PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 170, 19 June 1934, Page 12

PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

MEETING LAST EVENING. ADOPTION OF REPORTS. The Palmerston North City Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) presiding. Others present were Crs G. Tremaine, W- B. Tennent, H. B. Free, J. Hodgens, W. Mouldey, A. A. Langley, R. L. C. Aitchison, and AV. B. Cameron. WVORKS COMMITTEE. Recommendations and reports by the works committee were adopted as follow :■ —That the communication from Miss D. S. Pees, stating that three or four months ago several dead trees in Fitzlierbert Avenue were uprooted and inquiring if the council intended replanting the blank spaces, be referred to the reserves committee. That a communication was received from Messrs Cox and Rickard, caretakers of the weighbridge, in reference to the restoration of the 5 per cent, cut on wages. It was decided that the communication be placed before the finance committee, together with previous reports of the special committee _ set up some time ago, and that inquiries be made from the AA r ellington and AVanganui City Councils as to wages paid and hours worked by such attendants. That, with reference to the communication from Mr S. Cox, complaining of the felling of the trees on the boundary of the Napier Road pemetery and claiming 6s, the cost of recovering a heifer which escaped from his paddock, it was resolved, after reading the report of the engineer, that the writer be informed that the council was unable to accept any liability. That the Terrace End branch of the New Zealand Labour Party wrote in reference to the heating of the Coronation Hall, and it was decided to inform the party that to heat the hall would cost £24, and in view of the small revenue to be expected it is therefore considered that the expenditure of such a sum would not be warranted. That the advice from the city solicitors concerning grass plots, and pointing out that it will be necessary to pass a further by-law,. be referred to the by-laws committee. That a subcommittee, comprising Crs Hodgens, Cameron anc! Tennent, he set up to consider and report on the tenders received for the supply and delivery of a rubbish collection vehicle, and also to report on the question of rubbish collection. That a notice be erected prohibiting the playing .of golf at Takaro Park. That the engineer report on the cost to residents of asphalting drive-ways from the edge of the bitumen surface to the kerbstone. That the matter of the purchase of supplies of petrol be again considered in twelve months’ time. GAS AND ELECTRICITY.

The report of the gas manager (Mr J. W. Muir) was received as follows: —Gas made for May, 1934, was 6,880,000 cubic feet, a decrease of 1,179,000 from that of May, 1933. Gas made per ton of coal carbonised was 16,844 c. ft. (16,923 c. ft. in May, 1933). New Zealand coal used was 100 per cent. “During the month we installed 4 gas cookers, 2 water heaters and 17 fires; 13 new services were laid and 13 meters connected. The total number of consumers is now 4612. The mains were extended for 10 chains in Ra.ngitane Street. I am pleased to be able to report an increase in the gas consumed other than the power station consumption. Without this load the output was 6,745,650 against 6,548,900 cubic feet last year, an increase of 196,750 cubic feet. This is partly due to the increased number of gas fires and gas storage water heaters now in use, and it is very pleasing to see the usual decrease turned into an increase. In all, 40 new fires and 21 water heaters have been installed since the corresponding time last year, and we have orders for eight more fires in hand.” Reporting on the electricity department, Mr Muir stated: The following work was carried out by the lines department during May: Services run, 10; meters tested, 125; meters installed, 86. The inspector made inspections of and passed 86 jobs, including 73 extensions, making the total number of consumers to date 5744. The total connected load, including street lights, is now 19,645.5 k.w. “Regarding the question of running the power station on gas made at the town’s gas plant instead of using the gas plant at the power house: The town gas plant as used is capable of making 13,000 c. ft. per hour; the average consumption by the gas department’s consumers is 9000 c. ft. per hour; the balance available for use at the power plant is 4000 c. ft. per hour; the consumption of the power plant (3 engines full load) is 45,000 c. ft. per hour; the capacity of the gas holder is 500,000 c. ft. At times it is necessary to run equal to two engines four hours per day. This would use 420,000 cubic feet of gas, so you can see that before the end of the second day the holder would be empty and the plant unable to make sufficient gas to carry on. From the above figures, I think it is apparent that it is not possible to depend on the towrt gas plant to supply the necessary gas to run the power plant during the winter months when it is used to the extent it is. I have not gone into the question of costs as I am of the opinion that, outside of any other consideration, owing to the capacity of the town’s gas plant, it is necessary to use the power station gas plant. Further, the costs were investigated by Messrs Hunt, Turner and Heslop and they reported that the costs were approximately equal.” The report of the lighting committee, which was as follows, was adopted : That the Post and Telegraph Department wrote stating that it is liow using 15-watt lamps in place of 20-ivatt lamps in the public telephone cabinets

