PATEA BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1932, Page 10

PATEA BOROUGH AFFAIRS

GROWING POWER DEMAND. MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Mayor (Mr. F. Ramsbottom) presided over a full attendance of councillors at the monthly meeting of the Patea Borough Council on Monday. The Wanganui City Council submitted the decisions and allotments, made by a representative conference of the heavy traffic district No. 9. The sum of £6O was allotted the Patea borough. The Patea Plunket Society expressed it appreciation of past favours and hoped that’the same considerate treatment would be accorded the new committee. A letter from a borough tenant drawing attention to the need for repairs to the interior of- the house occupied by him was discussed, the engineer being given authority to have the work done. ° The Pateea Hospital Board’s' levy on the borough was scheduled as £62 45., an increase of approximately £l2. , Pit metal had been carted to Egmpnt Street south, it was reported, and the road from the Domain to Beach Road at the top of the hill had been widened and formed. A new culvert had been laid across 'Durham Street. Half a mile of road, had been reformed at the lower end of Norfolk Street. Oxford and Richmond Streets, had been 'chipped. Gorse had been gruhbed in Cornwall and Durham Streets. The gorse grubbing at the cemetery had been finished. In August the metalling of Eginont Street south and the footpath would be finished. The streets report was adopted, following a recommendation that Middlesex Street on the domain frontage be improved if labour and other factors permit. The electrical engineer reported that the units drawn from the bulk supply totalled 331,110, while the hydro generated 8100, ' making a total of 41,120 units purchased and generated compared with a total of 36,685 units generated for July, 1931, of which the Diesel generated 14,816 and the hydro 21,869 respectively, being an increase for July, 1932, of 4525 units.

The necessary parts for the changing of the Diesel to three-phase arrived during the month and the work was well on the way to completion. The condenser for the main sub-station arrived on July 15 and was installed on trial immediately. So far the machine seemed to be very satisfactory and it would mean a great saving in power charges. No interruptions in the supply had occurred. Relief had been given. to the Power Board for a few hours to enable line alterations to be made, on such occasions the Patea plant taking thelodd. Work on the lines was practically completed for the time being. An effort was being made to have the whole system working on the new sub-station by October 1, when the new quarter commenced. Good progress had been made with the rewiring and reconditioning of premises. The necessary number of lights having been secured to warrant the installation, community lighting came into operation on Saturday. Twenty-two points were actually in use. Approximately 1,18'2,300 gallons of water had been pumped for a consumption of 3941 units, compared with 4680 units and. 1,451,200 gallons for July, 1931, a decrease of 268,900 gallons and 739 hinits. The bores continued to give a good flow and ample water was available for the needs of the town. An inspection was also made of all sewer manholes, sand traps cleaned and everything found to be in a satisfactory state. The septic tank was also cleaned out and re-sealed. Here again everything was found to be in good order. . The fire siren was tried in its position on the water tower but was considered hardly satisfactory. The makers suggested trying it on a lower level, but ■clear of all buildings. It would be tried again as soon as conditions were suitable. In the event of the alarm not being considered satisfactory the engineer recommended that the firebell be removed from its present position and hung on the tower. A small electric motor could be installed to operate the clapper and worked from the fire station or any suitable place. A canvass of the beach district had been made, but so far the guaranteed revenue fell short of that required. A re-canvass was being made. The difficulty of hearing at the council meetings owing to the noises made overhead in the town hall supper room formed the subject of an emphatic protest by Cr. Pettigrew, who stated that the supper room should be floored with some sound-deadening material. It was decided to ask the theatre lessee not to permit the use of the supper room until after 9 p.m. on nights of the council’s meetings. PERSONAL. Mr. C. Oliver was yesterday re-elected chairman of directors of the .Kohi Cooperative Dairy Company, Limited. Appreciation of the services of Mr. C. .Freyberg during his term as Public Trustee at. Hawera was expressed by Members of the Patea Hospital Board yesterday, and he was accorded a vote of thanks,