PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 95, 22 March 1932, Page 2

PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

MEETING LAST EVENING. ADOPTION OF REPORTS. The Palmerston North City Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr Mansford) presiding. Others present were Councillors Fitzherbert, Hodgens, Tremaine, Keeble, McLeod, Brown, Free, Cameron and Aitchison. CORRESPONDENCE. Ratepayers in Puriri Terrace wrote requesting the installation of two streets lights,—The electrical engineer reported that there were no lights, in this street and recommended that the work be done, the estimated cost being £lO. It was decided to make the installation. The Ancient Order of Foresters wrote stating that a dwelling ,at 46 Stanley Avenue had been vacant for more than six months of the present financial year and made an application for a refund of £2 18s lOd, being half the amount of the current year’s rates in terms of the Rating Act.—The letter was received and the remission was agreed to, the town clerk stating that the application was in order.

The Railway Department wrote with reference to the council’s desire to enlarge the carriers’ shelter shed at the railway station, and advised that there was no objection to this being done, providing the work was carried out to the satisfaction of the department.— Received, and referred to the transit department. > Messrs Jacobs and Grant wrote with reference to the sum of £2l Is lOd charged against the estate of the late Mr John Balsillie for the half cost of the footway at the corner of Rangitikei Street and Boundary Road; and stated that they did not know if rt was customary to charge on a double frontage; the'trustees felt that the amount charged in respect of a quarter-acre section was far more than reasonable and that payment as on one frontage was as much as they should be called upon to pay, and they, therefore, offered £l2 on the basis of the Rangitikei Street frontage only, in full settlement.—On the motion of the Mayor it was decided to notify the applicants that the remission could not be granted. It was not the custom to charge for one frontage, tbe Mayor said, and the work had been carried out at the request of the late Mr Balsillie or his trustees.

The Palmerston North River Board wrote with reference to the removal of shingle sand, etc., from the foreshore of the Manawatu River and stated that a special committee comprising Trustees Mansford, Batehelar and Hodgens had been set up for the purpose of conferring with the council in order to arrive at an amicable arrangement regarding the removal of such materials.—Crs Cameron and Keeble were appointed •to represent the council in discussing the matter with the River Board and the Manawatu Golf Club. WORKS COMMITTEE. The works committee reported: The town clerk presented a return setting out particulars of receipts and expenditure in connection witn the lavatories and weighbridge for the years 1930, 1931 and 1932; it was agreed that matters be referred to a special committee comprising Crs Hodgens, Aitchison and Keeble to report to the next meeting of the committee; in the meantime information be obtained from commercial houses as to whether they would make greater use of the bridge in the event of the charges being reduced to 6d per load irrespective of weight. The committee made the following recommendations: That a communication from the Y.M.C.A. asking that the subsidy be again granted for the coming year be referred to next year’js estimates; that the communication from the Palmerston North City Band requesting the granting of an increased subsidy for the ensuing year be referred to next year’s estimates. The report and recommendations were adopted.

RESERVES. The reserves committee reported that it had received several communications in respect of new leases and it had been decided to defer action in some cases, and to offer certain sections by auction according to the particulars of the respective applications in others. With reference to the communication from the Manawatu Automobile Association suggesting further improvements to the camp site, at the Esplanade, the following had been agreed to among others:—Washing sheds, cook-house and removal of dividing fence to be again considered in six months; that the matter of installing two additional lamps be referred to the lighting committee; the engineer reported that one new convenience had now been completed; that the sowing of grass seed where required he attended to forthwith it was agreed that the roadway required no attention at present. The committee recommended that the question of appointing an attendant at the camp site be pdstponed until the next meeting of the committee; that the matter of painting the pavilion at the Takaro Park be considered by the council; that the matter of painting the fenie surrounding the otval at the Sportsground be considered when next year’s estimates are being dealt with. The report was adopted and Cr. McLeod was appointed to. act with Cr. Fitzherbert on a committee to be set up to control the Takaro Park, two other members to be appointed by the Takaro Bowling, Croquet and Tennis Club. THE ABATTOIR.

Tbe abattoir committee reported that a tender of £l9 7s 6d per ton f.o.b. Wellington had been accepted for 140 drums of mixed beef and mutton tallow. The committee recommended that the Minister of Agriculture be . approached during his coming visit to Palmerston North in the matter of the inspection of all pigs exposed far sale for human consumption. The report and recommendation were adopted. LIGHTING COMMITTEE.

The lighting committee reported: That with reference to the discharge of wash water into the lagoon on the property adjoining the gasworks, it was decided that the city engineer be authorised to construct a small concrete chamber -at the inlet to the drain and to provide a hand-operated wall valve to permit of the discharge pf the stormwater from the lagoon as the occasion requires; the estimated cost being £B. That with reference to Mr Jones’s request that an outlet be provided for the water which accumulates in the lagoon adjoining the gasworks, it was decided that the council cannot interfere with the level'of the lagoon, the outlet therefrom being governed solely by the level of the existing culvert across Napier Road. That the erecting of an extra light in King Street be carried out, The manager of the gas department, Mr Muir, reported that during the month ended February 29,. 6,328,000 cubic feet of gas was made. Goal received totalled 170 tons, and 978 tons were in stock. New Zealand coal carbonised was 93 per cent, of the total, Newcastle coal making up the balance. The total number of consumers was 5321. Mr Muir also reported having attended the conference

of the Gas Institute at Masterton.. A considerable amount of information had been gained. The reports were adopted. TRANSIT DEPARTMENT. In its report the transit committee stated, inter alia : —That the request of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement for permission to hold open-air meetings under a lamp standard in the Square be granted. That the question of extending the bus service to the Massey ‘ College be left in the hands of tlie chairman and the manager to make enquiries in the matter of obtaining the’ necessary permission to extend the service. That with reference to tho request from the carriers, it was decided that the chair-’ man and the manager consult with tlie city engineer in the matter of enlarging the carriers’ shelter at the railway station. That the appointment of Mr A. Manley, assistant traffic inspector, be now confirmed. —The report was adopted.