MUNICIPAL YEAR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16403, 24 December 1918, Page 8

MUNICIPAL YEAR.

PROGRESS IN 1918.

Reviewing municipal activities in 1918, the Mayor (Mr H. Holland), after referring to the announcement of the armistice and to the influenza epidemic, states that no large municipal undertakings were launched during the period dealt with. The Electricity Department has continued to follow a progressive policy. Earlv in the year it took possession of the new buildings at the corner ot Manchester street and Armagh street, which have proved a great convenience. The sales and wiring branch continues to make satisfactory progress. A big Schema is under consideration for brilliantly illuminating the city when peace is declared. The connected load continues to grow, and now is, m round numbers, 12,000 killowats, being an increase of some 2000 killowats for the vear. The charging of electric batteries continues to grow, there being some 28 electric vehicles running on electricity as their motive power. A start has been made to erect a garage to accommodate between sixty and seventy vehicles. To provide accommodation for this ever-growing department two sections have been purchased, and a third is under negotiation, to provide : the necessary room at the central yard. I The City reserves and play-grounds have been well looked after, and ooni siderably over 100,000 forest trees have been planted at Bottle Lake, while the nurserv. at Linwood continues to produce all the trees, shrubs, and. beddingout plants. A new hot-house has just been completed at the Linwood nursery, which will be a great help in the future. The whole runs into over £4500 per year. During the year, the City Surveyor paid a visit to Auckland and Wellington, to into the method of destroying refuse in those cities by a new process. His report was bo advors© to the method, and the results so unsatisfactory that he could not recommend its adoption. Mr Dobson also enquired into the cost of concrete roads. As the estimated cost for reinforced Concrete road 42ft wide was per mile, the proposal has been abandoned for the present. A new library was erected at Addington at a cost of £600 during the year. During the year 11,928 cubic yards of broken metal have been delivered, which really represents eight months—April Ist to November 30th; 332 chains of water-bound and 47 chains of tarred macadam road mado in the same period, and 295 chains of streets' and 2917 chains of footpaths have been tar-dressed; 16,288 loads of household refuse were destroyed at the destructor, producing 5145 loads of clinker and 535 loads of tins. Tenders have been let for sinking three additional wells of 9-inch bore, for increasing the water supply. These, when completed; will be connected with the high water supply, and the elec-trically-driven pumps will pump direct into the mains when necessary. Should any accident happen to the reservoir, tho large mains, or the chief pumping station, this sub-station will act as .an auxiliary supply. . Additional office accommodation is urgently required for the staff, and tho Electricitv Committee will need a further £100,000 loan in the near future. The question of a suitable Town Hall must be faced with resolution and determination, and it is to be hoped that the new Council will attack these matters with energy.