STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5041, 18 October 1926, Page 3

STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

PAEROA BOROUGH ESTIMATES. CONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL. At Thursday night’s meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council the Works Committee brought down a. report and the estimated expenditure on the balance Of street Improvements to be done out of existing loan money. The balance of the loan of £11,250 unexpended after deducting the first year’s interest and sinking fund was shown as £4252 7s 4d. The estimated amount required to complete work already authorised was £2325, made up aS' follows: Flora Street, £6O; George Street, £120; Dearie Street, £llO ; north end of Moore Road, £lOO ; Raroa Road, £120; lower Hill Street, £325 ; Belmont Road, £4OO ; tar-seal footpath from Commercial Hotel to post office garage entrance, £120; blinding metal .already laid in Normanby Road, £80; tar-s,ealing a strip 30ft wide down middle of Normanby Road, £B9O. The estimated cost of work not previously authorised was £1997, ma.de, up as follo'ws: Railway Settlement and Raroa Road (as per special report and resolution), £260 ; Flora Street, formation 20ft wide, with metal 6 inches in thickness, 10ft wide, £142; Willoughby Street from Victoria Street to near Mrs Forbes’ residence, formation 20ft, metal 10ft, £72 ; Russell Street from Willoughby Street, to Wood Street, formation 14ft, metal 10ft, £57 10S; Norwood Road, formation 20ft, metal 10ft, £176 10s ; King Street extension to Corbett Street, formation 20ft, metal 10ft, £7O ; repairs to Taylor’s Avenue, £l5O ; bitumen sealing in front of post office, and Princes Street to* post office- entrance, £l5O ; from Wharf Street to the Bank of New Zealand, additional 10ft in width, sealed with bitumen (penetration method), centre scarified and rolled, £540 ; tarring and sanding footpath Taylor’s Avenue; .and Moore Road to railway station, £340 ; engineer’s fees outstanding, £6O ; estimated cost of raising the loan, £lOO. Total, £4322, less a credit of £125 for bitumen already on hand. The Mayor intimated that the Works Committee had given thg estimates full apd careful consideration, and he moved that the report and estimates as set out be adopted. Cr. H. J. Hare seconded the resolution.

Cr. F. E. Flatt said that in view of the estimates using up the. balance of the loan money he was of the opinion that Norwot d, Russell, and Flora streets might have a, reduction in expenditure, or the work held in abeyance for the time being. He thought that the available money should be ■used in cleaning up some of the side streets, such as filling up drains, and metalling. Station Road, and Albert, Corbett, and Bradley streets required immediate attention. The work had often been discussed by the council but as yet nothing had been done. He wa ; s of the opinion that the expenditure on Normanby Road should be considerably reduced. Nearly £l4OO was too much to spend, and was not in proportion to other streets. The Mayor said it was desirable to try and provide reasonable metal access to all properties in the borough. He yas prepared to reduce Norwood Ro'ad because it would give access to a block of land held by him. He added that he was sure to be subjected to criticism if that work was authorised, but it was as well to remember that that area had contributed a,bout £5O in. rates, for many years, but there was no formed roadway, footpath, or lighting. The streets mentioned by Cr. Flatt had reasonably good access at present, although perhaps there had not been much expenditure on them during the la.st few years. Cr. Flatt agreed, but said that he could not. Ipse sight of the fact that the council was spending the last of its loan money, and promises; made to ratepayers had not been fulfilled. Cr. de Castro thought .that in view of the financial stringency tha.t existed, and was likely to for a couple of years, the council had good reason, to proceed with caution and carry out only urgent works. Consideration should be given to the streets in the populated areas. So fax* as Norjmanby Hoad was concerned, he thought a considerable saving could be effected by a modified scheme. Warnings had been issued all over the Dominion about the serious outlook for the future, and it was not desirable to appeal to the ratepayers for a further loan under such conditions, Cr. J. Pinder said that with regard to Norwood Road .there were several houses being built there, a ; nd people were entitled to have some, kind of an outlet. Cr. P. E. Brenan said he, appreciated the difficulty of the Works Committee in trying to make £1 do the work of £2. The original scheme laid down for the spending of the loan money had been departed from, partly because it had been necessary .to put streets through, and do other wol-k that was not anticipated when the money wa ; s raised. He did not think such a large expenditure was warranted on Normanby Road ,at present, but such thoroughfares as ' Station Road, Corbett Street, and others were due for immediate attention in order to keep faith with the ratepayers. He thought the whole of the estimates should be deferred to enable' the councillors to go fully into the master, so that the money available could be spent to the best possible advantage.

The Mayor replied that it was already quite late enough in the season to undertake the.work, and he was anxious to get it under way at the earliest possible moment. He, could not agree that bitumen for the apex of the streets- at the post office was a luxury, as suggested by Cr. de Castro. Heavy expense had been incurred in putting the road down, and it was prudent and desirable to tar-seal the area and prevent scour and wear. There would always be heavy traffic, and if a good job was not made of the area the, maintenance costs would be enormous. If it would help matters at all he would agree to the deletion

of the £260! for Flora Street. He expressed the hope that the councillors would approve of the estimates and realise the difficulties that were beset through being tied to limited finance. Cr. Brenan said that he had no desire to hamper the work, but it was necessary to remember the promises given the ratepayers prior to the loan being sanctioned. Whilst having every desire to see the work carried out on the lines of the greatest good for the greatest number, it was necessary to proceed with caution.

Cr. Br«nan then moved thajt Taylor’s Avenue, £340 ; Flora Street, £142 ; ant? Normanby Road, £540 ; a total of £1022, be deleted from the estimates. Seconded by Cr. de. Castro, who advocated more frequent removal of grass from the sides of the main street. He pointed out that the appearance of the street would be greatly improved and money saved if the roadman, when sweeping down th®, drains each week, would only chip off the grass instead of walking over the top of it. Cr. Brejian said he would like it recorded that he was still opposed to the policy of half-forming a street, and stoutly maintained that a street should be formed for its full Width. In supporting Cr. Brenan’s amendment Cr. Flatt said tha.t he, too, appreciated the difficulty the Works Committee had been faced with on account of the limited finance available. There was much the council would like to do for the ratepayers, but under the circumstances, it was doing its best under a handicap. It was evident that the ratepayers could not stand a further loan at present, and because of that he thought it desirable for the available money to be conserved.

The amendment was; then put and declared lost on the voices.

Cr. Flatt then proved ,a further amendment to the effect that in view of the absence of Crs. Edwards and Silcock the whole of the- estimates be held over for one week for further consideration.

This amendment, seconded by Cr. de Castro, was also declared lost. The Mayor’s resolution that the report and estimates as set out be adopted was then put and carried, Crs. Brenan, Flatt, and de Castro recording their votes against it.

put and carried, Crs. Brenan, Flatt, and de Castro recording thei votes against it.