LOCAL BODIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1932, Page 3

LOCAL BODIES.

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD. - The Auckland Harbour Board met yesterday, the chairman, Mr. G. R. Hutchinson, presiding. Cash Receipts.—Receipts for January, 193], were £34,591, a decrease o£ £5454 for the same month this year. The fourmonthly comparison, ending January 31, with receipts amounting to £104,539, shows a decrease of £22,457. Arrivals and Departures.—The gross and not tonnage of arrivals for December last were 352,379 tons and 212,333 tons respectively. Departure figures respectively were 393,935 tons and 231,554 tous. Imports for December.—lmports for December were 63,009 tons, compared with 95,783 in 1930. Western Reclamation.—The kerbing and fence on the eastern side of the reclamation lias now been completed. The dry summer has assisted materially in drying out this reclamation, which is now ready for loading and occupation by tenants. MOUNT ROSKILL ROAD BOARD. The Mount Roskill Road Board met last night, the chairman, Mr. C. M. McCullougli, • presiding. Main Highways.—The Main Highways Board gave consent to the calling of tenders by Mount Roskill for the concrete paving of a portion of Mount Albert Road. Five tenders were received for the work, ranging from £3537 to £2421. These will be sent to the Highways Board for approval, with the intimation that the Road Board desires to accept the lowest, that of Grinter Brothers. The engineer informed the board that the two lowest tenders were below his estimate of the cost of the work. Remission of Rates. —The board's solicitor advised that a statutory declaration was not necessary when a remission of half the rates was claimed. The obligation to verify the facts appeared rather- to be on the local authority by some other means. Referred to the legal and finance committee. Seeking Exemption.—The Convent of the Good -Shepherd sought exemption from the paymnet of rates on a newlyacquired property at Waikowliai. This was referred to the legal and finance committee. Trams and Buses.—The Auckland Transport Board advised that a tramway extension through Winstone Park Estate to Richardson Road could not be carried out under No. 5 scheme, nor under their present loan authorisations, as it is not sanctioned therein. The board agreed to receive a deputation from Mount Roskill next Tuesday with regard to the withdrawal of the Buc-kland Road bus service. Road and Water—The board was requested by the Auckland Harbour Board to seek the consent of the Unemployment Board for the construction of the Road Reserve, connecting Halsey Drive with Ridge Road under No. 5 scheme, provided the Harbour Board dedicated the land for that purpose; also to extend the water main to Halsey Drive, as tenants at the eastern end were complaining bitterly about the want of water for their livestock. The first matter was referred to the works committee. The water mains will be laid under the new reticulation scheme as far as pipes are available. Relief Works—The engineer, Mr. J. Dawson, reported that, owing to the dearth of skilled labour, many of the relief works had been left -undone, but would receive attention as opportunity occurred. PAPATOETOE TOWN BOARD. The Papatoetoe Town Board met last evening, the chairman, Mr. W. J. Nicholson, presiding. Semi-artesian Bore.—Reports showed that the board's new semi-artesian bore, near McLaughlin's Mountain, had been in ■ use for almost a fortnight and that it had been delivering water under test at a volume of 6500 gallons an hour without reducing the level in the pipe. The work on the bore had been commenced a year ago -and a depth of 450 feet had been reached. The diameter was four inches. A strong underground flow had been tapped about 140 ft from the board's well, from which 7000 gallons an hour had been pumped. In view of the -highly satisfactory reports the chairman said 'the supply now available should meet all the requirements of Papatoetoe _ for many years. The daily demand in the past fortnight had exceeded 40,000 gallons a day, and showed an increase of 20 per cent over that for January, 1931. A report on the quality of the water from the new bore showed that it had a high standard of purity. A total -cost of £800, including £407 for an air compressor and motor, had been involved. Roads and Footpaths.—The report of the chairman of the works committee, Mr. J. McFarland, stated that improvements had been carried out on the Great South Road, Kast Ta-maki Road and Carruth Road, and that formation work wag almost completed on Park Road footpath. New Cycle Track.—The formation of a new cycle track, in the form of an amphitheatre, with six laps to the mile, was reported to be Hearing completion. This track is being formed on the Papatoetoe Park, under the No. 5 scheme, by relief labour, and is the largest scheme undertaken in the district for unemployment relief. The track should 'be finished during the present month.