BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLXI, Issue 3480, 14 December 1926, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Meeting of Council The Mayor (Mr. F. J. Nathan) presided over the meeting of the Borough Council last evening, when there were also present: Crs. M .A. Eliott, J. Hod. gens, J. A. MoLeavey, R. Edwards, H. J. Canton, A. J. Graham, W. L. Fitzherbert and M. H. Oram. Correspondence. From the Borough Solicitor, with reference to the Council's intention to lease part of new cemetery land, James’ line, for a term of 5 years, and stating that in his opinion the Council had no power to lease any part of the land.—lt was decided to bring the matter before the Municipal Conference, with the view of getting the law altered.

From G. K. Holller, complaining of the condition of Ngaio street, and stating that it must be now 7 or 8 years since anything by way of repair had been carried out in the street. The present state of the footpath was a danger to pedestrians in wet weather, and more so at night-time.—Engineer to report to the finance committee, which will deal with the matter if it is urgent. From H. E. Bennett, asking the Council to take over the new parts put into the biograph machine at the Opera House, which had to be placed at the request of the Government Inspector to enable the machine to be placed in perfect running order. The parts, etc., were assessed at £42 9s 6d. Further, that he had erected a hoarding to replace the old broken fence on the side of the Opera House, which is revenue-producing, but he did not ask for compensation, as he was not asked to erect same. Mr. H. E. Bennett further stated that In the event of their being no tenders tor the lease of the Opera House, he be allowed to continue to control the box plan.—lt was decided to purchase the biograph parts. As regards the box plans, nothing is to be decided upon until tenders for the lease are received. From the Dobson coal mine relief committee, stating that stops were being immediately taken to establish a fund for the relief of the dependents of those who lost their lives in the disaster on Friday, the 3rd Inst., and forwarding a subscription list with a request that the Council be good enough to place this appeal before the public and take any steps which they might deem advisable to obtain donations to. wards the fund. —Agreed to. Reports.

The Works and Town Planning Committee recommende: — That Mr. A. Hopwood be informed in reply to his letter o fthe 27th ultimo, that as soon as the Government formed and constructed tie extension of Limbrick street through Crown property, being Part Section 357, the Council would do their part through Allotments 29 and 30 to Brightwater Terrace.

That Mrs. M. Hill, owner of Part Section 57 Albert street, be informed that her request that the sewer be extended to enable connection being made to her new dwelling, is agreed to. That Messrs. Hankins, Fitzherbert and Abraham, solicitors and agents for Mr. W. Park, wrote in reply to the Council’s letter of the 16th November, stating that they would undertake to pay the Council the sum of £8 out of the purchase money of each section sold, until the estimated amount of the cost of tarring and sanding the footpaths had been paid. It was resolved that the conditions of payment be accepted. That further to the communication received from the Railway Board agreeing to pay one-third of the sum of £932, being estimated cost of providing a 15in. sewer in Boundary road from Kairanga road to Roy street, it was decided to inform the Board that the Council was of the opinion that a contribution of a sum Of not less than £SOO should be made towards the capital cost of the work, and in addition thereto the Board should further pay an annual charge of £SO towards the cost of the maintenance of the sewer. The recommendations were agreed to.

Electrical Department. The electrical engineer (Mr. J. W. Muir) reported a peak load of SGO k.v.a. on November 27 at 98 lagging; i.e., 877.5 k.w.; units purchased 282,. 350; units generated, 50,920; units sup. plied Public Works Department, 481 on November 7. The lighting committee approved of a donation of an electrical cooker to the Home Science School, Campbell street, free of cost. Gas Department. The manager of the Gas Department (Mr. G. W. Healey) reported <an increased gas manufacture over November of 1925. The figures were: November, 1926, 6,504,000 cubic feet; November, 1925, 6,390,000 cubic feet. During the month the staff fixed 56 additional gas cookers and 4 wash coppers. This made a total of over 300 gas cookers connected within the last eight months. At the present time there were signed orders on the books for close upon 100 more. On account of the recent coal strike in England, i the manager said he was at present experiencing considerable difficulties in obtaining supplies. A consignment of 40 cookers was due to arrive at ani earlier date, and full supplies would be l arriving at regular intervals in the New Year. Engineer’s Report. The engineer (Mr. J. R, Hughes) reported, inter alia:—Eight concrete! culverts have been laid down for the' Traffic Department in the business area of the town and twenty-eight priJ ’ i

vate crossings installed in the residential area. Following on the construction of concrete kerbing and channelling on the south side of Fitzroy street between Church and Main streets, the footpath has been cleaned up and metalled preparatory to tarring. The footpath in Ferguson street for a length of ii chains, and between Colombo and Morris streets has been formed and metalled. Towards the

close of last month a start was made in putting down permanent surfacing of bitumenous hot mix to the footpaths in the Square. Asphalt patching has been carried out to most of the tarred roadways, and a number of footpaths have also been similarly treated. The re-grading and metalling of the full length of Domain street has now been completed, and the work pf consolidating the roadway is being carried out by the steam roller. The surface in Waldegrave street has been lightly Iscarified throughout and given a light | coat of crushed pit metal. The asjphalt roadways in Church and Cuba streets have been treated in places with tar and sand, preparatory to top-dress-ing with bitumen. Considerable patching of macadam streets is still being carried out as transport is available, and during the past month a total of ! 350 cubic yards of pit metal has been placed, in various streets. The volume of water flowing in the iKawau Stream has prevented good progress being made with the construction of concrete culverts at the: Boundary road end of Roy and North streets. The numerous slips that have occurred at the Mangaono end of the Kawau Stream have now been cleared away and the sides of banks made good. The banks of this stream in the vicinity of Roy and Rongopai streets that wore partly washed away in sev-; eral places haev now been repaired ' and made secure. The reservoir at the top of Pratt's Hill, Fiteherbcrt, has, 'been thoroughly cleaned and scoured out and is again ready for use in case lof emergency.