BOROUGH SEWERAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1935, Page 4

BOROUGH SEWERAGE

FEW CONNECTIONS MADE DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED. DISCUSSION BY THE COUNCIL. Brisk discussion arose at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council concerning what endeavours were being made by the inspector’s department to enforce connection with the jewerage system of those residents in a financial position to avail themselves of the convenience.

Cr. P. E. Stainton had asked that a report and’ list of names of those who had made connections since it was decided to make a “drive”, some months ago. The report and list were tabled and Cr. Stainton remarked that he was definitely of the opinion that the whole position was unsatisfactory and little better than it had been some time ago. “Frankly,” he said, “I am disappointed and 'it seems that there should be an overhaul somewhere. There are scores of people who have not connected with the system who are very well in a position to do so. And I admit there are scores of people who are not in a position to do so—but we are not concerned with them. The council will not press its claims. It is a blot on this town that more people are not connected with the sewer,” he concluded.

Cr. S. J. Smith said that the works committee was only too anxious to force connections whenever possible. Cr. F. Amoore: There has been a lot of talk about plumbers in town not being able to cope with more than 60 connections a month—but we are not getting even 30 a month out of the 60 notices sent out.

Cr. Smith: Whose fault is that?—l’m not saying. But the fact is the connections are not being made as rapidly as they should be. Cr. Stainton: There are drainlayers at the aerodrome who would be only too glad of a few jobs. Cr. Smith explained that only 60 notices were sent out monthly as it was not known how many would respond. Cr. Amoore. So, despite the fact that experience has shown you don’t get even 30 responses, only 60 are to be sent out? I see. The works committee was instructed to investigate and bring down a report.

Requests to Council. In reply to his letter applying for kerbing and repairs to the footpath on the north side of Pendarves Street between Gover Street and Cameron Street, Mr. F. Clare will be informed that the council cannot authorise the .work this financial year.. The Ngamotu Domain committee were to be informed that when relief labour is available, some of the men will be allocated to domain work. Permission was granted the New Plymouth Caledonian Society’s pipe band to hold a parade in Devon Street on March 15. The band will be informed that the council cannot grant a general permit for a series of parades on dates not definitely fixed and that, unless these dates can be fixed, application for permission must be made in respect of each parade.

Consideration of the recommendation of the New Plymouth Master Butchers’ Association that no meat be returned to the chiller at any time was deferred until next meeting. Mr. A. Jenkins will be informed that, as the erosion of the Henui stream referred to in his letter is on private property, the council cannot accept any liability or afford any assistance in: protectnig the bank from further erosion except, as an act of grace, by permitting him to plant on his side of the river portions of the willow branches and cuttings deposited by the council on its side of the river and not required for the council’s work.

The inspector, Mr. R. Day, will be instructed to confer with Mr. A. P. Lister concerning the latter’s letter alleging that a mistake was made In the special assessment of his property on the farm land roll.

The request of residents of Smart Road for a quotation for water supply was referred to the inspector to submit an estimate of the probable revenue, and to the engineer to report upon the cost of laying the water mains.

In reply to its request for an improvement in the water pressure at Upper Pioneer Road the Moturoa Ratepayers’ Association will be informed that the council has the matter in view and hopes to effect an improvement before next summer.

At a previous meeting the works committee conferred with representatives of the Salvation Army and the manager of Messrs. Hannahs Ltd. in regard to the annoyance alllegedly caused to the latter by the Salvation Army services outside his premises. It was subsequently arranged that the Salvation Army should hold its services on the eastern side of Brougham Street in a position which was approved by the inspector. This arrangement will now be given a reasonable trial and, if unsatisfactory, the matter may be re-opened. The application of the New Plymouth High Schools Board for coloured lighting at the Girls High School during the jubilee of the school was left in the hands of the electrical engineer. The receiver of the debenture-holders

of the Goldfinch Company,’Ltd.', will be informed that the council has decided to revoke the license for the hoarding at the Mount Eliot Reserve. The decision was arrived at on a majority vote, certain councillors holding that the firm should be given an opportunity to put the hoardings in satisfactory order. Application was received from the secretary of the East End committee on behalf of the Flannagan Cup race committee asking that the roads seaward of Buller Street should be closed to the public during the afternoon of the race. The application was referred to the works committee with power to act. ’ Permission was asked by Messrs. Chandler and Company to erect two 24-feet panels on a Devon Street allotment. The borough inspector, Mr. R. Day, said that in view of the council’s recent decision to reject an application by Everybody’s Theatre, he thought the request must be declined. It was decided, however, to grant permission, it being pointed out that the hoardings were merely removals. ’

