BOROUGH OF FEILDING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6613, 18 May 1928, Page 3

BOROUGH OF FEILDING

THE YEAR’S WORK.

REVIEWED BY THE MAYOR,

Af last evening’s meeting of the Foilding Borough Council the Mayor (Mr E. Fair) gave the following review of the past year’s work.

Waterworks: The new weir was completed early in the year and the change over from the old to the new was made on the 10th July, 1027. The contractor at tho tunnel commenced tho concrete lining on the 20th December last, and has since made good progress It is anticipated that this work will be completed early in June. The w'atcr supply through the whole ol the long dry summer was so abundant that the use- of water was never curtailed and tho reservoirs were overflowing throughout. Road Maintenance. Lethbridge street bridge was strengthened and rcdcckcd. Denbigh street bridge was repaired and strengthened and the old stab ffucing at the approaches to tho bridge was removed and replaced with post and rail fences. Three chains of new kcrbing and channelling in Church street, It chains in Nelson street extension. Seven chains of 4-inch sewer were constructed at the pavilion in Johnson Park. Formation of a parking area was also put in hand but was not completed at the end of tho year. Eightyfive chains of footpaths were constructed, as compared with 2.S chains last year. Seventy chains of existing footpaths were coated with chips au.l sprayed with bitumen. Eighteen channel crossings amounting to 250 feet were constructed. 200 feet of culverts across streets were laid.

Traffic domes were placed on seven street intersections., The remaining portion of Makino road, amounting to 50 chains, was completed with two coats of bitumen. *

The area adjacent to South street bridge at the corner of West street has been fenced with concrete posts and rails and planted with shrubs.

One hundred and twenty trees were planted in South street, 300 on the three sides of tho main ground at Johnson Fork and 1,200 at the newly acquired rubbish tip. Abattoir.

Various repairs were carried out to the abattoir plant. A sheep drafting race was constructed and an electric motor installed to operate the winch for lifting beef, and the abattoir cottage was installed with electric light. A title for 13 acres of river accretion was obtained and this area has now been fenced and subdivided and leased for holding paddocks. Maintenance Plant. A. portable elevator was added 1o the plant during the year, which greatly facilitated the screening and handling of metal. The 4-ton Dryland can now bo used to advantage in transporting metal for maintenance and other purposes.

The plant generally is in good condition, the tractor and grader having done good work during the year. The steam roller is in first class condition.

The refuse lorry, a one ton lord is proving rather light for the work now required of it, but it is hoped to get through the coming year without replacing the present lorry with a. heavier one. The usual road maintenance and refuse collection has been carried out during Ihe year. Beserves. Johnson Park has been transformed from a practically unused area to the most popular summer and winter reserve in the borough. The Council purchased the necessary land out of its Reserves Account and closed Wellington street extension, thus adding a very valuable area to the reserves for the purpose of forming ,a football and other sports playing area. This purchase made possible the formation of the splendid football grounds now In be seen at the Park. The cost of forming tho grounds, erecting the pavilion, fences, etc., was a good deal higher than at first anticipated, but due to a pound for pound subsidy from (he Government, and Hie utilisation of unemployed labour, the necessary additional finance was provided. Through Hie assistance of (ho Lootball Lxccutive and the very valuable services of Mr T. Collins, a handsome pavilion was creeled in (lie grounds. Bathing facilities were also provided at the river, which proved to bo very popular with tho public. The Council also acquired and planted a reserve outside the borough for a permanent refuse depot. Loans. No loans were raised during the, year Just, pasl, and now that ail the main highways arc bit unionized it should not be necessary for any large public works to be undertaken or anymore loans to lie raised for some considerable lime, with the exception of Hie small loan required to complete payment on the tunnel contract. ’ Pittances. During Ihe year the whole of the interest and sinking fund charges on loans including the mail loan of fid, 000 and flic water loan of £20,350 have become a charge on rates. This, togc-

thcr with an increase of approximately £250 in thi hospital levy for tho coming year, has made necessary a small increase in the rates, amounting to approximately <3 9-3 per cent.

The estimates submitted at tins meeting have been prepared very carefully amt it, must bo borne in mind by the Council that practically no margin has been allowed on any into. Any extraordinary calls, therefore, on the borough finance during the ensuing year must lie very llioroug’aly gouc into. ’ Rates.

The outstanding rates at ilie 31st March, 1925, amounted to £2S3 3/7 out of a total collectable of £17,223 10/L This amount of arrears, though higher Ilian usual, in view of (he financial stringency obtaining at present, is not very high and quite a considerable portion of this amount has now been collect ed.

All tilings considered, the conduct of (he borough during the year has been very satisfactory indeed. Cr. C. L. Taylor remarked that ratepayers should know (hat with reference to (ho charges on account of interest and sinking funds that tlie borough was paying in reduction of its loans a mailer of over £3OOO per a n mini.

The Mayor’s report was received without furl her comment