PATEA BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1932, Page 10

PATEA BOROUGH AFFAIRS

DEPUTATION FROM FIRE BRIGADE. •DISCUSSION OF THEATRE DUTIES. The Mayor, Mr. F. Ramsbottom, presided at the monthly meeting of the Patea Borough Council over a full attendance of councillors. . A deputation from the Patea Fire Brigade was introduced by Cr. Carey, consisting of Brigade Captain F. Fitzwater, Secretary N. Coad and Fireman JBlack. Captain Fitzwater stated that the deputation attended to explain the position of the brigade in connection with theatre The brigade had no desire to dictate a policy, but the position needed adjustment. Fireman Black said the council’s letter telling the brigade that its- services would be required at the theatre only at Saturday evening peTifiormaiJ’ee occasioned some surprise. A suggestion that finance necessitated the change resulted in the offer of free service at all performances except Saturday, which was refused. The duty of the fireman was to unlock exit doors and examine equipment, and this work had been done continuously for 14 years. “The people and the people’s property,” Mr. Black continued, “should be protected from accident and disaster, and the fireman with his training is the most capable man to provide that protection.” To Cr. Scott, who asked who would be responsible in the event of such a disaster, Fireman Black said that if the council had not deputised someone to do the work of protecting its own property and the public, the council must be held responsible. Cr. Scott did not agree. He said he thought the lessee was responsible. •Secretary NT. Coad quoted charges for theatre duties in other centres, and gave a history of the building* Two fires had been put out by firemen at the Patea Theatre unknown to the public. Following the retirement of the deputation the matter was fully discussed. Cr. Pettigrew felt that no new arguments had been submitted to warrant the council’s intervention or alteration of its earlier decision. The matter rested with the lessee of the hall. Cr. Carey thought the brigade’s request was a reasonable one and should be given full consideration. 'The chairman said that if th® council as owner of the hall was not a municipal authority, he would say the lessee was responsible for the safety of the public, but he felt that as a public and representative body there was a question as to the placing of the responsibility. A sub-committee was appointed to investigate the position. The following streets report was adopted: The following streets have been chipped and attended to: Norfolk Street, top end and hill, side street at Town Hall, Main -Street, Bedford Street and Middlesex Street. On Leicester Street 60 yards of pit metal have been carted for repair work. Both lorries have been overhauled and the tar-spray-er adjusted for the work to be carried out shortly. The Cambridge Street steps have -been partly repaired, and will most probably be finished this month. Hadfield Street is to be tarred and Main Street where necessary. The following report of the electrical engineer, Mr. J. 0. Cunningham, was adopted: Both power stations have continued to run in a satisfactory manner and no interruptions have occurred in the supply. The units generated by both plants are (figures for 1030 in parentheses): Hydro, 13,373 (7993); diesel, 20,451 (22,838); fuel, 1621 (1888); Diesel hours, 307 (451); hydro hours, 448 (315). Total units: 33,822 (30,836). The fluming at the hydro is also to be given a coat of tar as soon as possible. (Besides maintenance, bhe main line change-over has been extended and completed with wide arms and necessary cable to Victoria Street. From Victoria Street to the Diesel station, the poles have been re-armed and made ready for the additional cable. It is expected to have the change-over of the h.t. from single phase to three-phase completed in the near future. One 2 h.p. motor was installed at Kakaramea factory. All lighting points were re-wired and 21 reconditioned.. Christmas decorations were erected and removed after the holiday period. Approximately 1,648,000 gallons of water have been pumped for a consumption of 5-459 units, compared with 1,532,400 gallons and 5020 units for December, 1930, an increase of 1-15,600 gallons and 439 units respectively. The wells continue to give no trouble and ample water has always been available for pumping. The dry spell experienced prior to Christmas is largely responsible for the increase compared with December, 1930. It was decided that the council purchase a six-cylinder truck. ‘Equipment suitable for use for the Hawera Jubilee celebrations will be lent from the electrical engineers department. The Mayor and Or. Christensen were apoin ted to deal with loan money debentures. A special meeting to fix the halfholiday and deal with other general business will be held on January 20. Mr. N. R. Coad’s application for water supply for stock was granted. SOUTH TARANAKI CRICKET. TEAMS FOR TO-DAY’S MATCHES. Cricket teams for to-day are:— Old Boys to play Hawera: Moloney, Tapp, Clarke (2), Foy, Gribble, A. Horsburgh, A. Gray, Grindlay, Guise, Morrison. Hawera, to play old Boys: Stevens, M'cFadyen, Sargent, Boesley, Eaves, Duncan, Scliinkel, Miller, Jackson, Rawcliffe, Kehely, Hopkins. (Rivals, to play Opunake at Hawera: Turnbull, West, Rogers, Pritchard, Shipton, Cruickshanks, Fairweather, Woolliams, Howell, Kerris'k, McDonald, Pine, Windle, Bell. MUSIC EXAMINATIONS. HAWERA STUDENTS’ SUCCESSES. A pass with honourable mention in the Associated Board practical examination in the advanced grade in singing has been gained by Miss J. Dix, Hawera, a pupil of the Misses Reilly. Miss Jean E. Carey, Hawera, a pupil of Mr?. A. Carey, passed the intermediate examination in pianoforte. Mr. Gordon Bryan was the examiner. South Taranaki results of Associated Board theory examinations are:—

Harmony, higher division: Winifred Dykes, Mildred Griftin (Misses Reilly). Harmony, lower division: Joseph Crawford (Misses Reilly). Rudiments of music: Jean E. Carey (Mrs. A. Carey), Jean K. O’Brien (Misses Reilly). Grammar of music, division 3: June Johnston (Miss J. Dix), Ellen M. Prestidge (Miss J. Dix).

Grammar of music, division 1: Marjorie Horner (Aliss Fairball), Emma Rangi (Miss J. Dix), Thelma R. White head (Mi&s J. Dix),