PATCHING STREETS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4843, 19 June 1925, Page 2

PATCHING STREETS.

PRESENT METHODS UNSUITABLE. CRITICISM BY COUNCILLORS. At. Wednesday night’s meeting ot the Paeroa Borough Council Cr. de Castro drew attention to the method of patching Normanby Road. He said it was useless wasting, metal as was being done at present on the principal streets. Motor vehicles were scattering .the loose metal in all directions. hi his opinion the pot-holes should be deepened, or else some kind of binding sliould.be used. It was false economy to go on patching the streets under the present system. The Mayor said that he did not know —-he was not an engineei —but he agreed that the roads would oe better scarified. •

Cr. Hare suggested that cartn should be used with the gravel and the roller then used.

Cr. Edwards said that blinding and raking wais desirable, but costly. Cr. 'Silcock said that so far as Normanby Road' was concerned the otnly alternative was to tar it.

Cr. Brenan pointed out that there was only a limited sum available for maintenance. It was easy to sit back and say what should be done, but it was not possible to sacrifice othei important items for the sake of improving road<s that were already metalled. If more was to be done, the only alternative was to resort to a further loan, but he would remind the council that the rates were already nearing the maximum allowed by law.

The Mayor remarked that Normanby Road was looking its worst at present. It would be found that the metal would settle down better as soon as some wet w'eather came. Similar patching had been done on other streets in the borough on former occasions, and the results had been quite satisfactory, and it had meant the salvation of the street. He would welcome any suggestion for improved methods, but charges for maintenance and repair work had to be considered. He stressed the necessity of keeping the expenditure on street works within the loan money authorised .and the revenue accruing.

After further discussion it was resolved to refer the matter to the works committee, with authority to go into the question of considering some more satisfactory method ot road patching.