A telephone message from the Plunket Society was received asking if the council wished to extend the lease of the women’s rest room site now expired. Renewal of the lease was approved for a period of three months. Permission was granted Mr. A. Baker to mak - a further subdivision of his property in Wallace Place. In response to a request by the Associated Motorists’ Petrol Company, Ltd., for- a share of the council’s petrol business after hearing a representative of the company on the subject, the council decided to give the matter further consideration and notice of motion to rescind a previous resolution debarring the company from participating in the business because it had no depot at New Plymouth was given by Cr. F. S. Grayling.

Payment of Rates. Application will be made to have the agreement recently made between the At-torney-General and the Wellington City Corporation concerning the payment of rates by the Crown made applicable also to the New Plymouth borough. Consideration of the legal opinion from the Municipal Association about interest reduction on loans raised in Victoria was further deferred.

The borough treasurer submitted lists of rates in arrear from and including the year ended March 31, 1933, and including properties mortgaged to the Crown. It was decided that the borough treasurer send forward a letter to each ratepayer on the lists intimating that a summons will be issued after thq expiration of one week if the amount due be not paid.

A letter on the same subject was received from the Christchurch City Council asking support of a protest to the Prime Minister against the passing of legislation which would have the effect of increasing local bodies’ difficulties in collecting rates from properties under mortgage to the State Advances Department. In common with other bodies, stated the letter, the Christchurch Council had been placed at a very serious disadvantage through the action of the State Advances Department in repudiating liability for rates and it would now appear that the proposed mortgage corporation Bill, would further, increase the council’s difficulties. A serious loss was threatened.

Miscellaneous Matters. A letter was received from the New Plymouth Harbour Board intimating that the harbourmaster and foreman had been instructed to investigate the trend of the sand drift at Ngamotu in conjunction with the borough engineer. A letter from Mr. C. E. Morris complaining that the culvert under Gaine Street at Morley Street was too small to take the volume of water which comes down Morley Street was referred to the engineer.

Consideration of the recommendations of Inspector Day for eliminating any possible nuisance at the rubbish tip was deferred.

The electrical engineer and the tramways manager were instructed to give directions to employees of their respective departments to immediately report at the sub-station, Liardet Street, in the event of any serious earthquake or other calamity at New Plymouth. The engineer was instructed to place in a conspicuous position in the Lemon Street yards a notice instructing the borough workmen to report immediately at the Lemon Street yards in the event of such an occurrence.

The council expressed itself satisfied with the present allocation of labour available to it and instructed the engineer to report each month the number of men allocated to each borough work, park or reserve. In- connection with a previous resolution to concentrate on the surface sealing of footpaths, the engineer was instructed to submit a schedule showing the length of kerbing and channelling effected during the last two financial years. Consideration of formulating a policy for tree planting on the foreshore was deferred indefinitely. The Tramways Union will be informed that the electric light and tramways committee is prepared to meet representatives of the union at the next meeting of the committee to consider any proposals submitted for a new award. Old Boys’ Surf Club nominations for appointments as honorary inspectors were Messrs. M. Smale, N. F. Gardiner, R. H. Gayton, B. S. Dudley and T. A. Thomson. • In reply to a letter regarding the protection of the borough water supply, the medical officer of health will be informed that the council fully appreciates the necessity for the protection of the water supply and that notices will be ; placed in the Lake Mangamahoe reserve prohibiting picnicking in the reserve. A letter was received from the Internal Affairs Department, intimating that the reserve had been proclaimed a sanctuary under the Animals Protection and Game Act. •Notification was received from the Harbour Board that the control of the New Plymouth foreshore from Nobs Line to the Waiwakaiho had now been vested in the council. “Most satisfactory,” was Cr. Stainton’s comment.

Borough Lighting. In reply to its letter- referring to street lighting in the business portion? of New Plymouth, the New - Plymouth Retailers’ Association will be informed that the council, as arranged, has been actively pursuing inquiries into the provision ■of better lighting; that there has been no avoidable delay. Such delay as has occurred has been due to the fact that certain appliances which the council .had in view were not available in the Dominion. Sufficient appliances were now in hand to try them out one against the other, and they will now be erected and a demonstration given on Tuesday next.

