City Administration

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 3

City Administration

MEETING OP THE COUNCIL The Palmerston North City Council met oh Monday evening, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) presiding. Also present were Crs. Tremaine, J. T. J. Heatley, E. L. C. Aitcliison, W. B. Cameron, J. Hodgens, M.P., W. B. Tennent, W. Mouldey, J. J. Stevenson and A. A. Langley. Tho director of the Technical School wrote expressing the appreciation ol tho board of governors for the annual subsidy and tho concession granted in lighting and cooking charges, and inquiring whether the usual prizes for dinner cooking competitions would be available. It was decided that tho usual donation of £2 2s for this purpose be made by the department. Tho East Side Progressive Association requested that the two ‘ 1 Welcome signs belonging to the association be erected and illuminated from December 10 to 24, inclusive, and also on the 31st idem, and it was decided that this matter bo left in the hands of the electrical engineer to interview the secretary of the association and make the necessary arrangements.

A communication was received from the Kegistrar, Massey Agricultural College, advising that the College Council was prepared to agree to the gas department taking over the existing 3-inch main from Eitzherbert bridge and replacing same with a 6-inch main on the condition that the Government Department would guarantee the required annual consumption of gas, and stating that approval had been obtained to tho suggested replacement of the main on the following conditions: —(1) That the City Council agrees to supply sufficient gas for the purposes of the college and the Plant Kesearch Bureau as long as required; (2) that the City Council will bo responsible for the maintenance of the new main. It was decided that the College Council be advised of the acceptance of its proposal, provided the plant Eesearch Bureau agrees to guarantee the minimum quantity of gas annually for the period required by the council.

The city electrical engineer (Mr J. W. Muir) reported that the following work was carried out by the lines department during October: Services run, 11; meters tested, 4S; meters instated, 64. The inspector made inspections of 69 jobs during the month, including 53 extensions, making the total number ol consumers to date 6112. The total connected, load was now 22,948 k.w..

The gas manager (Mr J. W. Muir) reported that gas made during October totalled 7,680,000 cubic feet, an increase of 637,000 cuoic feet on the figures for the corresponding month of 1935. During the month the department installed 14 cookers, one water heater, five fires, and one califont. Ten new services were also laid and 23 meters connected. The total number of consumers was now 5,228. City Engineer’s Keport. The 'City engineer (Mr J. E. Hughes) reported as follows on the wont done during the month of October:— Street maintenance: In all 135 cubic \ards of screened river metal have been .ed and spread on various secondary . w „s, and foil cubic yards of asphalt u ui repairing paved streets, Special .jnuworks: Euanine street, between main and Church streets, and Heretaunga street between Grey and Eeatherstone streets,(have been scarified, graded, metalled and consolidated in luadiness for. sealing. The formation work in Heretaunga street has taken considerably more time, when compared w ith other streets, on account of the exceptionally high crown of the road, v.nich had to no lowered and re-shaped. Tho following streets have received their initial tar-stal coat; —Argyle avenue, Wood street to Aroha street; Fitchett street; McGilfert street; Stanley avenue, Eoy street to Eussell street; liuahine street, Main street to Church street. College' street extension: Good progress lias ueen made with filling and metalling, and as soon as weather conditions improve this road will be opened ior through traffic.

Lagoons: The invert ol the culvert in Park road has been lowered and 80 feet of 15-inch diameter pipes laid through the culvert at a level to allow the lowering of the water level of the upper lagoons. A start has been made at To Awe Awe street culvert on lowering the invert to the now gradient. General: (a) Erection of ladies' conveniences, the Square: The contractors have maintained good progress, the structural work has been completed, and the plasterers are proceeding with the internal linings of walls and ceilings. (b) Grandstand, Sportsgrounds: The contractors have poured all the concrete in the ground floors, beams, etc., and' mezzanine floor including the piers and walls to this height, (c) Old i'itzhcrbert bridge: The contractors engaged on dismantling the old bridge have removed the land span at the city end. (d) The men working for rates and light have been engaged building up a sod ramp to retain the adjoining property and maintain the boundary fence in Juriri street metal pit. (e) A gang has been employed cleaning out some of the drains of the outer area; also' a considerable amount of channel cleaning has been done. About seven chains of new lawns have been laid at the corner of College and Cook streets. Waterworks: During the month ten new services were installed, five services replaced and 15 services overhauled and repaired. The 2-inch main in Miro street was extended 54 feet to supply a residence in course of erection. Twenty-one-inch diameter supply main: The section of 21-inch diameter main laid in Fitzherbert avenue (College street to bridge) has been tested under pressure to 1001 b. per square inch, and the trench filled in. The contractors.to date have laid 35 chains of 21-inch main on the country side ot the bridge, practically to the top of the hill. The work up the hill has been done by hand labour on account of the impracticability of working the mechanical digger on this section of the road, the plant being of dimensions which would not permit the required clearance for road traffic.

Nine-inch diameter pumping main, ,Vogel street: One gang commenced work- on October 8,.. excavating trenches and laying a 9-incli diameter main

along Vogel street from the artesian reservoir site to Main street. To date the main has been laid in Vogel street and Main street between Vogel street and Millar street crossing, a total length of 40 chains.