BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18613, 8 July 1930, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last evening and was attended by:—The Mayor i Mr W. Angland) and Councillors J. iodd, A. Kennedy, F. B. Hawkey, M. H. Richards, F. Chittock, W. H. Hunt, J. R. Hart. An apology was received for the absence of Councillor Benstead. ' Mayor’s Statement. The Mayor reported that the Government had given the Council the land required for making the road from Caroline Bay under the railway to the Maori Reserve, which he sai« was very satisfactory. The Borough engineer expected to start on this work on Wednesday next. The Mayor stated also that he had to report tliat the conference of delegates representing various local bodies in Highways District No. 17, was held on June 20th, to consider the suggestions made by the Town Clerk, which had already received the Council’s concurrence, for a simpler method of allocating heavy traffic fees. He was glad to report that the conference agreed to the proposals, which would mean a great saving of work and administration cost, not only to the officials of the local bodies concerned, but to a great many of the ratepayers who in the past had to keep tallies to submit periodical mileage returns. Referring to the control iof traf.ic during the British football match, the Mayor said this had been well arranged. Some days before the match Inspector Bird, Inspector Newcome, Mr J. McK'eague and the speaker discussed the matter, and the inspectors, planned out' the arrangements for the control of the traffic for that day. These arrangements worked out splendidly. Private cars were parked in Park Avenue to the number of 3.500 ; which left one way traffic by High Street for licensed lorries and buses. For the excellent arrangements made, the Mayor said, he had to thank Inspector Bird and his officers and men of the Police Force, and also Inspector Newcome for the very able and efficient manner in which the very heavy traffic was handled, and further to thank Mr Colville for the able assistance he gave on the day. The traffic was regulated without a hitch. As Councillors were aware the Mayor continued, the Council and the citizens of Timaru had the honour and the privilege of welcoming the British football team. Their stay in Timaru bad been enjoyed by the visitors, who had expressed themselves as delighted with the beauty spots of Timaru and the surrounding districts, and when they returned home they would make known the pleasure they derived from their visit to South Canterbury and Timaru. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee recommended that the Public Trustee be appointed Sinking Fund Commissioner in respect to the Sanitation Loan, 1930 the first instalment of the sinking fund at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum to be paid to the Public Trustee, or his agent, on 31st March, 1931. With respect to a grant for a chair of obstetrics at the Otago University, this could only be paid out of the unauthorised expenditure account. The amount which the Council is entitled to spend under this heading is £260, and the amount already spent, or for which commitments have been incurred, is £194. It was resolved to recommend that the Minister of Finance be informed that the Council submits that it is just as important to validate the grant to the chair of obstetrics as it is to validate a grant to the cancer campaign fund. The report was adopted. Town Planning. The Borough Engineer, reporting to the Town Planning Committee, on the subject of subdivision in North Street and Craigie Avenue, stated:—"ln March last Mr Bridges on behalf of Mr Higgins forwarded a plan of subdivision of the above land, which lies between North Street, Craigie Avenue and Napier Street, and the Council decided to approve the plan provided the frontage to Napier Street (which is less than 66 ft. wide) be set back so that the street would be 49ft. 6in. in width. Mr Higgins now writes to point out that the street is not the same width throughout its whole length, being 33 £ links at one end and 40£ links at the other, and as there exists upon this property a concrete building the southern wall of which abuts; on to the street line, any set-back would necessitate the removal of a portion of the house. He is of opinion that a set-back to 49£ ft .is excessive, and suggests that the Council advise him of the minimum amount of land that they would require for street widening before approving of of the plan of subdivision. Upon going into this matter with Mr Bridges I find that the whole street alignment is unsatisfactory, and that some time ago a subdivision of land further westward necessitated the setting back of the Napier Street frontage by 33.3 links, giving a width of street of approximately 47ft. The continuation of this set-back eastwards to : Craigie Avenue would permit of the two-storey portion of Mr Higgins house to remain, and would thus reduce considerably the compensation payable to him for the setting back of his frontage. I would therefore suggest that the Council inform Mr Higgins that they will favourably consider a plan amended on the lines indicated above with the exact position of the two storey portion of the house accurately shown on the plan."' With respect to a subdivision in Stafford Street, the engineer reported: "This land is between Stafford Street and Barnard street, and upon which is the Theatre Royal and Watson’s motor garage. In 1924 the plan of subdivision attached hereto was approved by the Council, but small allotments which have been used for some considerable time as rights-of-way were not shown as such on the plan. The consent of the Council is required under Section 181 of the Municipal Corporations Act before a right-of-way can be legally granted over lots 2, 4 and 11. I would recommend that this consent be given under the usual conditions relative to i ights-of-way as defined in the by-laws.” With regard to Part R.S. 1915, Otipua Road (Hunter), the Borough engineer reported: "This land 1 lies to the west of Newton Street and is shown on the plan as subdivided into six allotments each complying in all respects with the requirements of the by-law. I would recommend that the plan be approved.” Both recommendations were adopted. Engineer’s Report. In his report to the Council, the engineer (Mr T. O. Fox), stated that repairs had been carried out to the following metalled roads:—Craigie Avenue, from Heaton Street to North Street, Argyle Street, Douglas Street, Rugby Street from Seddon Street to Craigie Street, and Rolleston Street was now in hand. Attention had been given to all the streets in the southeastern part of the town in anticipation of exceptional traffic on June 28, namely. South Street, Park Avenue and High Street. In addition, the margins of Wilson Street had been cleaned up by the grader, and channels cleared in Marchweil, Newman, Belfield and Creek Streets. The stormwater ditches throughout Redruth had been cleaned out and flushed. In Hatton Street, where there was a set-back, due to a subdivision, the footpath had been formed. From the beach, 463 cubic yards of shingle had been carted, and 304 cubic yards issued from the bins.

