BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1922, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. STREET CHRISTENING. 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, F. J. Hill and V. Griffiths. Mr. W. H. Skinner suggested that the street in Mr. Gilmour’s property at Moturoa be called “Otaka,” which was the Maori name of the village or pa that for generations past stood on the site now occupied by the freezing works and harbormaster’s residence. The name would perpetuate an ancient and historic Maori place-name. Otaka was defended by Barrett and his whaling gang and the local Maoris, against the Waikatos, in 1832. An alternative European name, “William Bryan,” was suggested. For the new street in Greig’s estate, the suggestion was made that the name “Glen Almond” should be perpetuated, which was given after an historic seat in Scotland. “I think it is a mistake to have doublebarrelled street names,” said the Mayor, in reference to the latter suggestion. The suggestion of “Otaka Street” was favorably received, but both christenings were held over to enable councillors to think of aa appropriate name for the second street. ERECTION OF OIL STORES. The storage of petroleum at New Plymouth by oil companies formed the subject of a report from the deputy-chief inspector of explosives, who wrote: “The improvements recently made to the port of New Plymouth have rendered it possible to bring regular direct shipments to New Plymouth, and in order to meet competition, it will be necessary for most of the oil companies to work in this way. It is therefore necessary that they should have storage accommodation at New Plymouth for approximately the full amount of a shipment, or a minimum of, say, 10,000 cases. As you are aware, the Vacuum Oil Co. and the British Imperial Oil Co. have obtained sites in Buller Street for the erection of stores, which sites were approved by the council, and I have recently been approached by several of the other oil companies to ascertain the conditions required by the department in the erection of such stores. “It is desirable,” continued the report, “both in the interests of the trade and also generally of the town, that oil stores should be as far as possible located in one area, and I am. of opinion that there is no more suitable area available than the Buller Street locality. At the request of Messrs. Nolan and Co., and the Star Oil Co., I recently inspected the site in Buller Street, opposite the British Imperial Oil Co’s section, and am of opinion that this is quite suitable for the purpose of erecting oil stores. The firm’s proposal is that they should erect a store running the full depth of the section and divided into three compartments by brick or concrete “parapet” walls. It is proposeci to place the store in the middle of the section, and to leave on either side the full isolation distance of 50 feet from the boundary. A site was also inspected in Molesworth Stree:. Permission to erect benzine stores on three sections in Molesworth Street was applied for by L. A. Nolan and Co. It was mentioned that the by-law forbade smoking within 30 feet of places where dangerous goods are handled, and the inspector will be asked to report upon the effect of this on the distance of the proposed buildings from the roadway. The need for careful inspection of the sites was stressed, in view of the fact that residences were already erected in the immediate vicinity of the proposed* oil-stores. GENERAL. The New Plymouth Sports Ground Committee was granted permission to make a charge on Christmas night for a concert in Pukekura Park, the proceeds to go towards further improvements at the sports ground.—Granted. The Land Board wrote consenting to the closing of West Street and the portion of Downe Street between Morley and West Streets.

The matter of employing a caretaker for the public conveniences was deferred, the engineer being instructed to enquire as to the system followed in Auckland and Wellington. Replying to a question regarding the depositing of rubbish at Webber’s property, Gover Street, the engineer stated that the men engaged upon street cleanings had asserted that since receiving instructions some months ago they had tipped no rubbish or cleanings into the section. A request that Wallath Road should be re-formed before winter was made by V. C. Davies, on behalf of residents of the road. —Mr. Davies will be informed that the money will be expended in the road as soon as the £57,000 loan is raised. Permission to open a road through Mt. Edgecombe Street to Young Street was sought by Charles Hoskin and others, the footbridge to be replaced by a more substantial one.—Granted. The Public Works Department notified that a report on the proposed tramways extension to Westown was being obtained from the resident engineer at Stratford, and, on receipt of the report, the matter would be further considered and a final reply forwarded. Free passes on the trams from, February 24 to March 5 were applied for, for all the bandsmen attending the brass bands contest at New Plymouth by the Band Contest Committee. The engineer reported that th’s was a big request, more especially as all the revenue possible was required between now and the end of the borough year. Some concession was recommended, in view of the fact that the contest would help the revenue.--On the motion of the Mayor, it was decided to re-, ply that the council could not see its way to grant the request. On behalf of the members of the New Plymouth Tramways Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers, a letter was received in connection with the “decision” to reduce wages by 3/- a week in accordance with the recent Arbitration Court award. It was asked that the operation of the reduction be withheld for the time being, and that a new mutual agreement be made in place of the agreement which expired on October 31, 1922.—The Mayor said it was impossible to receive a deputation this week, and on his motion it was agreed to meet a deputation early next year, at a date to be arranged. The dog tax for the ensuing year will be the same as for this year, viz., 10s, reducible to 7s if paid by March 31, 1923, and 2/6 for cattle dogs.