BOROUGH WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 August 1939, Page 3

BOROUGH WORK

REPORTS FOR PAST MONTH. VARIOUS ACTIVITIES RENEWED. The Park Custodian, Mr H. Sturgeon, reported to the Masterton Borough Council at its meeting last night that during the month work carried out included the pruning of roses, digging and cleaning the native border and planting trees at the south end of the town. The remaking of the road from the Cemetery to the end of the lake and Lily Pond was also completed. Mr Sturgeon further reported that the Fernery door had been unlocked on a good many weekends and on several occasions he had found the door wide open. As this was harmful to the ferns he requested permission to change the lock. The request was granted.

The Band Committee reported that practices had been held on seven nights. Items were rendered at the Diggers’ Market and a concert was given at Featherston in aid of the Uniform Fund.

The burials for the month totalled 16. stated the cemetery report. The sexton, Mr C. S. Morris, suggested that the council should erect a notice board at the main entrance calling the public’s attention to the by-laws regarding vehicles, bicycles and dogs. It was resolved that a notice board as suggested be erected. The Ladies’ Rest Room report showed that the number of ladies to make use of the room was: Visitors, 57; country, 138, and town 48. During the month two toilet fittings, a table, 29 chairs and a gas fire had been added to the room.

The Gas Engineer reported that the total gas made corrected N.T.P. was 5,026,500 cubic feet. The loss on stock was 58,700 cubic feet, making a total output for the month of 5.085,200 cubic feet which was an increase of 17,000 cubic feet over the corresponding period of last year. Fourteen meters were changed and five removed. Eight services had been renewed.

During July the inspector visited the works. The calorific value of the was 461 B.T.U. and the pressure Anformed to Government regulations. The Librarian stated that books issued totalled 4451, 4002 of which were fiction. During the month 51 fiction, and 12 non-fiction and reference books had been added to the shelves. The subscribers at the beginning of the month numbered 399, as compared with 474 for the same period last year. At the end of the month the subscribers totalled 404 as compared with 483 last year. Receipts amounted to £l9 11s, as compared with £lO Ils 7d for the corresponding period last year. Mr T. A. Russell, Borough Inspector, reported that during July twocases of diphtheria and one case of pulmonary tuberculosis had been notified and so far in August one case of scarlet fever had been reported. Twenty plumbing and drainage permits were issued and the usual testing and inspection work carried out. The usual milk samples had been taken for general analysis. Twelve supplying farms were visited and the conditions found were on the whole satisfactory. Heavy traffic fees for the month amounted to £l3 17s 3d. Thirteen applicants for drivers’ licences were examined, two failing to pass the test. For breaches of the Motor Vehicles Regulations, eight persons had been convicted and fined.

The Borough Engineer, Mr C. R. Mabson, reported that maintenance work was carried out in Makora Road, Herbert, Donald, Cricket and Short streets. Preliminary work had also been carried out in Devon and Queen Alexandra streets. A new footpath was being formed in Pownall Street on the east side from the Wairarapa College to Cornwall Street. A path in Lansdowne Crescent was also’being reformed and sanded.

Holes had been dug in High Street and Opaki Road for the Centennial 'tree-planting. Good work was done by a bulldozer in breaking up the shingle banks in the centre of the river, thus putting the course of the river back into its proper position. During the month, seven building permits having an estimated value of £3,335 were issued. For the corresponding month last year, 10 permits having an estimated value of £11,176 were issued. The abattoirs report showed that during the month 538 cattle, 132 calves, 2003 sheep, 171 lambs and 170 pigs had been slaughtered. Killing fees were £l7 2s 5d higher than those for the month of July, 1938. To date fees were £217 10s in excess of those for the corresponding period of last year.