STREET LIGHTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22839, 21 September 1937, Page 14

STREET LIGHTING

IMPROVEMENT IN CITY RESULT OF LOWER CHARGES NEEDS OF MAIN THOROUGHFARE Improvements to street lighting in various parts of the city, made possible by a reduction in the charges by the Auckland Electric-Power Board, arc to bo carried out by the Auckland City Council. At last night's meeting of the council advice was received from the Power Board that as a result of tho reduction in the capital charges there would bo a net reduction of £4113 011 the cliargo made last year for street lighting.

The city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, reported that provision had been made in the current year's estimates for tho replacement of a number of tho more obsoleto lamps and for some small extensions in areas not properly lit. In view of tho savings notified by the Power Board ho recommended that this work be increased so as to absorb £9OO. This with what had been provided would allow for the installation of 222 additional street lamps and tho replacement of 240 lamps. Besides being ablo to undertake this new work the council would save £3OOO from the street lighting allocation. Tho city engineer's report was adopted and the council decided to thank the Power Board for tho reductions made. Tho Works Committee also reported that it had requested tho city engineer to report on tho most urgent street maintenance works which could bo carried out for £3OOO.

Mr. L. J). Coakley said it should now bo possible to do something for the better lighting oi' Queen Street, which had frequently been referred to as the worst lighted main street in tho Dominion.

The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, said that he had already instructed the city engineer to pay special attention to tho lighting of this street and a report dealing with a lighting scheme for this thoroughfare would bo placed beforo tho council.

HOUSES DEMOLISHED f OLD CITY DWELLINGS i * THE WORK OF INSPECTION Eight wooden dwellings condemned as being unfit for human habitation were demolished during tho past year as a result of tho activities of the Sanitary Department of the Auckland City Council. In his report to the City Council last night dealing with the work of the department during the year ended March 31, 1037, the chief sanitary inspector, Mr. H. Paull, said that because of the house shortage a number of dilapidated dwellings which would have otherwise been demolished were still in occupation. However, during the year 33 old and dilapidated buildings, including eight wooden dwellings and a wooden block of five premises formerly used as combined shops and dwellings, had been removed, while condemnation certificates had been issued in connection with tilt; removal of a further three dwellings. The operations of the department include the investigation and control of notifiable infectious diseases and tho disinfection of premises. The report stated that 366 cases of disease were notified during the year, an increase of 51 cases, or 14 per cent on the previous year's figures. Diphtheria and tuberculosis again led the list with 131 and 97 cases, as compared *with 111 and 94 cases respectively last year, and represented over 62 per cent of all notifications received. Scarlet fever showed a decrease to 30 against 42 cases last year. The report was adopted.

TRAFFIC OUTLET __ UPPER QUEEN STREET WIDENING SUGGESTED r Tho necessity for the widening of Upper Queen Street to the south of Karangahapo Road was referred to the Town Planning Committee by the City Council last night. The subject was introduced by a letter which referred to the possible erection of a building on the corner of Cross and Upper Queen Streets and suggested that in view of tho increased use of this traffic outlet and tho need for widening at some future date, the council should restrict any building on this corner to one storey in height. The city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, reported that this question had previously received consideration and the view had been taken that with the present width of 60ft. Upper Queen Street was sufficient to handle any prospective increase in traffic for the next 40 years, unless tho Transport .Board decided to carry trains for direct routing to tho south-western suburbs along this street, in which case widening to at least 80ft. would be required. Mr. Tyler said that tho present street could be made to accommodate four lanes of traffic, but this was only true if the carriageway was kept clear for tho purpose. While at times there appeared to be congestion this was not due to tho width, but to tho taxicabs standing on both sides. The Works Committeo reported that as far as it was awaro only a onestorey building was to be erected on tho Cross Street corner, and on its recommendation tho council _ referred the question of tho widening of Upper Queen Street to tho Town Planning Committee for a report.

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS SIGNS TO BE ERECTED Signs drawing tho attention of roadusers to pedestrian crossings in tho city arc to be erected by tho City Council. A report on tho subject from the superintendent of traffic, Mr. C. Bland, was adopted by tho council at a meeting last night. A notice-board 2ft. square, painted yellow and bearing a suitablo inscription, would bo the most suitable type, Mr. Bland snid. Thcro was, however, difficulty in obtaining a satisfactory position, whore tho signs would not bo obscured by verandah poles or other obstructions. At tho sanio timo ho felt that an additional sign was needed, as in wot weather the markings on tho roadway bccamo indistinct. There were 10 crossings, and 32 signs would bo required. The approximate cost would bo 10s Gel or los each.

WATER FOR GLEN EDEN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY Advice that the Glen Eden Town Board was agreeable to enter into a contract with the City Council for the supply of water on the saino terms and conditions as had been arranged roeently with other local bodies, was received at a mooting of tho council last night.

Tho council agreed to offer tho Town Board a contract for tho supply of water for 21 years on terms and conditions recently embodied in other contracts, the benefit of the reduced price to operato as from September 1.