MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 100, 28 March 1939, Page 12

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The Palmerston North City Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) presiding. Others present were Crs. G. Tremaine, W. B. Tennent, W. Mouldey, A. Grigor, H. E. Townshend, J. T. J. Heatlcy and W. G. Black. LIBRARY COMMITTEE. The report of the library committee was adopted. It stated: That Mr W. E. Knapp had written offering to donate a set of books entitled “The History of the Brethren,” and it was decided that his otter be accepted with thanks. That the librarian be instructed to consult the city engineer and to submit to the next meeting of the committee a plan of the proposed further internal alterations, with an estimate of the cost. That applications be called for two senior female assistants to fill vacancies, at salaries from £125 to £l5O, according to qualifications and experience, subject to award conditions. WORKS COMMITTEE.

The works committee reported that Mr R. J. Boyd had written on behalf of the residents of Snelson Street, making application for the tar-sealing of the street, and it was decided that the request be referred to the estimates for the ensuing year. That the Kairanga County Council advised that the formation work on James's Line had been commenced preparatory to the sealing of the road to tne cemetery. That the Salvation Army Band made application for the annual grant for its services, and it was decided that the communication be referred to the estimates. That the Spanish Medical Aid Committee applied for permission to hold a street day, and it was decided that they be advised that, as street stalls are limited to twelve per annum, there is no month available until April, 1940, and that local organisations receive preference. That the Crippled Children Society made application for permission to conduct a street day during the last four months of 1959, and it was decided tha.t the. society he granted February, 1940, or any month falling vacant in the interim. That an application for permission to arect a dwelling in wood in Rangitikei Street be not granted. That the city engineer be requested to report to the meeting called to consider the estimates in regard to the proposed zoning of Rangitikei Street and other areas, as a result of his discussions with the Director of Town Planning. That the assistant engineer reported in regard to excessive water cosumption, aud it was decided that the use of water lor garden purposes be prohibited if no rain eventuates. GAS AND ELECTRICITY. The lighting committee recommended that applications by advertisement be invited for the position of an apprentice in the electricity department, and that preference be given to students from the Technical School. That'a tender of £3B 10s per ton he accepted for scrap copper. That the communication from the Central Waikato Electric Power Board concerning import restrictions on electrical appliances and equipment he referred to the chairman and the electrical engineer to examine the proposals contained, and to support them if thought desirable. Tlie electrical engineer (Mr J. AV. Muir) reported that the total number of consumers to date was 6383. The total connected load, including street lights, was now 28,432 k.w. A total of 1,384,000 units had been purchased, an increase of 11 per cent on the same date last year. '“A start was made with the laying of the new 11,000volt underground feeder from the power station to the sub-station in Main Street. This has now been completed with the exception of the jointing of the separate lengths of cable and the installation of the oil circuit breaker at the power station. The lamps and special fittings for the new sodium lighting system for Fitzlierbert Avenue arrived last week, and a start will be made to instal this . as soon as possible. The twelve distribution transformers ordered in September have been delivered. Provision has already been made in North Street, in Russell Street near Rongopai Street Park Road near Batt Street and near the Government housing block for transformers. The gas manager (Air J. Lenrmonth) reported that 7,279.990 cubic ft of gas had been made in February, an increase of 453,000 on the production for the previous February. “The new 12inch main is connected to Heretnunga Street and Albert Street, and all services are cleaned and connected on. The lifting of the 32-ineh cast iron main is progressing satisfactorily, and we are now between Fit/.roy and Rii"hine Streets. At the retorts we had considerable trouble owing to the wrong coal being supplied. AVe depe.n' 1 100 per cent on Point Elizabeth cord for mixing, and after the eonl d r '"d out in the bins we found Dobson coal had got mixed with the Point Elizabeth. This meant that owing to the swelling nature of this coal, every retort was sticking up. After having considerable trouble day and night for a week, we managed to get the plant back to normal.” AERODROME COMMITTEE. The report of the aerodrome committee, which was adopted, stated, inter alia: —That the account for £6 covering the attendance of the Fire Brigade at the aerodrome fire be passed for payment. That no charge he made to the Middle Districts Aero Club for the use of the old hangar building, pending the re-erection of the building recently destroyed by fire. " TRANSIT COMMITTEE. The following recommendations of the transit committee were adopted : That a length on each side of the corner of Slain and Ruahine Streets bo declared a ‘No Parking” area as requested hv the Terrace End Progressive Association. That a pedestrian crossing be painted at the intersection of Fitzherliert Avenue and College Street. That the Manawatu Carriers’ Association requested the limitation of the number of goods carts plying for hire, and it was decided that the number of such licenses l>c limited to the number at present issued. That the association l>e informed that the new scale of charges shall become effective as from April 1. That the Automobile Association wrote suggesting that all blind streets he signposted and offering to defray half the cost of the erection of such signs, and it was decided that the’ proposal he agreed to. That the communication from the Transport Department, stating that the latest accident returns indicate that, despite a considerable increase in the volume of traffic during the two months since the Road Safety AVeek. there has a distinct improvement in traffic behaviour and a substantial saving to the community in accident loss, lie received and the department he advised that the council will cooperate with ; t in the i=<p’° nf material. MAINTENANCE WORK. The city engineer (Mr J. IL Hughes)

