BOROUGH ADMINISTRATION

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 May 1928, Page 6

BOROUGH ADMINISTRATION

MEETING OF LEVIN COUNCIL. The Levin Borough Council met in the Municipal Chambers last evening, there being present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr T. Hobson), Crs. Morteusen, Roe, Hutchings, Harvey, Balloon, Parker, Bishop, Goldsmith, and Keodwell, and Mr H. L. Jenkins (Town Clerk). HEATING OF DE LUXE THEATRE. Messrs McMillan and Rod wrote asking the Council to instal in the Be Luxe Theatre an adequate heating system for the theatre and dressing rooms, the estimated cost of which would be in the vicinity of £IOO. Cr. Roc, chairman of the Gas Committee, stated that inquiries went to show that six heaters would cost £l2° a year, and the gas committee could not stand the cost. The committee might arrange to meet the proprietors of the De Luxe pictures. The matter had been talked over last year by the ccfinmittec, and the lessees were asked to make an offer.

The Mayor moved and Cr. Mortchsen seconded, that the matter be referred to the Lighting Committee, with a request to meet the lessees and % report to the next meeting of the Council.

The motion was carried. THANKS FOR GRANTS

The Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society wrote heartily thanking the Council for its donation of £3 3s, and expressing appreciation of the willingness and promptness in which the society’s appeal was always mot by the Council. —Received. The Levin branch of the W.E.A. wrote conveying thanks for the Council’s donation of £7 10s, and regretting that the Council did not increase the grant. —Received. Cr. Falloon said the Association seemed to think the Borough had a great surplus but it only amounted last year to about £3SO, and the Council was faced this year with a hospital levy of £127. Cr. Hutchings said that if the Council gave a little more money to the W.E.J?. it would be like putting up a fence at the top of a precipice instead of maintaining an ambulance at the bottom, and they might not have to grant so much in the future to the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Societv. REQUEST FOR STREET LAMP.

Messrs F. J. Ramsay, 0. Bennett, and M. Mudgway petitioned for the erection of a street lamp at the corner of Bristol and Devon Streets, and the request was referred to the Gas Committee. MATERNITY HOME. The secretary of the Palmerston North Hospital Board forwarded an invitation to the Council to attend the opening of the District Maternity Home on May 28th. —Received. GAS MANAGER’S REPORT. The report of the Gas Manager (Mr C. E, Shaw), as follows, was adopted: “I wish to report that all in connection with this department is working satisfactory. During the mfonth, 1 have connected up three new gas consumers, two of them having stoves. The heavy winds at the' end of April caused some damage to the sfoke house; several sheets of iron were blown off. I have repaired the roof, but the louvres Avere damaged also, so 1 shall have to get a carpenter to fix these. I would ask the Council to go into the matter of a new bench of retorts as the two benches working at present are not very satisfactory at carrying high heats. I have spent a good deal of time cleaning the old services, and in many eases have had to renew parts of the services.,

“Gas produced, 783,000 cub. ft.; coal carbonised 58 tons; tar produced 406 tons.

The question of new retorts is under consideration by the Gas Commit tee.

REPORT ON EXPLOSIVES AND DANGEROUS GOODS.

Mr Shaw, as Inspector of Dangerous Goods, presented the following report: “I have to report that the Inspector of Explosives was in Levin this week, pointing out amendments and additions to the regulations which' came into force on April Ist, 1928. A copy, of the more important amendments has been handed to., each person storing dangerous goods, and a circular letter drawing their attention to the new regulations in general. The chief amendments are as follows: —Regulation 51: To provide a fire extinguisher of approved pattern and capacity, to be kept handy, not more than 20ft. from the pump. Regulation 52: Motor engines must not be left running while petrol tanks are being filled. Regulation 53 states that no person shall smoke 'qr bring any naked lights where petroleum spirit vapour is likely to be.. Regulation 54 states that the occupier of every premises where petrol is sold by means of a pump shall erect, a notice board in some conspicuous place; such notice shall consist of the words, “No smoking. Stop your engine.” The regulations also provide that, in filling of underground storage tanks from drums, or similar containers, the filling must bjp done under soul, arid there shall be installed in the delivery-line a quick■rclease valve, or valve capable of being shut off by a single motion. “Underground tanks in Levin to date are: —W. Bull, Ltd. 1, J. C. Milnes 5, T. C. Gollins 2, A. Allmand 3, Devine and Watkins 1, W. B. Macintosh and Son 1, Parker, Vincent and Co. 2, Stilwcll and Co. 2, P, O. von liartitzsch 2, Horowhenua Electric Power Board 3.., The report was received. DELAYED APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMIT, ,

The Building Inspector (Mr M. K. •Varnhafti) sent in a report stating that he had inspected a building in course of erection off York Street, by Mr W. Peters, for which no permit had been applied for. He stated that this was the second case in regard to the builder named, and he asked for the Council’s opinion on the matter. The Mayor said that the procedure complained of seemed to be in breach of the by-law; but His Worship understood that the builder in question was not. the only one who was breaking the by-law. During the term of a previous Council, there was a case in which a building was put up in contravention of the by-law governing the brick area; the Council had had to take action, and it secured a conviction. A custom had grown up among builders of

starting operations and then putting in a plan and getting a permit. This method was not right, and in future the builders would have to submit a plan and get a permit before commencing to build. It was specially necessary to have the ground plan, as it might not be in accord with those of other buildings; and, with a townplanning scheme in view in the future, the arrangements might be upset. The Mayor moved that the builder in question be informed of the Council’s displeasure, and that in future plans must be deposited before building operations are started. The Town Clerk stated that a permit had now been applied for in this case, but had not' yet been issued. Tiie motion was seconded by Cr. Roc, and carried.