BOROUGH OF WAITARA

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1928, Page 6

BOROUGH OF WAITARA

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WATER SUPPLY DIFFICULTY. PETITION TO ALTER BOUNDARY. The monthly meeting of the Waitara Borough Council was held last night, when there were present: The Mayor (Mr. E. A. George), Crs. J. Hine, H. IVakeley, H. Brabant, T. B. Ewens, T. Taylor and H. Spurdje. The consulting engineei- (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported on the borough water supply and suggested various schemes for maintaining a supply at all times, even when the intake was being cleaned out. Many ideas could be utilised, but had to be rejected owing to the expense, he said. Superintendent Limmer’s suggestion for laying a pipe from above the intake and connecting it with the mains below the tank had much to recommend it, as the cost would be only about £l2O. However, a small dam would need to be erected to make the scheme workable, which would increase the cost. Another suggestion was to construct an additional tank of similar size to the present one at a cost of £4OO. A further proposal was to divide the present tank into two compartments connected, with inlet and outlet valves. The compartments would hold 20,000 and 16,000 gallons respectively. The estimated cost was £135. While one was being cleaned out the other would provide for a continuous service. The objection to that proposal was that the work would take 24 hours to complete and in the meantime other provision would have to be made for the supply.

A further proposal was to drive a tun nel on the upper side of the tank, although to obtain a full head a small dam would be necessary. The distance from the intake to Waitara was 544 chains, and the piping held 96,040 gallons of water. The Mayor reported that since the report was written the overseer had tried a new scheme of cleaning the race and tank, whereby a supply of water was ensured for practically all day, with the possible exception of one hour. The pressure would be maintained fairly well and, as pressure was what was required in ease of fire, he thought the new scheme could well be given a trial. If successful it would be a great saving to the council.

The council decided that in future the clearing bo done on the lines of the inspector’s suggestion. Cr. Ewens complained of the dilapidated condition of the intake. He alleged that the race was not properly cleaned out when he saw it a day or two previously, and that th© water, when it reached Waitara, was not clean. The plant, he said, did not receive the necessary attention. Tho decking was rotten and a danger to the workmen. He had been told that some air release valves were not in working order and, in fact, could not be found. He moved that some urgent action be taken to have tho race thoroughly cleaned and the plant placed in up-to-date order. Cr. Hine said that the Waitara water supply was purs and Cr. Wakeley said that the water had been tested and found to be pure. The Mayor stated that the overseer was carrying out the necessary repairs. The motion was practically a vote of no-confidence in the engineer. The motion was not seconded, and lapsed. THE WAITARA BRIDGE. Mr. T. M. Ball, Main Highways Board representative, drew attention to the fact that the Waitara bridge required urgent repairs in the way of chipping and re painting. He asked, that the council submit proposals as soon as possible, pointing out that the board was prepared to subsidise the work to the extent of £1 10s to £l. Cr. Ewens moved that his suggestion regarding chipping the ironwork and encasing it in concrete be submitted to Mr. Ball. Cr. Hine said that Mr. Ball and Mr. Dowsett had visited the bridge and did not favour the concrete. It was suggested that it might be chipped and painted, or perhaps that wire-netting might be substituted. They might approve of concrete at the bottom. The works committee reported that it did not favour the use of concrete, hut recommended chipping and painting. One member stated that the lattice work Was nearly eaten through in places and. it seemed useless to chip and paint it. The Mayor moved that tenders be called for chipping and painting the lattice work. This was seconded by Cr. Taylor. Cr. Hine suggested that the matter be referred to Mr. Dowsett and the Mayor withdrew his motion. It was decided to refer the matter to Mr. Dowsett for a further report. ALTERATION OF BOUNDARY. The Internal Affairs Department notified that a petition had been lodged praying for an alteration of the borough boundary in Waitara East, and asked that any objections be lodged as early as possible. The Mayor pointed out that the rates from the property that proposed to merge would total £2lO. They would probably lose half of that in rates, the other half being chargeable to the Clifton County. Cr. Ewens thought the council should oppose the petition at the present juncture. He did not like the line of demarcation that was drawn. They had cut out a lot of* land that would be useful later for cutting up and had left the borough to maintain the road. The ratepayers who seceded from the borough would not gain much, as they would still be liable for the loan money and would also have to pay extra for their water. Moreover, ho doubted if the borough would be permitted by the Tariki Power Board to supply them with electricity. While realising the difficulties the farmers laboured under, he thought that legislation would be brought in to relieve them.

