MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 172, 22 June 1926, Page 3

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

MEETING OF COUNCIL. CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS. Tho Borough Council met last night, there being present the Mayor (Mr F. J. Nathan) and Crs Graham, Fitzherbert, Oram, Eliott, Edwards, Low, Hodgens and McLeavey. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Department of Internal Affairs, thanking the council for -the action taken in arranging for the use of the Municipal Hall to enable Mr Hurst Seagar to speak on tho subject of “New Zealand Battle Exploit Memorials” at Palmerston North. An officer of the department would act as advance agent, . and a lantern and operator would accompany the lecturer. —Arrangements were left in the hands of Cr Oram. From the Public Works Department, forwarding a copy of a warrant appointing the Palmerston North Borough Council the licensing authority in motor omnibus district No 7. —Received. From the director of the Technical School, inviting the Mayor and councillors to visit tho Technical School at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday. June 29. —The invitation was accepted, the Mayor expressing a desire that as many councillors as possible should attend. From Messrs Innes and Oakley ,_ forwarding for approval a subdivisional plan of Dr Barnett’s land in Linton street. —Agreed to. . From the Discharged Prisoners Aid Society, making application for a grant towards the society’s funds.—Tt was decided to make a grant of £o 3s. WORKS COMMITTEE. The works committee made tho following recommendations and reports; —That Messrs Oram and McGregor be informed that the_ council agrees to the erection of a signboard at the corner of Main and Victoria streets, provided it is erected on the property of their clients and not across the footpath; that, with reference to the petitions received from ratepayers of Linton and Chaytor streets complaining of the surface of the respective streets, it was decided that the engineer be requested to report on the regrading and asphalting of both streets; that a petition was received from residents of Amesbury street complaining that the roadway is in a state of disrepair and requesting that same be reconstructed in a manner similar to that which obtains in Langston Avenue, and agreeing to contribute £1 each towards tho cost of planting trees, it was decided that the engineer do what is necessary in the matter of cleaning up the street and that the question of planting trees be referred to the borough curator to report; that Mr B. H. Just he informed that Botanical road, Church street west, Ferguson street west and cook street will receive attention during the current year; that Mr C. Woodley be informed that the surface of ltussell street will receive attention in due course; that the engineer be authorised to expend the sum of £BO in improving the surface of the roadway in Bourke street; that a communication was received from the Kairanga, Borough Council accepting tho terms under which the borough is prepared to erect two lamps at the Fitzherbert bridge. It was decided that tlie electrical engineer confer with tho county engineer as to the exact locality of the lamps. That a communication was received from the Kairanga County Council suggesting that a further conference of local bodies in No. 10 group should be held at the Borough Council offices on Wednesday, 23rd inst., at 1 p.m., to apportion the heavy traffic license fees for the current year. It was decided to agree to the conference using the council chambers, and Cr. Eliott was appointed a delegate to attend tho conference. Tho statement setting out particulars of the apnortionmenb for last year, forwarded* by the Co'inty Council, was referred to Cr. Eliott. That tho Salvation Army be informed, in reply to their request, that the council regrets being unable to increase the current year’s grant owing to the fact that the estimates for the current year have already been framed and that they bo advised to make fresh application early next year. That, with reference to tho communication from the district engineer ol the Railways Department, agreeing to the construction of a footpath six feet wide on the railway reserve from Shamrock street to ' Main street under certain conditions, it was decided that the engineer be instructed to proceed with the necessary work and that the conditions of the department, be complied with. That, with reference to the applications received for tho right to trap opossums Oil the watershed reserve, and which were referred to the waterworks caretaker, it was decided that his recommendation that separate licenses he granted Messrs D. G. Reid, J. G. Mayo, B. G., Butcher and W. G. Eisin”- he agreed to, and that tho conditions submitted by the caretaker be also agreed to and enforced. That the engineer be instructed to prepare a plan and submit an estimate of the cost of sewering Rongopai street and the streets in tho vicinity of the northern end of Boundary road and Vogel street. That tho Manawatu Golf Club bo granted the use of the mowing machine subject to the council’s driver handling the machine during tho hire period and that the club he charged the man’s wages, etc.— The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr J. R. Hughes) ro-

