PATEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 34, 10 February 1937, Page 3

PATEA

BOROUGH COUNCIL Advice was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands at the Patea Borough Council meeting on Monday that the council’s proposals concerning housing sites had been forwarded to Wellington and that no decision had yet been reached. Cr. Langslow• moved that the council go further with the matter, and write to the Housing Commissioner for some decision, it being over two months since the proposal had been forwarded. The motion was earned. Land already has been purchased by the Government in Wanganui and New Plymouth. “The trouble is we have not got a harbour member here,” said Cr. Haddow. The housing survey being carried out was discussed, Cr. Haddow slating that people seemed to be under a misapprehension on the matter. It was quite apparent it was a Government measure by the paper, but some people seemed to think it originated from the council. Some people were refusing Mr Gardiner, who han been appointed to carry out the work, admittance, and some blackguarding the councillors, the clerk, and Mr Gardiner, said Cr. Haddow, but they did not understand. Being a Government measure it was necessary that the details should be given. Ragwort eradication was discussed, the Mayor stating that he had viewed some of the borough leases, and the amount of some of the property was alarming. If the council did not take action against the offenders, the authorities would take action against the council. They should not be allowed another week as the ragwort was now spreading. The Reserves Committee are to attend to the matter immediately. The Mayor and engineer were appointed to attend a conference on Wednesday, called by the Taranaki Electrical Workers’ Union to discuss the union’s demands.. It was decided to apply for exemption from being cited as a party to the enginedrivers’ award. The Taranaki Labourers’ Union claims were held over. Mr A. Edser wrote asking permission to remove or be paid for fittings installed at the shop he has vacated. It was decided to get the borough solicitor’s opinion.

The Patea Domain Board asked that the possibility of installing electric grillers at the camping ground be investigated. Cr. Haddow said he thought it was rather late this year, but the engineer should go into the matter. He was personally in favour of popularising this place. The domain was more popular than the beach as a camping ground. Opunake was praised, but it was not a patch on Patea’s camping ground. Cr Bromiley said he thought there would be a lot of campers up un’ii Easter, and the matter should be gone on with.—lt was left to the engineer to confer with the Domain Board and arrange for the installation at once.

Cr. Langslow’s motion that in future the Patea Plunket Society be given a cash donation of £lO, insteac of the electricity rebate, was unanimously carried. On behalf of the various women ? organisations in the district, Mrs T I. White, secretary of the Patea Women’s Institute, extended thanks tc the council for its decision with regard to the new rest room, and offered Qny assistance required in setting it up. Cr. Naismith submitted a report oi. the necessary alterations, and tenders are to be called immediately foi the work. Permission was granted the Bead Improvement Society Io have the use of the borough lorry to convey passengers to the beach on the gala Gay It was left Io the engineer Io cal. tenders for the sale of the timbei from the Chinaman’s shop. The estimates presented by the town clerk proved satisfactory. Street Supervisor’s Report. Cr. F. Naismith, streets’ supervisor reports: “The foillowing work haj been carried out during January: No 2 Highway (Beach Road) has beer tarred and the work will be continuec during the current month. The follow ing streets have been patched witl metal: Victoria Street, 9 yards; Esse? Street, 6 yards; Leicester Street, 11 yards; Egmont Street South, 11 yards. A blocked sewer was clearet for Mr P. Broughton. Rubbish re moval, sumps and Egmont S.tree cleaning were attended to during th< month. The following work is to b< carried out during the coming montn Tarring Beach Road and carting metal from the pit.” It was decided to draw the attenlior of the Main Highways Board to th, dangerous nature of the decking oi the Patea Bridge. Water Supply. Mr J. O. Cunningham, engineer submitted the following report on tht water supply: “The present, supply ha: always proved adequate for norma requirements, especially in we weather, but during dry weather it i: not equal to the demands made upor it. A shortage has been very noticeable during the last few days. Up till then, owing to the wet season, nc trouble had been experienced. Various causes enter into the question the main cause being that people who previously had rain water tanks of ample capacity have since changed over to the borough supply, as the tanks became defective. This has occurred in four cases within the past month to my knowledge. New houses erected have a certain bearing on the matter also, which meant a drain of at least 40 to 50 gallons per head, which is the average for Patea. Stock watering also has a bearing on the matter, although a large number of troughs were installed before my coming to Patea. Now that *he borough is growing, steps will have to be taken to augment the supply. To this end, I have sounded the boro at the north end of the town and, although no records of its earlier slate aie available, I find that the depth is approximately 460-500 feet and that the water rises to within 110 feet of the top. This means that an air lift will have to be installed to test the bore. The most convenient method would be by hiring a portable compressor with a petrol engine. I have made enquiries in Wellington, New Plymouth and Eltham, and the following is available: One portable air compressor with petrol engine drive from the Wanganui City Council, but it will not be availble for two weeks. As this is the only satisfactory plant available, it will be necessary to wait the arrival of the plant, before the test can be carried out. If, after testing, the bore is found to give a satisfactory supply, the following would be necessary: Excavate a large settling chamber, or really a reservoir of approximately 100 ft. long by 15ft. deep by 15ft. wide, roofed over a suitable galvanised iron building of a size largeenough to house the pumping equipment. A permanent air compressor would have to be installed with a 5-10 h.p. motor to drive the same and the No. 2 pump could be shifted to the new site. Approximately 12 chains of 4-inch mains would be required to couple to the existing main in Egmont Street. There would also be the cost of purchasing the site with an access to the same. There is the alternative of a deep well or bore-hole pump. This may be a satisfactory arrangement and would need no settling chamber or reservoir, but the well being only a 3-inch one this may prove difficult. The advantage of the reservoir proposal is that the present pump could be used, and under the decreased head would deliver approximately 200 gallons per minute. A sketch plan will be available at the meeting.” Cr Haddow said with the increased supply needed in the town and with more houses being built, if this scheme were the best, the council should go ahead with it. Cr. Naismith said more efficient machinery would deliver more water from the present bore. He would recommend the engineer get information from “Dig Well Pumps” about the installation of one of their pumps. The Patea Freezing Works had adopted them and they would shortly be installed, and the council could wait the result and see if the works got increased supply. The engineer’s report was adopted, with Cr. Naismith’s suggestion to be kept in mind. Electricity Supply. Mr J. O. Cunningham, electrical engineer, reported inter alia: “Hydro Station.—This station has run satisfactorily for the past month, and only running repairs have bee.i necessary. The water supply has varied from running over the weir tc 2 feet below. “Bulk Supply.—The supply from this source has been continuous during the month and no interruptions have occurred. The figures for th