ROAD MAINTENANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2592, 12 June 1923, Page 3

ROAD MAINTENANCE.

BOROUGH FOREMAN’S REPORT

| ~ At last night’s Borough Council -meeting the road foreman reported that during- the past month the road staff had been engaged in cleaning drains in Russell and Jenks Streets, and Norbiton Road, carting metal and patching ruts in Union, Johnston, Russell, Park, Duncan and Jenks Streets and Sandon Road. The metal ordered-from Belmont is coming to hand- very slowly (presumably owing to weather conditi6ns), only thirteen trucks having arrived to date. It is of suitable size. .We are putting same on Johnston Street, and blinding with clay from Victoria Park. We have also received two trucks of metal from Paekakariki. This is apparently good metal, but of a. more shaley nature than Belmont. We shall need to do \ a considerable amount of patching on Moutoa Road and Avenue Road east of Baker Street. Purcell Street, from corner of Levin Road is in a bad way, and requires the use of the road grader and a fair amount of metal. Most of the roads in the borough would be much improved by the use of the grader, but care will have to be exercised to avoid damage to hydrant boxes in the water area. I would strongly recommend the advisability of the Council acquiring a second horse and dray, as I believe it to be a good proposition.” The report was adopted, and it •was decided that the matter of the purchase of horse be referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. Cr. McMurray said that the road in Johnston Street at present being metalled has no crown. A crown was absolutely essential to a road. Cr. Adams said' that at lost meeting Cr. Coley had asked whether the Council was getting value in metal purchases. About eight or nine months ago metal was purchased at 18s a yard for drainage work and dumped in the grass in Park Street. Some of it was there . to-day. At least 50 per cent, of that metal was still there. Drain pipes wei*e also to be found hidden by the grass in different streets. The Mayor said that he had noticed the pipes, and had had them collected. He did not know about the metal, but would look into the matter. Cr. Walker asked if the road foreman had attended to the footpath in Thynne Street yet. The trees had been trimmd back by owners. He hoped the road fore- _ nan was not losing sight of this very necessary work. Cr. Coley said that there were still lupins growing in Thvnn'e Street, and some were six feet high. It was decided to refer the matter of noxious weeds in Tliynhe Street to the Inspector.