PATEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 189, 12 August 1931, Page 3

PATEA

PATEA COUNTY MEETING OF COUNCIL At yesterday’s meeting of the Patea County Council, those present , were: Councillors W. G. Belton (chairman), W. H. Witkins, C. E. Johnston, W. Back, J. Peat, J. Lupton, R. G. Watt, and A. J. Gibbs. Approval of the arrangements with the I', and T. Department in regard to the removal of polos in the changing of a roadline was given. Charges for this work would be born on the basis of half and half for main highways, and 25 per cent by the county for secondary highways. Advice as to the appointment of Mr A. J. Gibbs as county representative on the South Taranaki Power Board was received. intimating the GovernorGeneral’s approval: Confirmation of the action of the chairman was given in regard to the question of the fence on the deviation on the Tower Road at, Waverley He reported that he had arranged with Mr Davis to supply the strainer posts, and the Council to supply the gate for the new fence. Davis would be responsible for the future maintenance of the fence. Rates for the current year were struck as follows: Waverley, Meiunahaki, and Otoia Ridings, $d in the £1 and Kapara, l|d in the £l. Riding representatives brought forward the matter of the erection u* telephone boxes on the roads by tho Power Boards. There had been one placed on the Tower Road, and another on the Hirsthouse Road. The engineer was asked to inspect and report on the matter at the next meeting. Tenders for the contract of the cartage of metal for the county were received, and after a lengthy discussion, the tender of W. Hurley, of Waitotara, was accepted. The chairman and enignecr were appointed a committee to go into the question of the bitumen supply contracts, quotations for which had been received for the supply of 75 tons. Crs. Belton and Watkins were appointed to sign the rate-book. Engineer’s Report. The engineer (Mr L. F. Row) submitted the following report for the past month:— “Kaipara Riding.—Heavy rains durring the past month have caused further slips on practically all roads, and on the Valley Road in particular extra labour has been employed to allow traffic through. Only essential repairs are being carried out in the meantime, but a large amount of work will still have to be done to restore the road to normal. “Moumahaki Riding.—Slips have been general on all hill roads, and these are being attended to as quickly as possible. The wash-out on the Waitotara Station highwaw is being remedied by laying a new concrete pipe culvert and this has necessitated closing the road for traffic for a few days. The contractor has commenced re-decking and general repairs on the Moumahaki Stream (Bunn’s) Bridge “ Waverier Riding.—With the exception of a large slip at the new Karahaki Stream Bridge approach, comparatively little storm damage has occurred in this Riding. Maintenance metal is now on order for the Waverley Beach highway and other roads. “Otoia East. —The Maben Road has suffered heavy damage from the recent rains, and arrangements are being made to carry out the more urgent repairs, The bursting of a storage dam caused some damage to the work in progress at the Otauto Bridge, but this has since been made good. “Otoia Vest.—A heavy slip has occurred on the lower portion of the Ball Road track. Metal repairs have been carried out on the Ball highway and the Lower Ball Road, and further supplies of metal are ariving for the general maintenance of side roads. “Main Road.—General repairs to the bitumen surf.ee has been carried uut over the whole length. Minor slips have occurred on various hill sections and these have been attended to as promptly as transport facilities would allow.” The report was adop\ 1. BOROUGH COUNCIL. Business at the monthly meeting of the Patea Borough Council last Mon day night was put through very quickly. Those present were the Mayor (Mr F. Ramsbottom) and Councillors C. R. Honeyfield, A. T. Christensen, G. Pettigrew, T. Scott and C. H. Carey. Or. F. Naismith was granted leave of absence. Acknowledgement of the application by the Council to raise a loan was received from the Loans Board. On the matter of a footbridge to the Patea Bridge, the Public Works Department wrote advising the Council that the engineer had inspected it, and found it unsuitable. Provision would be made in the construction of a new bridge for a footbridge.

The Patea Hospital Board write advising that the Council’s estimate to the Board had been reduced from £63 to £5O 6s 9d.