ported as follows: Channel cleaning lias been, undertaken on an extensive scale for tho past few weeks and the whole of the spoil removed off the sides of the roadwuys. The streets in which this work was done are as follow: Ward, Ngata, Nash, Carroll, Featherston, Arolia, Beresford, Edgeware, Ada, College, Matipo, Batt, Marne, Ferguson, Fitzherbert, A rgyle, Roy, Scandia, Frederick, Fitzroy, Limbnck, Phillip, Manson, Clifton, Princess, Wood, Colombo, Oxford, Morris, Ranfurly, ltolleston, Pahiatua, Alexandra and Church streets, Stanley avenue and' Botanical road. The sides of the roadway in Stanley avenue between Roy and Russell streets havo been § rubbed free of grass, etc., fi'om the : orb to the roadway. The grader lias | been kept busy throughout the month in shifting the shingle from the sides j of tho roads on to tho centre and cut- 1 ting back the grass edges. Consider-; able patching was carried out during i tho early part of tho month in most of tho principal macadam streets. When | wet weather sets in again this work will i he further continued. The work of reforming the footpath for a length ol four chains in -King street lias been completed, with tho exception of the surfacing coat of bitumen. Five chains of new concrete kerbing had to be put in to take the place of the old wooden kerbing. The footpath in front of the Hokowliitu School has been formed to tlve new level and tarred and sanded. Tho total length of this work was about nine chains. As the past month was exceptionally wet. very little topdressing with tar and sand could be undertaken, hut during the fine weather we had both sides of Frederick, Limbrick, Knowles and Phillip streets treated. Patching Work to footpaths has been carried out in a number ol streets. The asphalt roadways that have been top-dressed during the month are George street and portions of Featlierston street. Before this work could be undertaken considerable patching had to he carired out to these streets. Rejiairs havo been carried out to tho Fitzherbert bridge, and the work done during the period under review amounted to the renewal of 11 transoms and two sway braces. It was also necessary to relay about 1400 super feet of decking. The annual cleaning of the Kawau drain has been commenced, end for the month under ’ review that portion between Kairanga road and Boundary road has been completed. Tho laying of a 12-inclv ■ storm water drain on the north side of Russell street from Featlierston ; street to the Kawau stream has been ' completed. Tho construction of .sumps at the street intersections and connec- ' tions to this drain will be undertaken ■ during tho next month. Owing to the continuous rain of the past few weeks, together with tho fall of leaves from ■ the trees, a number of men havo had ' to bo employed in keeping clear the . numerous culverts and drains, which : work has obviated the flooding at the 1 street intersections. ' Operations for the construction of a sewer in Rata, ■ Keith’ and Haydon streets have been commenced, and that portion between 1 the existing manhole in Yogel street I and tho intersection of Rata and-Vogel > streets has been completed. Tho building of a concrete manhole at Rata > street is now under way, ai\d a start i has also been made with the excavation i of the trench in Rata street. A four- > inch sewer has been constructed from 1 the existing sewer through tho golf ; links for a distance of 550 feet to tho i golf house, so that connection can be i made to the present conveniences. A . serious block in the Ferguson street ■ sewer between Scandia and Alexandra ■ streets occurred during the early part ■ of tho month. On investigations be- • ing made it was found that the pri- , mary cause of the blockage was several . pieces of sticks being lodged in the pipe. During tho present month 19 half-incli and two three-quarter-inch i water services were installed. It was ■ also necessary to overhaul and repair 24 house servicos. Three fire plugs that were found to be leaking were re- , paired and new parts installed where i required. The kerbs opposite all fire plugs In and around the Square have been repainted white so as to be easily located at night time. Fire plug indicators in various parts of tlie borough have been attended to. Five ; water meters have been installed, three , to business premises and two to new ■ buildings now under course of construction. The existing one-inch main in Bryant street has been extended a distance of 00 feet towards Cholwood street to give service to a new residence. The new four-inch water main to the new fire brigade station has now been completed.—The • report was adopted. '