FEATHERSTON BOROUGH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1939, Page 7

FEATHERSTON BOROUGH

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. AUGMENTING WATER SUPPLY. ("Times-Age” Special.) The monthly meeting of the Featherston Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last evening. There were present: His Worship the Mayor, Councillors M. B. Tait, C. R. Skipage, R. F. Watson, W. Johnson, J. S. Viles, G. Hardie, H. Cundy and B. B. Donald. The financial position was reported as follows:—District Fund Account, credit, £835 8s 2d; Cemetery Account, £7 15s Id; Domain Account, £23 10s; Mayor’s Relief Fund Account, £lO3 7s; Water Supply Loan, 1930 Account, £564 17s Id; Literary Institute, debit, £9 12s lid. The receipts since the last meeting amounted to £915 7s 3d. Accounts totalling £194 Ils 2d were passed for payment. The secretary Municipal Association wrote advising that an increase in the subscription was necessary on account of an increase of work—Received. The Inspector of Health wrote stating that he had interviewed the owners of the Cosy Picture Theatre and that he had agreed to the issuing of a licence on the definite understanding that the work detailed in his letter of March 15 last was commenced not later than June 1, and that the licence be endorsed accordingly when issued by the Borough Council. It was decided to grant a three-months licence from April 1. The chairman of the Blue Plunket Carnival Queen candidate applied for permission to hold a procession on Saturday afternoon, the route to be from the Cenotaph along Fitzherbert Street around Wilton’s Corner to the recreation grounds. The request was granted. An application from W. Jeffrey to build a motor garage in Wakefield Street was granted. An application from the Western Lake Plunket .Queen Carnival Co'mmittee for the use of the Town Hall for a shop day was granted. Some discussion took place over the matter of shop days which the majority of the councillors considered were unfair to the local shopkeepers. The council considered that there should be only a limited number of these days in the year. It was decided that each candidate in the present Queen Carnival be granted one shop day. A letter was received from Mr H. F. Toogood (Engineer) in regard to the water supply, advising that the contract for laying the new 8 inch main, etc., had been carried out in a creditable manner, and that with the frequent inspections made it was not necessary to employ a clerk of works. This has been a saving to the council. The following resolution in respect to the work done by the contractor was passed by the Council: “That this Council expressed its appreciation of the good work done by Mr C. R. Quinn, of Khandallah in his contract for laying the 8 inch main from the reservoir to the town. The contract has been carried out in a capable and most satisfactory way.” The balance of £373 15s 6d due to the contractors was passed for payment, which is to be made after completion of maintenance in about a week’s time, and after certain minor details have been attended to. A letter was received ’'from the engineer supplying a report on the cost of pumping water from Abbott’s Creek. He advised that the most suitable location was at the first bridge from the Borough. Under present conditions he is convinced that 144,000 gallon s per day could be obtained without any doubt during a period of dry weather such as was now being experienced. The water would be piped to function with the mains in Fitzherbert Street and the supply would be approved by the Medical Officer of Health subject to any requirements found necessary. The Tauherenikau River was out of the question on account of the cost. The Engineer stressed very strongly that the present time was a most opportune one to get down to the required depth at the proposed intake at Abbott’s Creek, and construct the necessary work. The cost was estimated to be between £lOO to £l5O. It was decided to go on with this work as part of the proposed scheme to augment this water supply in diy weather; the work to be carried out subject to a satisfactory report on the water from the Health Department. The new scheme, it was stated, would enable the reservoir (which has at present a capacity of 100.000 gallons) to be filled daily.