The Patea Pictures management applied for permission to carry out a new scheme for public safety. It was decided that the manager be asked to submit a report at the next meeting. Mr C. Swainson, the contractor for tho installation of the standpipe and ladder to the water-tower, wrote re the additional expenses accrued by him on the work. It was decided to forward him the £4 10s in settlement. Execution of the lease with the Plunket Society was carried out, the Mayor and Cr. Carey signing on behalf of the Council. Quotations for the painting of the council rooms, inside and outside, wore received, Mr D. Willis’ tender being accepted. Air C. Gardner, the building inspector reported that the Fire Brigade bell tower was unsafe, and would need to be destroyed. The question then arose as to win re the bell would be hung. The engineer (Mr J. O. Cunningham; stated that he had had offered to the Borough an electric syren, which was placed on the Council ’ table. It was decided to give this a trial, and if suitable, to instal it on the Fire Brigade roof. Work on Streets. The streets supervisor (Cr. Naismith) submitted the following report for the month:— “Egmont Street north chipped and water-tabled. Kent Street, chipped and footpath raised, also roadway reformed on hill. Norfolk Street, footpath from Cornwall Street to Kent Street reformed. Livingstone Street, sanded with 32 yards sand. Cornwall Street, cut back to let water off road for about five chains. Meredith Street, repaired culvert. Bedford Street, concrete crossing put in at traffic bridge. Egmont Street, culvert put in near Mr Willis’ residence. “The following streets have been patched with pit metal: Lincoln Street, 12 yards; Victoria Street, 2 yards; Egmont Street South. 8 yards. Several streets have been cleared of lupin and gorse. The weather has been too bad to metal Leicester Street. Rubbish, nil and sumps have had regular attention throughout the month. A good deal of time has been taken up by the Borough foreman at the septic tank, and 1 understand the enginer, Air Cunningham will be placing a separate report of the work carried out at the Council table. ’’ Borough Engineer’s Report. The Borough Engineer (Mr J. O. Cunningham) submitted the following report for the past month: “Power Stations.—Both plants have continued to run in a very satisfactory manner and no interruptions have occurred in the supply of power. Due the heavy rainfall for the month (namely 7.26in5. at the hydro) the flow of water in the creek has been such that the usual position for tho stations as rebards units generated, has been reversed and the following is the position. “1930: Hvdro running hours, ( —): 1931: 553. “1930: Diesel running hours, 374: 1931: 257. “1930; Units generated hydro, 10900: 1931: 21869. “1930: Units generated diesel. 22606: 1931: 14816. “1930: Fuel oil (gallons) 1827: 1931: 1123. “1930: Total units. 33506; 1931: 36685. “The consumption of fuel oil is th - lowest on record since January 1936 An increase in units generated by both plants of 3179 units or 9.4 per cent. “During the time tho Diesel has no’ been required an .inspection of bearings, etc., has been aerried out. fuel tank and system thoroughly cleane-.l out and adjustments made whore noce<sarv. When circumstances permit, t general overhaul will bo undertaken but as both plants are now needed for peak hours this will have to bo delavefor sometime later when one plant will be sufficient to take tho full load over lighting peak. Several visits were paid to the hydro and everything found to be in good order. A quantity of marram grass has been planted, but a further strip requires planting and this will be attended too in the near future. “Lines.—The usual maintenance work on lines has been carried out during the month. During a squall early in tho month a large limb of a tree was blown down across the line in Middlesex St., but was cleared without any interruption in the service. “Wiring.—One petrol pump has been wired and connected, and in addition one heating and 3 lighting points have been added to the system. Three addi tional heating meters were also installed. “Water Department.—The pumping figures for July are as under: 1930: Gallons pumped, 1.518,500; units used, 4.841; decrease (gallons), 71,300. 1931: Gallons pumped, 1,447,200: units used, 4688; decrease (units), 153. “One burst service was repaired in Egmont Street. It had apparently been leaking a considerable time, but could not be discovered until tho water broke through the surface of the roadway. The bores have not been measured this month, the tank not being at any time low enough to enter. The winch and gear with which to test the state of the old bore has been rigged, and a heavy drilling bar lowered down tho well, but although 400 ft of steel rope ran out, no obstruction was found in the well. According to the plan the well is cased for slightly more than 200 ft.. this being so the balance must be uncased, but shows no sign of silting between 40ft and the surface. I am endeavouring to procure a greater length of cable when further tests will be carried out. and experiments made with an air lift. “Drainage.—During the spring-tide the septic tank was due to receive attention, but after running for a time a stoppage occurred in the outlet pipe Upon investigation, this was found to be due to the collapse of the above. While the bottom portion of the same, actually carrying the sewerage, was in a good state of preservation the top portion had fallen in, due apparently to the action of the gasses on the cement. The faulty pipes have been replaced with glazed earthenware and provision made for ventilation, the ’ack of which was the apparent cause of the failure, as the gas had no meanof escape and was trapped by the rise and fall of the tide. The total length renewed waa -the balance of the

o’igmal being in quite good order. the condition of the tank is quite .satisfactory with the exception of a number of the slabs which form the a , nd ? ere evidence of the work of gasses, but tho same are quite serviceable for a number of years yet. Two new connections were made the system, namely: Druids Hall and Kiesel .Station. One blockage in the sewer serving Middlesex Street and Surrey Street was also cleared.’’ The report was adopted. HOSPITAL board The Patea Hospital Board met yesterday. Mr C. R. Honey field presided, others present being Messrs W. H. Wat kins, (’. E. Johnston, W. Baek, A. T. TT hr ir t . e l n^ oll ' ,T - Lu P ton , E. G. Watt and H. Middleton. It was decided to grant Gilligan, of Waverley. an order on the grocers’for tl a week dating from August 1, until he was fit for work again. Correspondence from the Hospital Boards’ Association on the matter of the unemployment levy was received. It was pointed out that in deducting the a’mount from each employee’s pay, tho board would have to be taken into consideration. Mr phristensen: It is a hard thing to do just after reducing their salaries. T svmpathise greatly with the staff. The matter was left to the chairman and Mr Christenson with power to act. A statement of the position of the Williams Estate was received from the Public Trustee, Hawera. Tho Palmerston North Hospital Board wrote on tho matter of relief to one Signal, who had applied for assistance. The chairman stated that he had gone into the matter with the secretary, who had telegraphed the board that the local board would not be responsible for any relief money paid to applicant. He had only been out of work for two or three weeks, and prior to that had been receiving some £6 or £7 a week. The Health Department wrote ad vising the board that its annual estimates had been finally approved by the Minister. The letter was received, and the secretary authorised to write thanking the Department for its assistance. The medical superintendent (Dr W. T. Simmons'), submitted the following report for the past month on the patients in hospital:—ln hospital on June 30, 16 males, 13 females, total 29; admitted 9,8, total 17; discharged 9. 7. total 16; died 1 female; remaining 16. 13. total 29. The report was adopted. The chairman reported that there had been several maternity cases admitted during the month, and the staff w T ere so over-worked that ho had honpht it advisable to engage another nurse for the time. His action was endorsed. Air Christensen reported on behalf of the visiting committee that everything was in good order, except that facings on the hospital needed painting, and several pieces of spouting needed repairing. It was decided to have this work done later in the year. Messrs Lupton and Scown were appointed a visiting committee for the month. A vote of thanks was accorded the Waverley Library for its generous donation of books to the hospital.