PATEA BOROUGH CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1931, Page 8

PATEA BOROUGH CONTROL

MEETING OF COUNCIL.

WORK ON STREETS AND PATHS

The Mayor (Mr. F. Ramsbottom) presided over a full attendance of councillors at the monthly meeting on Monday. The Public Works Department wrote regarding water license fees on water used for hydro-electric purposes. An application for a water license was made 11 years ago and the license was subsequently granted, although use was never made of it. Recommendation for the withdrawal of the license will be made to' the Minister of Public Works by the department. The stream referred to was incorporated in an early hydroelectric project which was later discarded. ■

The Patea Municipal Brass Band expressed its appreciation of the generous asistance provided in the estimates, and promised to give 12 public performances during the year. An application for grazing in Kent Street was granted Mr. W. Railton for ss. per annum, provided gorse and lupin were cleared and right-of-way permitted. Permission was given the school committee to construct a concrete kerb crossing at the northern Egmont Street entrance.

The building inspector (Mr. C. Gardiner) reported improvements to various borough properties and stressed the need for coating the Town Hall roof. On the recommendation of Cr. Naismith it was decided to paint a small portion of roof as an experiment with a special solution.

Estimates of anticipated expenditure were submitted by the Patea Fire Brigade, which included couplings and the painting of the walls of the meeting room.

The audit inspector drew attention to rebates given to the dental clinic and the Plunket Society for current, and the free lighting given to certain borough employees, items which should be treated as unauthorised expenditure. The to-wn clerk was instructed to prepare a reply. The engineer (Mr. G. 0. Cunningham) reported that both stations had continued to run in a satisfactory manner, and no shutdowns had occurred. Minor repairs only had been done on the engine. During repairs to the tower the engine ran continuously for 42 hours, being .helped over the peaks by the hydro. Several visits were paid to the hydro station and everything was found to be in good order. Maintenance work had been carried out as usual during the period, and, in addition, one consumer had been reconnected to the system and several small alterations made to existing lines and services.

Twelve lighting and two heating points had been rewired, an installation of four points reconditioned and three lighting, a heating point and a range added to the system. The range application had been received some months ago, and was definitely the last range to be added to the system under the present circumstances. The wiring staff was at present only on part-time as work offered.

The water pumped for May was 747 units and 223,400 gallons more than in May, 1930. The increase was largely due to the fact of the tower supply being cut off and the pump being on the mains for over 24 hours., and also to the wastage of water Which occurred when the tower was emptied, but which was unavoidable. The bores continued to give a good flow, and during the period the tank was not lowered enough

to allow of the flow being measured. No trouble had. been, experienced with services and mains. The Public Works Department inspecting engineer had paid his annual visit on May 7, inspected lines, power stations and a number of rewired installations, and found everything in a satisfactory condition. It was decided to take action against owners of dogs which are unregistered for another 14 days. A public meeting is to be held on Monday to set up a jubilee entertainments committee and to receive suggestions from business people as to the form the programme shall take to celebrate the formation of the Patea borough on October 13, 1881. The Post Office Savings Bank accounts are to be withdrawn and transferred to fixed deposit for six months, owing to the withdrawal of interest on local body accounts. A proposed £3OOO loan for conversion of present single to three-phase working I for power reticulation was discussed. The streets supervisor (Cr. F. Naismith) reported that the kerb at the bakery corner was in a very bad way, so he instructed the foreman to put it in concrete with a culvert into the' bakery yard. The silver poplars ;n i Middlesex and Surrey Streets had been j removed. Lower Beach Road had been i reformed, 110 yards of pit metal laid,i and a wooden culvert placed across the i road. Egmont Street south had had six I yards of pit metal placed on it and Ox- • ford Street footpath four yards. The I following streets had been chipped and cleaned: Richmond, Surrey, Leicester, Dorset Street to Cambridge Street, Egmont Street from Rutland to Surrey I Street. The footpath in Oxford Street, had been chipped on one side and it was recommended that it should be coated at an early date. The fence at the bridge had been put in order and both sides tarred. Several yards of chips had been collected from streets. The general maintenance work had been attended to throughout the month. Sumps and rubbish had been regularly attended to and oil carted as required. Work suggested for June included chipping streets and grading and forming Leicester Street.