MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2762, 2 October 1923, Page 8

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Palmerston North Council met last, evening, when there were present: Crs. F. Jackson (Deputy-Mayor) A. J. Graham, H. J. Canton, M. H. Oram and W. L#. Fitzherbert. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. J. A. McLeavey, J. Hodgens and E. V. West. CORRESPONDENCE. Various correspondence was dealt with as under: From Miss L. Jones, Scoutmistress, applying for the use of the Coronation Rail on Saturday afternoons, for the purpose of Girl Scout Avork. —Granted. From Mr F. Black, forwarding account amounting to £291 10/2, remuneration in connection with electric supply undertaking. Received. From Mr F; Black, with reference to alterations to the railway wires, and stating that at two sidings of the railway in Main Street, the land occupied encroached upon the road, The railway telegraph wires followed this encroachment, so that if the supply mains were kept parallel with them, the poles would constitute a public danger. The Railway engineer proposed to divert his wires at the two 'sidings and thus enable the electric poles to be in a straight line throughout. The Deparmcnt estimated the cost at C 25, and the consulting engineer asked for instructions in the .•natter.—Received.

From Mr F. Black, with regard to the cost of electric supply undertakings, and stating that at the present time tho loan moneys authorised appear to be sufficient for the purposes of all the contracts. —Received.

From tho District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, advising that a lease of the ballast reserve, Terrace 'End, would bo granted the Council on a year-to-year tenure at a rental of £7 ip/ iper annum, terminable on three months' notice, and possession would be given on March 17 next.—• Referred to the Finance Committee. From the Palmerston North Hospital Board, intimating that the Board had decided to instruct one of its porters to keep the lavatories and shelter at the hospital gates in a satisfactory condition. —Received, and a letter of thanks to be sent to the Hospital Board. From the Taringamutu Totara Sawmills, Ltd., stating that the company proposed to open a 1 timber yard in ralmcrston North,, and enquiring if there might be a chance of acquiring- the gas works site, Main Street, for the purpose.—The matter was referred to the gas committee. From the Ohakune Chamber of Commerce, stating that local bodies in Wanganui Waimarino districts wore taking steps to divert the proposed main highway from Auckland to Wellington down the Parapara Road from Horopito to Wanganui via Raetihi, thereby encircling Wanganui and places on that route at the expense of all places on the Main Trunk Railway from Ohakune to Palmerston North, and inviting suggestions for concerted action to have the original scheme of the Department adhered to. Councillors were of opinion that the matter did not concern this Council, and the letter was received.

From the Palmerston North Technical School, making application for payment of annual subsidy of £3O. — Granted.

From Mr A. H. Preece, making application for the formation of a footpath in College Street East, for a distance of 10 chains from Alexandra Street, and agreeing to contribute half cosl.j —It was decided that the engineer be instructed to prepare an estimate for a metal roadway 16ft. in width,'as it was deemed inadvisable to form a footpath in that vicinity at present. From Mr. C. Findlay, with reference to the lease of lot 3, Avenue-road and forwarding a communication from the superintendent of the State Advances Office, which stated that the clause in the lease regarding insurances was not acceptable to the department, and should be amended to provide that all buildings erected on the security should be insured solely in the name of the superintendent as mortgagee, and Mr. Findlay asked that his lease be amended accordingly. —lnstructions were issued for the amendment of the lease. LAND FOR RAILWAY EXTENSION A letter was read from Messrs. Innes and Oakley, stating that they had received an intimation from the vendors of the land over which the council required an easement for railway purposes at Terrace End, and stating the terms upon which the vendors were prepared to grant an casement, provided the council, paid compensation to the present tenant. The deputy-Mayor said the terms were such that it would pay the council to acquire the land under the Public Works Act, as it would have to contribute £135 plus all costs for 1J acres for a period of ten years. As they were not clear as to how the railway deviation was to be considered negotiations would not be profitable just now under the terms outlined. It was agreed that, failing better terms, the land be acquired under the Public Works Act. WORKS AND TOWN PLANNING. The works and town planning committee reported that the engineer reported that Mr. Murray's complaint regarding traffic encroaching too near his property at the corner of Lim-brick-street and the unnamed roadway between Manson and. Knowlcs streets had been attended to; and that in order to complete the sewering or College-street East, the engineer be requested to extend the pipes for a further distance of two and a-half chain's, as asked for by 'Mr. A. H. Preece, cost to be charged to sewerage loan. ENGINEER'S REPORT. In hi 3 monthly report, the borough engineer, Mr. J. R. Hughes, stated:— Steady progress is still being maintained with the construction of the outfall sewer from College-street to Foxton Line, and the amount of work completed to date is 27 chains of 301 n.

sewer, and eight chains of 24in. sewer. The construction of the brick manhole is also practically completed. The excavation of the trench and the laying of -267 ft. of three-inch cast iron water pipes at the new gas works h*s been completed, also th e -laying of 75ft of two-inch pipe, 93ft of one and a-half-'inch pipe, and 126 ft one-inch pirV. has been finished and connected to the 3in. main. The building containing the destructor plant is now completed. The plant has all been created with the exception of the steam piping, which has not yet come to hand. Fires were lighted in the cells on September 27 for the purpose of slowly drying out the brickwork, which will take from three to tout weeks, by which time the plant should be ready for undergoing the required tests. The construction of the elevated roadway is well unGer way. The footpaths in the following streets have been patched with asphalt: Ada, Morris, Hangitikei, Taonui, College-street East, Scandia," Cuba, Broa.d, Fitzherbert, Ruahine, Martin, Alan, Fitchett, Ngata streets and Ferguson-street East, and the quantity of material used for this work amounted to 175 cubic yards. The crusher was put into oiperation on September 17, and to date 450 cubic yards of boulders have been crushed, averaging CO cubic yards per day.—Adopted. GASWORKS.

The report of the borough engineer on the gasworks was as follow: The whole of the plant in connection with one unit, comprising eight retorts, is now completed and slow fires were lighted on September' 26. The remaining eight retorts should be completed during the coming month. The operating plant, comprising coal breaker and elevator, goods lift, extractor 1 gear and gas engines are all ready to be operated. The gas holder was completed, tested and taken over from the contractors on September 9. In regard to the purifier, washer and condenser, these three units are now undergoing erection and given fine weather should be completed within two weeks. The gas main connections between the retort house and holder, and the coupling up of the above plants will be put in hand during the next fortnight.— Adopted.