MUNICIPAL MATTERS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1927, Page 7

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH, MEETING OF THE COUNCIL,’ .. ' The New Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), and Crs; 11. V. S. Griffiths, W. W. Thomson, J. Lobb, 8. G. Smith, T. McPhillips, F. D. Payne, F. Amoore and P. E. Stainton. The tramways engineer (Mr. G. J. Wyatt) reported that the revenue earned during the past month ( £1607 12s Id) showed a decrease of £6O 8s lid in comparison with the returns for the corresponding month of last year, and the passengers carried' (197,025) a decrease of 7768. The revenue earned by the ’buses (£239 4s Id) showed an increase of £l9 15s 2d,/and the passengers carried (24,838) an increase of 2534. All vehicles were operating satisfactorily. The electrical engineer (Mr. W. H. Huggett) reported that the number of applications received for a supply of electrical energy was 38, and additions made to existing installations 24, while 58 new consumers had been connected to the system during the month. The Waiwakaiho,. River has been generally high. Rises varying between live and ten feet had been recorded on six occasions, and on one occasion the flood waters reached a height of 14 feet at the-intake. At the hydro lands tree planting had been continued, and the Mangamahoe dam had been scoured to remove silt deposited by floods. Loading at the power-house was being well maintained. The maximum load recorded for the month was 1900 k.w., and the greatest number of units generated in any one day was 34,525, with x total of 899,200 for the month, as against 36,625 and ‘ 006,07-5, including 255,000 supplied to the Taranaki Power Board for the corresponding period of last year. The reconstructed turbine was in daily service, was operating very Satisfactorily, and had increased the efficiency of the station. It was decided that upon the Vacuum Oil Company paying the total cost estimated at £4B 19s 6d and at its own cost entering into a bond for £2OO (without sureties) that tl.e water service in question will not be used for any purpose other than subduing outbreaks of fire, the borough foreman, was authorised to accede to the comp -i-z’s application for a 3-inch water service for fire protection purposes. Dr. Campbell is to be informed that the council cannot see its way to take any action at present in regard to his request that steps be taken to cope with the dust nuisance in Waiwaka Terrace.

The Rotokare Tennis Club is to be informed that funds will not permit of their request for improvement of Walsh Street being acceded to at present, but that the question will be considered when the schedule for the new street loan is being prepared. The borough foreman was instructed to complete the works set out in the statement of the street works of the £57,000 loan submitted by him, including the re-metalling and tarring of Devon Street West from Outlie) ("Road to Belt Road (estimated cost £420).

The Westown School Committee, upon signing the usual encroachment agreement, is to be permitted to enclose°and use during the pleasure of the counci! a part of Clawton Street.

With reference to the finances of the tramways accounts, it was resolvid that from and including the year endin'* March 31, 1927, and subject to the Audit Department agreeing thereto, no depreciation charges be shown in the balance-sheets of the tramways and 'bus accounts, and that in lieu of a depreciation fund the council from time to time set aside such sums as may be available as additions to the sinking funds of the tramways loans.