KAPONGA TOWN BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 January 1926, Page 10

KAPONGA TOWN BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

ELECTRIC POWER SCHEME. The monthly meeting of the Kapongs* Town Board was held last evening. There were present: Commissioners -o. R. Bates (chairman), K. A. Law, J. Dawson, C. E. Betts, A. J. Herbert, It. E. Williams and D. J. lvehely. The electric engineer (Mr. A. E Moss) reported as follows: —As mentioned in mv last report, the work occupying attention sit present is the high tension line to the top of Manam Road. This is now completed, and the transformers erected. These will lie placed in commission immediately, and the poles can be utilised further up the road. Progress has been made on the high tension line down Dutliie Road. Owing to the holidays, the wiring of houses has been delayed, so no new connections can be reported. Two services are run all ready for livening up.

Again 1 have to complain of the annoyance and work entailed by the position of the old intake to No. 1 plant. After a long spell of dry weather, the first fresh brings down a lot of debris. This accumulates in the backwash where the intake is lixed. I have a scheme to obviate this; that is to construct an open race around the bank of ample width, and of wooden piling driven into the mud and extending above known Hood level. These, ecurclv braced from the bank, would in time have solid ground Irelnnd them, forming an open race from deep clean water to the intake. A float at the mouth of this would keep all floating* rubbish where the wind could afterwards take it over the weir. Members of the board could visit the site and see the proposed arrangement. The cost would be £(SO.

The gale on the 22nd inst. caused come fuses to be blown and one small breakage of line through a falling branch on the Rowan Road.

Tho report w:is adopted. The recommendation concerning the intake was favourably received, but it was decided that the members of the board would inspect the scene before definite action was taken. FINANCE. The following details concerning the financial operations during the month were tabled:— Receipts.—Bates, £2O Os s d; library £1 Os (id: Town Hall, £1 .10s; refunds. £23 os -id; housing, £39 10s 7d; Government. subsidy on rates, £59 Os •: cinema (12 screenings), £.107 14s 0.1; electricity, £472 17s; total, £724 17s. Expenditure.—Salaries, £lO5 16s So'; petty cash, £5. general, £1 1.7 s 6d, library, £l3 7s (id; Town Hall, £9 IPs -Id; cinema, £37 8s 7d; county roads. £8 14s (id; water and drainage, £9 Ss: electrical supply, £3,20 18s 8d; interest on electricity loan, 1924. £33 18s 5d • total, £546 9s 2d. RETICULATION LOAN.

Replying on January 15 to the application for a loan of £2OOO for the purpose. of further reticulation -within the electric power area, the Public Trustee expressed regret that the application could not at present be entertained, as no funds were available.

The reply occasioned surprise among board members, as in the light of previous negotiations it had appeared likely that the application would be approved, though nothing definite had been promised. The chairman, pointed out that the loan was urgently required to meet necessary expenditure in completing the. reticulation of the area. He suggested' that the member for the district, the Hon. O. J. Ilawken, be approached on the matter. Ors. Law and Williams concurred, the latter stressing that the completion of the work was required in order to secure the maximum revenue from the scheme.

The clerk was instructed) to communicate with the Hon. Mr Hawken, explaining the whole position and requesting his assistance. TOWN WATER SUPPLY. The foreman (Mr A. Melville) reported that the pi,pe line at the filter tank required renewing. This would require 75ft of 9-inch pipe. It had already been necessary to have two sleeves made to jiateh holes in the pipe. The matter could, be best attended to during the winter, when the water main was not so much in use. Also owing to the thread on the screw lifting the overflow gate having rusted, the, gate would not open sufficiently to empty the tank. To repair this it would be necessary to shut off the water at the intake. With reference to tar-patching on the roads, he reported that chips would be required and recommended that such be obtained from the County Council.

The engineer stated that the outer covering of the pipe had perished, with the result that it had rusted. If setaped and tarred where the rust