NORTHCOTE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15746, 22 October 1914, Page 7

NORTHCOTE COUNCIL.

The Northcote Borough Council met on Tuesday night. Present: The .Mayor, -Mr. G. Fraser, and Messrs. E. Stilwell, A. E. Green,slade, J. B. Tonar, J. T. Fearnley, J. Broady, T. S. Wallace, R. H. P. Hop' kins, and H. Crowley. The town clerk reported that the sum of £216 2s had been received from the Takapuna Borough Council for water supplied to June 30 last.

In referring to the destruction by fire of the borough's pumping station at Lake Takaptina, the Mayor said that arrangements had been made with the Birkenhead Council for a temporary supply, but the Takapuna Borough had had to arrange temporarily with the Devonport Council for a supply in lieu of that supplied by the Northcote piant. The fire had probably arisen as a result of the woodwork near the exhaust pipe becoming ignited. The building had been destroyed, but otherwise the damage did not appear to be serious. The engine required a general overhaul, but could be put in good order, while the pumps also seemed to bo quite free. A new magneto had been secured. A temporary shelter had been erected, but the new building should be slightly larger. On tho motion of the Mayor, it was resolved to send a letter of thanks to the Mayor and council of Birkenhead for the assistance rendered in securing for Northcote a temporary supply. The Water Committee was empowered to obtain alternate estimates for rebuilding the pumping station and report to the council. It was resolved to open negotiations with the Birkenhead Council for alternate quotations for pumping the whole of the water from Lake Takapuna required by tho Northcote Council, and for an auxiliary supply, in the event of an accident or emergency. The traffic inspector reported that the recent decision in favour of the council in regard to the width of tyres had® not had the effect of restraining vehicles with narrow tyres, and it was intended to take action if breaches continued.

A letter was received from the Lake Takapuna Board of Control urging the local bodies to restrict the withdrawal of water from the lake, in view of the fall of 6ft in the level for the past three years. In the course of discussion, it was contended that practically no waste occurred in the Norlhcote district, the consumption being under 10,000,000 gals per annum, while the total quantity taken from the lake for the districts of Birkenhead, Takapuna, and Northcote did not exceed 27,000,000ga1s per annum. The quantity used by Devonport was 200,000,000ga1s per annum.