BOROUGH WORKS COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9105, 3 June 1908, Page 6

BOROUGH WORKS COMMITTEE.

ORDINARY MEETING. The Works Committee of the Masterton Borough Council met yesterday afternoon. There were present the Mayor (Mr P. L. Hollings), and Crs J. Elliott, J. C. E wing '".on, A. Haughey, J, Hunter, J. 11. Pauling, W. Pragnell and J. Prentice. Apologies for absence were received from Crs J. Yarr and W. Mprris. The following report was submitted by the Acting Borough Engineer (Mr W. T. Mansfield): — 1 The wurk of kerbing and channelling Bentley Street ia approaching completion. The kerbing and channelling of Queen Street South is progressing. 1 advise the Borough Council to decide at once what shall be done with respect to the permanent level of the road between Queen's Hotel and the Makora Creek in Queen Street. In iny view, to any longer leave the surface in the wet weather which now prevails is a positive menace to vehicular traffic, and 1 advise the Boi'ough Council to excavate what material it is necessary to remove to project one grade down to and over the Makora Creek. The formation of a gravel path in Cornwall Street has been completed. The work of tar paving Lincoln Road is continuing. The work of macadamising Queen Street North has received a temporary check owing to the stock of broken metal having be-orne exhausted. The work will be renewed so soon as it is possible to obtain delivery of sufficient broken metal from the For the same reason the work or consolidating the widened portion of Dixon Street has been suspended. I am arranging to put the steam roller at work on the consolidation of Cole, Essex and Pownali Streets in q' day or so. The work of replacing the 6-inch sewer in Lincoln Road is proceeding. 1 regret to report that on the night of the 29th ultimo a fire broke out at ttte tar shed in Hope Street yard, which was, hor/ever, coped with by the Fire Brigade and extinguished. The damage was confined to the fascia board of the southern gable and some of the roof timbers to the extent of charring. I put the damage in the neighbourhood of £ls. The cause of the outbreak was due to exudation of naphtha gas arising from the heating of tar and the gas owing to the low temperature hung about the roof timbers. The man in charge of the boiling brought a naked light in proximity to this gas, which caused ignition. I aru arranging, as far as possible, to prevent anything of the sort happening in the future. My operations in the drainage department are daily hampered by the want of proper appliances, particularly in the matter of drain rods, plugs, and a smoke testing machine, all of which are absolutely necessary in order to ensure that a test ia applied to the work of the drainlayers and plumbers —a highly important duty, inasmuch as unsound sanitary fittings seriously impair the health of the inhabitants. I have already had verbal authority to procure these articles, but as they are not procurable in the Dominion, and it is necessary to import them, I now ask for authority to indent —2OO ft drain rod, plugs 4 inch, 6 inch9inch, bags 4 inch', (Jinch, 9 inch, 12 inch, 15 inch and 18 inch, smoke apparatus, rockets, 1 inspection cover, 1 interceptor, 1 fresh air inlet, 1 grease trap, 1 each back and side inlet gullies, 1 gully top. It was resolved to call tenders for the supply of boulders, and for the cartage of broken metal . from Fernridge. The Borough Engineer was instructed to grade Queen Street, from the Queen's Hotel to Makora Creek, and to effect necessary repairs. On the motion of Cr Ewington, seconded by Cr Prentice, it wa£ resolved that the recommendation, in the Engineer's 'report to consolidate the metal in Cole, Pownali and Essex Streets be not given effect to. The question of widening Makora Road was discussed, and on the motion of the Mayor, it was resolved that the Council immediately acquire such private lands as abut on the said road, in order to make the road a full chain in width from end to end. The Acting-Town Clerk was instructed to give effect to the resolution. The Engineer's report was adopted, subject to the modifications stated. Accounts amounting to £75 13s [ 2d were passed for payment.