BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1922, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

NEW PLYMOUTH COUNCIL. ABATTOIRS CHARGES. The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), Crs. J. Kibby, T. N. Blackball, E. Dingle, R. A. Large, J. Brown, R. L. Parkin, F. J. Hill and V. Griffiths. The secretary of the Taranaki Master Butchers’ Association notified that the members of the association were agreeable to a levy being made on all stock slaughtered during the time the chiller was working, and the charges, it was suggested, should be amended as follows, the charges as originally proposed being given in parentheses: Cattle; Is fid per head (Is fid), calves Is fid (Is), pigs Is fid (9d), sheep and lambs 2d (3d).

The abattoirs manager (Mr. T. J. Reakes) gave the estimated cost of running the chilling-room for the coming season and the proposed charges to meet this cost: Estimated expenditure, wages, at 80s per week, £52; insurance, oil, ammonia, etc., £lO 10s; repairs, £l2 10s; electric power, £23 7s 6d; inspection fees, £1; total, £99 7s 6d. Proposed charges: 564 cattle at Is fid 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—a total of £lO2 Is.

The Mayor explained that the new scheme was more or less of an experiment and the council should work in with the association where possible. A SMOKE NUISANCE. Thirty-five ratepayers forwarded a petition strongly objecting to the nuisance caused by the smoke, soot and dirty water coming from the Wanganui Fresh Food Co.’s factory at the corner of Eliot and Lemon Streets. It was added: “We also consider that the nuisance has caused our properties to depreciate.”—Resolved to refer the matter to the company concerned. Thfl inspector, in a note, said the management were doing everything possible to obviate the smoke nuisance, and, it seemed, were using special fuel for that purpose. The question will be further considered by the council next month. A QUESTION OF AIR-SPACE. The ground plan was forwarded of Mr. A. B. Waldie’s sections at the corner of St. Aubyn and Devon Streets, showing a fourstorey building which would consist of flats containing two rooms, kitchenette and bathroom, three on each storey and one on the ground floor with shop and workshop. There was an open space of 45 A feet x 66 feet, and a right-of-way from Dawson Street. On behalf of Mr. Waldie, it was asked that permission be given to go on with the building, so that he could get plans prepared. The inspector explained that this was an application for the erection of another lot of flats. The sketch showed that the building would cover the whole of the section, with the vacant space of the adjoining flats for air-space. The air-space for this first lot of flats was barely sufficient, and it was now asked that the air-space of the present flats be reckoned as airspace for the new flats. The general manager stated that in a comparatively small town like New Plymouth it was very undesirable that buildings of this class should be permitted to be erected on small areas of laud. He had intended, in his next monthly report, recommending that the by-laws be amended to provide that for buildings of this nature much greather air-space be required ttyan for ordinary dwellings. The application was declined. HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS.

The resident enginer (Mr- R. Pearless) reported that owing to flood waters in the early morning of November 29, a considerable amount of damage took place at the No. 1 tiphead. This spoil, on being forced through the small bywash tunnel, caused a farther omuldcrabk «ooux at th* outlet

end of the tunnel. W\ Ist no actual damage had been occasioned, it would be necessary to fix an apron, etc., of boulders at the outlet, and on that account it would be some three or four days before the water could be again turned through the Nob I intake. “In connection with the above,” the re* port continued, “I would point out that unless specially visited we are not aware of the condition of the river, so are not able to work the valves to advantage. Had the No. 1 intake been in charge of the electric light department, they would no doubt have observed the flood and closed the valves early enough to have prevented the scour. . . . After the present scour is patched, it will be essential that the water be cut off at frequent periods to enable inspections to be carried out.”—Received Messrs. Blair Mason, Lee and Owex submitted their progress report on th« hydro-electric extension works. They re ported: Water Supply—We have conferred witb the borough engineer respecting the watei supply connection, and have the work un der way. We propose, after consultini with the borough engineer, to use concrete pipes. Byewash Tunnel—The temporary byewash tunnel at the outlet of No. 1 tunnel has scoured at the outlet end for a distance of about 25 feet. The water has been cut off for the last few days, to allow of temporary repairs being effected. Surge Chamber.—Good progress is being made with the surge chamber. The walls are up to the level of the top of the tunnel, and all the pipe fittings are in place. Intake Chamber. —This work is all complete. No. 2 Tunnel.—The section near the forebay which was kept open for the working purposes, has been connected up.' RATEPAYERS’ REQUESTS. A request that something should be done towards having a footpath formed on «tt* south side of Wallace Place, from Cutfiold Road to Belt Road, was made by Ethel M. Reid. Defects in connection with ibe water supply were also pointed ouL — engineer suggested an allowance for the footpath be made in next year’s It was decided to refer the matter to the estimates committee.

An inquiry as to when the council in* tended making a start with the new work of re-metalling at Irankleigli Park was made by the Settlers’ Association.—The Mayor said the money was not yet to hand. The work would be put in hand as soon as the money arrived. The state of the pathway along the beach, from Belt Road to Bayly Road, was pointed out by Mr. R. Ellis (secretary o( the Ngamotu Seaside Society), who said that the path was overgrown and practically impassable in wet weather—The council declined to accept any liability in the matter. A letter was received from W. Barnett, Seaview Road, Westown, on behalf of the settlers on that road, asking for consideration as regards the state of the road.— Left to the engineer. Five ratepayers, being owners and lessees of sections adjoining that portion oi Tamar Street extending between Mt. Edgecombe and Morley Streets, petitioned the council to close that portion to public traffic. In the event of that being done, those requiring the lands would be prepared to apply for a long tenure lease of the portion of the road adjoining their respective sections. — Deferred to give the council an opportunity of inspecting the locality-

Five petitioners of Eginont Village asked for an appointment for the purpose of discussing the loss of their natural boundary and fence above their pro, perties.—lt was resolved to meet the petitioners on December 14, when the council are inspecting the hydro works. GENERAL. The Department of Internal Affaire nod fied that the design of the headstones fol graves of ex-soldiers, but not deemed tc be war graves, was now prepared, but it would be impossible to obtain .Ministerial approval till Dec. 9.

With the idea of providing ventilation at the New Plymouth power-house, it ww decided to have four fans installed. The electrical engineer reported that it was desirable that something should be done, both on account of the staff and the plant, the latter being heavily loaded, thus increasing the temperature of the building. The cost of the work authorised was £39.

The engineer notified that he had gone into the matter of a tunnel at the rubbish dump at Devon Street West. It was not anticipated that any lining would be required. A conference will be held between the council and residents of the locality before the work is commenced. An application for motor power during restricted hours was applied for by Jas. A. Andrews, butcher.—Granted. >