PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 304, 21 November 1933, Page 10

PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

MEETING LAST EVENING. ADOPTION OF REPORTS. The Palmerston Nqrtb City Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) presiding. Others present were Crs. H, B. Free, G. Tremaine, W. B. Cameron, J. Hodgens, W. B. Tennent, W. Mouldey, A. A. Langley and R. L. C. Aitchison. The Manawatu Cricket Association wrote asking for the extension of gas and water connections to the association’s tea kiosk at the Sportsground. —Granted. Messrs- Kjar and Grant asked for a reduction in the rental of the Coronation Hall for an evening gathering to faise funds to show their appreciation of the Public Services Orchestra, which had worked well in aid of the Public Services Queen. The Mayor said he recollected that there had been another application of a similar nature from the Retailers’ Queen Committee and it had been refused. Cr. Hodgens said the other request had been for a remission of lighting charges. In reply to a question the town clerk (Mr J. R- Hardie) said the usual charge over all was £l a night for the nail. Cr. Tremaine spoke against giving any remission as it was not for a charitable cause. He was supported by Cr. Tennent. It was decided to allow the use of the hail up to midnight at a cost of 12s 6d. The Hokowhitu School Committee wrote drawing attention to the condition of the footpath in College Street between Albert Street and Victoria Avenue. The letter said that the path was used by a large number of children attending the school and it was thought that in its present unfinished state there was a possibility of some children being injured. The city engineer (Mr J. R. Hughes) said that the portion referred to fan through a swamp. It was intended to fill it gradually for the purposes of the path. The rough section could be raked off and made as smooth ■ as possible, but not much could be done, it was decided that the letter be received and the matter left to the engineer. The Terrace End branch of the New Zealand Labour Party intimated by letter that it had occupied the Coronation Hall every Wednesday evening since April, 1933, at 12s 6d a night and asked for the use of the hall on every Wednesday evening for a year from January 10. 1934, at 10s,a night. —The town clerk said that no other requests for the use of the hall on Wednesday nights had been received. On the motion of the Mayor it was decided to grant the request. A petition , was received from ratepayers and residents of Carroll Street requesting that the road surface should be permanently tar-sealed. The communication stated that, apart from the ordinary motor traffic, there was a fast through traffic at all hours of the day, which made Carroll Street a main highway between the north and south parts of the city. —The writers are to be informed that the work they request is included in the schedule for the unemployment loan shortly to come before the ratepayers. In reply to a question from Cr. Tremaine, the Mayor said that the work could be included in next year’s estimates. ENGINEER’S REPORT. In connection with the sewer connection at the Takaro Park pavilion, the engineer reported that the connecting up of tne pavilion with the main sewer in Featherston Street would require approximately 276 feet of pipes and several junctions. He estimated the cost would be £32. Work on the sexton’s cottage in Napier Road Was also reported upon and an estimate provided.—Tne report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. Recommendations and reports from the works committee were adopted as follow:—That the work referred to in the engineer’s report should be proceeded with. That the Takaro Scout Committee applied for permission to hold a street stall in the Square on a Saturday. It was decided to allow the committee to hold a stall, but that canvassing of the Square a,nd vicinity be not permitted. That the application from the Retailers’ Queen Committee, for the remission of the amount payable for the consumption of electricity in a shop in llangitikei Street, be not granted. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER’S REPORT. The city electrical engineer (Mr J. W. Muir; reported that the following work had been carried out by the lines department: Services run, 14; meters tested, 120; meters installed, 61. The inspector made inspections of and passed 50 jobs, including 42 extensions, making the total number of consumers to date 5662. The total connected load, including street lights, is now 18,970 k.w. The peak load was 2213.4 m.v.a. at noon on October 25. The 3300 volt feeder was extended in Main Street, from Margaret Street to Ruahine Street, and in Ruahine Street from Main Street to Broad Street. A pilot control to control the community lights was run in Cuba Street and George Street. This will be extended to pick up the balance of the community lights in the Square and Main Street as soon as the necessary relays are available. As instructed, I interviewed the director of the Technical School regarding the street lighting in King and Queen Streets and we made an inspection of the streets in question. As the outcome, I recommend that one extra light be. installed in Queen Street, opposite the entrance to the right-of-way to Grey Street and King Street, and the other lights in the street be xe-spaced to meet this alteration. This will make the lighting of Queen Street the same as that of King Street, which, Mr Hancox agreed, is now, since the installation of the extra light opposite the end of the Regent Arcade, quite satisfactory. —The report was received. THE GASWORKS. The gasworks manager (Mr Muir) reported that the gas made during October amounted to 6,074,000 cubic feet. Some 335 tons of coal had been carbonised and the total number of consumers was now 4540. He reported with regard to the Railway Depart-, ment’s request for a reduction in the price that they were at present being charged for gas in accordance with a clause in their agreement providing for a reduction to them, should the price of gas be reduced to the department’s ordinary consumers. After perusing their agreement, he was of the opinion that the clause did not apply to the reduction made, as it was not in any way enforced by the Minister, and, further, the reduction was not a general reduction as all consumers did not share in it. —Received. LIGHTING COMMITTEE.

