BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 151, 27 May 1938, Page 4

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Feilding Borough Council was hold last evening, *tlie Mayor (Mr T. L. Seddon) presiding. Also present were Crs A. C. McCorkindale, A. J. Humphreys, P. B. Desmond, A. C.sßuist, It. Burne, W. K. Andrews, V. E. Smith, P. G. Guy, and C. B. McClure. The Feilding H&ckey Association wrote asking the council to grant permission to make a charge at matches held in Victoria Park.—Granted. The Manawatu Methodist Young Men’s Bible Class Union wrote thanking the council for the use of Johnston Park for its annual camp.—Deceived. The Palmerston North Hospital. Board forwarded its estimates for the current financial year and also gave notice of the levy due by the council. The Mayor said that last year the council paid £2020 in levy, while this year the levy was £2424; this meant an increase in the rates of id in the £. Cr Andrews: That’s a big jump. Cr Smith (the council’s representative on the board, explained the reason for the increased levy, which was necessary owing to rising costs in maintenance of the institution, the 40-hour week and the increases in the wages of the nursing staff. The Mayor said the outlook was not very comforting, but while the present system of hospital maintenance continued no relief could be expected. There was nothing that could be done about the matter.. The estimates were then received. MT. STEWART MEMORIAL. ■.

Arising out of a letter received from the Mt. Stewart Memorial Committee, jjKjvliich a statement was .made that the' cost of the proposed memorial would be £2499 and that it was proposed that local . body contributions should be on a valuation basis, the Mayor intimated that if the council was prepared to approve of the proposal its contribution would amount to £B6 15s 4d. That amount, he considered, was a very reasonable allocation. Cr McCorkindale also considered the allocation a very reasonable one, and was in favour of a scheme being supported. Cr Guy said lie was not in favour of “cold memorials” and. would suggest not going on with the monument for the reason that the Government favoured encouraging sports and recreation grounds. He would liko to see the money spent on providing a pavilion at Kowhai Park. The town clerk (Mr Tate) said that it was rather late to suggest that the

proposal be abandoned, as the Govern-, ment had aprpoved of Mt. Stewart as a suitable site for one of three national monuments to be erected in the Wellington province. Cr Guy said that if the scheme had the “blessing", of the Government” it was a different matter. On the motion of Cr Desmond, seconded by Cr McCorkindale, the allocation was approved and Cr Smith was requested to convey the fact at tile next meeting of the Mt. Stewart Memorial Committee. SWIMMING FACILITIES. On behalf of the Feilding Amateur Swimming Club, Messrs J. Gordon Eliott and O. Sporle waited on the council requesting it to place on the estimates a sum to enable the club to lengthen the municipal baths to regulation dimensions, and to provide a playing area for children on a section of land at the rear of the baths, the 'section to be built up from spoil which would be available if the baths were lengthened. In reply to Cr Guy, Mr Sporle said that the diving board would be shifted to the side. Cr Andrews asked what the loss on the baths was last year. The town clerk said it was £SO. Mr Sporle said that the cost of lengthening the baths and shifting the existing seating accommodation would be approximately £65. The club, said Mr Eliott, was prepared to hand over to the council £25 which it had in hand. The Mayor said that the total cost would be £l6l, but, allowing for a subsidy and the £25 which the club would hand over, the cost to the council would be reduced to £65. The Mayor then intimated to the deputation that the matter would .be referred to the reserves committee, but he would assure the deputation that the matter would receive a sympathetic hearing and, if possible, the request would be acceded to. Mr Eliott thanked the Mayor and councillors for receiving them. The deputation then withdrew. . Subsequently the reserves, baths, and cemetery committee was asked to bring down a report on the subject at the next meeting of the council. GENERAL. Cr McCorkindale reported that the town clock had been inspected by an expert, who had located the cause of its irregular functioning. Certain mechanical adjustments were necessary.—lt was decided to have the repairs made. Accounts totalling £3142 2s were passed for payment. It was decided to

install.an interphone telephone system in the borough office. The action of the town clerk and the borough engineer in submitting applications to the Public Works Department for East land South Streets to bo declared main highways was confirmed. It was decided that the borough engineer’s proposed programme' for -the tar-sealing of streets, as submitted, be considered at the next meeting of the works committee and that meanwhile the new process of sealing as used on Kawa- Kawa Road be kept under observation. The question of introducing a sanitation'rate or-charge Tor the collection of refuse was referred to the finance committee for consideration, and it was decided that copies of the regulations be prepared by the borough engineer and the town clerk and circulated to users of the service. The borough engineer was instructed to submit a report on suggested improvements in the water- supply from the intake to the reservoir. It was resolved that the council make an official visit of inspection to tho reservoir and intake at an early date. The sum of £2O was placed on the estimates for tree planting on Arbor Day. The town clerk was asked to arange for portraits of past Mayors to be placed in the Council Chambers.

ENGINEER’S REPORT

The borough engineer (Mr T. K. Hay) reported, inter alia: Fourteen streets were repaired with gravel and trimmed with the grader, 176 cubic yards of gravel were used. Footpaths were repaired and surfaced in Warwick Street and Church Street. Duke Street footpath waS cleaned and sprayed with weed killer. Water channels were cleaned in a number of streets. In connection with the interrupted water supply service, the trouble which was caused by willow roots growing into the pipe line, resulting in a temporary failure of the supply, has been overcome and-the supply is now almost back to normal. A recent test disclosed that the flow in amounted to 20,580 gallons per hour which is slightly below the average normal supply. The 15-in. pipe-line at the intake end still contains a quantity of silt which cannot be removed until a scour outlet is placed on this line. This matter is in hand and a quotation is being obtained for the necessary valves and fittings. Repairs have been carried out to water connections and new service connections have been made, while the mains have been scoured. Kowhai Park has received usual attention to flower beds and lawns. Manchester Square, Denbigh Square, the railway reserve and the small area recently laid out at the corner of Kimbolton Road and Aorangi Street have also received necessary attention. MUNICIPAL LIBRARY.

The librarian (Mr R. W. H. Wood) reported that 21 new books had been placed in the library. The number of subscribers at the end of April was 244, an increase of seven compared with the jyevious month. Books changed totalled 2112, compared with 2027 in March. ABATTOIR REPORT. Mr A. E. Ramsay (abattoir manager). reported :—During April, 1938, 122 cows, 6 oxen, 18 heifers, 43 ‘ewes, 334 wethers, 14 lambs and 2180 pigs were dealt with at the municipal abattoir. Fees amounted to £313 11s lOd as compared with £306 Is 5d lor the corresponding month of last year, an increase of £7 10s sd. The following is a list of killings in the extended abattoir district for April, 1938: 178 sheep, 181 lambs, 35 pigs and 9 cattle. Fees amounted to £l3 16s Id.