BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18335, 1 March 1934, Page 11

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

MEETING OF COUNCIL A day later than usual, the fortnightly" meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council was held last evening The Mayor, Mr. John Jackson-, presided, and there were present also Ors. 11. E. Maude, G. Bradley Smith, H. Hblmes, J. H. Hall. D. S. Thompson. W. J. Mae Gibbon. and W. Cave. On behalf of the owner, a request was received from Mr. G. Smith for permission to convert a residence into flats-—-The matter was referred to the works committee for a report. The Poverty Bay Electric Power Board wrote offering to purchase a strip of land at the rear of the power house for £OO. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee.

Further to its earlier requests, considered last year, the Poverty Bay and East Coast Sheepowners’ Union wrote asking that steps should be taken to make the slirface of the William Pettie bridge safe for the passage of cattle. The ncgincer mentioned that he had written to engineers in England and America for information concernjrng non-slippery asphalt, but had noryet received a reply. In conference with a visiting engineer it was estimated that for £OO the surface and approaches to the bridge could be dealt with ns required. The whole matter was Tefcfred to the works committoe. REPORTS ENGINEER'S DEPARTMENT The engineer, Mr. E. R-. Thomas, reported inter alia: “Roads.—The following roads were re- § aired with gravel: Graham, Iranui, eLautour, Beach, Cheeseman, Tukura, Haiti Beach, Stanley, A\sapuni,' Norman, Palmerston, Herbert, Childers, Aberdeen, Lytton, Chalmers, Mangapupa and Adair roads, Hiuaki, Hiriui, Garris, Heta, 'Domett, Fox, Whitaker, Russell, Clifford, Sheehan, Stout, Wi Pere, and Winter streets, and Haiti esplanade. Bitumen surfacing: Wet weather during the fortnight interrupted this class of work. “Footpaths.—The footpath in Ormond road, from Wi Pere street towards Mangapapa, is being re-formed and graded, and will be surfaced with asphalt. The construction of a concrete kerb and channel in Grey street, from Salisbury road to the beach, is now completed. . “Unemployment relief works.—Work has been provided for 49 men per week at the vegetable gardens and on various jobs at the council’s yard. “Macrae Bath.—One tennis court has been completed, and is ready for use. “Taumata Hill reservoir.—Work during the past fortnight has beeu interrupted by rain; 61.7 cubic yards of concrete was placed in haunches, and 113 ft. of tile drain was laid and covered in at east and south ends. Excavation foi the valve chamber and float chambers has been completed, and the boxing oi valves, etc., is in hand. Columns for the valve chambers have been fabricated at the borough yard, and are ready for transport to the job. It was found necessary to reject some dirty shingle.’*; Reporting in connection with the waterworks, the engineer stated that the highest gauge reading during the fortnight ended February 19 was 1161 b., and the lowest 851 b.. There were two leaks in the main line during the fortnight, one at Waingake and one at Matawhero; these leaks were repaired without turning off the supply. The quantity oj water that passed through the meter at the headworks for the weeks ended February 12 and 19 was 5,900,000 and 5,930,000 gallons respectively. The erection of river groynes at Waingake had been held up owing to heavy rain causing the river to flood. , WORKS committee; The works committee reported inte: alia: “A list of contemplated works for-th« fortnight was- submitted by the engineer, the principal \being the-resurfacing oi various streets, re-formation, grading, and asphalting the footpath in Ormond road, placing of seats in Grey street and oir-Haiti Hill, construction of. river groynes at Waingake,- and replacing condemned tubes ip the road roller." engineer submitted an application from a local firm for the construction of a wood and iron building in the brick area. Yopr committee, after giving this matter consideration, recommend that the application be refused, and the applicant be informed that the proposed building must comply with the borough by-laws. “An offer to purchase the council’s tar dehydrating plant was received. The engineer stated that the plant was of no further use to the borough, and the committee recommends that authority be given for the sale of this plant ■ for £ls cash., “The request of the Gisborne Publicity League for extra scats on the riverbank was considered, and it was decided to place one scat, which is in stock, on the riverbank. “The inspection committee’s recommendation that the old Town Board’s building be converted into a dwelling received the careful consideration of the committee, and it was Resolved that,.in view of the expense involved and the unsuitability of this building for a dwelling, the recommendation be not acceded to. “The traffic inspector’s suggestion that taxis be permitted to park in tile middle of Gladstone road outside the various theatres whilst waiting to pick up passengers from the theatres received consideration. and it was resolved, in view of the congestion which would arise with vehicles parked in the centre as well as the sides of .the road, that no action bo taken. The inspector’s recommendations that notice boards be erected at Crawford road, Fitgherbert street, Atkinson and Stout streets, and Roebuck road bridge (abbatoir stock only) showing the routes for travelling stock, also the replacing of signs at the entrances of the footpath and footbridge connecting the eastern end of IJaiti esplande and Cheeseman road prohibiting cyclists <rid.ing.Jjhefapny 'aijjd "a’‘link pf ’ meUt studs on the roadway at; the Haiti ifcrid of .the William . Pettie bridge to keep traffic ort the correct side of tTie road wcr6 agreed to ’’

INSPECTION COMMITTEE

The inspection committee reported inter alia: “The committee visited Parau street, and recommends that in view of the undulating naturo of the footways and the consequent inconvenience to pedestrians during wet weather, the footway on each side of the street be graded. “The formation of the footpath on the southern side of Ormond road is now completed and ready for the permanent paving., In order to protect the outer edge of tye-.permanent work between Sheridan street' and ■ the Mangapapa bridge, the committee recommends that the engineer be authorised to kerb and channel tin's portion. A bus stop is located in this vicinity, and the footway is subject to a considerable amount of use. ''vi. 1 ' “The committee inspected King street and recommends that the engineer lie authorised to surface it with a fine coat of gravel, in oi'der to give better access during wet weather. ■ “Satisfactory progress is being made

with the concreting of - the service reser-, voir, but your committee, would like to. see a larger 1 number of. men employed on this work in order that it may be completed before the yret season commences “Various works now completed were visited-wKaiti Beach revetment, Macrae, Bath; tennjs court, and' Ljfttort 'road pipe bridge::’;' '• 1 \.t: t 7 , The reports were julopt«d:v •• ? v.«_ r ;■ '■ ■* ; • • ■ ■ • . ■ - . i