BOROUGH WORKS COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9048, 25 March 1908, Page 5

BOROUGH WORKS COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Masterton Borough Works Committee was held last evening, there being presenters J. H. Pauling (chairman), Pragnell. Morris, Prentice and Haughey. The report of the Borough Engineer, which was adopted, is as follows : Since my last report I regret to say that the abundance of rain which has visited Masterton has, to a very great extent, impeded the work of tar macadamising Quten Street, and the tar paving of footpaths. Whenever possible, however, the work of tar footpath paving is resumed, but until something like certain weather again appears 1 do not propose to resume the operation of tar macadam ising Queen Street. I am arranging to have some of the large holes in Chapel Street filled in with broken flint. This will have the effect of preventing the ponding of water and the spread of the holes. As opportunity presents itself, I propose to extend these operations. Dixon Street Baths.—From the opening of these baths it has been found that quite an unreasonable time is taken to effect an emptying which is required for the purpose of cleansing and replenishing, the time occupied being some twenty or so hours. This, in my opinion, is mainly due to the position of the 6-inch discharge pipe, the pipe at the point of discharge being submerged. I understand that the creek into which this pipe is led is a natural watercourse, and if that be so I think an improvement could be effected so as to facilitate the emptying of the bath by removing growths which now tend to check the flow of water, and by asking Mr King to i emove some storm boards placed at a point some chains away. I think Mr King can be brought to see the reasonableness of the request, but if I fail in that direction I will report to you. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances showed that during the past fortnight three cases of enteric fever and two of scarlet fever had occurred in the borough. In each case the premises had been in spected and fumigated. Th? Inspector was satisfied from enquiries that the scarlet fever had been brought to the town by the circus that had recently visited Masterton; and that one case of enteric fever was due to defective drainage, and another was caused by the person affected drfnk- j ing contaminated water. The Committee re-considered the question of taking a portion of Mr C. L. Beale's land for the widening of Villa Street, but re-affirmed their former decision —viz., not to pay the mortgagee's expenses. The Engineer was instructed to deal with a bad portion of Victoria Street, to which attention had been drawn by Mr A. Cameron. The Committee decided to recommend that a two-inch pipe be the regulation size for fire service in private premises. A petition was received from several residents in the neighbourhood of Jean and Church Streets, asking for a footpath and other conveniences for those streets, but consideration of the matter was adjourned until the next year's estimates were being framed. , Tenders for the laying of a 6inch pipe sewer in Lincoln Road were opened, but none was accepted, and it was decided to have the work done by the borough staff. Accounts amounting to £435 7s Id were passed for payment.