NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1934, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH

UNIMPROVED RATE VALUES

CONTROL OF NGAMOTU BEACH.

PUBLIC ROADS AND CYCLE RACES.

The finance committee reported to the monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council last night that the total reduction in the unimproved value of rateable properties in the borough of New Plymouth due to revaluations under section 50 of the Valuation of Land Act, 1925, amounts to date to only £10,930 out of £1,565,636, and the total unimproved value of the borough and the reduction of rates arising from that cause to date amounted to only £433 12s 8d per annum of approximately £67,000 levied. In view of this the council adopted a recommendation that it would not be necessary when compiling the rates for next year to invoke the aid of section 5 of the Valuation of Land Amendment Act, 1933, which enabled local authorities to levy the rates for any year on a proportionate part being not less than 75 per cent, of the values as appearing in the valuation roll.

Consideration of the conditions under which the control of the Ngamotu beach palladium and cottages shall be vested in a committee of the council when acquired was deferred until next meeting. In response to the expressed desire of the council the former Mayor, Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths, notified that he would present a framed enlargement of his photograph to hang in the council chamber. The collection of £2lB 9s 3d in August licence fees was reported by Mr. R. Day, chief borough inspector. Two cases of scarlet fever, six of typhoid feverand one of prieumonic influenza had been reported during the month. The council agreed to release Mr. R. Fleming from the contracting staff at tire abattoirs, Mr. Fleming having obtained a position at Aucldand. He will be refunded his share (£2O) of the contractors’ guarantee. LAND FOR STOCK ROUTE. It was decided to accept the terms upon which the Railways Department agreed to give the land required for the stock route through the railway housing settlement, Avenue Road. The engineer was instructed to obtain formal confirmation of an'offer by the Taranaki Education Board to dedicate the small triangular piece of the education reserve required to complete the stock route through the railway settlement. The Taranaki County Council intimated that it was prepared to carry out the construction of that part of the stock route in the county on the distinct understanding that it should not be called upon to contribute anything towards the cost, the whole of which was to be borne

by the borough council. The borough solicitor was now conferring with the county solicitors regarding the form of the agreement to be entered into, it was reported. An application from the Ngamotu Seaside Improvement Society for a street light in front of the cottages west of the pavilion was referred to the street lighting committee to report upon in February. Authority was given to the beaxxtifying committee to plant puriri trees in Selwyn Street, Vogeltown. The question of tree-planting in Waiwaka Terrace was mentioned, but as the letter from the residents had not been received consideration was deferred. The Fitzroy Ratepayers’ Association will be informed that as the estimated cost was £135 the council could not widen the surface-sealing of Paynter’s Avenue from Devon Street to Karamu Street. USE OF STREETS FOR RACES. Subject to the permission of the Taranaki Jockey Club permission was granted the New Plymouth League Cycle Club to charge for admission to the New Plymouth recreation and racecourse reserve on the day of the Taranaki Circular Road Race, October 20. Regarding the club’s application for permission torun the race ovex - part of certain streets within the borough the coxxncil decided that were it to grant permission it would render itself liable for damages in respect to accidents or injuries to persons ox - property that might arise. Under the circumstances the application was refused. The club will be informed that the streets in question being public highways, no permission was required from the council for the public to use them fox - the purposes of a highway in a reasonable mannei - and fox - reasonable purposes. In the event of the cycle club deexding to proceed with the race without the council's permission and entirely, at its own risk, the council was of th® opinion that it was desirable in the interests of public safety that public traffic and passage should be temporarily diverted during the progress of the race from the streets over which the race would be run, and under the circumstances passed a resolution diverting traffic in Queen Street between King Street and St. Aubyn Street and in Avenue Road nox-th of its junction with Tarahua Road and south of its jxmetion with John Street. The council refused the application of the Inglewood Cycle 'Club for permission to run a series of cycle road races through Mangorex Road, New Plymouth. It will inform the club that the road being a public highway no permission is required.

RELIEF WORKERS CONCENTRATED. 'Die engineer was instructed to withdraw from the council’s reserves and parks all relief workers other than those classified by the Laboux - Department as B2 (xmfit for heavy work) and to concentrate them on the principal .unemployxnent relief works being carried oxxt by the council. The council decided it could not provide transport for relief workers employed within the borough. The council accepted the offer of the Railways Department to lease one rood of the railway reserve in Belt Road for the purpose of erecting a residence for the caretaker of the motor camp at an annual rental of £5 for a term of 21 years, with right of renewal. Inspector Day was authorised to complete plans and specifications fox - a four-roomed house, with bath and washhoxxse, and to apply for a subsidy under the Unemployment Board’s building scheme. Among the works attended to during August, the following were included in the report of the engineer (Mr. C. Clarke): Three new fire plugs were installed in Whiteley and St. Aubyn Streets. Record Street (Waitako Street southwards) was metalled with gaol gravel. Hobson Street (Buller Street to Octavius Place) was metalled. Glen Almond Street was metalled and blinded. Massey Street, Calvert Road, Brooklands Road, Upjohn Street and Whiteley Street were patched and the tramway metal on Breakwater Road was placed on uppex - Pioneer Road. Kerbing and channelling was completed in Watson Street, Courtenay to Leach (on the eastern side). Rimu Street (from Paynter’s Lane to Chilman Street, southern side) and Ballance Street (from the comer to Carrington Road on southern side) were completed. The tennis court at the East End reserve was raised to the correct level with concrete, and the side asphalted. The sewer extension from top of Gover Street into the racecourse was completed. Relief works were cax-ried out at McLean Street (formation), Paynter’s Lane (widening), Ropiha Street and Watson Street.

On the recommendation of the elec-

trie light and tramways committee, the council decided it could not accede to the request of the Wanganui-Rangitikex Electric Power Board to contribute towards the costs incurred in connection with the test case taken by the board in respect to the reduction of interest on loans domiciled in New South Wales. Twenty-two applicatioixs for supply were received in Augxist, reported the electrical engineer (Mr. W. H. Huggett). There were 65 additions and alterations to existing installations. Eleven new consumers were added •to the system. The Waiwakaiho River was high to normal throughout the month, the highest and lowest flows recorded at the intake being 9ft. and 2ft. respectively. The Mangamahoe lake levels were maintained between 6in. above and sin. below the spillway. Relief men were employed fencing, planting arid cleaning up the hydro land and lake banks. The overhaul of the No. 4 turbo-generator unit had been completed. The bulk supply ' from- the • Public Works Department had been maintained, with the exception of pre-arranged shutdowns for insulator cleaning, etc. The maximum load recorded at the power station was 3350 k.w., and the greatest number of xxnits supplied in any one day 50,250, with a total of 1,425.950 (including 270,150 supplied by the Public Works Department for the month), against 3200 k.w., 48,940 and 1,399,730 unite (which included both Inglewood and Waitara) for the coiTesponding period of last year.