j The re-formation of Selwyn Street ■ prior to metalling, had been comI menced, and opportunity would be I taken to improve the gradient between Quarry Road and Selwyn Street. Drainage.—Repairs to kerbing and channelling had been carried out in Nelson Terrace. Beverley Road, on the south side, Trafalgar Street on the south side. North Street on both sides from Craigie Avenue to Stafford Street. In consequence of blockages in the sewer in Evans Street, it was neoessary to open up certain manholes, which were never brought to ground level when the system was installed. Three of these had now had the usual cast iron covers placed on them, so that in future access to the sewers | would be easily obtained. Seven connections had been made with the sewers, the length of drain totalling 248 feet. The usual routine of sewage pumping had been attended to, and the tanks at Waimataitai pumping station had been cleaned out. Water Works.—Seven connections had been made to the water mains, and five connections were replaced in Trafalgar Street, North Street, Latter Street, Rolleston Street and Elizabeth Street. The 3in. main in Sutter Street burst on June 6, but was repaired the same day. At the old reservoir the outlet pipe leading to the 14in. main in North Street had been slightly altered so as to improve the flow. When originally constructed this outlet was fitted with two large perforated plates. These latter had been removed, and wider gratings substituted. As all the water passes tnrough fine bronze screens, these plates were not required. The flow in the race was more than was necessary for the town’s requirements, and both reservoirs were full. Electrical Department. The Eorough electrical engineer reported that at the Grasmere Street sub-station, all plant and equipment was in good order. *The supply from Grant’s Hill sub-station had been satisfactory. only one failure being recorded. This failure occurred on Saturday, 21st. June, when the power failed from 4.6 to 4.18 p.m., a period of 12 minutes. The failure was evidently due to the extremely bad weather prevailing at the time. To enable repairs and maintenance work on the high tension equipment, pov/er was cut off from the borough on Sunday, 15th. June, from 1.30 to 2.30 p.m. During this period, all the air-break switch-gear equipment at the station was examined and oiled, and the spare transformer on No. 1 bank put into commission; No. 3 transformer on No. 1 bank was now acting as the spare transformer. At the George Street sub-station, all plant and equipment was in good order, and the new street lighting transformer had been tried and put into service, thus relieving the smaller transformer, which was used for lighting the centre of the town. As soon as the circuits had been rearranged, the small transformer would again be put into commission. All sub-stations had been examined arid found satisfactory. During heavy weather on Saturday, 21st. June, the high tension main to the street lighting transformer at Selwyn Street substation broke, due to the lodgement of snow and hail in the split rubber hose, in which the mains were run, the loose end of this wire coming in contact with the transformer case, causI ing - the heavy current to flow in the | earth wire and ignite the wood earth guard at the foot of the pole. Some person noticing this, called the Fire Brigade by the street alarm, but as they* could not do anything without having the power shut off, the street lights were disconnected from this district. On Sunday morning repairs were effected, and all plant was in | operation again on Sunday night. In future, all split rubber hose would be removed from wires, and where extra covering was required, insulated tape would be used.. Two new suspension street lights of 400 candle power each had been erected in Stafford Street, between George Street and the Majestic Theatre. Two lights had also been erected in the right-of-way leading from Le Cren’s Terrace to the waterfront, one light being placed at the end of the right-of-way, and the other at the steps on the railway bridge on the harbour side. As Bruce’s factory is to be driven by electric motors, new mains were necessary from the street to the factory. The mains had been run, and the cost of the work had been charged up to the contractors supplying the motors. From the new sub-station in Russell Square three new phases of 19/.083, and one neutral of 7/.083 had been run along William Street, and up High Street to Bruce’s factory. These were now operating, and the old mains had been taken down, and w .uld be used in other parts of the borough. New Sub-station, Russell Square.— The wooden structure of this substation had been erected, and work was proceeding getting the necessary material ready to receive the transformer. The transformer would be erected when the spare coils, which had been ordered some considerable time, and were now close at hand, were received. Aynsley and Harper Streets.—The mains in Harper Street had been continued from Hassell Street to College Road, and in Aynsley Street from Woodlands Road to Cain Street. Previously, there was a break in both these streets. Strathallan Street.—As there had been considerable trouble in Stafford Street, due to low voltage, it had been necessary to run three phases of 19/.064 from the Crown Hotel to the pole outside Hay’s Buildings, and across Stafford Street to the Old Bank Hotel. This had remedied the matter for the time-being, but it would be necessary to increase the size to the under-verandah mains feeding Stafford Street. Miss Raines commenced in the Showroom as demonstrator on June 16. The following were the returns for the three weeks:—Cash sales £3l/0/10; credit sales £59/1/4; jobbing £l3/16/4: installations £l2B/2/9; total £232/1/3.