BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 217, 18 August 1925, Page 2

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

MEETING OF COUNCIL. CORRESPONDENCE ANI) REPORTS. Tlio ordinary meeting of tho Borough Council was held last night, when there ffiere present: The Mayor (Mr l'\ J. Nathan) and Crs Graham, Canton, Fitzherbert, Edwards, McLeayey, Oram, Hodgens, Low and Eliott. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Palmerston North Fire Board forwarding a copy of the current year’s estimates ot receipts and expenditure.—Received. ' From tho N.Z. Picture Supplies advising that the company was offering no objection to the work' of renovating tho Opera House being commenced at an early date.—Received. From the Takaro Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club agreeing to the terms set out in the council’s letter regarding the preparation of two asphalt tennis courts'.—Referred to the reserves committee. From the secretary Railway Board intimating that the. department intended to commence the work of deviating the line through the Square at tho earliest possible da .. —Received. From F. Needham, Ltd., with reference to permission to construct streets through Pascal’s block, Cuba street extension, and stating That the syndicate intends to form public streets and not private streets, and was quite willing to abide by the by-laws a§ to the laying out of public streets.- —Received, pending receipt of a court decision. From J. Wischnewsky making application for permission to remove a dwelling from 17 George street to section 172 Weston avenue.—Granted, subject to tho usual conditions being complied with. From the Palmerston North Hospital Board with reference to the construction of a footpath in Terrace street, and agreeing to contribute half the cost of same.—Received, the work to be carried out. From C. G'. Hayward asking that something be done to improve tlie present condition of the water table in Church street between the building occupied by a motor exchange and Ids private residence at tho corner of Pitt street.—The engineer was appointed to attend to the matter.

From W. S. McCulloch'drawing attention to the approaches to dwellings' in Albert street between Grey and Broad streets, and pointing out that there were m'ud ana grass for a distance of 12 feet from the road line to the different properties and that children going to and fro had to walk through the mud. and that a footpath was absolutely necessary.—Referred to the engineer. From F. G. Tonics with reference to the filling in of file lagoon running through his property and the suggestion of the council that tenders be called, ail'd that the granting of a subsidy towards the cost would be considered by the council. The writer stated that he would adopt the course suggested. and (if not satisfactory) would be without prejudice to any correspondence which ,\lr Martin and himself had with the council.—Received. From the Palmerston North Fire Board making application for a 4in water main to be laid from the street main to the rear of the building on the new site in Cuba street. —Granted, the board to pay the cost. WORKS COMMITTEE.

The works committee recommended: That the question of making a grant towards the Manawatu court at the forthcoming exhibition was again considered, and a recommendation that the council contribute the sum of £250 was not agreed to; that the following subdivisions were approved of in terms of section 3)5 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920: Lots 7 and 8 of part section 980. corner of College anil Worcester streets, Pickering’s estate; part section 793 West street, R. Searle to Reynolds; section 2L2 Scandia street. W. Nordhyc to W. V. Kingsbeer; that the solicitor’s opinion regarding Seildon .street he referred to the council. Cr. Hodgens, in the matter of the reference to Seddon street, addressed the council, contending that the legal opinion supported his contention that the council had not been obliged to do certain work there and that, therefore, it would be wasting valuable funds to do so. Later in the meeting, he said lie would give notice of motion that the resolution authorising the engineer to proceed with work in Seildon street be rescinded. The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer (Mr J. R. Hughes) reported inter alia as follows : —The work of constructing metal footways from the roadway to the footpath on the south' sicle of Pitt street has been completed. ®Nou‘ that the footpath in Featherston street cast from Terrace street to the Kawau stream has been completed the filling in of the old water-course has been undertaken. The amount of metal used on all street works during the month amounted to 2202 cubic yards. Nineteen private concrete crossings have been installed. The accumulation of stormwater at the intersection of Alexandra and Tc Awe Awe streets has been relieved by constructing a trench through Mr Sankey’s property so as to allow the water to discharge into the lagoon. On the completion of the Scandia street sewer a line of pipes will be laid in the trench that runs through private property. Full advantage was taken of the few fine days towards the cud of the month to put in hand the tarring and sanding of footpaths that were showing signs of considerable wear. In some cases extensive patching with pit metal had to ho undertaken before tarring operations could ho commenced. A new footpath for a distance of three chains in Armstrong street has been cleaned up, metalled and tarred and sanded ; similar work was also carried out to the footpath in Edward street. The following streets have been scarified and pit metal has been put on to a thickness of approximately six inches: Roy street from Featherston street to Florence avenue; Russell street between Grey and Featherston streets: Cook street between College street and Ferguson street. In addition to the above pot holes in various streets have been patched with pit metal. Although we have been considerably handicapped with the recent wet weather, steady progress is still being maintained with the work of regrading and remctalling that portion of College street from Fitzherbert stret to Alexandra street. The whole of the excavation has been taken out for a distance of 116 chains, including about two chains hack into Colombo street, so as to make an easy grade into College street, and pit metal has been spread on the road for a length of 3d chains. The work of consolidating the first layer of metal has been delayed owing to the nature of the weather, consequently only a short length of road could be treated with the second coat of crushed metal which has been completed to the 16-cliain peg. The total number of cubic yards of metal deposited on this street for