Recommendations and reports by the lighting committee were adopted as follow: —That the electrical engineer .be authorised to instal one extra lamp in Queen Street and that the other lights in the street be respaced, as. recommended by him. That no tenders he called for the supply of

lamps until early in the New Year. That the stationmaster at Palmerston North wrote requesting a reduction of charges for gas supplied to the department in accordance with conditions of the present contract. It was decided fto inform the stationmaster that no reduction has been made in terms of clause 9 of the agreement with the Railway Department; the alteration in charges made in June last was in the nature of an increase in the percentage of discount allowed, and that no general reduction was made to consumers. That the Technical School, be granted the usual donation of £2 2s, to be devoted towards prizes for their annual dinner cooking competitions. That replies were received from many supply authorities giving particulars of the scale of charges for current supplied to technical schools, and after considering them it was decided that the current used in the testing room at the local Technical School be charged for at the rate of lid per unit, less 12J per cent. That debentures for the sum of £IOOO, being portion of the electric light and power plant loan No. 4, which mature on June 4, 1934, be repaid out of ordinary revenue. TRAFFIC MANAGER’S REPORT. The traffic manager (Mr H. J. Smith) reported as follows: —The direction indicator mentioned by Cr. Tennent, and suggested that may be suitable for fitting on our new vehicles, was submitted to the Transport Office and advice has been received that the,indicator is not of an approved type, and that when one of the approved type is fitted a second one should not be added. Instructions are required regarding the appointing of additional pointsmen for the Christmas traffic, also in connection with the proposed visit of Australian airmen. Considerable trouble is being experienced by motorists parking in front of cycle stands. They seem to be unaware they are breaking a by-law and 1 would suggest that the words “No Parking” be stencilled on the street in front of the cycle stands. I would suggest that the afternoon buses to the Esplanade be extended to Bledisloe Park during the summer months and that 4d cash fares be charged adults. Additional storage bins are required at the bus barn. The material would cost about £3 10s. I would ask the transit committee to consider the question of finalising its decision on one brand of benzine as the carburettor setting for one benzine is not effective for another brand, and trouble is experienced in getting efficiency from the vehicles on various brands of benzine. —Adopted. TRANSIT COMMITTE. . Reports and recommendations from the transit committee were adopted as follow:—-That the traffic manager be authorised to engage additional pointsmen to assist in the regulation of traffic during the Christmas period. That the words “No Parking” be stencilled on the street in front of cycle stands. That as from December 1, 1933, the 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. afternoon buses to the Esplanade shall run to Bledisloe Park. That the manager be authorised to instal additional storage bins at the bus barn, the material to cost £3 10s. That with further reference to glaring headlights, the Manawatu Automobile Association advised that the Transport Department had informed them that the regulations as at present existing were all that was necessary for efficient control, and the association therefore suggested the submission of a draft regulation to overcome the present objections. It was resolved to inform the association that the council was prepared to take action in the matter provided the association would bear the cost of prosecutions. That the Wellington Drivers and Related Trades Industrial Union of Workers wrote in reference to'the framing of a new agreement with the omnibus drivers and stated that as both the council and the men were desirous of having some amendments made in the existing award, the union’s executive was agreeable to a conference being held between representatives of the council and the union. It was decided to agree to the holding of such a conference and that the Mayor and Ors. Cameron and Hodgens represent the council, with a member of the Employers’ Association. That the running of the 7.46 a.m. bus, hospital to the Square, be discontinued. GENERAL. The council received a letter from the Returned Soldiers’ Association extending an invitation to the Mayor and councillors tb be present at the unveiling of the Soldiers’ Memorial at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery on Sunday. The letter was received- and the invitation accepted. Authority was given for the hiring of a road roller to the Oroua County Council at the rate of £2 per day, the county to supply the driver, fuel, oil, etc., if the conditions were acceptable. The city engineer was instructed to call tenders for the disposal of the 15-ton roller.