Metalling the Roads.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 21, 26 January 1901, Page 1

Metalling the Roads.

TRAMWAY OR TRACTION ENGINE,

COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER QUESTION, „v.

In discussing the report of the Engineer at the meeting of the County Council yesterday, the question of metalling the roads on the flat came up, but with the small amount of funds at the disposal of the Council little could be done. It was agreed to metal that portion of the road between Makaraka and Matawliero which is at presentin' a very bad state, and the Engineer was also instructed to fill up the holes on the main road, and repair the road as far as possible. The cost of the metal, which ran into something like 14s a yard, was considered, the Chairman pointing out that it cost nearly £750 to do a thousand yards. Cr Tombleson said that • whilst the Council were paying 8s per yard for carting they were at the same time cutting up the roads badly with the drays. What the Council really required was to go in for a tramway for the carriage of the stone. Every year there was the same trouble with regard to metal, and the roads were suffering all the time. The Chairman said that the adoption of Cr Tombleson’s suggestion' would mean that a bridge would have to be erected across the river somewhere about Wae-renga-a-hika. Cr Jex Blake had another idea. He was strongly in favor of the Council purchasing a traction engine and roller, which lie was sure was far and away the cheapest,' They would'only have to strengthen tlie bridge if this were done. With regard to Cr Comblison’s suggestion, he anticipated that even if tho Council got the rails for nothing the freights on them would he considerable. Cr Cooper said that if the Council asked for rails the Government would remind them that they had previously given the rails, and they had sold them. The Chairman was impressed with the idea of a traction engine, the cost of which would he about £IBOO, whilst a tramway would run into many thousands. Cr Graham suggested that a committee of the Council should meet the Borough Council and see if something could not be done.

The Chairman reminded members that it was necessary to keep a watchful eye on the finances. ' He wished to know where the money was to come from. The financial position of the Council was very bad, and they could not, at the present time, spend £lB, let alone £I3OO. Cr Jex Blake was more hopeful, and believed that they could get the money, even if they had to go to private individuals for it, ’

Ci - Cooper did not see why a matter of £IBOO should trouble anybody. Cr Graham pressed for a committee to be set up. The Engineer mentioned a case where n traction engine had been used, and the cost of the work was just half what it would otherwise have been, The running expenses of a traction engine was' about £2 a day, and the engine took out 80 to 40 yards a "trip at'a speed of about four miles an hour,

The Chairman thought that if a committee were set up that it should first consider the question of ways and means. He objected to letting any contracts until they could see their way to keep their accpujit down. Members were perhaps not' aware of the fact that they left themselves open to a penalty of £IOO each if anybody liked to sue them for allowing their overdraft to exceed the limit.- It

was just as well that they should know this. , Cr Cooper did not think that a fine- of J2IOO was a matter of great consequence so long as they got the metal for the roads. , . A committee consisting of the Chairman, and Crs Graham, Jex-Blake, and Tombleson was appointed to consider the question of ways and means, and also confer with the 'Borough Council, regarding the purchase of a traction engine.