BOROUGH WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 June 1938, Page 2

BOROUGH WORK

s ♦ J REPORTS FOR PAST MONTH. At last night’s meeting of the Mas- ’ terton Borough Council the Borough ’ Engineer, Mr C. R. Mabson, reported as follows on work carried out during May:— Streets: Maintenance work was ; carried out in the following streets: Short, Devon, Michael, Donald, Herbert, Cricket, Raglan and Cooper ’ streets, and Solway and Makora roads. - The second half of Oxford Street has been metalled and consolidated and will be tarred as soon as the weather is suitable. The reforming of the Renall Street footpath on the north side between Chapel and Pownall streets is proceeding satisfactorily and should be completed in about a week’s > time. Casel Street stormwater drainage is proceeding satisfactorily and, weather permitting, will be completed in about ten days’ time The Waipoua River diversion scheme is proceeding satisfactorily. The bridge contractors will be starting excavating the bridge approach this week and pile-driving will commence early next week. Building permits: During the month 10 permits were issued having r an estimated value of £4262 14s, the fees thereon amounting to £l6. For •, the corresponding period last year 11 i permits were issued, having, an esti--1 mated value of £8456. BOROUGH INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Borough Inspector (Mr T. A. Russell) reported as follows: —Notifir able infectious disease: Diphtheria, i nine cases of diphtheria (including - three in one Children’s Home); Sonne dysentery, one case (from another dis- ’> trict); erysipilas, three cases (one from 1 Whakataki); T. 8., two cases of pul--i monary tuberculosis; total, 15 cases. To date this month 9 cases, including 4 carriers, have been notified. The cases of diphtheria are still for the most part extremely mild and from l ' past experience I can safely say they “■ bear no relation to the locality or to the sanitary condition of the borough. Diphtheria could not be said to be endemic in Masterton and the present outbreak is merely a passing phase, a mild epidemic, the very mildness of the disease making it more difficult to control. Both nasal and throat swabs are being taken from all school contacts of cases before they are permitted to return to school. Food premises: The licensing of food premises is almost complete. The following licenses have been issued: Aerated water and cordial manufacturers 3, bakers 14, butchers 11, dairy proprietors 11, eating houses 22, fish shop proprietors 5. (Ice cream premises are not licensed until later in the year). A total of 66. Other licenses: Hairdressers 13, plumbers 22, drainlayers 6, taxis 13, tenement licenses 7, cattle saleyards 1; a total of 62. Offensive trades: I am pleased to be able to state that no offensive trades are now operating in the borough. Hoardings were measured up. The bylaw is effective in keeping the number of hoardings within reasonable limits. Traffic: Heavy traffic fees for the month amounted to £47 7s Id. Drivers' Licences: Twenty-eight applicants for drivers’ licences were examined, 5 failing to pass the test; 1737 drivers’ licences have been issued to date. Five persons were prosecuted for breaches of traffic regulations, convictions and fines being secured in each case. On June 8 13 persons failed to produce their drivers’ licences and 16 warrants of fitness had expired. One car was put off the road as unfit. GAS MANAGER’S REPORT. The Gas Engineer-Manager (Mr J. Y. Douglas) reported: Gas Manufactured: The total gas made corrected N.T.P. was 4,310,200 cubic feet, being a decrease of 27,300 cubic feet or .06 per cent over the corresponding period of last year. Gas sold per meter shows a decrease of 1.3 per cent. I attribute the decrease to abnormal weather conditions. The Deisel engine recently installed to replace the motor for drawing the elevators was put into use for the first time on May 30 and the results have proved very satisfactory. The amount of coal handled was 90 tons and the amount of fuel the engine used cost Is 8d as against £1 using the gas engine electric drive. On the above figures the new engine will not take long to pay for the cost of the new installation.