BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144358, 24 March 1914, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly mooting of the New Plymouth Borough Council was held at the Council Chandlers on Monday night. Present; His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors J. Kibby, F. Jackson, AV. Healy, A. E. Sykes. W. A. Collis, W. Ambury, J. Clarke, G. Tabor, J. E. W’ilson, J. T. Mannix, and N. I’. Maunder. An apology was received from Councillor A. H. Johnstone.

ANNIVERSARY DAY PICNIC. Mr. C. W. IVilliams. president of the Moturoa Seaside Committee, wrote stating that in view of tho large gathering to lie hold at tho breakwater on tho 31st inst. his committee felt that if vehicular traffic was permitted to the foot of the breakwater there would lie grave risk of accident to people using tho Moturoa Road. They therefore asked the council to close the Moturoa Road from Ngamotu Road from S a.m. They undertook to provide a suitable accommodation paddock at a very small fee of sixpence for each vehicle and horse.

Tho suggestion was agreed to. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. Mr. A. Gray, Director of Technical Education, wrote asking for an increased subsidy to tho Technical College. He was well aware, said, that the council had its hands hill with regard to subsidies, but he submitted that tho importance of the work at tho college justified an increase of subsidy. At present there wore nearly 80 children in the day class and 21 of these wore taking engineering subjects and over 40 commercial, while the remaining girls were taking the domestic course. Tho councillors, ho added, were doubtless awaro that tho Education Board recently appointed a permanent instructor in each of these branches, and the salary of these instructors amounted to about £SOO per annum more than was paid formerly. Tho increase in the numbers had justified this extra expenditure, but ho would like to be in a position to progress still further and a subsidy of say £SO from the council would materially help. Ho hoped therefore that ihe council would be able to favourably consider the request.

The matter was referred to the Estimates Committee. OLD SOLDIERS' GRAVES. Mr. J. Hislop, Under-Secrotary for tho Department of Internal Affairs, wrote acknowledging receipt of the council’s letter with reference to the renovation of the soldiers' graves in tho New Plymouth cemeteries ns well as the erection of a suitable monument to those who wero buried there, and'stating in reply that Miss Statham’s report and recommendations were now under consideration.

TRAMWAY TENDERS. Mr. Fred Black, consulting engineer, wrote that after conferring with several firms who would probably be tendering for the construction of tho tramway route lie had selected .Monday, July 27, as a suitable closing date for tenders, and had therefore inserted it in the conditions of tendering now being printed.

In a further letter Air, Black stared that he had been making inquiries at the Public AVorks Department with reference to the progress of the Order-in-Council, ami it would he a few days yet belore he would ho in a position to report that tenders could be invited.

TENDERS. The following tenders for annual supplies were accepted:—Kerosene, oils, etc.. Bellringer Bros.; wood, coal and coke, J. Ward and Sons; horseshoeing, R. 11. Sole; waterworks and general hardware. Bellringer Bros.; Portland cement, to he divided among Alcssrs. E. Griffiths and Co., Bellringer Bros., L. A. Nolan and Co., and Sash and Door Company. GRASSING THE STREETS. Air. Skitrop (borough engineer) submitted a report on the question of grassing tho sides of the side streets and of tree planting. He stated that tho total width ol most of the side streets was 60ft., the footpaths taking up 24ft.. leaving 36ft,, available for roadway. They would require to be not less (ban 20ft. wide it the traffic was to be confined to rhis portion only. This would leave a strip Bft. wide on cither side, between tho mcinl and the channel. These strips, it laid down in grass, would collect, all tho grit and dust and loose stones from the metalled portion, and in a few months would mount higher than tho metal, and thus prevent, the storm-water from getting into the channel!-. The meiel would then scour away at a greater rate than at present. With the ordinary waterbound macadam loose stones would bo continually getting into the grass, preventing it from being cut closer than about four inches from the ground. If the traffic was to bo confined to the metalled portion, it would be necessary to protect the metal with soltar or a similar material, to act as a binding surface. If the council could see its way to do this, then it would he advisable to lay down gras- in several of the side and hack streets.

The council, he continued, had gone to considerable expense in clearing grass, silt, and rubbish from the sides of several of the streets, which in many cases had accumulated so as to cause considerable scour and be very unsightly. He would suggest that an experimental portion of a metalled road be treated with two coats of soltar, tho first coat to be sprayed into tho metal before being blinded. Tho two sides between the metal and tho channels could then bo laid down in lawn grass, and ornamental dwarf trees bo planted in the middle of these grass strips. It was decided to hold the matter over until after the visit of the townplanning expert to New Plymouth.

GENERAL. The borough engineer was instructed to report as to whether any additional work was required at tho original side drive to the tunnel at Alangorei in view of tho additional pressure to be put on the tunnel; whether any premises in Devon Street AVest between Dawson Street and Outfield Road which could be connected with the sewer are not so connected ; and as to the cost

of making a footpath from the end of Watson Street to the Henui River. He wan ai-o instructed to complete Watson Street to the permanent level from its junction with Devon Street to Courtenay Street. Mr. AV. C. Phillips wrote that he was prepared to contribute towards the cost of erecting a retaining wall'on the northern side of the Powderham Street culvert and fronting the allotment pm-chased by him from the Railway Department provided it was constructed so as to allow of his using it should ho require to do so at any time for building purposes. —The letter was held over until next meeting.

It was decided to extend the sewers to Young Street at an estimated cost of £93.

It was decided to instal temporarily a street light at the upper portion of Fillis Street.