PETONE BOROUGH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10801, 18 January 1921, Page 3

PETONE BOROUGH

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The Petono Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr J. -B. McEwan) presiding. The -Valuer-General wrote, asking to be advised of the council's wishes in the matter of the valuations of new dwellings erected in the borough since the general revision of values -under the Valuation of Land Act. ,• The position is that Tinder the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, the council may make the valuation or arrange with the department to do so as heretofore.:—lt was decided to accept full responsibility, and the council to make their own valuation. 1 ENGINEER'S REPORT. The borough engineer reported that metalling had been done on the east end of Jackson street, and parts of the Hutt road, while patching had been done on various streets. The Railway Department’s road roller was in operation for a fortnight, during which time the metal on the extension of Jackson street. Hutt road, and Islington street was rolled down, the advantage being that instead of the traffic being confined to. one track, it was distributed over the whole surface of, the roadway, and as a consequence the road surface should wear very considerably longer A commencement had been made with the tarring of Jackson street and given good weatheP-by the end of the week this street should be finished. Great difficulty was being experienced in procuring suitable labour, or, in fact, any labour at all. However, although it would take a longer time, a good job was being made. After this street was finished, the engineer intended, time permitting, to go over the whole of the footpaths in the borough, patching tho trenches that have been opened for sewerage, water, and gas, and giving a coat of tar and sand to those of them that show signs of breaking up, particularly Cuba street, Regent street, and the Hutt road, west of Jackson street. The footpaths in Islington street extension would' receive two coats.

The maximum pressure at the waterworks was 751 b, and the minimum pressure 301 b, and the average weekly consumption was- 2,870,000 gallons. The consumption was 225,000 gallons greater than the November consumption, and .600,000 gallon* more than in July. On Sunday, January 9th, the consumption •reached a point equal to 29,000 gallons per hour, whilst the night consumption'. from being about 7000 gallons per hour in July, had risen to over 12,000 gallons during the present month. An inspection had been, made of the whole borough, and numbers of leaky taps repaired, but that did not account for the increased consumption, which must be put down to the excessive use of garden hoses. To show to what extent people wilt go, the engineer stated that during tits last few weeks no less than four hose taps have been stolen from the conveniences and bathing (jheds. It wa9 almost impossible to catch the culprit in the act, but it would help considerably if citizens would report to the council anyone interfering with or destroying council property.