PALMERSTON NORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 247, 17 September 1929, Page 2

PALMERSTON NORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

USUAL MEETING HELD. REPORTS BY COMMITTEES. The Palmerston North Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor presiding. Others present were Crs. Fitzherbert, Clausen, Low, Guy, McLeod, Mansford, Tremaine, Eliott and Hodgens. CORRESPONDENCE. Advice was received from Mr L. M. Thomas that he was building two houses fronting Cuba Street extension between Pascal and Bryant Streets, and as there was no sewer in the street he requested that the pipes be laid.—The Mayor stated that the cost involved was about £7O. The council decided to undertake the work. Mr 0. J. Dolan forwarded for approval land transfer plan of Pt. Sec. 15 and Sec. 17 corner of Main and Princess Streets, Estate of the late A. H. Wylds.—Approved. Messrs Innes and Oakley forwarded for approval transfer of Pt. Lot 1, Section 313, Burns Avenue, Monrad and others to J. A. Bambery.—Approved. Application was made by Mr W. A. Comer, abattoir employee, for the extension of the electric light to the back porch of the cottage in Maxwell’s Line, of which he is the occupant.—Granted. The vStratford Town Clerk wrote with reference to the Urban Farm Lands Bill, stating that the same provided for the classification of lands for rating purposes. He asked that the uniform rate in the £1 be maintained in preference to differential rating of lands winch might come within the meaning of the Act. —The Mayor stated that ho did not know whether the Palmerston North borough was affected to any extent, but it would be better to have a uniform classification. The letter was received.

Mr H. C. Lilly made application for sewer connection to his property in College Street West, a few yards from the borough boundary, and agreeing to pay the total cost, plus the annual rental.—Granted.

Messrs. Cooper, Raplcy and Rutherfurd forwarded for approval transfer of Pt. Section 769, Botanical Road, Miss Gaustad to Joseph Palmer and for consent transfer of subdivision of Lot 2, Section 310, corner of Cuba and Pascal Streets, H. Akers to L. M. Thomas.—Both were approved.

WORKS COMMITTEE. The works and town planning committee submitted the following report and recommendations: —That, with reference to the communication from the Manawatu Bowling and Croquet Club complaining of the condition of the approach to the club’s grounds on the Park Road frontage, it was decided to instruct the engineer to form and metal the footpath for a distance of 2J chains from Fitzherbert Avenue, the estimated cost being £lO. That a communication from the Royal Life Saving Society asking the council to consider the provision of tepid baths to replace the present cold water baths be referred to the lighting committee, the electrical engineer to report on the cost of heating the baths by electricity. That provisional approval be given to the proposed subdivision of Lots 31 and 33, Section 242 Itongopai Street, as per sketch plan forwarded by Messrs. Innes and Oakley, the owner being Mr A. Teulon. That Messrs. Coopct, Raplev - and Rutherfurd forwarded for approval transfer of borough lease of Part Section 257, Cuba Street, C. A. Peters to M. Briggs, and it was decided, that the transfer be consented to on certain conditions. That Mr P. Eden’s application for the right to trap opossums 'on the Esplanade reserve be referred to the reserves committee. That, with further reference to the subdivision and roadin g of Section 282 and the decision of the council to refer Mr Cooke’s letter of the 30th ultimo to the borough solicitors, the latter wrote stating that Mr Cooke had pointed out that the communication required Mr Guy’s plan of the proposed subdivision of Section 282 to be altered so as to conform with the plan of the brough engineer, which could not be done as Mr Gu->-’s proposed subdivision shows a road 66ft. wide, while the plan of the borough engineer shows the proposed road- to be 50ft. wide. The borough solicitors forwarded for the council’s approval- a draft letter which they proposed to forward to Mr Cooke, and which stated that the council would not approve of Mr Guy’s plan of subdivision showing thereon a roadway 66ft. wide until and unless Mr Guy altered his plan -as to the postion of the road as shown on the plan prepared bv the borough engineer. It was decided to inform Messrs. Cooper, Raplev and Rutherfurd that the council approved of the draft letter. That the engineer be authorised to proceed with the construction and formation of the footway in Grey Street frontjng Sections 199 and 201, the length being 10 chains and the estimated cost £l5O. That the engineer approach the Railwav Department in the matter, of having repairs effected to the surface of the level crossing near the commercial Hotel. . The report was adopted. LIGHTING DEPARTMENT.

