27 10s. The offer was referred to the Mayor and Crs. Griffiths and Hill with power to act. ENGINEER’S REPORT. A detailed report on the work of the engineer’s department was submitted by the engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook). The principal features are: Mains and Services. —Thirteen new connections have been made, 315 ft. tube being used, while 155 ft. 1 in. pipe was laid in Devon Street, Fitaroy, tQ avoid repeated breaking-up of the roadway. Mains were laid in Gilmour’s Road. The mains on order are due to arrive early in the month. I regret a considerable portion of our order has not been shipped by the Port Denison. It does not appear to be the fault of anyone but the manufacturer. However, there will be sufficient pipes to reticulate the streets which have no pipes laid down. Streets. Clemow Road has been put into good order from Record Stret to the Abattoir gate. It would be a very good piece of work done if this road was “sealed,” as probably thp heaviest traffic passes over the length. ’ Waiwaka Terrace: The filling up has been completed, and, given two days’ fine weather, so that the grader can be used, the final trimming of sides can be done, the bed rolled and metalling proceeded with. Baring Terrace: The path has been formed and the road bed graded to top of hill. I propose to include metalling in next year’s estimates, unless any funds are available this year. Qmata Raad.: The raiiiat of the road

from Tukapa Road is well forward, and a few days would finish the job, given fino weather.

Footpaths.—As our expenditure was Creeping up, I issued instructions to earn off in re-grading and gravelling footpaths, hoping the fine weather would nave set in, although this did not prove so. Unless 3 resolution is passed to the contrary, I do not feel justified in taking up much more of this class of work during the currant year. Eliot Street.—Probably no street in the borough has such an ugly appearance viewed from Devon Street, as Eliot Hill. From Pendarves Street to the High School, the path along the east side could not very well be in worse alignment. There is no money in loan for this end of Eliot Street, but provision might be made next year for dealing with this length, also for kerbing and channelling along the flatter portion of the street, which is the main one into town. ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT. The engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) reported that the received during the month numbered 78; the connections made to the mains, 33; and additions to existing consumers’ installations 14. The figures illustrated that the business of this department was keeping up well; in fact it was coming in as quickly as it could be dealt with. The Waiwakaiho River has been in flood on four occasions during the month, the highest level reached being approximately 4 ft. 6 in. No damage has been done except at the forebay, which has already been reported, and the repairs suggested in the report have been carried out. CARNEGIE INSTITUTE. For the month ended November 16, 1$ subscribers joined the library of the Carnegie Institute, while 17 left, leaving a net gain of one. The report continued that with the approach of summer and the busy season, a number of country readers were, not renewing until next winter. Lately the number of books requiring repair# semed to have increased considerably, and 1 d averaged somewhere about 25 per day, apart from many others requiring minor repairs. This had necessitated a lot of time being given to mending work, but, apart from this, a number were getting beyond repair. During the month 81 books were added. THE ABATTOIR. The monthly report on the abattoirs showed that 35 cattle, 4 calves, and 7ft more pigs had been slaughtered for local consumption during October, as compared with the corresponding period last year; while the slaughtering of sheep and lambs fell away by 54 and 80, respectively. The animals killed during the month were 79 cows, 151 bullocks, 2 bulls, 13 calves, 948 sheep, 80 lambs, 158 pigs, while 215 tripes were cleaned. An estimate of the cost of running the chilling-room for the coming season, and suggested charges to meet the cost, were submitted. The expenditure was estimated at £99 7s 6d. Proposed charges: 564 cattle at Is 6d each, £42 6s; 3612 sheep and lambs at 3d each, £45 3s; 264 pigs at 9d each, £9 18s; 94 calves at Is, £4 14s; yielding a total of £lO2 Is. The present fees for putting meat into the chiller are: Cattle Is, calves 9d, pigs 6d, sheep 2d, lambs Id. GENERAL. A petition was received from several ratepayers in George Street. Vogeltown, asking that the etreet be formed and metalled at the earliest possible date.— Consideration was deferred. The engineer submitted an estimate for forming and metalling and gravelling one path only of Nob’e Line at a cost of £533 2s* The estimate was based on the assumption that Mr. S. Smith would allow the council to tip all excess spoil, over 2000 cubic yards, along the Mangorei Road at the deep gully.—The estimate to be forwarded to Mr. Smith. The State Advances Office (local authorities branch) advised that the council’s application for a loan of £1065 for road construction in the FrankleJgh

Park area had been approved. Payment of the loan would be made in instalments not exceeding four in number, and debentures, covering the amount of the instalment actually required, should be forwarded with the application for payment—Authority was given to sign the necessary debentures. The tender of Mr. G. F. Goldsworthy of £62 for painting, etc., at the Fitiroy hall was accepted. The price includes the painting of the roof. Authority to have necessary repairs effected to the spouting and downpipes was given to the inspector (Mr. R. Day). It was decided to notify the trustees of the Veale estate that the council intended to acquire the land for a rubbish dump under the Public Works Act.