PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 264, 6 October 1936, Page 12

PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

MEETING LAST EVENING. ADOPTION OP REPOETS. The. Palmerston North City Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansfortl) presiding. Others present wore Crs. G. Tremaine, W. B. Tennent, W. B. Cameron, R. L. C. Aitchison. A. A. Langley, .1. ,T. Stevenson, W. Mouldey, and J. T. J. Heatley. Leave of absence was granted Cr. J. Hodgens, M.P., who forwarded an apology for his inability to attend. Approval was sought by the Palmerston North Garrison Band for its action in taking over from tlio Rotary Club the Wellington Harmonic Society’s concert arranged for next Sunday.—Granted. WORKS COMMITTEE. Reports and recommendations by the works committeo were adopted as follow:—That the Palmerston North City Silver Band had applied for permission to screen a picture in conjunction with a concert to be held on a Sunday, and it was decided to advise the band that under a resolution of the council the screening of pictures is not permitted on Sundays. That the Combined Carnival Committee had inquired if the council would undertake the rolling of the cinder track at the Showgrounds next Saturday in connection with the holding of a sports meeting, and it was decided to advise the committee that the council is willing to co-operate in carrying out the work provided the committee agreed to pay out-ol-pocket expenses, estimated to cost £1 10s. That the Tnkaro Progressive Association had expressed disappointment that nothing had so far been done in the matter of coping with the overflow waters from the Ivawan drain during flood time, and it was decided to advise the association that the council was unable to proceed with the work until Parliamentary sanction was obtained, and that they be requested to state to what decision of the council reference is made in the concluding paragraph of their letter of the 15th instant. That the Tiritea Women’s Institute wrote in reference to the lease of portion of the reservoir site, and advised that it required a 50 years’ lease with right of renewal of an area of 90ft by 200 ft., and agreed to pay the cost of survey, fences and advertising, and it was decided to inform the institute that when the city engineer .met Mesdames Andrews and Webster, representatives of the ''institute, it was understood that they required only sufficient land upon which to erect a hall, that 21 years was the longest term the council could grant, and that the cost of the survey, legal expenses, etc., would be approximately £25, exclusive of the cost of boundary fences. That the residents of Pirie Street had requested the tarsealing of the roadway, and it was resolved to advise them that a programme of works had already been framed for the current year and that their application would be further considered when next year’s estimates were being dealt with. RESERVES COMMITTEE. Reports and recommendations by the reserves committee were adopted as follow :—That the Ksnawatu Bowling, Croquet and Tennis Club had returned thanks for the renewal of the existing lease for a further period of twelve months as from July 1, 1936, and had advised that a sub-committee was to consider the decision of the council in the matter of the future upkeep of the greens as from October 1, 1937. That the communication from the Railway Officers’ Institute . regarding parking arrangements and riding on cycle tracks bo referred to the transit committee. That, with reference to the communication from the Takaro Progressive Association concerning the condition of the footpath in front of No. 151 Lyndhurst Street, and the city engineer’s report, it was resolved that the work, estimated to cost £3 10s, be proceeded with. That, with reference to the communication from residents in Pahiatna Street, drawing attention to the unsatisfactory state of the stormwater outlet adjoining their properties, and the city engineer’s report, it was decided that the matter be referred to the city solicitors for their advice. GAS AND ELECTRICITY. The city enectrical engineer (Mr J. W. Muir) reported, for the month ot August, that the following work had been carried out by the lines department: —Services run 14, meters tested 79, meters installed 63. The inspector bad made inspections of and passed 62 jobs, including 46 extentensions, making the total number of consumers to date 6098. The total connected load, including street lights, was now 22,799 K.\V. The power station returns showed that the peak load had been 3141 K.Y-A., as against 3115.2 K.V.A. in July. The fuel oil used had been 195 drums. The figures for 1936 and 1935 respectively had been as follow: —Units purchased, 1.306,800, 1,199,200; units generated, 135,843, 62,857; totals, 1,442,643, 1,262,057, showing a 14 per cent, increase. Practically all the work on the plant bad now been completed, with the exception ol a general clean up of the power station yard. The extra silencing chambers bad been completed and they were successful in making the ne’J plant at least as quiet, or. no more noisy, than the old gas engine plant. Dealing with the high consumption of oil by one engine, the engineer stated:—“The cause of the high test consumption figure lias been discovered and remedied. This proved to be a leaking valve on the fuel oil injection pump. The oil leaking out of the pump was returned to the fuel oil daily running tank and should have been measured and deducted from the oil consumed during the test poriod, but as any leakage of this nature was returned to the oil tank automaticaly through a special pump and pipe installed with the engine, this leakage was not noticed at tho time of the original test. Further tests have been taken and these now prove to be well within the oil consumption figures stated in the contract.” Tho gas manager (Mr Muir) reported that, compared with tho corresponding month in 1935, 590,000 more cubic feet of gas bad been made and the output 'had been 632,000 feet more. Tho gas made per ton of coal had decreased by 622 feet. The coke made had increased by 9 tons and 100 per cent, of New Zealand coal i had been used. The report proceeded:—“We installed 14 cookers, 13 i gas fires, and 2 water heaters. Five new services were also laid and 43 meters connected. The total number of consumers to date is 5175.” LIGHTING COMMITTEE. The lighting committee made the following reports and recommendations: —That Mr T. Cronin made application for ail extension of the electric

mains to supply his dwelling, 15 Collingwood Street. The city electrical engineer reported that the cost would be £ls and it was decided that he be authorised to proceed with the work and that Mr Cronin be advised accordingly. That a communication was received from the Palmerston North Technical School making application for a reduction in the charges for lighting and cooking, and it was decided that a.n additional discount of Id per unit be allowed on lighting, and that cooking be charged at the domestic rate of id pel unit nett, provided this load is metered separately from any radiator or heating current used. That the ga.s. manager reported in regard to the wages paid to the operators on shift work at the gasworks consequent, upon the reduction in tho working hoars of the men, and it was decided that the report be received. That tlie same space as last year be reserved at tlie Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association’s Show to be held in November. GENERAL. The abattoir manager (Mr A. M. Spilman) reported that during .September stock slaughtered bad consisted of 314 cows, 139 heifers, 60 bullocks, 11 calves, 982 ewes, 531 wetliers, 6 lambs and 93 pigs. Fourteen cows and 16 sheep were condemned. Fees received had amounted to £334 4s 9d.

The poundkeeper (Mr T. Wood) reported that six head of stock were impounded during September, and £1 13s was received in fees.