reported on tho work done in February as follows:—Approximately 43 yards of screened river metal have been spread on secondary streets and a gang fully engaged on asphalt patching sealed surfaces, and another on channel cleaning. ’I he tar-sealing programme is progressing steadily, and at the end of the month the following streets were metalled to a depth of 3 inches, blinded, rolled and consolidated in readiness for tar-sealing : —Kaniurly Street (completed balance this month), Park Road (Fitzherbert Avenue to Alamo Street), Batt Street, Bryant Street (Featherston to Chelwood Streets), L.yndhurst Street (Featherston to Chelwood Streets), South Street (portion only). Two gangs are now engaged, one in the western area and one in the south-east-ern area. Raiulurly Street, Donnitiglon Street, Cross Street and Park Road (Fitzherbert Avenue to Marne Street) have received their initial coat of tar and chips. The following streets from previous year's programmes have received their second tar-seal coat: Park Road (Fitzherbert Avenue to Cook Street), Bourke Street (full length). Ngata Street (full length), Lyndhurst Street (Alain to Cuba Streets). The footpaths fronting the West End School for a distance of 5i- chains in College Street and four chains in Botanical Road have been re-topdressed with tar and fine chips; also the paths at the North Street Bowling (flub have been reformed and topdrrssed. The footpath which was formed on the south side of College Street in front of the State houses, between Cook Street and the West End School property, some months ago, was grubbed of all weeds, etc., metalled, and topdrossed with tar and fine chips. Much of the work that was due to be carried out at the aerodrome was held over owing to the recent fire, hut the new parking area has been cleaned up and surplus spoil used to fill depressions. Napier Road drain has been pified with 18-inch diameter concrete pipes for a distance of five chains from the gasworks culvert in front of the council houses towards the town ; the Knwau Drain between Ruahine and Featherston Streets has been cleaned. Pipe Bridge, Hasloch’s: At tho end of the month tUs work of laying tho 21-inch diameter concrete lined steel mains and connecting to the existing 21in. main on both sides of the stream was completed. The. laying of this portion completed the 3000 feet authorised to be laid during 1938-39 and brings the length of 21in. diameter mains now laid to 3.38 miles. Owing to the decaying of old tree stumps loft in the b< d of (he road when first constructed, a subsidence occurred in the road surface of Fitzherbert, Avenue, and it was found necessary to remove three very large stumps. The houses in the following streets have been re-numbered: Alain Street, Puriri Terraco, Kinini Street Ilavill Street, Karina Terrace, Phillip Street, Kauri Street. Sewer extension , College Street: Goon progress is still being made, and at the end of the month a further 11 chains had been laid. This now makes a lotal of 40 chains. —Tho report was adopted. GENERAL. Tho abattoir manager (Mr A. AI. Spilman) reported that the following stock had boon slaughter during February : A total of 197 cows, 114 heifers, 43 bullocks, 20 calves, 621 ewes, 908 wethers, 90 lambs, and 162 pigs. Stock condemned totalled seven cows, one heifer, one ox, five sheep, and one pig. Fees collected totalled £291 4s. Mr R. Toms (poundkeoper) stated that nine head of stock had been impounded, fees aggregating 8s 6d. The sanitary inspector (Mr J. Lissington) reported- that during February he had approved nine now sewer connections and one extension. . The following infectious cases had been reported during the month: Scarlet fever 1, tontanus 1, diphtheria 1, tuberculosis 1. Respecting licenses for the storage of fireworks, the inspector of nuisances (Air D. Evans) drew attention to tho by-law which mentioned that fireworks, in conjunction, with sovoral other dangerous goods, could be stored for the fee of £2 a year. The only sale for fireworks was in November, and on inquiries made last year lie had found that some small shops bought stock to the value of 10s and others up to the value of £2. Four other shops stocked about 751 b. Mr Evans said that lie understood that the by-law was only framed for the purpose of having all stocks of fireworks under the supervision of the council, and not to cause any hardship on business owners. He recommended, therefore, that the fee be revised and ,\it the following charges bo made: —• l or storks up to 1001 b, 10s per year, arid for 251 b or any part thereof 2s 6d per year. lie bad carried out inspections of all houses in several streets.