PATEA BOROUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 9

PATEA BOROUGH

meeting of council 1 Footpaths had been reshaped and clayed at the top end of Norfolk Street, from Egmont to Devon Streets, reported the streets supervisor, Mr. W. E. Mills. Middlesex Street from Oxford Street to Surrey Street and Rutland Street from Egmont to Middlesex Street had also been treated. Roads metalled with pit metal were the top of the hill in Cambridge Street, Victoria Street east new filling replaced with pit metal, and Chester Street round to Victoria Street. Some lupins were cut in Egmont Street south. Work for September included claying footpaths and carting metal from Sharp's pit. During August the hydro station had run satisfactorily and the water supply had been ample to meet the requirements of the station. reported Mr. J. O. Cunningham, electrical engineer. The usual line maintenance had been attended to, one new service was run and several serviccs altered for increased loading. The deep well pump developed a vibration and was removcd to find the cause of the trouble. This had been remedied by installing additional supports in the drop pipc and the pump was now running satisfactorily. The roof of the building had been repaired and painted. The remedial work to the tower was completed, but the tower ladder had to be painted at an early date. The engineer reported that the junior operator at the hydro station had to enter a territorial camp for three months' training and he suggested that they work one shift, drop the other and purchase the extra from the power board. Cr. Naismith suggested that application be made for exemption from the award provision for one senior and one junior operator, and asking for permission for two juniors to be employed. Cr. McKenna: Do you think it wise to put a youth in charge of all that valuable machinery? Cr. Naismith: Yes. under the engineer's supervision. If a youth can run the plant for half the time why can't another youth run it for the rest? Before the award they used to have two youths, stated the engineer, but when the award came in they had to have. one senior man. The idea was that boys would not have too much responsibility. j Cr. Fuller-Sandys: The award is a good thing in my opinion, as it stops inI experienced youths operating the plant. The engineer's suggestion was adopted. Mr. G. O. Cosford wrote stating that the previous streets supervisor had given him permission to use the footpath for access to his property, and asked the council to give him a quotation for a crossing. Cr. Ramsbottom stated that there was no other way into the property as a crossing would be costly and it would mean the removal of the water mains. It was decidcd that Mr. Cosford be advised that he was not to use the footpath for motor-cars and lorries unless in a case of necessity. Cr. Naismith I stated that. when permisSion was given I Mr. Cosford the footpath was not formed and the council had verbally agreed that he would have temporary access to the property. The health inspeclor stated that the Dominion analyst had reported that a sample of water submitted him for analysis gave a minute deposit. No organisms were detected, and the analysis was very similar to that of previous samples froni this supply. Al though the proportion of iron was below the American limit of 0.05 parts per 100,000, its presence was most probably the cause of the discoloration. Iron in water influenced its quality from the standpoint of desirability rather than the standpoint of health, concluded the report, which gave suggestions for filtration. The council deferred consideration of the report until further samples were analysed and reported on. Black and white poles are to be ereeted at the pedestrian crossings outside the public and Convent school gates, it was deeided. The Wanganui District Council of the New Zealand Social Credit movement wrote objecting to the postponement of local body elections. Cr. Fuller-Sandys' motion that the Patea Bcirough Council was not in favour of the elections being postponed was seconded by Cr. Naismith and carried. It was deeided that instead of reading meters every two months as adopted recently, in future the accounts be assessed for one month and posted out to the consumers and the meters read the next month and an adjustment made.