AFFAIRS OF THE BOROUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1931, Page 9

AFFAIRS OF THE BOROUGH

REQUEST'S FROM RATEPAYERS.

REPORTS ON WORK IN JANUARY.

The New Plymouth Borough Council met last evening, when there were 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. The electrical engineer (Mr. W. H. Huggett) reported that last month the number of applications received for a supply of electrical energy was 19, 86 alterations and additions had been made to existing installations and 13 new connections had been added to the system during the month. The Waiwakaiho River had been high for the greatest part ojf the month, the highest and lowest levels recorded a? the intake being lift and Ift Sin respectively. The valves in the diversion tunnel under the Mangamahoe dam were closed at 5 p.m. on January 13 and the stored water in the basin had risen sufficiently high to enter the race at the spillway near the number 2 tunnel on Friday ? January 23. The lake had been in eotnj mission since, with very beneficial results, although the dam was still int complete and the full storage not yet available. ;

Assistance had been obtained from the Taranaki Power Board’s system on 23 days and the total number of units delivered at the power station, was 16,965. The fertilizer plant was run during the early part of the month and was shut down when the rivet Conditions' returned to normal. The Diesel engine had been started up on 11 occasions with, a total running time of 39 hours, generating 81,625 units with a fuel consumption oi 656 gallons. In the power station, the Diesel engine had been partly on overhaul. Three of tfie cylinder had been taken down, the pistons taken out, rings cleaned, beaXngs overhauled, etc., and the portion done was found to be in very good condition. The No, 4 turbine set on the low head had been taken down for overhaul and reconstruction and the work was now well in hand. Workmen returned from annual leave on January 12 and linesmen had been fully engaged on general line' work, including the re-insulating of the Smart Road transmission lines. The number of hew installations, additions and alterations dealt with by the inspection department was 88, and i 23 re-inspections had been made. The maximum load recorded at the power station was 2700 k.w. and the greatest number of units generated ip any one day was 42,881, with a total of 1,188,975 for the month as against 2700 k.w., 41,000 and 1,173,250 units for the corresponding period of last year. DECREASE IN TRAM REVENUEThe revenue earned during January, £1647 13s 6d, showed a decrease of £406. 6s 2d on the figures for the corresponding month of last year and the passengers carried, 180,153, a decrease of 29,400 over the same period, reported the tramways manager (Mr. G. J. Wyatt). The month of January last, year, howev.u, was an exceptionally good month. There were an added number, o/ visitors owing to the Teachers’ Summer School being held in New Plymouth. In the bus department, the revenue earned, £283 6s 6d, showed a decrease of £lO4 4s 6d on the figures for the corresponding month of last year, and the passengers carried,. 2'7352, a decrease of 4637 over the same period. Building permits to .the value-of £2,740 (exclusive of the new Central School, £11,500) were issued in January, reported the chief inspector, Mr. it. Day. The sura of £278 was collected in fees. Five cases of infectious diseases (two of pneumo ia, two of scalet fever and one of diphtheria) were enquired into and reported upon. Holiday traffic all .passed off well. There appeared to be more than the usual number of visitors ip the towi.

The works committee reported that it had conferred with the abattoir manager and abattoir employees in regard to the possibility of arranging for the slaughtering at the abattoirs to be effected oy contract. The council decided to call public tenders for slaughtering at the abattoirs for a year or two years. The borough engineer was authorised to effect, certain alterations and additions to the rails for carcases at the abattoirs, and to construct a holding pen for pigs in a position to fie fixed by' the manager. . BELL BLOCK WATER SUPPLY. Petitioners for water supply on the Paraiti Rohd, Bell Block, are to be informed that the council is prepared to supply water to the first eight houses upon the same term? as other consumers on the Bell Block main, subject, however, to the petitioners paying the whole cost of laying a IJin pipe up'this road and that "the borough engineer be instructed to supply' an. estimate of such cost. The council decided the charges for water supply to consumers along the Bell Block main recently fixed by' th? council should be adhered to and that applicants be informed that flie council cannot see its way to waive the pro-