RAILWAY IN REID’S QUAY

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2050, 10 April 1907, Page 2

RAILWAY IN REID’S QUAY

The District Engineer of Railways wrote stating that the piece of line going over Reid’s Quay was to be taken up.

Tho Clerk said he had written to tho Engineer of Railways asking that' tho crossing should he put in order.

Cr. Lvsnar said that in preference to doing as proposed the Borough do the work. Cr. Miller said it would cost £IOO to put the crossing in order. The Engineer said the Railway Department had made an attempt to remedy the fault but had not succeeded. He wrote again stating that one carter had broken an axle and another bent an axle in going over the line. He proposed that wood-blocking be used. This would not cost much.

Cr. Colley said it would be better for the Borough to block the place with stone.

Cr. Miller thought the local officer in charge of the railway should be seen. The Engineer in 'Wellington probably did not know the exact position of affairs. The Engineer said the work could be done for £ls.

Cr. Lysnar moved that the Counci do the work. The motion was carried. WATERWORKS ENGINEER.

Sir. R. Hay wrote stating that he would have to take a holiday 7 loj some months on account of his health. Mr. Couston, C.E., who was familiar with all Mr. Hay’s works, had been appointed to act in his stead.

The Mayor said they regretted Mr. Hay’s illness, but they could all have confidence in Mr. Couston, who had visited the works on many occasions.

Cr. Colley said he had visited the head works, and found all the work done in first-class style. Cr. Sheridan moved to confirm the appointment of Mr. Couston. Cr. Lysnar said the Borough engaged Mr. Hay as a consulting engineer, and they wanted such an engineer in his place, and not a junior. If a consulting engineer were not got the Borough engineer should do the work. It was a grave position, and the Council should not let the matter drift into the hands of a man who was not responsible to the Council Cr. Rees said there was something in what Cr. Lysnar said. He thought the approval should be merely temporary. Cr. Sheridan withdrew his motion. That would leave, the matter as it was, aud it could never be said that

Mr. Couston had been approved. Or. xtees said .that courtesy demanded that some-action bo taken. Cr. Colley said the letter should bo acknowledged. If anything went wrong the matter could bo gone into. Cr. Miller said the letter should he acknowledged. The Council should state that they approved the appointment of Mr. Couston, but that Mr. Hay was not relieved of his responsibility. Cr. Harding moved that the letter ho handed to the Borough solicitor to bo dealt with. Cr. Lysnar again objected to the approval of Mr. Couston. They had great need at the present moment for a consulting engineer. The motion was carried. The solicitors are to be instructed that the Council did not relieve Mr. Hay from responsibility. The letter drafted by the solicitors is to bo brought before the Council at next meeting. BY-LAWS.

Messrs Clirisp and Coleman wrote approving the proposed new by-laws. A number of carters presented a petition regarding the by-laws dealing with carting. It was asked that the charge for parcels not exceeding lewt bo loft as at present (Is), and not 6d as proposed; though if there were a number of parcels belonging to one person which were to be delivered at different places Cd would be a fair charge to both parties. The charge for lewt to lOcwt was asked to be fixed at 2s, and not Is as proposed. It' was also asked that the regulation of loads should read 1 horse load one ton or over, instead of 1 horse load one ton.

Mr. H. Partington wrote objecting to certain of the carting charges. Ho objected to tho charge of 2s 6d for hire of a 1-horsc dray for thirty minutes; Is for carting lOcwt one mile; and (id for lewt and under. A carter could not get his order at the Union. Company, wait his turn at the wharf, and load and deliver half a ton in half an hour. In respect to the other -charges, he reminded the Council that a wharf laborer got 1 8d for 30 minutes’ work.

Cr. Sheridan said tho charges in Gisborne were quite small enough at present—carrying was cheaper in Gisborne than anywhere else. The carters wore prepared sometimes to carry more than a toil with one horse. The object of the by-law was to ensure that carters could be forced to take one ton to one horse. It was absurd to make a carter carry scwt to Roebuck road for 6d. Cr. Lysnar moved that the suggestions in the petition be approved, but- that the load regulation read "at least” a ton instead of “a ton

or over.” Cr. Sheridan said there had been no control in the past. There liaa been no complaint about excessive charges because of the great competition.

The motion was carried. Cr. Lysnar caid the committee had discussed tho brick area in the back streets, and had come to the conclusion that the matter should be thrashed out in the full Council. The Building Overseer said the building by-laws were copied from those adopted in Wanganui. Personally lie was in favor of the bylaw regarding strength of walls as they stood. Cr. Webb moved that a 14-inch wall without cross-walls be allowed for any length up to 60ft for one

story. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. On the motion of Cr. Colley it was decided that two-storey buildings be 34ft. high. The whole of the by-laws were then adopted.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. Tho Engineer reported as follows: Roebuck Road Bridge.—l have the honor to submit for your inspection tho balance of the plans of tho Roebuck road bridge, and which came to hand on Thursday last. This completes the whole of tho drawings referred to in the specifications, and in the ordinary course of events they would have been forwarded on to the •contractor with a request that lie would immediately proceed with the work, but pending the arrangements

with Messrs Nelson Bros, the matter must stand in abeyance. In addition to the delay in connection with the plans, Messrs Nelson Bros, protested against the position of the piles in the stream. Their representatives suggested several structural alterations, but as these were impracticable, their requests were reduced to a matter of dredging a few chains of the left bank of the river above the bridge, which would necessitate tho same length of breastwork to retain the silt. The reason given for the dredging was that the tugmaster could not negotiate the opening in the bridge with three barges in tow, or if ho did, there was considerable risk that damage would be done to the piles. I have given the whole subject my earnest considera-

