WORKS IN OTHER CITIES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 215, 13 August 1918, Page 6

WORKS IN OTHER CITIES.

COMPARED WITH THOSE OF NAPIER.

A special meeting of'the Napier Borough Council was held last evening for the purpose of considering the reports of Or. E. Mulvanah and Mr. E. A. Williams (Borough Engineer) on their recent visit to New Plymouth and other towns en route. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Air. H. Hill), and Crs. W. Plowman, S. Wood, R. C. Wright W. E. Hill, A. McCarthy, G. Latham E. Mulvanah, B. B. Creagh and H. vV. Thompson. Leave of absence was granted to Crs. P. Ashcroft and W. Harvey. His Worship moved that the Council go into committee to consider the report, and Cr. McCarthy moved as an amendment that the report be referred to the Roads Committee. Neithe r having a seconder, the meeting proceeded.

In the course of a lengthy and comprehensive report Cr, Mulvanah stated that at 1 almerston North they viewed the main streets, and were shown up-to-date ladies’ and gents' conveniences, each constructed of porcelain with a fiat roof of concrete at d cost of £l/100 each. There is also a mothers’ rest room, a tiled roofed brick structure, erected at a cost of £l5O. Along the esplanade, the beautiful gardens are backed by a native bush. A motor road is in

e-iurse of construction along the tide of this bush. Palmerston possesses a good water supp’y drawn from a reservoir of 22 million gallons capacity. The catching area of the watershed is some 10,000 acres, 9-10th of which is in standing bush. A forward policy of road construction over all is noticeable. Every preparation is being made for the installation of tramways after the war. At New Plymouth a matter of import was the number of notice boards indicat’ -.g where to go etc. Very substantial improvments have been carried out at Kawaroa Park, Foreshore, £6OO having been spent on permanent improvements. The reserve is now a thing of great beauty. Al: the parks etc., are controlled by the Citizens’ Committee, who raise the capital necessary. The Fire Brigade Station is a model one. and their alarm system is also up-to-date. All public businesses is efficiently and promptly dealt with. In with their tramway systei^t there is no limit to overcrowding of cars, but a public risk policy against accidents to third parties. The drainage sys- : tern is the biological septic tank sys-1 tern. Stratford cqntrols a hydro and oil generating electrical plant. Eltham, though a small town controls its gas supply. At Hawera the Fire Station is the possessor of a Buick motor waggon, as a first aid machine. This seats 12 men and 2000 feet of hose. Other m.,tters dealt with were the water tower, road construction, etc. The progressiveness of Vvanga- 1 nui was also fully dealt with. In the conclusion of his report Cr Mulvanah stressed the live public enthusiasm' and giim earnestness for the development of all that is good, evident in all towns visited. Cr. Mulvanah in furtherance made an interesting explanation and comparison of the various systems in other towns as compared with our own. i

The Borough Engineer also furnished an interesting report in this connection.

Cr. McCarthy moved a hearty vote of thanks and appreciation to Cr. Mulvanah and Mr. Williams, at the same time commenting with length and severity on the report. He said his first impression was of a schoolboy’s letter to his Daddy.—Crs. Hill and Thompson expressed appreciation of tiie interesting matter furnished and were in favour of Councillors and officers being sent to other towns for the purpose of gaining more knowledge.—Cr. Latham said they must bring harmony into the Council, then they could go to the people with their schemes, but they could not be preachers until they themselves were peaceful.—Cr. Wright said the whole essence of progress at New Plymouth was on good citizenship. Our Council must get together more often. As in the case of beautifying, the Napier people were all anxious to help, and only’ wanted a lead. If we copied New Plymouth from a citizens’ point of view we would get on much more rapidly. He supported the weekly meeting system.—Cr. Wood supported Cr. Latham in his advocacy’ of harmony.—At this stage Cr McCarthy rose to a point of order, but was ordered to sit down, His Worship ruling that it was quite in order. —Cr. Plowman said the Council had nothing to regret for its past progress, in fact they had to congratulate themselves. He had seen times when there were no public works at all. It perhaps did not have as many public domains, etc., as other places, but -when jt did want them the Council had to din dee-p into its pockets and purchase th sites. It did not have as many public hearted citizens as other towns. His Worship also commented on the report and the work of the past Council, which he considered had been conscientious, etc. He was very satisfied with the result of the visit.

I Cr. McCarthy strongly asked what was the motion, forgetting until his colleagues reminded him that he was the mover. He wished however that Councillors would keep t-o the motion instead of straying. i The motion was carried.