and requesting that some reduction in the present lighting rate of £2 a year be mad© in respect of each cabinet. It was decided, that no alteration be made in the charge. TRANSIT COMMITTEE. Reports and recommendations by the transit committee were adopted as follow : —That it was decided that the traffic manager shall select tho drivers required to undertake extra runs in terms of the previous arrangement with tho council. That AVoohvorths, Ltd,, requested the installation of a bicycle stand in front of their premises, Broadway., and it was decided to inform tho firm that the committee does not contemplate installing any more stands on their side of the street. That Berryman’s Music AVareliouse made application for a small cycle stand in front of their premises in Broadway Avenue. It was resolved that the traffic manager be authorised to install a small stand so as not to interfere with the parking of cars. That the Manawatu Automobile Association wrote requesting the enforcement of the by-laws making it compulsory* for rear mudguards to be painted white, arid repeating their previous offer to paint the cycles of the ■unemployed and school children free of charge. It was" decided that the association be thanked for its offer and that an advertisement be inserted in the Press that the association is prepared to paint free of charge the rear murguards of bicycles belonging to children and the unemployed, and tho by-law relating to the matter must be strictly complied with. That the communication from the Manawatu Automobile Association in reference to the council’s decision to take action against offenders with glaring headlights, provided the association bears the cost of prosecutions, be received and action taken accordingly. That the suggestion of the association, that when the traffic manager is on duty to detect offenders their service officer accompany him for corroborative purposes, be approved. That the iollowing remits be approved and forwarded to the Commissioner of Transport for consideration at the traffic conference to be held in AVellington: (I) That a uniform system of parking signs be adopted for distribution to local authorities for erection at parking areas, to signify the duration and angle of parking at such areas. (2) That a tightening up of regulations take place in respect of motor cycles imported into the Dominion with no silencing device or with a silencing device not effective. (3) That enquiries be made with a view to ascertaining if an electrical device could be obtained to register volume of sound emitted from an exhaust of motor vehicles and to register the glare from heads lamps. That the action of the Mayor and chairman in contracting with the A. and P. Association to run a bus to and from the Square to the Showgrounds from June 13 to 16 inclusive at £1 6s per day, be confirmed. That the wages of the assistant mechanic at the barn be increased to a rate yielding £3 per week, and the amount he earns when acting as relieving driver shall be deducted from liis ordinary rate of pay. That the action of the chairman in authorising the purchase of a new car for the traffic manager be confirmed. That the question whether the 5 per cent, restoration of wages shall apply to the bus drivers be referred to the council for consideration in conjunction with the notice of motion to be tabled by Cr. Hodgens. ABATTOIRS COMMITTEE.

Reporting to the council, the abattoir committee stated that it had been decided that no action be taken in regard to the reinstatement of the chillei. that the matter of making payment to the butchers for condemned stock be considered at the next meeting of the committee. That a tender of £l6 per ton," f.o.b. Wellington, for tho purchase of 350 drums of mixed beef and mutton tallow had been accepted. That a tender for the runners output had been accepted as follows, per 1000 sets: Sheep £SB 6s 8d; lambs, £25: pigs, £25. Tile abattoir manager (Mr A. M. Spilman) reported that during May 320 cows, 96 heifers, 114 bullocks, 211 calves, 874 ewes, 490 wethers, 124 lambs and 97 pigs had been slaughtered. Stock condemned consisted of 10 cows, 1 heifer, 1 bullock, 9 sheep and 1 pig. Fees received amounted to £3Bl 12s 3d. ENGINEER’S REPORT:

