NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1929, Page 7

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL CARRIAGEWAY UP MARSLAND HILL ENGINEER’S REPORT DEFERRED. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths), and Councillors G. M. Spence, F. Amoore, R. J. Pentecost. P. E. Stainton, J. Brown, J. W. Darby and F. J. Hill. Plans of permanent levels for Downe Street, east and west of Mill Road, were submitted by the engineer. He considered the formation of the eastern end of the street and estimated the cost at £213, allowing for a path on the north side and a carriage-way 30 feet wide. The estimate was referred to the works committee. The cost of constructing and metalling a carriage-way to the top of Marsland Hill would be £64, said the engineer. This would include the cost of a carriage-way from Robe Street to the top, or a carriage-way and turning space to .the south of the gateway at the top of the hill. Owing to the steep grade, the metal would be subject to excessive scouring and would be expensive to maintain. To prevent scouring it would be necessary to asphalt the surface at an additional cost of £5O. In reply to Cr. Stainton, Cr. Hill said Mr. Horton would report on the planting out of the hill. It was decided to defer consideration of,the engineer’s report until Mr. Horton’s report was to hand.

Cr. Stainton said there was going to be a good deal of opposition to the road being made. The locality had sacred associations for the early residents. He mentioned this so that the council should proceed carefully in order not to offend susceptibilities. Cr. Amoore thought the road was not warranted. A car could be got up the hill in fine weather. The council should be careful not to tamper with old associations. COMPLAINTS FROM RATEPAYERS. Referring to a complaint from J. Shepherd about “a quagmire” in front of his shops in Tukapa Street, Westown, the engineer reported the only solution to the trouble was to lay a kerb and put metal between the existing metal on the footpath.—Referred to the works committee. “The unsatisfactory state of Norman Street in front of his residence,” was the subject of a letter from T. Innes, Vogeltown. There was a hollow in front of his gate in which rain water collected. It was a favourite point for the turning of motor-cars and this aggravated the trouble, much of which was caused by a service car. He suggested the council should kerb and channel the path and do something to the road surface, which was in a bad condition. —Referred to the works committee.

A petition from five ratepayers protested against water being carried by pipe or drain into the pit at the Fitzroy quarries now leased to a pipemaking cum pany. The water would damage their properties, said the petitioners.

Cr. Stainton thought the council had a responsibility in the matter as the water had been diverted years ago by road works, but Cr. Brown contended the council had nothing to do with what was done to drain water from private property. The water had been flowing over the properties concerned for 30 years or more. If the council desired to act it would have to obtain drainage rights over Russell’s land. The works committee was instructed to meet the property owners on the site.

INFORMATION ABOUT DESTRUCTOR On the recommendation of the special committee, it was decided to obtain information from other New Zealand boroughs concerning the type of destructor installed 'by them and the cost of running. The Plunket Society wrote asking for the issue of a second pass on the trams for use by the nurses. At times of pressure there were three nurses working in New Plymouth, it was explained. Two of them depended on the trams, while the third had the use of the society’s car. —Referred to the tramways committee. An application having been made by P. E. Borthwick to hire the council’s crushing plant and river rights, the engineer reported against the proposal;—Referred to the works committee.

It was decided to call a conference of contributing local bodies to discuss hospital maintenance next Monday. The Farmers’ Co-operative Society will be informed that the council does not desire to purchase the piece of land adjoining the society’s benzine store, Courtenay Street, offered as a site for parking cars. A similar reply will be ■ sent to F. J. Cowling, who offered land for widening Walla th Road. The engineer was authorised to effect surveys required by the Rotokare , domain committee to enable part of the domain to be leased for grazing. The engineer was authorised to build ’ up and gravel the footpath on the northern side of Young Street, between Morley Street and Cutfield Road, and to prepare a plan showing any land along the sea front from Weymouth Street to Gover Street reclaimed and not yet proclaimed as a part of the borough, and that after the plan has been submitted steps be taken to apply for the proclamation. ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT. Electricity undertakings during June were reported on as follow by Mr. W. H. Huggett: —The number of applications for supply was 34 and alterations and additions to existing installations .53. Thirty new consumers were added. The Waiwakaiho River has 'been very high and dirty at periods, and required much attention at "the screens. Rises up to 15 feet were recorded at the intake. Assistance has been obtained from the Taranaki Power Board on four occasions and the Diesel engine has been started up on 43 occasions, with a total running time of 78 hours. Under present conditions it is necessary to run the engine over peak periods, as the races will not pass the quantity of water ne r--<-ary to maintain the head on the 5 . machines. This difficulty will be overi come when the dam is completed and . storage provided. ;. The new generator has been delivered

at the power station and is now being assembled. The motor to replace the battery charging motor in the sub-sta-tion has been installed and is operating very satisfactorily. Severe weather has Wen responsible for interruptions to portions of the area, mainly from limbs and falling trees and from lightning. Every endeavour is being made to have all trees in any way likely to cause danger to lines, removed as early as possible. The maximum load recorded at the power station was 2800 k.w. and the greatest number of units recorded in any one day was 42,562, with a total of 1,097,950 for the month, as against 2550 k.w. and 38,225 and 1,004,035 units for the corresponding period of last year.

The engineer (Mr. C. Clarke) reported that June had been fairly wet and on the 7th a rainfall of 2.98 inches had been recorded at the filters. The water been dirty and continuous filtering was necessary. Floods in the river for the month were as follow: —June 6, 13ft, 7th, 15ft; 11th, Gft 6iii; 13th, 6ft; 20th, 10ft; 25th, sft; 26th, 7ft. The unemployment gang had been engaged on the Doralto Road as weather permitted during June.

On the recommendation of the works committee it was decided that in future no permit for the installation of a septic tank be issued unless the property owner deposited a satisfactory block plan and signs an application form setting out the conditions adopted by the council in 1927.

Inspector Day was instructed to have the gorse cut on the strip of land owned ■by the council, leading from the Waiwakaiho bridge to the Fitzroy pound, but that consideration of the question of planting and fencing should be deferred.

On the motion of Cr. Stainton it was decided it was advisable that the eastern side of Currie Street, from Devon Street to Gill Street, should be widened and the building line set back 33 feet. —The proposal was referred to the finance committee for a report on ways and means.

Appointments to the North Taranaki Aviation Development Committee were notified as follows:—Waitara Chamber of Commerce, Messrs H. J. M. Wells and A. Rawles; Inglewood Borough Council, the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Winfield) and Cr. Gibbs; Inglewood County Council, the chairman (Mr. A. Corkill) and R. Stuart; Taranaki County Council, the chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett) and Cr. S. Vickers.