City Administration

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 44, 22 February 1938, Page 8

City Administration

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL The Palmerston North City Council met last night, the Alayor (Air. A. E. Mansford) presiding. Also present were Crs. R. L. C. Ailchison, J. T. J. Heatley, W. B. Cameron, W. B. Tennent, W. Mouldey and J. Hodgens, M.P. The Manawatu-Oroua Electric Power Board wrote declining the council’s request for the supply of current to be made in bulk at the entrance to the aerodrome property, but stating its willingness to take over the line and pay the cost thereof. It was decided that the board bo advised that the council was willing to dispose of the service line at the cost price of same, namely, £57 8s sd. An application for a bus to run to Bledisloe Park to pick up and put down school children attending College Street School was turned down, owing to vehicles not being available. The West End Progressive Association wrote drawing attention to the dangerous position of the traffic dome at the intersection of Alain street and West street, and also requesting the painting white of the telegraph jjole in Alain street below West street, and the electric light pole near the railway line. It was decided that the association be advised that the council had no power under the regulations to move the dome from the centre of the roadway but that the question of improving the camber of the road and the matter of painting the poles woma be the subject of a report by the city engineer and the traffic manager at the next meeting of the committee.

The gas manager (Mr. J. Learrnonth) reported an increase of 110,000 cubic feet in the make of gas for January. The total number of consumers was now 5509. At present four retort setter were working on tho new building and the work was progressing very satisfactorily. The two gas producers were finished, and men wero now engaged on the retorts. The repairs to the iron work in connection with the setting were well in hand. The electrical engineer (Mr. J. W. Muir) reported that 122 jobs had been passed during the past two months, making the total number of consumers to date 6312 and the total connected load, including street lights, 25,446 k.w. Units purchased during December totalled 1,371,600, an increase of 11 per cent, over the figure for the corresponding month of 1936, and for January 1,250,000, a slight decrease. The quarter’s power costs were £6692 15s 10d. less an allowance of £375 from the Public Works Department. The 3300volt underground cable ordered in September last for improving i.bo feeder capacity to tho transformers in Taonji and Grey streets came to hand, in January, and a start had been made in laying same from Main street sub-station.. The starting gear for tho purpose oi using No. 5 alternator as a synchronous condenser had been installed. During" the month a 50 k.v.a. transformer was installed at the corner of Wood street and Boundary road, to take care of the growing load in that area. In the last few months the line 3 gang had over- I hauled the services and mains in the whole of that portion of the town east of the railway, an l were a- presen overhauling services and mains in that part of the town west of the railftpy, Lctreen Botanrnu road and Rangitikci street.