The engineer (Mr J. R. Hughes) reported as follows upon activities during May:—Street maintenance: Queen Street, about 10 chains h*s been topdressed with bitumen and chips. Where required, patching' work has been carried out on roads and footways ; in all 22 cub. yards of asphalt have been used, and the patches topdressed with tar and sand. The blind ends of Nikau Street, Kauri Street and Titoki Street have been regraded, bound and rolled. Footpath maintenance : The following footpaths have been reconditioned by metalling and tarred and sanded: Carow Street (both sides) ; liongopai Street (portion only) ; Albert Street, (from opposite School to Te Awe Awe Street AVest side); Napier Road (east of Millar Street, 3 chains) ; Roy Street (2 chains west side); Grey Street (Russell Street to opp. -Victoria Avenue). In Jicltell Street, from Te Awe Awe Street, for a length of 12 chains a pathway 3ft wide has been metalled. No. 5 Unemployment Scheme.—The following works are in progress:—(a) Levelling at Albert Street Domain; (b) works at Nos. 1 and 2 Cemeteries; (c) re-grading roadway, Botanical Road, Park Road to College Street; (d) levelling new portion, Takaro Park; (e) cleaning up and laying lawns, etc., Church Street (West to Cook Streets, Church Street (Albert Street to Victoria Avenue); (f) cutting firewood for relief depot. New Fitzlierbert Bridge.—At the beginning of the month a total of 220 reinforced concrete piles were cast, at the south end. Since then the plant has been shifted to the north end of th bridge where 12 piles have been cast. Pile-drivng at pier D is proceeding and should be completed during next month. The fence panels are practically all cast and a start has been made on th© pre-cast footway slabs. AVork on the formation of the new road is progressing steadily, and the contractor has completed the construction or the concrete culvert. The 12in. diameter concrete pipe stormwater dram, 2 chains in length, laid from the footway in Fitzherbert Avenue through the Esplanade, has been completed. AVater Tower at Abattoir. —The contractor has completed tho work of repairs and strengthening of tho braces on tho water tower. Waterworks: Duiing the month 7 new services have been installed, 11 services replaced and 18 services overhauled and ie P^ u , ‘ Surface boxes have been raised to tho road level. OPERA HOUSE SCENERY. The Opera House committee reported, with reference to a communication from the principal of the Girls High School concerning the condition or the interior scene lat the Opera House, that the committee inspected the scene and found it to be in a ba.d state. It was resolved that the chairman and the city engineer be authorised to procure an interior drawing-room scene suitable for concerts and meetings,

provided the cost does not exceed £25. —The resolution was confirmed. GENERAL. The poimdkeeper (Mr T. Wood) reported that during the month 12 head of stock had been impounded, the fees received amounting to 16s Gd. The registrar of dogs (Mr R. Emmett) reported that 26 dogs had been taken off the streets, 8 released to .owners, homes found for 2 and 16 destroyed. Fees collected amounted to 14s. Acting on tho suggestion of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the council decided that the first Wednesday in August should be observed as Arbor Day in its district, tho Mayor suggesting* that the matter of suitable celebrations be left in the hands of tho chairman of the reserves committee. Passengers carried by tho municipal buses during May totalled 35,370, and tho revenue earned was £397 12s 7d. The figures showed increases of 1673 and £l9 13s 5d respectively over the corresponding period of last year. The Public Works Department forwarded for approval a plan showing the area of the land which it has decided to purchase from tho council, situated in Cook Street, and advising that it had no objection—to the concrete building remaining where it is so long as the council desires. It was decided that the plan prepared by the department be approved and that the brick building referred to be demolished and the bricks removed. The transit committee reported that the Commissioner of Transport had written stating that ho had received a complaint that a taxi cab left Palmerston North at 3 a.m. on an urgent trip to Waitara and actually ran off the road on five different occasions; also that the driver had to stop the car and walk about for periods of almost a quarter of an hour in orrj'ir to keep awake, and had worked cr/ntinuously for 36 hours.—lt was resolved to advise the Commissioner that the case is being investigated and that the council is giving consideration to the fixing of the daily hours of work of drivers of taxi-cabs.