The borough electrical manager (Mr ,T W Muir) reported that during August 35 services were run 122 metres tested, and 149 metres installed. The inspector passed 83 jobs during the month, including 47 extensions, making the total number of consumers to date 4845. The total connected load, including street lights, was now 12.440 k.w. . The gasworks manager (Mr Muir) reported' that 7,447.000 cu. ft. of gas were made during August, an increase of 1 7 per cent, over the corresponding period of 1928. Coal received amounted to 339 tons and there were 680 tons in stock. “I have received the foundation plans of the tar plant on order and advise that the plant will, if it is possible, be shipped by the Corinthic,” added the manager. “The temporary tar plant is now doing,good work and a much better article is being turned out.” . The lighting committee made the following recommendations: —That a lamp be installed in Titoki Street, being the new street recently constructed o off Russell Street. That, in response to a request from the Football Association, it was decided to .alter the position of the lamps in North Street, and to instal an extra light as suggested by the electrical engineer. That, in future, the street lights be extinguished at daybreak. That the request from a firm for permission to erect an advertising hoarding on the gasworks site, Napier Road, and offering to pay a rental of £2 10s per year, be declined. —The report was adopted TRAFFIC MATTERS. The traffic manager (Mr P. G. Patton) reported as follows:—AVith tho single bus on each route it is not possible to have through buses to every terminus, and as tne Hospital and Terrace End routes require large buses it would not be wise to send them on light runs. As all our buses .run to the Square and leave together,

passengers have only to change buses. There is the question of perhaps hiving to wait 10 minutes, but tins can be overcome by the buses waiting at. the terminus instead of the Square. This, of course, would mean altering the timetable to suit. As there is no light at the section in heatherston Street (Takaro Park route) it would be a convenience to ■ passengers waiting for the bus if one could be ’ ns , ta H, ' Passengers have mentioned that they have almost missed the bus through not being seen. With the present timetable it would not be possible to run the buses to the Technical School in timo for the commencement pt classes, as the buses do not arrive in the Square until 7 p.m., and as there are only two routes catered for a 9.15 p.m. (Hospital and Terrace End) it would necessitate running buses to the other terminals. Unless sufficient patronage was given by pupils it would not warrant same. Since the talkies started they have been coming out after 10.10 p.m., the leaving time ot our buses. For ihe convenience ot the theatre passengers the buses have been going there after loading up at the Square. This has been working quite well with the exception of Takaro Park passengers, their bus leaving at 10.5 p.m. For. their convenience we have been innning the West End Bus back via Takaro Park. As this is a long way around very few make use of it. I. therefore, ask for authority to alter the leaving times ct these buses by 5 minutes. I suggest that the council consider the question of employing a competent driver lor relief driving. With the number of motor vehicles and the various kinds of work performed, it is not possible to procure a man at short notice to immediately take over the duties in the event of a permanent driver having to go off through an aceident or sickness. Our department could give fire months’ full time driving. This is during the time our drivers are on leave. ... •. The transit committee submitted the following report and recommendations: —That no action bo taken concerning through buses, referred to in the manager’s report. That the question of installing an extra light at the bus stop in Foatherston Street West, Takaro route, be referred to the lighting committee. That the director of the Technical School wrote regarding the possibility of the buses delivering students at the Technical School at 6.55 p.m., and calling for them at 9 p.m. It was decided to inform the director that the committee regretted being unable to make the necessary arrangements. That, with reference to the clause in the manager’s report regarding picture buses, it was decided that their departure be delayed five minutes. That the matter of employing a relief driver bo left in tlie hands of the chairman to report to the next meeting. That a communication from the Commissioner of Transport stating that the motor vehicles appliance committee had drawn up a code of general requirements for direction indictators be received. That the ActingRegistrar of Motor Vehicles wrote in reference to the council’s application for authority to undertake the insurance of third party lisks of its own vehicles under its own insurance scheme, and advising that the application could not be granted. It was decided to further pursue the matter and to seek the co-operation of the cities of Wellington and Dunedin. That a communication from tho Christchurch Tramway Board stated that it was rumoured that private trading interests were seeking to diminish the powers of local bodies and also to break measure of protection which the present legislation had afforded local bodies who were in the transport business, and asking the douncil to watch the interests of local bodies when the report of tho Transport Advisory Council was published. It was decided to support the board in the matter and to forward a copy of its communication to Mr J. A. Nash, M.P. The report was adopted. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The reserves committee made the following recommendations: —That the application from Mr P. Eden for permisison to trap opossums at the Esplanade be declined. That the clause of the committee’s report dealing with the grass plot in Carlton Avenue, and which was referred back for further consideration, be now rescinded. It was decided to supply a quantity of spoil, the curator to prepare the plot and supply a few trees, at an estimated total cost of £5, the property owners to maintain the plot to the satisfaction of the curator.—The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The borough engineer reported as follows tor tho month of August: Street maintenance: Thirty-nine streets have been metalled during the month, entailing the carting and spreading of 1449 cubic yards of screened river metal Campbell Street has been scarified to an average depth of 5 inches, the metal forked over and used again, while the residue has been used partly for blinding material and partly for building up of footpaths, and some yet remains for future use, being at present on the Campbell Street reserve. At the end of August about three-quarters of the street had been completed. Rongopai Street: In consequence of the damage done during the work of sewer construction, this street has received a coating of pit metal for a width of 12ft. which was rolled and after being consolidated received another coating of river metal. Forty-four cubic yards of asphalt have been used on various roads and paths and this has been topdressed. Footpath maintenance: Following the relaying of the kerbing and channelling, regrading and top-dress-ing footpaths has been carried out in the following streets: —Church Street West (Princess Street to Victoria Avenue), Broadway Avenue (from Princess Street to Ruahine Street), Fitzherbert Avenue (a few chains only near Park Road). Kerbing and Channelling: The undermentioned streets have been completed: Church Street East, balance Princess Street to Victoria Avenue; Ruahine Street, west side Main to Featherston Streets; Ruahine Street, east side Main Street opposite Grey Street; Cook Street, east side Church to Ferguson Streets; Joseph Street both sides, representing a total length of 112 chains. Main Street East channelling: The remaining 7 chains of pre-cast concrete channelling blocks have been laid. Stormwater: The 20th of the month saw the completion of the 24-inch stormwater sewer in College Street West between Batt and Moerangi Streets. All the sumps throughout the district have been'cleared of silt and generally made clean and tidy and the drain on both sides of the extreme end of Featherston Street East was cleaned out. Sewer, Boundary Road: A commencement was made on this work on 4th September, and to date fair progress has been made; a total of 4 chains has been laid, and there are now 15 men engaged on the work. General: Eight traffic domes have been installed at street intersections and 29 private concrete slab crossings installed. Waterworks: A total of 17 new services have been installed and 30 old services overhauled and renewed where required. Mains: A 2-inch main has been laid in Nikau Street for a length of 448 feet and in Manapouri Crescent for a length of 633 feet. The 2-inch main in St. John’s Avenue has been extended for a length of 277 feet,

