BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1924, Page 8

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

NEW PLYMOUTH COUNCIL. ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT. The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), Crs. J. Kibby, - Arooore. S. G. Sntlth, M.P., W. W. Thomson, J. Brown, J. Lobb, F. J. Hill and V. Griffiths. Reporting on the operations of the department for the month of November, the electrical engineer (Mr. W. H. Huggett) said that sixty-three applications were received for electrical energy: seven additions were made to existing installations, and 61 new connections wore made.

Extensions into the outer areas had been pushed on. The necessary switch gear and lightning arresters in the Waitara sub-station had been installed and brought into commission. At the Inglewood sub-station additional switch gear and lightning aiTesters had been installed and the system connected up v. ith the Taranaki Power Board’s mains. A supply of power was now being given over their system.

The Waiwakaiho River has l>een high on several occasions during the month, rises recorded reaching 7ft. At the power-house the erecting of the second laige turbo-generator was almost completed. No. 5 had -been replaced in commission and an exciter was being attached. General cleaning up has been done and a portion of the tram-line had been taken up. Everything was in

order at the works. The whole of the plant at the power-house and substation had been operating satisfactorily and maintenance had been normal. ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. A request that the improvement of Wallath Road be put in hand was made by a deputation headed by Mr. V. C. Davies. Mr. Davies said that the road had been incorporated in the borough for thirteen years, and in that time £2(MH) had been paid in rates. On the road not quite £lOO had been spent, a sum which was not interest on the rates collected. Mr. Davies said that the residents on the road were willing to take up debentures to the amount of £3OO in the £57.000 loan, in the schedule of w*h:ch the work was included, but they asked that instead of making a footpath the money should be put towards the cost, of tar-sealing the road.—-The Mayor said that since the loan schedule was approved the cost of the works had increased and he was not sure that the £3OO set a,side for Wallavh Road would complete the improvements. On his motion the request of the deputation was referred to the works committee.

Attention to two corners which he considered dangerous was drawn by the borough inspector (Mr. R. Day). The first was at the west corner of Liardet Street and Courtenay Streets, and he recommended that all growth should be cut down to a height of four feet for 20 feet back. The danger was especially great owing to the tram traffic from the park. The other dangerous 'spot was at the corner of Waiwaka Terrace and Watson Street, where a quantity of pampas grass obscured the vision of vehicles coming from the cemetery.—The council decided to draw the attention of the pro-perty-owners concerned to the danger. OTHER MATTERS.

The borough engineer was authorised to grant the application of the Parttutu Bowling Club for a ?-inch water service upon the club agreeing to pay the usual charge of 30s per annum for extraordinary water service. The club is to be informed that in case of excessive use of water the council will require the installation of a meter.

Dr. Thomson was thanked for his report in regard to the Weymouth Street bridge and path and was asked to accept for himself and to tender to his co-workers the thanks of the council for the money and labour contributed by them in the carrying out of this work. His application for permission to plant a portion of the road line and banks was acceded to, and he is to be informed that the other requests set out in his report will receive the at--1 tention of the council.

The borough engineer was instructed to make safe the protective work between the railings of the Powderham Street culvert.

The dog tax for 1925 was fixed at 10s, reducible to 7s 6d if paid before March 31. For sheep and cattle dogs the tax is to be 2s 6d. The council accepted the tender of Mr. H. 11. Ford.

for dog collars, the tender being Cjd per collar. The request of the War Memorial Committee that the irregularity in the curve of the kerbing adjoining the cenotaph should be corrected and that the. level of the road at the cenotaph should be raised was left in the hands of the borough engineer.

The secretary of the General Labourers’ Union is to be informed that the council does not agree with his interpretation of the word “boulders”-in the general labourers’ award, but is willing to co-operate with the union in obtaining an interpretation by the court. Thanks for the supply of water pipes and fittings were extended to the council by Tukapa Sportsground, Ltd. At the. close of the meeting the Mayor extended Christmas greetings to the council.