PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Patea Mail, 15 November 1939, Page 4

PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL

STREETS, ELECTRIC LIGHT AND WATER AND DRAINAGE COMMITTEE’S REPORT . '■ The conuinTTec reported as follows: ,1. That i,he work of kerbing the triangle be held over until such time as the South African Memorial can be moved to the correct position. 2, That the council be recommended to exempt the south side of Hadticld Street from the provisions of sub-sec-tion 1, Section 128 of “The Public Works Act. 1028.”

,3. That Mr. J. Parkinson be granted permission to construct a motor crossing over the footpath in Warwick Street, such crossing to be made to the satisfaction of the engineer. 4. That tenders bo called' for the erection of a new workshop for the use of the electric light department, and that the old budding be demolished as soon as the new structure is completed. That the matter of altering the purpose of the land used at present for the workshop be investigated by the Town Clerk. (i. That the appointment cf Mr. Lawrence Arthur Percival as temporary electrical inspector be confirmed. 7. 'That immediately funds allow the bulldozer be employed in funning Norfolk and Kent Streets. 8. ‘That unemployed labour be utilised iu clearing the old pound site. 9. That the bitumen sealing programme be recommenced during the present month, ,10. That the newly formed footpaths be metalled as soon as circumstances permit. 11. That tenders bo again called for the extensions to the septic tank outfall . 13 That the 1 pipe hue crossing the bridge be coated with bitumen to prevent further rusting.

.REPORT OF STREETS SUPERVISOR AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEER HYDRO STATION: During the month this station lias run in a satisfactory manner and the water supple aas boon sufficient for the rwjuirea.euts of the station. BULK SUPPLY: The power from this source has boon continuous anti no interruptions have occurred. The Power Board have now completed the hcavv lino as far as the' borough feeder and a distinct improvement is noticeable in pressure. The figure! for the month with those of the same mouth in the last two years are as follows. — 1939 .1938 1937 Hydro 10,340 9,108 17,2-1 Bulk 117,007 102,108 57,222 Total 127,547 111,330 74,443 The figures show an increase of 14.5 per cent over 1938 anti 71 per cent over 1937.

LINES: During the period tire following .work lus been utteuded to. The licuvy cubic feeding into tlie borough from the sub-station was run out but Ims yet to be strained up. Various alterations were carried out in connection with this work, the supply being shut off for U hours on one night at midnight. The service at the Works was also altered to give more clearance over the new roadway. In Devon street, near Mrs. Lawson’s, one polo and five services were shifted to allow road alterations in this area, and one additional pole erected to carry a service under the new conditions. One defective pole was replaced in Leicester Street, and services altered to suit. A new service was run at Kakaramca to give supply to a new house being erected. The service and line alterations in connection with the pumping plant at the beach was carried out and two poles and the necessary service run. SERVICING: Numerous repairs to apparatus were carried out and in addition the following permits wcie issued for alterations and additions, and the same added to the system.

Keating points 8, washing machines L lighting pwnts 7, water heaters 2, pumps 1. The beach pump was installed and wired up together with the necessary pipe and filling?, and at the tune rf writing, has been tested and the bath will be tilled on the next suitable tide. During the month the services of a temporary inspector became available, and after consultation wjitb the chairman of the connnitttee it was decided to commence work on this particular work as roc|uircd by the regulations. lie-inspections carried out to date total n.S. Tn the main, so fur, (ho installations are in n satisfactory state with the exception of a few which tvere reconditioned some five or six years ago. WAT' El! AND DRAINAGE: The figures for the, month iwith those of the same month last year, are ps follows: Pump units, .lililD '<551)7, IRES CiOPO> water, 2,IMS,LIU, 2,131,500 gallon*! comp, units, 1802, nil; deep well units, nil, 5214; total units S.'ffM), 11404, The water supply from the boro has been unite satisfactory.

Demands placed on the supply while perhaps not shown so prominentia the figures proved to Tie heavy Tor several periods especially at one week-end when not only did the tower lose eight feel hut the night’s pumping as well. However the publicity given to cases of unattended hoses has made a great difference and the situation is now halved for this dry period olMhc year. The pumping plant is in first-class condition, totHih!? attention Wmg giv-

eu lo same as usual during the period. One new sewer connection was installed this being duo to road formation operations iu Kent Street . Attention was also given to a 'water service in Kent Street, due to a lie same reason. The service to the Hospital was lowered owing to road formation work. The extraordinary supply to the golf links was connected, opportunity being taken to ilnsh the main in this particular area. STREETS: As directed by the committee, the bulldozer was engaged and the following streets given attention: Kent Street, formed and now awaiting metalling; Victoria Street; The machine was used to remove the rise at the eastern end near the hospital, and to Till in the depression below. This has now been partially metalled. Devon Street: The hill in front of Mrs. Lawson’s property was levelled. Essex Street: A rise was taken oil* and useu to till a depression ahead. Dorset: Street: The footpath and road widening in this strew was carried a stage further, and foundation work has now been practically finished. tA large quantity of clay (17.8 yards) has been spread on the formation and this covered iwith line shingle, making for the meantime a footway passable in all weal hers. A new culvert was also laid in this area to carry off storm water. Routine attention has been ven to various streets and grass cut and generally -tidied up. Fine shingle is now available from the Harbour Board, and while the fine weather holds it would perhaps be advisable to divert the labour to sealing work. A great improvement could bo made in the time taken to spray the emulsion if a suitable small hopper type petro] engine was fitted to same. It may be possible to purchase one very cheaply and this could easily be fit-

ted. Dunn" Die period a small bulldozer was employed in Sharp’s pit stripping metal, and opportunity was taken to have a piece stripped for the council’s use.

Work suggested for the month: Pealing work, metalling streets already formed, and any work suggested by the council. FID hi BRIG ADD COMMITTEE’S DEPORT The committee recommended as follows: — 1. ‘That the lion, the Minister of Internal All-airs be approached in an endeavour to have carried out the ratepayers’ wishes, the constitution of a Eire District, as expressed at the poll taken some three years ago. 2. That the Electric Light and Streets Department lorries be placed at the disposal of the Fire Brigade in the meantime, and that the street’s lorry be kept in the Eire Station each night. 3. That the council agrees to pay the annual fee required to have the telephones of members of the brigade and of the electrical engineer connected with the Fire Brigade, during such tjimes as the telephone exchange is closed.