BOROUGH ROADS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2104, 12 June 1907, Page 2

BOROUGH ROADS.

' SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. ■ MATTER FULLY DISCUSSED. LOAN OF £20,000 TO BE RAISED,

A special meeting of the Borough Council was hold last night. Present:—Tho Mayor (Mr. J. Townloy), and Grs. Williams, Mann, Miller, Blight,, Whim-ay, Sawyer, Pottie and Somervell.

Tho summary of road works required, published yesterday, was read, tho totals being:—Urgent Town Division, 21,848 c. yds., £10,659, maintenance —Town Division, 29,411 c. yds., £14,832; urgent—'Wliataujioko," 8588 e. yds., £5113; maintenmice —AVhataupoko, 7428 c. yds., £2314; urgent—Kaiti, 3053 c. yds., £ll3B ; maintenance —Kaiti, 6051 c. yds., £2395. Total, £36,451.

Cr. Sawyer Said it was no use j spending hours in discussing the details. It would be better to decide decide what quantity of Patutalii metal should bo obtained. Cr. Sheridan said £36,451 was tho minimum amount required to be spoilt on mofal during tho next twelve months.

Cr. Sawyer: Tho next seven yeais you moan. . Cr. Sheridan said that in addition Gladstone road should be metalled as

lor ns Carnarvon street. The Engineer told them that if the streets were made tho future maintenance would only bo half the present total. He advocated that the loan of £40,000 oe obtained to put the roads m thorough order. Interest w'ould only cost £2OOO and maintenance £2BOO, .thus effecting a* saving of about £BOO per annum, as tlie present -cost oi maintenance was £5/00 a yeai. Cl-. Wliinray said that there were no waterworks connections yet. These had to be made in Gladstone road, Unis interfering' with road construction. . He hoped a better system of laying water mains would be de-,-ised than to lay pipes to each tenement. Some method could be devis-

ed so that one large pipe would lead o five or fen tenenments. With regard to Cr. Sheridan’s proposal he was strongly against borrowing. When a loan of £IO,OOO was raised many years ago to put the main thoroughfare in order the people went almost en masse for the subuibs to escape the -sixpenny rate. Cr. Pettie: They were never

missed. Cr. Wliinray maintained that the burgesses would not stand additional taxation. The tendency would only be to drive the people beyond the Borough limits. He held that the increasing revenue would meet the absolutely necessary work. There was “no need to get into a sweat and rush into such large expenditure. It was probable that Mr. Rees scheme of obtaining metal supplies would be workable, in which case the Council’s difficulties would solved. Cr. Miller was not prepared to go so far as Cr. Sheridan, but >he recognised that the Council must do more for the Borough and suburban streets. The roads in some parts were not fit to bo called roads. They were worse now* than 25 years ago. * He did not blame anyone for tliis, but the Council would certainly be blameworthy if they did liot: remedy matters now. It was absurd to say that the woik

could bo done out of revenue. Ho would not go so far as to favour a £40,000 loan, but he strongly favoured Cr. Bright’s suggestion re a loan.of £15,000 which wotild do a deal of work. If they went) for £40,000 they would be riding for a fall. Cr. Sheridan: Not when we can show a clear saving of £BOO a year. Cr. Somervell said that to go in for £40,000 worth of work at once was impracticable. It would at once overtax the labour market. About £IO,OOO was the most the Council could spend to advantage in one year. He quite acknowledged the streets required making and that the present generation should not have to bear the whole brunt of t-lie expenditure. The money was not available, therefore the Council should go in for moderate borrowing. Cr. Pettie thought it better to postpone the question of a loan for streets until the drainage and waterworks were completed. He looked on sewerage as tlib most important. He suggested that' at most £i,ooo or £B,OOO be "spent this year, and that it be provided on overdraft. It would bo very costly to cut up the

street's again, and the question of a loan should be deferred, the Council in the meantime to push on with the other works. Cr. Mann:.Our present average expenditure on maintenance is £5,700 per annum. Cr. Pettie’s suggestion to spend £7,000 or £B,OO0 —very little more than we expend at present —will not suffice. Look at the complaints that are pouring in from all sides.

