FROM DOGS TO TAPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 117, 22 May 1946, Page 7

FROM DOGS TO TAPS

ITEMS FROM CITY REPORTS PHASES OF MUNICIPAL WORK In compiling their annual reports executive officers of the City Council ’covered a vast amount of ground and .dealt with every municipal activity (from defective taps to collection of dog taxes. The following are extracts from the various reports:— GRASS REPLACES FLOWERS. “During the year development of reserves has been practically at a standstill, owing to shortages of labour. Many of the attractive flower beds ht Virginia Lake have had to be replaced with Grass. At Victoria Park arid many other reserves, flower beds haVe been turfed or reduced in width, approximately one-third of the reserves flower displays being put back into lawn, or grass with an occasional cut with the scythe, as for instance at thd Esplanade. This is to be regretted, as' attractive reserves with bold displays of flowers are one of the main features of the city.” —The Superintendent of Parks and Reserves. MORE CARS ON ROAD “With the petrol restriction made slightly easier by permitting • petrol coupons to be redeemed at double their face value, motor traffic over the past few months has been steadily on the increase, and occasionally the city streets are reminiscent of prewar days when benzine and tyres were not a consideration. The volume of traffic was particularly heavy during the Christmas and New Year holiday periods, due largely to a peace-time Christmas and the influx of visiting motorists. At no period during the war years has the density of traffic been so great. The behaviour of the motorists generally was to be commended, this being reflected in the fact that accidents of a serious nature were extremely rare.”—The Chief Traffic Inspector. INTEREST IN ASTRONOMY. The awakening interest in astronomy has been maintained, and, in fact, increased. It is reflected in the very large increase in the number of visitors to the observatory, which totalled 1535, representing 582 adults and 953 children. . . . Main activity at the observatory has been the dissemination [of knowledge of astronomy aided by observations with the telescope. From tApril to October the observatory was open to the public on Thursday evenings, but from November the two public nights of Monday and Thursday were reverted to. There were 39 public nights on which sky conditions were suitable for observations, and on a considerable number of other nights when the observatory was open by arrangement for parties from various organisations and the schools and colleges.”—The honorary director of the City Observatory. SEARCH FOR INFORMATION. “Requests numbering 115 were posted to the National Library Book Resources for books or information which we were unable to supply. At one time these requests would have gone unsatisfied, as no one library can hope to hold all the books or material may be requested. If the required book is in a New Zealand library, book resources finds it. If it is not in Wellington the title is entered on the book resources sheet circulated weekly to a number of libraries, and the book is usually located Sometimes information required involves a search for and the subsequent copying of the material available, and this is done for us. The inter loan service has made the library much more valuable .to the public. If we cannot satisfy an inquiry it is forwarded to the National Library Service.”—The Chief City Librarian.

PROBLEM OF CYCLES “A major problem is still centred around the bicycle. Shortage of suitable cycle stands is causing a great deal of obstruction on footpaths and at the kerbside generally. Bicycles imnroperly parked can become irksome to pedestrians using the footpaths, and motorists pulling into the kerbside. This nuisance could be largely overcome py the installation of further suitable cycle stands, and although this may mean a certain amount of car parking space would be taken up by the erection of these stands, it would have the effect of creating a more orderly state of affairs than that existing at the present time. As mentioned in a previous report—and the point should not be overlooked—there are something like 10,000 cyclists in the city, and although not suggesting that this number is on the streets at any one time, th? numbers are sufficiently large enough to warrant some consideration in respect of accommodation, thereby giving the appearance of order and control.”—The Chief Traffic Inspector.

CITY FATHERS KEPT BUSY “The volume of business of the council for the past year has been considerable. The city continues to make progress, and this position is linked with the necessity of making increasing provision for public amenities. It would be a sorry day were the need in this direction to become less urgent, as such a condition could only indicate stagnation as opposed to the growth and advancement which, after a somewhat static period, have been the local experience for some years.”—The Town Clerk, reporting that there were 32 ordinary and special meetings held during the year, 110 meetings of standinc and subcommittees, five Domain Board meetings. and three other meetings, a total of 120.

VIRGINIA LAKE PICNICS “With a view to catering for families who make frequent use of the Virginia Lake Reserve as a picnic ground during the summer months, the council might at some future date when finances permit, be prepared to erect a small building with slot gas meters installed. What is envisaged is merely the provision of facilities for making a cup of tea as an important ingredient of a picnic lunch or afternoon snack. Another suggestion perhaps worthy of consideration is the erection of two or three children’s swings. The reserve is not suited to the erection of playground apparatus and the proposal is that swings be placed in widely separated spots, and above all that they be for the exclusive us? of young children.” (The Town Clerk.)

SIREN FOR INSPECTORS “With the small car now at our disposal it is impossible, and I may say definitely dangerous, to try Io measure up with much more powerful cars travelling at excessive speeds This means that, many of these speedsters get away because we lack the right type of vehicle 1o follow them up. I would again suggest that every consideration be given to the purchase of a car of suitable horse-power and design, fitted with a siren and loudspeaker. The siren and loudspeaker attachment would be in accordance with modern practice, and a great deal could be accomplished in educating motorists, cyclists and pedestrians in the proper observance of the rules of the road.—(The Chief Traffic Inspector.)