MUNICIPAL MAHERS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1926, Page 9

MUNICIPAL MAHERS

TOWN OF NEW PLYMOUTH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. The New Plymouth Borough Council /net last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) and Crs. H. V. S. Griffiths, A. E. Surrey, J. Lobb, J. Brown, W. W. Thomson, J. Jemison, G. A. Colson and J. Kibby. Reporting on the work of the electricity department during the past month, the engineer (Mr. W. H. Iluggett) reported that the number of applications received for a supply of electrical energy was 42, and additions made to existing installations 11, while 55 new consumers had been added to the system during the month. The Waiwakaiho River hail been generally high throughout the month, with floods on twelve oecasicais and rises up to 10 feet being recorded. The supply of the southern area was interrupted for short periods, due to severe lightning conditions on two occasions, hut no other damage was done. The inspecting engineer to the Public Works Department had made an inspection of the whole of the head system, and was quite satisfied with the condition of the lines generally, requiring attention being given to two or three minor details, which had now been put in hand. For the size of the system this condition must be considered very satisfactory, and was mainly due to the standard of pole spacing, which was invariably maintained at 21 chains as the maximum on all main lines. As a result of the investigations made by the Public Works and Post and Telegraph Department in connection with the inductive interferences with the telephone system, it had now' been decided to make an alteration in the "earth” connection at the power -house, using one earth only for the whole of the inter-connected systems. Loading at the power-house continued to he heavy, the highest peak reached being 2050 k.w., and the greatest number of units recorded in any one day was 35,725, with a total for the month of 950,825, as against 585,825 for the corresponding period of last year. ‘ TRAMWAY RECEIPTS DECREASE. The tramways engineer (Mr. G. J. Wyatt) reported as follows: "The revenue earned, £lBO7 4s 4d, shows a decrease of £B3 12s 5d on the figures for the corresponding month of last year, and the passengers carried 219,513, a decrease of 9524 for the same period. While the. figures are disappointing, I am quite satisfied that our regular traffic has held its own. It is what may be classed as extra traffic where the falling off has occurred. This has been very noticeable at the weekends owing to the amount of wet weather experienced, and an extraordinary fact is that on days when extra traffic has been expected the weather has seriously interfered with the attendance of the public; with a consequent drop in our traffic. Another factor which is seriously affecting the revenue of this department is the ever increasing number of privately-owned motor-cars, the drivers of whieh are to be seen continually picking np passengers waiting at stops along our routes, in many cases in front of an approaching tram, and who also take their less prosperous friends out at the week-ends joy-riding. This is very noticeable at the breakwater on Sundays. “The total number of passengers carried was 219,513, and the amount paid in fares £lBO7 4s 4d. On the Pukekura Park-Westown route 5850 passengers paid £3Ol 14s 6d in fares, and on the main route 180,000 passengers paid £1505 9s lOd in fares. In the same period in 1925, 229,037 passengers were carried, yielding £lB9O 16s 9d in fares. “The ’bus revenue was £230 10s 9d, an increase of £47 7s Bd, and the passengers carried on the ’buses 23,776, an increase of 3759. GENERAL MATTERS. Reporting on the stock slaughtered for local consumption at the abattoirs last month, the manager (Mr. M. J. Killeen) stated that 81 heifers, 66 cows, 129 steers, 34 calves, 992 sheep, 164 lambs, and 190 pigs passed through the works. This showed an increase of 20 cattle, 13 calves, 220 sheep, 133 lambs, ind 5 pigs. It was resolved to forward a copy of the borough engineer’s report regarding the proposed outfall of the comprehensive sewerage scheme, together with a copy of the plan referred to therein, to the Harbour Board and to the Health Department, with an application for their respective consents to the proposed scheme. A deputation was set up to interview the owners of the vacant land at the corner of Brougham Street and St. Aubyn Street, W'ith a view to finding out at what price, if any, they would be prepared to sell the land to the council. If the council decides to acquire tb.e land, it will be used for the purpose of straightening the street, joining Gill Street in a straight line to Ariki Street. “ f Permission to charge for admission at the gates of Kawaroa Park on Boxing Day was granted to the executive of the Whiteley Memorial Church organ fund. It was reported that a deputation, which waited on the council in committee with regard to the condition of Buller Street East leading to the reserve, would bring the matter before the council again early in February, in time for next year’s estimates. It xvas decided that unless the notices given to owners in Bulled Street and Fulford Street regarding storm water draining over the footpaths be complied with within seven days, prosecutions be instituted by the borough inspector. It was resolved that upon the applicants for extension of water mains in Walsh Road paying £l5 on account of the ti al amount required, viz., £25, and agreeing <o pay the balance before March 31 next, the work be done. The application of the Taranaki Jockey Club for the use of the borough stables during the race meetings of December 27 and 28 and February 10 and 12 was granted. Mr. R. B. Jackson is to be informed that the council does not intend to do any work in Hori Street this season. The report of a special committee meeting of the council to meet a deputation from the North Taranaki division of the Taranaki Cricket Association witn reference to th« Tukapo sportsground was adopted by the council.— The deputation, it was stated, intimated that during' the period of the lease the committee in charge had expended over £460 in grassing down, planting and Improving the reserve,'and it was now desirous of erecting a pavilion. deputation and council in committee lis-

cussed the question of control of the ground, and a committee consisting of Messrs. W. C. Weston, T. H. Bates, G. E. Dinniss, C. G. Bottrill and Cr. Brown, under the name of the Sportsground jjfemmittee, was set up to control the ground.