' Cr. Sheridan: If we raise a loan we don’t want the £40,000 all at once... We will only get the* money as we require it. Cr. Sawyer held that £15,000 would be as much as the Council could spend in two years. That was the limit he would support. Cr. Sheridan : Why liot’ get the £40,000 and extend the period over four years. In roply to Cr. Williams he said that once the roads, were formed there would not be such a large expenditure on maintenance. He took the Engineer’s rough estimate that the future cost would only bo about half. Cr. Williams: With more streets to attend to there will not be a diminution in day labour. The Engineer assured the Council that the maintenance would be less. In drawing up bis estimate as submitted, he said, lie had no idea that the' Council -would entertain the idea of going in for all the work straight' away. His intention had been to show the state of the various.streets, leaving the Council to decide which should be undertaken in rotation.

Cr. Bright said when asked for a

list the Engineer had amplified the schedule for the Council’s information. He did not think anyone at the time seriously contemplated the

idea that- the Council should undertake all the work in one year. He held that a £15,000 loaij would amply meet present requirements, and suggested that the Engineer .specify the works .that should be immediately undertaken. Care should be taken

not to overburden the local labour market. To go to the ratepayers with a proposal to borrow £30,000 would court defeat and make the Council ridiculous in the eyes of the ratepayers. It was probable that the £15,000 loan would not entail any extra rate being struck, in view of the saving that would be effected in

maintenance. He pointed out' that the quantity of metal shown in the Engineer’s summary could, not possibly be handled in any one bear.

He moved that the list be referred back to the Engineer, to specify works that- would cost from £15,000 to £20,000. Cr. Whinray pointed out that there"

would have to be bettor grades for the Whataupoko. Would it be advisable to put any metal on them until they were properly graded. The Engineer said the proper way was to form the streets properly and

then metal them. But it was obvious that in the state they were they must be patched with metal. His estimate was simply for metal, without anything being allowed for formation.

Cr. Whinray said the formation of Haiti and Whataupoko streets would be as big an iteiii as metalling. It would be putt'iiig the cart- before the

horse to metal tlio stroots first.

Or. Miller: Of course they would not bo metalled until they wore

foimed. Or. Whinray moved that the Enginoer report as to the cost of grading and. metalling. Cr Sheridan said it was not likely the Engineer would metal unformed roads, hut some would have to be temporarily patched. The presen estimate' was for metal and label lot the Enginoer in reporting add the cost of formation and grading any particular street. Inspecting the loan, he had never considered that the £40,000 would he raised all a once, but only as required. He would

accept the £20,000 motion. ' Cr. Whinray: Until I raised the grading question the Council were under a misapprehension. It was fallacious to say the metalling would only cost £36,451. With, grading the cost will be much greater. Cr. Sheridan seconded Cr. Bright s motion. He was very pleased to get even this much work completed.

Cr. Miller: Lot the estimates .include formation and kormng, and then there will be no mistake. Patching only should come out of revenue. The Chairman said Cr. Whinray had been quite right in raising the question. It was necessary to have complete figures. Tlio motion was then drawn up as f ollo ws : —“That tlio Engineer’s esti- ; mates bo referred back to him, with ; the request that he ■will recommend such urgent works on permanent I street improvement as will total from ; £15,000 to £20,000, with the view ! that after revision thereof by the Council the sanction'of the ratepayers be asked as to the raising of a ’ loan, for the purposes named —the ’ works Undertaken to be completed as I to formation, metalling, and kerbing.” Cl-. Bright: I take it that those

wbo vote for this motion will consider themselves bound to vote for the loan. Cr. Mann: No councillor can vote against the loan if he supports this motion. The Mayor agreed with this contention.

Cr. Somervell: Then I will vote against it. Cr. Pettie said lie would, support tlio motion, now that the sum was reduced to a reasonable amount. The Couficil could expend that sum to advantage without burdening the ratepayers.

Cr. Sheridan: As a matter Of fact, I never anticipated getting the Council to agree to more than £20,000.. I am satisfied. Cr. Sawyer: It should bo understood, if we carry the motion, that the estimates are based on Patutahi metal.

The Mayor said this could be done, but the Council should not be tied down.

Cr. Whinray would like to seo the matter adjourned until the grading of Whataupoko streets was reported upon. The Kaiti streets were not so bad. •

Cr. Williams said he was averse to the motion if this metal loan -would prejudice the chances of a loan for drainage.

The. Council, however, thought that the two questions were quite distinct.

The motion was put and declared carried unanimously. Cr. Whinray (rising) : I Tlio Mayor: You are too late. You did not speak. Cr. Whinray: Very well.