NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1933, Page 5

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING SUGGESTIONS FOR “BROOKLANDS.” NEGOTIATIONS NOT YET COMPLETE The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council last night was attended by the Mayor (Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour) and Crs. F. S. Grayling, F. Amoore, P. E. Stainton, J. W. Darby, J. Brown and S. J. Smith. Referring to a letter she had received from the town clerk regarding the house on the Brooklands estate, Miss M. S. Young, New Plymouth, wrote asking that the council should, when the time came, consider leasing it to her for a period for the purpose of an eventide home of rest or convalescence for elderly ladies. A suggestion that the Brooklands residence might be acquired for use as a mothercraft home was received from the New Plymouth branch of the Plunket Society in a letter than pointed out the Society in a letter that pointed out the advantage this would be for mothers requiring care and treatment for a week or so after confinement. Certain cases could be treated there instead of in the public hospital, thus saving work and expense to the latter institution. Himself closely associated with Brooklands, it was suggested that as a memorial no greater tribute could be paid the genius of Sir Truby King than to establish a mothercraft home at Brooklands. It was therefore urged that the council should favourably consider handing the house over to the society. Consideration of both requests was deferred until the negotiations for vesting “Brooklands” in the borough have been definitely completed. A schedule of recitals arranged between the Regimental-Municipal and Pipe bands was approved. CHURCH ANNIVERSARY. Invitations were received for the Mayor and councillors to attend the evening service at St Mary’s Church on December 10, when Archbishop Averill would be present in connection with the 90th anniversary of the arrival of Bishop Selwyn and the first Anglican minister to live at New Plymouth; also for the laying of the foundation stone of the church at Westown on December 4. The council accepted both invitations and as many councillors as were able to attend agreed to do so. _ . In placing before the council the correspondence between himself -and the Unemployment Board, the ( engineer (Mr. C. Clarke) explained that the letting of ■ No. 9 sewerage contract had been delayed over a month to give the board ’ time to grant or refuse a subsidy, but.no reply had been received. All plans and specifications for this contract had been completed for some time and he said he wou;d prefer to have authority to let the contract immediately. Taking everything into account he was convinced that the letting of the contract without restriction regarding the use of mechanical ditchers would be in the council’s interest. If the matter were decided that night tenders could be called before the holidays; if not, they would have to be called after the holidays. Cr. Stainton moved that alternative ' tenders be called for the work and that a representative of the works committee and the engineer interview the Unemployment Board and endeavour to make satisfactory arrangements regarding subsidy on the work. • The council’s attention was drawn to the state of Bayly Road by the Ngamotu Ratepayers’ Association. The section from Breakwater Road t 6 the beach was stated to be badly in need of repair. There was already a considerable amount of traffic on the road and this would increase as the season progressed. The matter was referred to the works committee. LEACH STREET SEWER. The engineer was authorised to let a contract to W. Stevenson and Sons, Ltd., to lay a sewer in Leach Street, from Liardet Street to a point midway between Gover Street and Cameron Street and thence to Lemon Street, and branch drains in Lemon Street, at an approximate. cost of £4OO. The engineer (Mr. C. Clarke) reported that during October the inter-section of Young Street with Queen Street had been remetalled and tar-grouted, three * coats. Nobs Line (western side) and Mac Lean Street (to last house) had been gaol-gravelled and the eastern side had been metalled and gravelled with metal from the Henui bridge. Belt Road (Gladstone Road to the top of hill) had been remetalled. Ngaio Street (Kowhai' Street to end of road by Martin’s house) had been blinded and rolled. Kerb and channelling of Wallace Place (Belt Road to Cutfieid Road) on the southern side had been completed and the path filled in for gravelling. About two chains of kerbing had been laid in Young Street to form a footpath against the rockery. Relief works had been carried out to complete authorised work at Te Mete Park, at Seaview Road extension, Belt Road (cutting back bank by Messrs. Stanton’s and Brodie’s), Nobs Line formation, and in all parks and reserves. The engineer was instructed to report upon the question of surface sealing the carriageway and kerbing and chanelling the footpaths in Autere Street. Seventeen applications for supply were received during October, reported the council's electrical engineer (Mr. W. H. Huggett). Seventy-five additions and alterations and 21 new connections were made., The Waiwakaiho River had been high to normal, the highest and lowest flow measured at the intake being Bft 3in and 2ft respectively. The Mangamahoe Lake levels had been maintained between 3in and 12in above the spillway gaps. Relief men had been employed on the hydro lands, cleaning the trees and in doing general work. The low head system was shut down and the old dam and forebay cleaned of silt and debris. The low head, or No. 6 unit, in the power-station had been overhauled, worn parts renewed, and the main sluice valve freed. The set was now in excellent condition. Power had been drawn continuously from the Public Works bulk supply, with the exception of four slight interruptions for short periods. The maximum load recorded at the power-station was 2700 k.w. and the greatest number of units supplied in one dav was 47,000, with a total of 1,026,425 (including 312,875 supplied by the Public Works Department), compared with 3075 k.w., 48,229 and 1,354,791 units for the corresponding period of last year. Tram revenue during October was £1227 6s 7d, earned from 152,596 passengers, an increase of £3 14s. 6d and 308 passengers compared with the corresponding period last year, reported the manager (Mr. G. J. Wyatt). The buses travelled 5928 miles and earned £230 18s 7d from 26,184 passengers, representing increases of £8 17s lOd and 931 passengers. Details of the tramway operations were: Main route: Mileage, 15,861; passengers, 114,639; fares, £945 15s Bd. Westown route: Mileage, 7436; passengers, 37,957; fares, £2Bl 10s lid. Mr. R. Day, chief inspector, reported that £235 12s 7d had been collected in license fees during October. Two cases of diphtheria were reported, these being the only cases of infectious disease.