THE CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17257, 5 September 1919, Page 9

THE CITY COUNCIL.

ELECTRICJTY DEPARTMENT.

INCREASE IN BUSINESS. PROSPECTIVE EXTENSIONS. The City Council met last evening, the Deputy- Mr. A. J. Entrican, presiding. There were also present : —Mrs. E. H. Maguire, Miss K. Melville, Messrs. P. M. Mackay, H. D. Heather, G. Knight, J. Burton, W. J. Holdsworth, F. W. H. Brinaden, T. Bloodworth, J. Dempsey. G. Baildon, P. J. Nerheny, J. Trevethick, J. B. Patereon, J. A. Warnock, G. Davis, H. N. Bagnall, M. J. Savage, and A. Hall Skelton. The electrical engineer, Mr. A. Wyllie, submitted the following financial statement for the years ended March 31, 191 a, and 1918: — _ 1919. 1918. Units sold . . . . 8,020.813 7,342,297 Revenue . . . . ' £69,185 £64,959 Working expenses . . 29,053 28,811 Capita] charges . . 19,418 16,418 Depreciation . . . . 4,521 9,354 Reserve balance (including interest, £6010) . . . 22.204 10,376 These figures showed an increase for 1919 in the units sold of 678.516, in the revenue of £4226, in working expenses of £242, in capital charges of £3000, and in the reserve balance of £11,828. The only decrease was depreciation, £4883. For the quarters ended June 30, 1919 and 1918, the figures were: — 1919 1918 Ofeits aold . . . . 2,350,426 1.973,263 Revenue . . . . £19,601 £16,072 Working expenses. . . 8,460 7,293 Capital charges . . 4,960 4,479 Depreciation . . . . 1.417 2,083 Reserve balance . . 4,765 2,226 Customers . . . . 3,323 2,831 Here the increases for the 1919 period were:—Units sold, 377,163 : revenue, £3529: working expenses, £1167; capital charges, £481; reserve balance, £2539; customers. 492. The decrease was, depreciation £666. *

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

SUBURBS WANT CURRENT.

Information as to the council's attitude and further policy regarding hydroelectric power for the city and district was asked for by the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association. It was further inquired what steps were being taken by the electricity department to cope with the increasing demand for electric power. It was decided to reply that the council had in the past urged upon the Government the importance of providing hydroelectric power, and that, in the meantime, the council was doing all it possibly could to increase supplies of current; also, that the electrical engineer had in hand a comprehensive extension scheme.

In reply to Mr. Dempsey, the Deputy - Mayor said the supply of current would probably be available fur residents of Remuera Road within 12 months.

The application of the Mount Roskill Road Board for the extension to its district of the electric mains, in the event of the latter being laid to Epsom, was reported upon by the Public Services Committee. The report stated that the electrical engineer recommended that the request be acceded to on the same conditions given to other outside local bodies. The whole of the district should be taken in, but he could only, in the immediate future, supply the small residential area adjoining Epsom , and bounded b¥ Mount Albert Road and School Road?' which could be fed* from the sub-station about to be erected in the far part of Epsom. He advised, in view of future developments, that a wide area of supply be acquired. These recommendations were adopted.

MUNICIPAL FISH MARKET.

NET PROFIT FOR YEAR, £1252.

The Markets Committee reported that the trawler Simplon was engaged during the past financial year as a mine-sweeper, and was not at any time encaged in fishing for the market. Other difficulties encountered were the high price of gear, coal, etc. During the year 937 tons of fish were dealt with at the market.

The financial statement showed the total receipts for the 12 months ended March 31 at £35.694 3s lid, as follows :—Sales of fish, £25.489 3s; stock of fish in freezer, £174 3s 7d; rents, £104; hire under charter parly. £99ii6 17s 4d. Expenditure totalled £30.009 4s 2d. as follows : —Purchases of fish, rabbits, etc.. £11.563 8s 7d ; salaries and wacres, £9858 7s 6d ; working expenses, £7274 5s 5d ; rents, rates and insurances. £1296 13s 6d. Of the balance of £5684 19s 9d, the gross profit to carry forward was shown at £5548 8s lid, provision for bad debts being set down at £80, and reserve for depreciation of stores at £56 10s lOd. Interest payments and amounts written off left a net*profit of £1252 9s 4d.

STREET WORKS AND LIGHTING.

EPSOM ROADS RE-NAMED

The Symonds Street Procressive Business Association drew attention to the intutncient lighting of the street from East Strict to Mount Eden Road, and at the toj' of Khyber Pass Road. It was conten rled that, from this cause there was danger to life from the traffic at the corners named. The association also requested that the roads and footpaths in Symonds Street be swept in the early mornings, and that the top of the street he sanded in wet weather. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. The Di 1 worth *Trust Board wrote suggesting that the width of Dilworth Avenue should be reduced from 99ft to 66ft. Reporting on the matter, the act-ing-city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, said it wa,* desirable to have streets laid out as wide as possible, and he was unable to recommend the reduction proposed. The matter was referred to the Works Committee.

The acting-city engineer reported that he wa« having repaired a break in the sewer at Wood Street. It would be necessary to close Wood Street to vehicular traffic. This was approved. A special order was made changing the name of Kelvin Road. Epsom, to Maungawhau Road, and of Swinburne I'ass, Epsom, to Mortimer Pas?.