the past month amounted to 998. Two stormwater sumps have been constructed at tho intersection of Marne street and Union street and connected to tho 9-inch stormwater drain. This work will enable the removal of the 7incli cast iron pipes across the roadway that have given considerable trouble during heavy rains. Tho construction of a 9-inch sower for the full length of Ihaka street has been completed, together with 4-inch connections to existing houses. A start has been made with the laying of a 6-inch sewer for a distance of approximately 6 chains in Scandia street" and the length of sewer completed to date amounts to 3 chains. During the month 19 water services have been installed. Good progress has been made with the laying of the new 4-ineh water mains and during the month the full length of Pnlermes street has been reticulated and all house services disconnected from the 1- main and connected to new main. A start lias now been made with the laying of the new main in Cuba street and the length of work completed at the end of the month amounted to approximately 4 chains. Two new meters were installed at the railway station in place of the old ones that were found to he considerably worn and recording incorrectly; also a 2- was put on tho service to the Girls’ High School. Practically the whole of the dead end in the water mains were flushed out. —The report was adopted. GAS MANAGER’S REPORT. The report of tho gas manager (Mr G. W. Healey) was as follows:—Gas made in July 1925, 7,969,000 cubic feet; 1924, 10,194,000 cubic feet; decrease, 2,225,000 (21.8 per cent.); coal used, 459 tons; make of gas per ton of coal used, 17.360 cubic feet; coke sold 1925, 156 tons; 1924, 265 tons; tar sold 1925, 8419 gallons; 1924, 12,965 gallons; coal stock end of July, 2080 tons; coal received, 629 tons; gas used on street lamps, 3000 cubic feet; additional meters fixed for month, 10. During the month there were 10 gas cookers, 1 califont and 3 wash coppers connected. The east-iron mainS tor the extension in Rongopai street have arrived, and this work will be put in hand ns soon as possible. The report was adopted. TRAFFIC MANAGER’S REPORT. The traffic manager (Mr P. G. Patton) reported as follows: —The traffic ■ turn, giving routes, number of passengers carried on each for the month, uk iota! revenue, revenue per bus mile, anil passengers per bus mile _is a. follows: —Hospital 13,224, £177 2s 4d, Is 4.4 d, 5.1 ; Terrace End 14,120, £193 Is 2d, Is 5.6 d, 5.4; Hokowhitu, 5431, £6B 5s lOd, B.ld, 2.7; West End 5854, £74 8s Bd, 10. Oil, 3.6; , Lyndhurst street 3791, £45 os 7d, 10.7 d, 3.7 ; Esplanade 1539, £22 2s 6d, 10.4 d 3; total, 43,959 passengers, £SBO 6s Id iji revenue.

