BOROUGH ENGINEER'S REPORT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 7538, 15 December 1920, Page 2

BOROUGH ENGINEER'S REPORT

Important P roposal

The following r^r.nrt-mittedbyti-elßor^hPn'.^. ■*!' «no, to X 2?n^ Council at its last meeting. °üßh Street works carri. . "~~ elude formation wort ■ °minand Tenth Avenues andV^ Roach also the removal nforn* etc. Ihe Pound and ?ts\„'eeds have also been improved °acil Some 3000 gallons of nr. ' tar were landed and rerr^ .red t^yard;alsoali mi ;;in^b ol metal chips for asnb .n UIH Mr Davison took un'_- . or!c--as Borough foreman on^t has shk T completed ;> ment. for handling th l 1 gG~ tarring works. He con<*is Slre^ of the Product oV??!1^^ works suitable for footnatl? g3s been tarred and sanded w_has for trial purposes. T he ?tb l[ amount of chips avaij^J Prepared for application W pavements- An access road tn t Welcome Bay quarry h a < *? the aid off, but shUgUfVh?ll has prevented this w 0r k k °Ur carried out. 1 fear than*L e,DR the local extreme snfc liouse accommodation here jV? hat work will be liable to Irom this cause. '^ I propose that arrangements h' -Putin hand f or temporarify^ ing out spalls by the erec lot of an aerial ropeway, as the install tion ot permanent crushing pt will occupy some months ahHfK Plant would therefore 8*^ 1: available for mu:h w , k £

During my recent absence from the town! examined a numbeVof new and second-hand crushers which are available for purchase and also inspected the layout of quarries. As lam still avvcitinsome quotations for this class of machinery I have no recommendation to make at present. With reference to the purchase ot a suitable motor lorry for trans port of the metal, I have made careful enquiries from various sources, and have. examined a number of vehicles Different ones have features which will' make ■ them more adapted in those directions for the conditions here 1 here appears to be no doubt' however, that for general reiial bihty and economy the better makes of English lorries are superior to anything else available and subject to the Council's a,. proval I have arranged with the. agents for the free .demonstration of such a machine here during* next month on the understanding that no other machine will be purchased if this one proves suitable. Electrical Mount Workshops Extension—■ The District Engineer recently advised that Head Office had decided not to proceed with the electrification of their construction shops at the Mount. While in Wellington recently I called, on-the Engineer in Chief regard, ing this. He stated that his department is not in a position to enter into a contract-for so long a period as ten years. . While in Wellington I discussed proposals regarding the extension of the electrical scheme with the Chief Electrical Engin-" eer, and he advises that application should be lodged for a license to develop the Wairoa site with a' view to a. careful examination being made of it. As a result of interviews with heads of various important firms I consider that so far as the House Wiring Department kcaa cerned the Council would be well advised to purchase fairly good stocks to carry over the next six months at least"

Cr Castaing wanted some in-, formation about First .Avenue. A beautiful piece of grass had been cut up*and there was no, need to make a road there. Mr Mandeno said the work had been done in collaboration with the Works Committee.

Cr Castaing—Where did the Works Committee get the author-;. ity to do it ?

The Mayor—l have no recollection of it.

Cr Wrigley said it looked suspicious. He did not think the engineer was Justified in doing/ anything without the matter conr ing before the Council. Councillors were at the end of their patience and wanted a change.

The proposals regarding the trial of a tractor were approved;

It was decided to let the matter, of electricity extension to the Mount to remain in abeyance.. Regarding the purchase of material Mr Man deno said that electrical stocks had never been plentiful in the Dominion, and the shortage was likely to be very acute, and he would consequently like to make fairly large purchases so that work would not be held, up for want of material. Roughly £700 to £1000 would be required. - It was decided on the motion of. Cr Beale, seconded by Cr Castaing, that the Mayor, Cr Castaing and the mover, be a committee -b go into the matter at once, with full power to act. Mr Mandenn stated further that, as indicated in the report, he had, when in Wellington 'recently, interviewed -the officers of the electrical branch of the Public Works Department. The principal matter discussed wai the development of the Wairoa site, and also the possibility of supplying Rotorua with current from Omanawa. The position was that the Department was in rather a 'bad way as the Okc're power station was likely to give out, owing to the water race be'fig of limber and quite rotten. The Department was therefore laced with the necessity of putting in a power station to generate up t0 about 5000 h.p., involving trieconstruction of a tunnel of about