AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14222, 19 November 1909, Page 7

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

THE DUST NUISANCE. •■'.-'■': "-.■'• ' r - < . .. jHE ELECTRIC SPRINKLERS. ' V, • ' CONDEMNED BY COUNCILLORS. Those present at the meeting of the City Council last evening were: The Mayor (Mr. 0. D. Grey), Messrs. P. M. Mackay, H. M. Smeeton, A. J. Entrican, G. Knight, J. Patterson, M. Casey, J. M. Mennie, R. T. Michaels, G. H. Tutt, W. A. Thompson, P. J. Nerheny, R. Tudehope, L. J- Bagnall, and G. Read. ' '~' ' Some discussion took place on the ques- : £ on of the dust nuisance, following a ■ petition which was received from ratepayer*? carrying on business in Custom-street East, pointing out the " prevalence of the dust, nuisance in that thoroughfare, and requesting, pending the permanent improvement, of the street, - : that more effectual steps be taken to abate the evil. The engineer reported that he was do- « in" all that was possible with the money ; allocated and the means at his disposal to keep down the dust. The Mayor moved that the matter be referred to the Works Committee. 'Mr. A. J. Entrican seconded the motion and in doing so said the present arrangement was absolutely useless. The dust had never been so bad in Auckland • M it was this year, and he thought the Works 'Committee. should do its utmost to endeavour to find some means of miti- ' gating the nuisance. The speaker also emphatically , condemned the electric ] sprinklers. Mr. Knight, said the trouble was not , confined to one street, it was all over Auckland. ' He also condemned the electrical sprinklers, which, he said, watered one side of the street, and it was dry an hour afterwards. They did not lay the dust, they raised the dust. ■ , Mr. Mackay said the electrical sprink.Holers'" were a perfect nuisance. "They don't do their work," he said, " and if you get in front of an. electrical sprinkler, ,you have to dodge down an alleyway to escape a dust storm." . Ho hoped something would be done to remedy the evil.. Mr.. Bagnall said that while everyone | admitted the presence of the dust, there I had not been one practical suggestion put | forward either by anyone with whom he j had talked on the matter, or in the Coun- j cil that night. (A councillor: "Put oil down; try the oil remedy.) Referring to that remark, Sir. Bagnall said what was suggested was too expensive; they could not afford to put down oil to lay the dust. The Works Committee, in the course of its report, stated that it had instructed the Engineer to report regarding the dust nuisance, >■ The Mayor's motion was carried. FAST MOTOR DRIVING. REGULATING THE TRAFFIC. A letter was received from the New- , market Borough Council stating that, owing to the increase in the ■ number Aof motor-cars and the "reckless y. f speed at which some were driven, beings a menace ■to. public safety, • the Council .considered the time had arrived for adopting meay sures :to prevent ; accidents. The Newmarket Council suggested co-operation in ,'forming by-laws for the regulation of motor-car traffic and the qualification of { drivers. The town clerk reported that while bydaws for the: city might be framed,, they •! could operate only in the city. ~ j ' Mr. Entrican moved that the matter be j Preferred to the By-laws Committee. To j *;■ Ithis,course Mr.: R.; T. Michaels \ took dev 0 'icided objection, saying that there was too ;mndi fending to committees in the CounIcnVf.The motor-cars; went at too great a ipace, not only going round corners, but y (through* ordinary- traffic.,.,. , ■i; Mr. Knight 'said the motor-cars travelLed faster than ; the trains.? f 5 Mr. Entrican's motion that the matter be referred to the By-laws Committee was tti-ried. ELECTRIC SUPPLY. .'- : -, : -;-ii%<' : <;>-< ,-'\ ■'• . . ■ ■ ■ ■ . .■■■■:. p : . '■ • . \ LIGHTING KARANGAHAPE ROAD. The electrical engineer reported having • obtained the following, prices for lamp part; fittings in connection with the elec- - trie ■'i lighting scheme for $ Karangahape Road:—Massey Bros., Ltd., £56; Eraser 'Bros., £60; Beaney and Sons, -£66; A. ' and T. Burt, Ltd., £69. He recommended acceptance of Massey Bros., -Ltd.'s, - tender. .-Approved. " ; The engineer also recommended calling tenders for the necessary cables for increasing .the feeding capacity to Karangahape Road. This, he explained, was portion of the work scheduled under new loan,- and would render it possible to meet a limited demand in Upper Symondsstreet and also for the hospital. Approv..V ed. ',■.-■;■. i. „.,:... r . *■■.-'■ '■" '"■.-■' - -The. electrical engineer reported that during the past fortnight 27,243 units had 'been generated at the electric power station, and that 12 new customers had been received, making a total of 334. • , . ' ■ ■■■ WORKS IN PROGRESS. , THE GRAFTON „■ BRIDGE. ■ Referring to the erection of the Grafton Bridge the engineer stated that the progress on this contract had seemed slow .during the last month owing to the fact /" that a great deal of falsework had had to be erected in connection with the subsequent construction of the girders and beams carrying the decking, or floor, of % the bridge. During the month he had V Me centring lowered so as to permit of a N the arch ribs settling properly into the • hinges, and the results had proved quite satisfactory. ;; The report was received. the engineer reported that good pro- ■ gress had been made with the constructlon of the Archhill reservoir. The whole ' of the flooring was now completed and all the foundations had been put in, and the - Rreater number of columns completed. Che vails were now practically completed and there only remained the roof and mushing of the parapets and plastering, or JanderiDg, to make this job complete. «e-hoped in any case that it would be finished by the end of January, and that the specified test would be able to be JPado by February. •A. Commencement was made with the construction of the Khyber Pass reservoir on October 25, and good progress was wing made with the excavation. __: FRUIT HAWKERS. ', ■:■■)■■ 1 A BALLOT FOR STANDS. Hi *he Works Committee, reporting on we.application of the fruit hawkers to the ? again allowed to have their stalls on the filMS^$ reet corners, recommended that ..■■■.goww? be granted for street dealers' j - l?," 1 terms of the by-laws and subl R» the ■ following regulations :—(l) .'S stands be appointed at the various I off the line of Queen-street * MTV m ° re than one st£dl at each corner, -SMf the light to occupy such stands J balloted. for each week/ The report ** adopted, k . .