KAPONGA CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 August 1928, Page 9

KAPONGA CIVIC AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF TOWN BOARD. Commissioner A. It. Bates (chairman). presided over tins monthly meeting of the Kaponga Town Board, held last evening, there being present :—. Commissioners C. E>. Betts, J. P. Gibson, J. S. Charters, A. It. Law A. J.l Herbert. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The electrical engineer reported as, follows on the operations for the: month: —

Power Houses.—Whilst the .alterations to the lieadworks have been proceeding, Xo. 2 station has been shut down and thoroughly overhauled, and has now gone back into service. The new switchboard and the rearrangement of the bulk supply have' provided more flexible operating conditions and should prove very satisfactory. Xo. 1 station continues to operate satisfactorily, having given no trouble during the month. Henri works. — A new intake wall, gate until operating gear have been instated ail'd approximately 20 yards of debris and silt removed from the uniined tunnel. New operating gear has also, been erected for controlling the scour gate. on the weir proper. The old footbridge and supprting stanchins in the past prorod an ideal trap for travelling logs and rubbish, causing the pent-up waters), to overflow the wing walls, serious erosion resulting. The removal of this structure will give the flood waters' a free spillway, kso further trouble should be mitigated. Whilst the lieadworks alterations have been under way approximately 500 yards of accumulated debris and .silt were removed from the storage area, partly by hydraulic means arid partly by manual. The removal of this rubbish meau S : a. considerable increase in available, storage area, for day season, as the principal deposits existed where storage space becomes most valuable. With the alterations that Lave been made, to the lieadworks l , it .should be practicable in future to control all flood waters and to prevent to a. great extent further accumulations of silt and debris. Reticulation. The reconstruction programme has been completed, the last section being the high and low tension lines between the Kaupokoonit bridge and the llowan Hoad. The gang are at present engaged installing .milking motor service lilies for new consumers and the erection of new transformer sub-stations to serve same. [installation®.—The contractors are still kept busy on installation work. IT]} to l the present seven new milking motors have been added to' the system this season there being five more yet to Ibi? connected. FOREMAN’S REPORT.

The foreman reported the completion of footpath top-dressing from the Post Office to the. own Hall. Work at the Domain in preparation for the planting was progressing ,a start having been made with the carting of posts and battens to the line of fence. The septic tank wa, s -released during a fresh, in the ricer and was now working satisfactorily. He had latterly been engaged in removing debris from the power dams under direction of the engineer. The. reports were adopted. GENERAL.

It was resolved 1 to dispense with the “silent .policeman.” at the intersection of Eltliiam and Mauaiai Roads, in favour of Indicators painted on tire bitumen, and also to prohibit the parking of cars within one. chain of each of the four corners on the intersection.

The resignation of Commissioner D. J. Kchely, as a member of the board, was received and accepted, he having ieft the district. On the motion of the chairman, it was resolved to- place- on record the hoard’s -apprecaation of Mr. Keheily’s semi toes to the- town. Mr. J. V. Stephenson, secretary to the O.puaiake Electric Power. Board, wrote- covering a. resolution confirming the appointment of Mr. T. Bi. Menson as electrical engineer to the Opunako Power Board—Commissioners considered the dual position now occupied by Mr. Meiison as engineer to the two boards was satisfactory and in the best interests: of both- bodies.

Commissioner O. E. Betts was appointed to> represent the board at the quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, to be held at Eilthaan on August 29. It wais decided to proceed without delay with ploughing a-nd planting the specified area on the Domain. The .planting of trees, for commercial purposes, would probialbly be done by labour to relieve unemployment, tree planting and- road, work being the only iforunis of labour on which local bodies were subsidised. HOSPITAL RADIO' FUND.

A, deputation consisting of Messrs L. 0. Hooker (organiser), P. Bond, F. Gi Handers and T. J. Salmon, Hawera, citizens interested in. the- Hawera Hospital Radio Fund, waited- upon the board. Messrs- Hooker and Bond asked for the sympathy and support of the board in Canvassing th etown and district- for contributions to- the fund. At a later stage, following the retirement of the- deputation, it was unanimously decided that the beard would render ev-e-ry assistance in furthering the movement, and tlie clerk was instructed to advise Mr. Hooker that he would bo a-t liberty to address the audience during the interval at the Town Hall picture entertainment on Saturday evening next.

FINANCIAL

The clerk announced that the board’s credit balance now stood at £2*500. Accounts amounting to £836 were passed for payment. This amount embodied -practically the final payment in connection with the scheme of re-con-straction in the electrical department, which was undertaken by Mr. Me-rson two years ago. Tt was anticipated that for a considerable time, maintenance would constitute- the only source of expenditure in this department. The- annual subsidy of £lO wias voted to five fire brigade.