1-inch main in Rangitikei Street between Matipo Street and Boundary Road using 300 feet of pipe, Limbrick btreet extension both sides for a length of 1452 feet, and in Karaka Street for a length of 280 feet. . Repairs have been carried out on joint of 9-ineh pipe on Fitzherbert bridge, and 4-inch main in Joseph Street. Several fire plugs and valves have been attended to and repaired. The report was received. ATTENTION' 1 0 STREETS. Reporting on special matters, the borough engineer (Mr J. K. Hughes) stated: —Footpath in Grey Street: This refers' to the only remaining portion to be constructed in this street, being in front of the Technical School playgrounds and Mr A. L. Seifert’s residence. Tho length is 10 chains —5 chains to each of the above mentioned frontages. Tho total estimated cost for kerbing and channelling, tarring and sanding is £l3O, and of this sum tho amount which we can expect by way of refund will be £45. It is hardly likely that we can obtain a refund from the Technical School for their portion. Footpath in Park Road: The request of the Manawatu Bowling Club is for a footpath to serve the Park Road entrance. This length is 2i chains from Fitzherbert Avenue, and to form and metal this portion, say for a width of 9ft., I estimate the cost will be £lO. Should it bo considered desirable to kerb and channel a length of 15 chains from Fitzherbert Avenue to the last house, tho cost will be £240, but the most that tho council can expect by way of refunds will bo that due to four frontages, equal to a sum of £35. In addition to the frontage of the bowling greens —5 chains —there is an open space of four chains adjoining, from which it is doubtful whether we would receive any refund. The whole of the property concerned is borough lease. Matipo Street sewer: As already verbally reported mt the last meeting that portion of Matipo Street between Konini Street and the dead end cannot be sewered until this street is constructed through to Wood Street, as the levels of the country do not permit Of an outlet being obtained into Boundary Road. The total cost of constructing this sewer I estimate will Ire £250, of which amount £7O has been deposited by the people w ho subdivided Matipo Street. There are six houses affected. GENERAL.

The abattoir manager reported that during August stock slaughtered comprised 184 cows, 56 heifers, 198 bullocks, 6 calves, 1752 sheep, 5 lambs and 150 pigs. Stock condemned consisted of three cows, four bullocks, one pig and four sheep. The poundkeeper (Mr G. P. Jarrett) reported that during August 20 head of stock were impounded and fees re-