The Mayor realised that tha Power Board could prevent them taking any fresh suppliers in that area, but he doubted if they could be compelled to pull down lines already up. Cr. Spurdie sympathised with the petitioners, who had had the position forced on them. Cr. J. Hine favoured the borough taking no action, as the rate would be a crushing rent, making it impossible for tho petitioners to farm. He thought th© ratepayers in question had been unjustly treated and required relief. An

amicable arrangement could be made with the Clifton County Council. It was decided to raise no objection. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. The borough inspector reported that three water mains had been repaired and five water services laid. A start had been made at repairing the water intake race. Twenty-five drivers’, 13 carriers’ and one hawker’s license had been issued. Inspection had been made of water connections outside the borough. These had been found satisfactory except that in one case two farmers were using the same service, whereas only one had applied for a connectipn. It was decided that the farmers be notified that their method of watering stock was a breach of the borough bylaws and that it must immediately cease or the council would take proceedings. The borough ranger reported having impounded 33 cows and 5 horses. The borough foreman reported that maintenance work had been carried out in High, Cracroft, Parris, Grey and Mouatt Streets. The footpaths had been tarred. The fence round the horse paddock had been repaired. Cr. Taylor said Seymour Street was in a very bad state. The electrical engineer reported tliaf the plant had worked continuously, but the pressure had not been maintained, being frequently 10 per cent, and 12 per cent, below normal, and though he had received a number of complaints, he was unable to improve the pressure. He pointed out that although the connected load was mueh greater now than last year, the consumption was showing a decrease. The trouble, which was due to the dry spell, seemed to be an annual one. In view of that and the rapid increase of the domestic loud, he thought the time had come to have pressure regulating appliances installed to ensure a constant pressure. At present for every 1 per cent, of pressure dropped there was a 2 per cent. loss of revenue, so a pressure regulator would pay for itself in a very short time. Six installations had been disconnected and two re-connected, leaving 11 good installations disconnected. Five new connections had been made, and applications were in for four more, bringing the total to 400. Visits of inspection had been made by the Public Works engineer and the Fire Underwriters’ Association’s official. A recording voltmeter was required for determining the nressure maintained on the system. At present there were installed I'3 cookers and 12 water-heaters, or 3.26 per cent, and 3 per cent, respectively of the total number of consumers, being about equal to most towns of the size of Waitara. The report was referred to the electric light committee. Cr. Brabant moved that the council chambers be not utilised for any other purpose than for municipal affairs. He did not consider it was fair that the Borough Council should come into competition with halls that had to take out licenses. Cr. Ewens opposed on the grounds that the council chambers belonged to the ratepayers and if they desired to hold meetings for any purpose for the improvement of their town they should be permitted to do so. Cr. Spurdie agreed, but said that it would be difficult to draw the line. Cr. Hine agreed that it would be difficult to draw tho line, and the only way to overcome that would be to close the chambers to all meetings. It would relieve the town elerk of responsibility. The resolution was amended to read that tho chambers be not let for any purpose. Cr. Ewens moved that the Mayor be given discretionary powers. Cr. Hine considered that the council should shoulder the matter itself. The resolution was lost on the casting vote of the Mayor, Crs. Ewens, Sptudle and the Mayor voting against it. The chief electrical engineer notified that as the result of a recent inspection several improvements and alterations were necessary to the lines. Attention was also drawn to the necessity for safeguarding and testing consumers’ installations, a number ■of which required attention. Mr. W. Jones wrote asking that some work be done on the by-road on the borough boundary near the cemetery. The Mayor understood that the Clifton County Council was prepared to do the piping and filling. The matter was referred to the works committee.

It was decided to give the staff a holiday for the beach picnic on Thursday. Overdue rates totalling £6B Ils 9d had been collected, it was reported.