ANNUAL REPORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 15 June 1940, Page 5

ANNUAL REPORT

BY CITY ENGINEER RUBBISH DISPOSAL REORGANISED WORK ON STREETS G> At this week's meeting of the Nelson City Council the City Engineer (Mr C. I. Kidson) submitted the following annual report, which was approved:— "During the current year staff changes have necessitated considerable alterations in the general organisation of the department. Upoji taking office I was fortunate in having a good staff available to carry this work out. "It was necessary to devise some type of costing which would be both effective and simple to operate. This was brought, about by redesigning the form of time sheet in such a way that both plant and labour were accurately set out and the allocation of any work therefore obvious. In order to keep a chick on materials, a stores issue system has been devised. “The routine in connection with the issue of building permits and the inspection of buildings was also redesigned and with the appointment of Messrs Busbridge and Blake as assistant building inspectors and with the co-opera-tion of the Master Builders’ Association some degree of efficiency has been obtained. "So far as the outside work is concerned the plant has been completely overhauled and new units designed to cope with present conditions. This work is still in hand but it should be completed during the current financial year. “The rubbish disposal has been reorganised on the Bradford tipping system and considerable assistance to the Reserves Department’s programme of formation of Croquet Courts and hockey grounds has been possible. This work necessitated the complete dismantling of the old stables, filling in of the grounds, construction of a new depot and store, and rebuilding of the stables in a position where no nuisance was likely to be created.

“Work on the streets has been largely patching and general maintenance, in the course of which some eight miles of dust-cure has been placed on macadam streets and some two miles of resurfacing work done on streets already tarred. During the year also, preparation has been made for future work and it is hoped to resurface approximately one-fifth of the total area of tarred roads during each financial year. Little attention has been given to footpaths other than the barest maintenance. but preparation here has also been made for considerable resurfacing. “The Brook quarry has been put once again into commission and is now running satisfactorily. “Some extensions of water mains have taken place during the year out of revenue. The bulk of the work has been maintenance. “Some attempt has been made to organise fire fighting crews for the preservation of forest reserves and considerable assistance has been obtained from the local Conservator of Forests, Mr J. F. Field. “Work on the Roding River water worsk contract is proceeding smoothly and there seems to be no doubt that it will be completed before the contract time which is about Easter, 1941. “Some work has been carried out during the year for other departments to a value of over £2OOO. “The activities of the department are very well set out in a report by Mr Hunter of this department to me which is available to any member of the council or to any responsible member of the public who wishes to obtain detailed information in any of these matters.

“I wish to express appreciation of the co-operation of the Town Clerk and his staff and of my own staff and of the excellent work turned out by the men under the City Foreman. Mr L. Nicholas.”