BOROUGH WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1939, Page 3

BOROUGH WORK

REPORTS FOR PAST MONTH PARK ACTIVITIES. THEFT OF PLANTS REPORTED. The Park Custodian, Mr H. Sturgeon. reported, to the Masterton Borough Council at its meeting last night that during the past month the general work of the Park had been carried out satisfactorily. The digging of all flower beds and borders, and their planting cut had been completed, and the scything of grass was proceeding satisfactorily. Eleven garden seats had been made to date. The work for the month would be cutting hedges, forking beds and borders, making seats, petting up begonias, gloxinias, and streptocarpus for summer blooming, and general work. Mr Sturgeon recommended that a box be placed in the Begonia House, as in New Plymouth, to enable the council to enlarge the house from the proceeds. There would be enough plants to fill both houses, with some left over. Fifty-eight polyanthus plants had been stolen from the Park. The Inter-House Sports Association had left the Park in a very untidy state after the sports on November 25. added Mr Sturgeon.

Municipal Band. The Band Committee reported that nine practices had been held by the Municipal Band during the past month. The band had assisted the Inter-House Association on the evening of November 20. and on the afternoon of November 25. Cemetery. Burials for the month totalled 10. reported the sexton, Mr S. C. Morris. The usual maintenance work had been carried out. a portion of the reserve had been mown and the grass disposed of. Ladies’ Rest Room. The Ladies’ Rest Room had been made use of by a total of 388 persons during the month, reported the matron. Mrs G. L. Nissen. Of these 94 were visitors, 232 from the country, and 62 from the town. The committee room had been engaged twice. Mavi/ley Park. The Custodian of Mawley Park. Mr T. Bullock, stated that 26 campers had visited the park during the month, bringing the'fotal to date to 721. Fees paid to date totalled £4B 4s 6d. Engineer’s Reports. The Borough Engineer, Mr C. R. Mabson, stated that the Devon Street metalling consolidating and tar sealing had been completed, as also had Donald Street between Vivian and Devon streets, the metalling of Queen Alexandra Street, and the consolidating, between the Terrace and Opaki Road had been completed and would be tarsealed soon. The mowing of grass on the flanks of the borough streets had been carried out. During the month one new water and drainage service, and 15 renewals were installed. When the hosing restrictions were first put on, and before the weather broke, the I pressure did not fall below 501bs per square inch, the zoning of the borough having the desired effect. However, during the last week's dry spell the pressure dropped fairly heavily during the hosing periods, but recovered quickly at the close of each hosing period. Gas Department. Th gas engineer and works manager. Mr J. Y. Douglas, reported that the total gas produced for the past month was 3,628,800 cubic feet, which was a decrease of 42,300 cubic feet over the corresponding period of last year. Gas manufactured per ton of coal was 17,900 cubic feet. The calorific value was 460 8.T.U.. Sales for the month totalled 10 (including six cookers). The Government. Inspector visited the works on November 23. The pressure conformed to the Government regulations. The work of erecting the bottom lift of the Bannister Street holder had been completed, and the water tank was being refilled. The holder should be in commission in about two weeks’ time. The works were running very satisfactorily at present. Health Inspector’s Report. Mr T. A. Russell, Borough Inspector, reported that there were 5 cases of infectious diseases during the month, as follows: erysipelas, 1 case; scarlet fever. 1; diphtheria 1; and pulmonary tuberculosis, 2 cases. In both cases of tuberculosis the infection was contracted prior to arrival in this district. Twenty-four plumbing and drainage permits were issued, those of a further fourteen Government houses were tested and passed during the month. Sixty requisitions had been served. The usual milk samples were taken for general analysis, the result proving very satisfactory. A sample of water had been taken for chemical analysis, the report having not yet been received. Thirty-six applications for drivers’ licences were tested, five failing to pass the test. Heavy traffic fees for the month amounted to £7O Us. Eight persons were convicted for breaches of the regulations. Abattoirs. The abattoirs report showed that 432 cattle. 131 calves, 1,940 sheep, 258 lambs, and 360 pigs were slaughtered during the month. Killing fees were £37 19s 9d in excess of those for November. 1938. To date fees for the period January to December. 1939, were £262 7s lid in excess of those for the corresponding period last year. Librarian’s Report. The Librarian. Mrs Cohen, stated that the number of books issued in November totalled 5123, of which 4561 were fiction. During the month, 61 fiction and 7 non-fiction and reference books had been placed on the shelves of the library. At the beginning of the month subscribers numbered 500. The receipts amounted to £5 10s Id.

“Ships of the- Spanish Armada were extraordinarily slow compared witii modern warships," says a writer. Far fewer miles to the galleon.