The traffic manager further reported : The drivers’ hats, badges and coats have been issued to them, and they have been instructed that they must not he worn for private use. I intend to have lockers put in at the shelter office for these to be kept in while drivers are ofF duty. I think that if we installed the unlighted

•‘silent policemen” domes the same as in Auckland, they would suit the purpose as well as the lighted ones and curtail expense. As there have been complaints about cars blocking the entrances in Church street, I would like to see the Opera House inspection handed over to the traffic department, then the inspector could attend to cars parking and leaving, and in between times could carry out the Opera House inspection duties. —Adopted. TRANSIT COMMITTEE

The transit and traffic committee reported as follows:- —'1 hat Air S. Abrahams waited on the committee suggesting that the Terrace End bus undertake alternate runs via Main street east. It was decided that the manager report on the request at the next meeting; that the communication from the borough engineer, Hawera, was further -considered, and the committee decided to obtain prices of the domes of the design suggested by Cr. Edwincb, and also of the traffic domes now in use in Auckland ; that with regard to clause 10 of the committee’s report of July 16th deciding to request the borough solicitor to state why he did not apply to the court for a witness’s expenses, it was decided that the amount of 12s due to the witness lie paid. The committee recommended: That the taxi stand opposite C. M. Ross's he shifted around the corner on the south-east side ol the enclosure, and he used for licensed taxis. The taxi stand thus vacated will he allocated to private cars; that the manager he requested to report generally on the stands used for parking of private cars, making special reference lo iho suggested abolition of tho stand in George street ; that the request that the buses convey children from the Hokowhitu School to the manual training classes at ihe old Central School oil Mondays of each week be referred to the manager with power to act; that tho duties of inspecting licensed buildings when same are being used for public entertainments shall now he carried out by the traffic manager and his assistant; that to meet the wishes of Mr Mousley, the manager's suggestion to run a bus from Hokowhitu via Scandia and Ferguson streets at 9.52 a.m., returning from the Square at 11 a.m., ho agreed to; that route hoards to be placed on the sides of each Ims he procured, as recommended by the manager; that the present condition of the surface of tho roadway in Campbell street he referred to the works committee; that the manager lie authorised to erect a notice stating that no private cars other than rural buses shall be parked in Domain street. —Adopted. LIBRARY COMMITTEE. Tho library committee reported as follows:—That communications were received from the librarians, Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch, in regard to the purchase and rebinding of nooks, and after considering tne communications it was deeideU that the librarian bo authorised to forward a further consignment of books to England for re-binding. it was recommended :—-That members who have failed to return their books within a reasonable time be fined, in accordance with the library by-laws, and tho town clerk he instructed to take the necessary action as provided for. That tho public library he fumigated once a month, and bo closed on a Sunday for such purpose.—Adopted. LIBRARIAN’S REPORT.

The librarian (Mr F. W. Christian) reported for July as follows:—Number of new members enrolled 37 ; withdrawals 28; total number at end of July 891; amount received for subscriptions Is 9d; sales 6d; extra books £3 16s fid; total £33 lfis. Number of books purchased in July 213, viz., reference department 7, junior departments 5, ficiion 201. Cost of books purchased £sl 11s; total number of magazines and periodicals supplied 182. The report continued:—l have also written to a firm at Bath, England, asking whether it dealt with publishers direct, and whether in that case it would’ be prepared to undertake to purchase about 100 books monthly for us, re-bind them at its works in the same excellent style as it lias hitherto done for us, and tlieuce dispatch to

us. During my absence through illness front July 13th to the 27th, Mrs Christian and Miss Perry ably carried on the duties. An acnkowdedgnicnt of our cordial appreciation is due to Mr Black and his assistant for bi-weekly gifts of flowers from the Esplanade gardens, which brighten up the rooms nicely.—Adopted. GENERAL. It was stated in the report of the abattoir committee that the three new digestors for the boiling down works were in proces sof erection. Tenders were accepted as follow Sexton’s cottage, £1349; painting part of the exterior and interior of Opera House £386 11s; additions to the cloak room accommodation £122; plumbing renovation, £6B; plastering the walls on the Ashley street side, £175.