tion, looking at it from every point of view. I made an accurate survey of the jipstream approach, which is the part complained of, and compared it with the tortuous channel near' the company’s works and the very sharp bonds in the approach to the Taruhern bridge, and find that compared with these the approach to Roebuck road bridge is infinitely better, and beyond the fact that every new bridge naturally constricts the channel, there is no obstruction to the free navigation oi the river. All the above channels are navigated without trouble, and in my opinion there should be no trouble in negotiating Roebuck road bridge. With regard to the dredging, the Council could not undertake the work as it is no part of the Council's functions to dredge the river. If any dredging is to be done the Harbor Board should do it, decidedly 7 not the Borough Council. I propose to drive a sufficient number of guide piles with fenders at both approaches, and this in my opinion should meet tho case; and failing Messrs Nelson Bros being satisfied I suggest that the matter bo referred to the Marine Department. Taruheru Bridge.—On the 3rd inst a large mob of cattle were crossing the Taruheru bridge between 5.30 and 5.45 p.m., when they became frightened and started running, with the result that the hand-railings were carried away and two piers sunk about four inches. It will be necessary to jack up and pack two of the spans. I invited prices from two parties, the first of whom could not undertake it owing to other engagements. I submit the price sent in by the second party. The work is absolutely necessary, and must be clone. I consider this bridge is very much overloaded; the metal should be stripped off and the planking sheathed with white pine. As it will be necessary to remove the metal before bringing the spans to the preper level, an opportunity of examining the decking will occur. Judging from the condition of the jcist.-: in the swing portion, I expect to find a considerable amount of dry rot in the timber

Crawford Road Culvert.—All the timber has been placed on the ground and the work started, but the wet during the last day or two has retarded operations. Lowe Street.—The metalling of this street has been completed, and a start is being made with Root and other streets in the locality. I have given considerable attention to footpaths requiring urgent repairs, but the supply of material is so limited that it' is impossible to do what is necessary. Cr. Sheridan asked if a lot of metal had not recently, been put on.

The Engineer said very littlo metal had been put on. The surface tfas picked up and a slight layer of metal put on. , a Cr. Sheridan said be understood about fifty rons of metal had been put on the bridge. The Overseer said tho mob ot cattle which broke the Taruhoru bridge numbered about 160. Cr. Colley could not see the use of stripping off the metal. The Engineer said he intended to strip the bridge to lighten it to jack it up, and then pack it up

underneath. Cr. Colley said a month ago the engineer had done much work on the bridge, and had put on a good deal of metal. It was absurd for lnm now to come and say the bridge was over-

The Engineer said that undoubtedly the largo amount of met'al on it accounted for the falling of the piles. He had not put a large amount of metal on the bridge. When it was known there was dry-ro i swing portion it was reasonable to suppose that the next section was in a somewhat similar state. I decking were allowed to run o there might be a very serious acci dent at some time or another. Or. Lysnar thought the metal should be reduced to the level obtaining before the metal was recen y The Mayor said the bridge was re decked a short time ago. Or. Colley proposed that metal . cut by hand to inch size. This would enable them to have less weigh metal on the bridge. Cr. Miller said that if the was likely to happen again, the Coun oil should consider the advisabl y of sheathing the bridge with white pine and removing the metal. Cr. Lysnar moved that the metal on the bridge be reduced, and that the bridge be straightened. lh motion was carired. -p i Discussing the Roebucl bridge Cr. Colley said that the spans on the first plan were six inches shorter than in the latest plan, so that, the starting point having been given ,the pile in the middle of the stream was thrown sft. 6in. further into the stream. The Engineer said this had had the effect of throwing the swing into better water. Cr. Harding did not see how the Harbor Board was effected and he thought the Marine Department should be left alone—they might demand that the structure be removed. Cr. Lvsnar moved that the Engineer provide an estimate for the proposed fending piles.—Carried. The Engineer said he wished to know if the work was to proceed. Cr. Lysnar moved that the work be proceeded with. They had gone too far to stop now. The bridge should he finished and nobody could object.—The motion was carried.

GENERA!/. Cr. Colley said the footpath on the south side of Carnarvon street, leading to the Recreation Grounds was in a bad condition.—The Engineer : s to attend to the matter as soon as possible. Cr. Rees asked that some gravel he put on the footpath in Whataupolco, . just over the bridge.— Granted.

The nightvatchman reported that there had been no fires during the past fortnight.—Received. - The captains of the local volunteer corps wrote asking that the old English custom of escorting the Mayor and Councillors to church on the first Sunday after their election, be made an annual fixture in Gisborne.—A motion affirming that the custom be followed was carried. The Bank of New Zealand wrote asking that a form of resolution agreeing to borrow money by way of overdraft should bo filled in and signed.—lt was decided to limit the overdraft to £IO,OOO.

The A.M.P. Society notified that £15,000 had been placed to the credit of the council at the bank. Received.

The Registrar-General wrote requesting statistical information. Received.

The County Council forwarded a plan showing the proposed levels of Lytton Road. The County had approved the levels as far as they 7 related to the junction with Ormond Road, but as the Taruheru Road Board would also be affected, it was thought that body should also be considered.—The plans are to be forwarded to the Road Board.

Dr. Coker wrote asking for permission to orect night lamps at the corner of Palmerston Road and Derby street. —Permission granted.