BETTER ROADS AND FOOTPATHS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2042, 16 October 1919, Page 3

BETTER ROADS AND FOOTPATHS.

LOAN' SUGGESTED.

At the September meeting of the Borough Council Cr., MeMurray gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting that estimates he obtained for either e|mcreting or asphalting the main routes through the town, i.e., Park and Main Streets, and Union Street to Johnston Street, also Russell and Johnston Streets from boundary to beam-, dary of the borough, and that the Council consider the advisability of raising a loan sufficient to* do this work, and also to complotcLall neccessary footpaths within the borough. In moving the above motion on Monday night, Cr. MeMurray said (hal last year £l,lOO was spent on repairs'and maintenance of roads, streets and drains, the greater portion of this money being expended on the streets mentioned in the motion. The annual expenditure on these streets was .probably £OOO to £7OO, and they were never in good order. It was estimated that the cost of laying down a 12ft. concrete road was about £1,400 per mile. The length of the roads referred to in the motion would, be about one and a-half miles, which would cost approximately £2,500. This sum, at 51 per cent. Interest and one per cent, sinking fund, would mean an annual eharge of £l5O. Once laid down, the upkeep .would he practically nil, and after the first year the Council would thus died a saving in.the cost of maintenance of streets and roads of between £3OO and £4OO, and fhis amount would be available for expenditure on the other roads and streets in the borough. It was a good business pro-, position. The increasing number of motor vehicles made it necessary for a better style of road, the present system of patch, patch, patch being no good. To pul proper roads down was the cheapest in the long rnn. All the necessary loolpalhs. in (he b'irnugh should also ho completed. He would also like to see the drain along Johnston . Street piped. This was u very necessary work. Cr. Parkin seconded the motion. He said other towns were going »i for loans for road 'improvements. There was no doubt , the loxton roads were in a bad slate and money expended in the direction of improving tbern would be money well spent. Cr. Walker said a I.2ft. road was altogether too narrow. The Mayor said the motion did not commit them to anything. Cr. Thompson said he did not object to getting all the information possible, but he was not in favour of concreting or tarring the- mads to allow motor cars to go taster dill. ' The motion on being put was carried.