Charges at ~=elt Road Camp. In connection with the question ■ of revising the charges for the Belt Road motor camp Inspector Day submitted a statement showing in detail the expenditure in connection with the camp from February, 1934, to January, 1935. Details of the revenue were (last year's figures being in parentheses): 1933-34, February (£42 ss), 1934-35, £29 7s 6d; March (£2l 12s 6d)„ £2O 15s; April (£25), £2l 15s; May ( —). £2 15s; June (£l2 10s), £2 10s; July (£3), £2 ss; August (£3), 7s 6d; September (£1 17s 6d), £2 7s 6d; October (£5 12s 6d), £1; November (£9 12s 6d), £5 ss; December (£8 l'Bs 6d), £l2 ss; January (£154 15s), £153 10s; totals (£2BB 3s 6d), £254 2s 6d. Charges at other camps varied from no charge to as high as 17s 6d per week and 2s 6d pei' day. Dunedin charged 17s 6d; Oamaru 16s; Wanganui, Auckland, Takapuna and

Marton charged 12s 6d; Christchurch Ils 6d; Wellington, Rotorua, Nelson, Blenheim, Invercargill, Napier and Gisborne 10s; Stratford 8s 6d; Masterton, Palmerston North, Dannevirke, Hastings, Timaru and Hawera 7s 6d; Levin, Muriwai, Huatoki, Cambridge, Foxton, New Plymouth and Feilding ss; Marton 4s. At Belt Road the charge was 5s per week, which had the effect of keeping people there for longer than they intended and thus kept money in the town, which the shopkeepers admitted they received.

Breakwater Road Work. A letter was received from the New Plymouth Harbour Board approving of the widening of Breakwater Road to a full chain and generally approving the conditions submitted in the • council’s previous recommendations. The board will be. informed that the engineer reported that the plans and specifications for the removal of spoil for the widening of Breakwater Road were in hand and that he will be instructed to compile a plan showing lands to be dedicated or, exchanged in connection with the widening of the road. As .soon as sufficient information is available the solicitor will prepare a draft agreement between the council and the Harbour Board dealing with the matter.

Bequests to Pukekura Park. The finance committee had conferred with representatives of the Pukekura Park Committee upon x the question of obtaining legislative authority to enable the council to establish a fund, of which the interest alone, would be available for maintenance and permanent work in the park. Into the fund would be paid all bequests to the park (unless given upon trust for a specific work) already received and all future bequests of a similar nature. Thus when a general bequest was made the principal would be always retained intact. '

In view of the fact that it had various capital expenditure ’in view, including the erection of gates at the Liardet Street entrance to the park, the Pukekura Park Committee felt that it would be inadvisable for the time being to tie up in the manner* indicated funds already in hand and future bequests. It was decided that all moneys received by way of bequests to the park should be kept in the name of the council in a separate account at a bank. No .part could be expended by the committee except in pursuance of a resolution of the’ council.

Damage at East End. “It is indeed disheartening to see what has happened to years'of work at the East End reserve as a result of the recent flood,” said Cr. S. J. Smith, when a request was received from the East End committee that an additional subsidy be granted this year to enable it to repair the damage. “Driftwood and rubbish is piled all over the place. The committee, is courageous to carry on at all. If some assistance is.not granted, it will have no chance of getting things shipshape .again,” . However, the council could not com-, mit itself definitely until'■■ a survey of the entire position has been made and' the East End committee’s request, in common with alf similar requests, will be held over until a special meeting.

Stalls on Ngamotu Beach. A letter of complaint from Mr. A. R. Standish was received, stating that certain stall-holders had refused to shift their stalls from Ngamotu beach at the request of committeemen. The stallholders produced licenses to show that they had been granted permission by the harbour board. As the beach was now under the indirect control of the council, Mr. Standish asked. that the council should take the matter* up with the harbour board to see if the licenses could not be cancelled. As a reply had not yet been received to a letter of inquiry addressed to the harbom* board, no action could be taken.

Air Service Representations. Letters of acknowledgment were received from the Hon. R. Masters and the

Hon. S.-G.-Smith in regard to the council’s representations against the proposed Palmerston North-Dunedin air service. Mr. Masters stated that he would give the coucil’s viewpoint earnest consideration and Mr. Smith stated that he was sympathetic and would take the matter up with the Hon. James McLeod and see what could be done.

Bodies intimating their agreement with the council’s attitude were the Patea, Inglewood, Stratford and Invercargill borough councils, and the Inglewood county council. Further information was rought by the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce.