LOAN WORKS.

Patea Mail, 3 May 1882, Page 3

LOAN WORKS.

: The Engineer had submitted plans and estimates fpr works to be executed out of the proposed loan of £5,000. /In his letter he said “ Being limited to £5,000, I have endeavored to recommend such works as are most desirable and necessary.”

The Mayor then said : I have to lay before you a very important report —the feport of the Engineer on improvement works to be executed out of the proposed loan of £5,0,00. The report is accompanied with plans,and estimates for street formation, 1 ---, drainage, securing a water

supply, and tree planting. These have been prepared with considerable care, and I am inclined to think they are very suitable to the present 'requirements of the town, and that they are practicable and within the limits of our means, as you' will see. The various work are shown in detail on the plans and in the estimates. The large new map of the town and neighborhood will show the proposed sources of water supply, and the proposed method of bringing the supply into the town. It is, highly desirable that ;we should undertake sdino work for the improvement,of the town, especially at this juncture when business affairs appear to' be getting Very quiet. This work would have been brought before you earlier, but it could not be done because of the imir/enso amount of detail.necessary ; and' I think you will agree that since the appointment of the Engineer no time has been lost. In addition to the proposals of (ho Engineer in respect of public works to be executed cut of the proposed loan, an approximate estimate of other works to bo constructed out of ordinary revenue will also be laid you before in committee. There is also an estimate of the borough income and money available for expendi■ture out of ordinary revenue. The Engineer’s report was then read by the Clerk as follows : r Bedford street Grades. “I submit a scheme showing the easiest gradient obtainable, keeping in view the effect to properties built upon. For instance the footpath from Egmont-street to the Bank of New Zealand would be very slightly altered. At the Australasian Hotel the;presen.t road would be lowered to about 13,, feet below the ground floor,; His intended the Masonic Hotel should be about on a, level with the crown of the road. At York-street and on to the bridge no alteration is contemplated, with the exception of widening the thoroughfare by removal of the sand and erecting! a timber sand guard.

“ It may be well to explain that in rough and broken ground like the locality in question, the gradient of one street is in a great measure dependent on the others adjoining : lienee (lie large amount of work I have had to do before I could form an opinion. 1 ; . ! -

_ “ In this instance the scheme described is the: best; and most suitable, /and if adopted the gradients of adjoining cross and parallel streets will work in welt together, and the cuttings:will about equal Hie fillings. , l Diversion 4)f Traffic. :

“ The traffic should be diverted before work in Bedford-street .is commenced. For this purpose Leicester, and parts of Cornwall, Cambridge, and Kent-s.treets might be formed and partly metalled for a small sum. Street to the Heads. “To the south of Bedford street I recommend that Egmont-street be.formed the full width as far as the south.boundary of the:Domain,arid, clayed from this pdiht to the. proposed exit of sewerage (here-after-'referred to), to be formed 15 feet wide, so as to be available for cart traffic, also to enable drainage pipes to be laid at the proper level. Order of Works^ “From the-foregoing I should Veoojrimend these works to be carried out in the 'following order “ Ist. Improvement of Leicester and other streets above referred to (diversion of traffic). ' “2nd. Bedford-street.-—The north-east side to bo lowered to the' proper grade, made 30 feet wide, and gravelled with the ; metal on present road, the, sand on the south-west side being at the same time removed to the level of the old road. By this means the traffic area will be maintained, and a connection with Kent-street secured. At (his stage of the work, the timber retaining'wall between York-street anti the bridge, also the upper portion of Egmont-street, might commence, a part of the metal on up-hill end being carted and sprcadonLeicestei-streetwheretlie formation appears soft or likely to be out up, the' 1 other part being utilised in metalling between Kent and York-strcets, leaving from Egmont to Kent streets to receive new metal. The width of road to be 99 feet between Egmont-street, and 3 chains below Devon-street, also from Kent to Yorkstreet—the intermediate portion representing the main bank—the road to be 66 feet wide. Should any material be required other than found in forming the street, it can be taken from Devon and Egmont streets, arid .when’ completed to formation level, including claying, to be gravelled 33 feet wide.

“3rd. Egmont-street.—From Bedford street to south end of Domain boundary to be formed and clayed 6 inches deep ; next, the material from 15 feet gullet south to“ Kent street (if not required for Bedford street) to be placed in water hole in Devon Street. The material from south of Kent street (o be carted and lipped over side of hill near proposed sewerage exit. “ 4th. Devon-street.—Should any material remain after completion of Bedford and Egmont streets, it may be placed in Devon street north, or Cornwall street, as circumstances demand.

i “ Egmont-street North.—Should means be in hand, I would recommend that the hollow north of Victoria-street should be, filled in by cutting doivn the stoop rise further on. This would improve the grade,-give a 1 full view of the town from the; Borough boundary,! - and allow the drainage to take the town course of service. • Planting Bedford Street.

. “The cost of planting is not included in my estimate, and I think it should be left,until the other works are completed, wheri with knowledge of; the unexpended balance of loan, the widening of the street to its full vyjdth throughout, kerbiug and ‘planting can be better consideicd. . “ Attached will be found estimates for each of (he works named in this report.'' DRAINAGE.

“lu comparison with most towns, Patea is particularly well situated for a good and inexpensive system of drainage. “ Tbs Main-street (Egmont).—Standing on the apex of a hill, the south and west sides gradually incline towards the sea coast, and that on the east abruptly towards lire Patea river, consequently three outlets present themselves. First I would deal with the main street, and recommend that a 9-inch earthenware pipe be carried along each i side from Victoria street to. Bedford street, where they be. made a juuctiot), and proceed by a 12-inch pipe in a southerly direction until it reaches a point 14 cliajns beyond Kent street, where the (sewerage might, be allowed to discharge, with .beneficial effect to the lowlying sand-hills, or it could with an additional length of about 14 chains empty into the sea. •

“ To the west of Egmont street I advise that the.,old water-course be tapped by a 6-inch pipe running .down Lincoln street into the swamp immediately adjoining the old town boundary, this eventually to join others from Victoria and Oxford streets, and be prolonged with a 12-inch pipe to sea. “ East of Egmont street is more difficult to deal with at present owing to the unevenness of the ground. A pipe down Bed ford .street will be of little use, except in respect to Devon street, until , the cross streets,,are, formed ; nevertheless it will have to be provided for..

“Seeing that the drain pipes in Egmont street will relieve this part of the town from . storm ; water, I do ■ not .recommend much being done until the several streets, are made to their proper level. The best method in the meantime of draining the locality .in question will be to lay* a 12inch pipe down Leicesler-strcet, from Egmontstreet direct to .the river, with a sump placed at intersection, with Dorset, alsp Devon-street; ,or otherwise as far as Corn-wall-street, thence by Cornwall, Cambridge, and Kent streets to Bedford-street, thence to York-street, and from there along Yorkstreet; to! below the cattle wharf. J

“It is scarcely. necessary to go into this matter mpre fully, excepting to remark that if this, system is adopted it will relieve the greater part of the town from storm water and sewerage, and will work in with any system which may hereafter be decided upon. “House service pipes are not included in my estimate, as they,would be paid for by those requiring them. WATER SUPPLY. “ After inspecting the principal streams within a radius of 5 miles from the town, I have come to the conclusion there are but two sources from which' it is possible a sufficient supply can be procured by gravitation; but With the meagre information I have been enabled to obtain, in the short time,at my disposal, lam not in-apposition to say, which is the best, without a proper survey. “ Source A.—-On the, Hukatere stream, distant in. a straight lino.-from, Patea 3 miles, to which add : 2. miles for detour, equal to 6 miles ; approximate fall 120 ft. or 24 ft. per mile. This would supply upwards of 4000 : inhabitants with 20 gallons per day each. The water-shed is timbered, has steep sides, and can he dammed .up to a height of oyer 60ft. “ Source B.—Oh the Otoia creek, distant from Patea miles, to which add 2 miles for detour, equal to 54 miles; approximate fall 90ft., or 16ft. per mile. This would suppty upwards of 4000 inhabitants. The water-shed is also timbered, and the creek capable of being dammed to a considerable height ; also has the advantage of being on the. town aide of the Patea river. Town Reservoir, “ I have selected Mount Gladstone (hill behind Cemetery) as the most suitable site for a storage reservoir, being the highest hill near Patea with sufficient level surface ; also the nearest to the sources of supply described, and has an elevation of 63ft above Egrnont street at the Post-office, and 77ft atTaplin’s corner. “ Before deciding as to what source would bo best, it is necessary that a proper survej 7 be made, as either will give an abundant supply, if sufficient fall can be obtained, and will be cheaper ’ than pumping from a low level.

“The mill-dam at Kakaratnea would supply a very large population, having

three times the volume of water as in either of the sources referred to, but it would have to be raised 70ft., and should be resorted To as a last resource. ” ' ; E. H. Beere, O.E. Estimates in CommitteeThe Council then went into committee, and considered the estimates for the various works proposed. They also considered estimates for other works to be executed out of ordinary revenue. No resolutions were passed in committee, and therefore no “ report ” of committee was formally adopted when . the Council resumed. The engineer’s report on loan works was not adopted, and was not proposed for adoption at this stage. Work in Victoria StreetGdifrtcilldr Mahony moved “That Tenders |be invited for work in Victoria street; ■ tenders to be In-by next meeting.” The Mayor seconded, and said : This is an urgent piece of work. The street is ■ positively dangerous with an open drain near the footbath, and a shaky bridge to cross. It is dangerous especially for children. The motion was agreed to. It was understood that the footpath is to be formed along one side, and the open ditch filled in. Damaging Footpath.; Councillor, Black said the footpath in Lincoln street''along tlie 'new bank has been spoilt ’by the building operations. It was formorty.a good, clean, path, but since clay has been put on it the path is very sloppy in wet weather. This was looking after No. 1, but he thought it was for'the bank proprietors dr the contractors to make the path good. CouncillorMilroy : Yes ; the path along (he iron fence.in Egmont street has been partly destroyed also. Agreed to request the contractors To make, the footpaths good. Kerbing Footpaths.

Resolved that tenders be called,, for forming and kerbing south side of Cambridge street from Dorset street to Devon street (leading to Mr Holtham’s &c) ; and that tenders be in by next meeting. The Mayor proposed “ That tenders be called for kerbing footpaths from the Post Office, to. the .corner of .-Victoria-street ; and for kerbing, forming, and. gravelling pathway from Egmorit street to Dorset street and from Cambridge street to Leicester street (behind Central Hotel).’' Councillor. Taplin , seconded,, and the motion was agreed to. Banking Facilities. Councillor Milroy moved “That the Finance Committee ascertain from each of the local banks on what terms they are willing to allow the Council an overdraft not exceeding £IOOO, from time to time.” He said : VVe are overdrawn more than £3OO at present, and it is time we should see what terms we can get' We might borrow £6OO to end of nest-.March, and then borrow £I,OOO for the ensuing , year, because the income will exceed £I,OOO. The motion was agreed to. .Advertising, The Mayor asked for some general instruction in the matter of advertising. It was manifestly absurd that the Council’s notices should be published in two papers The practice has been to divide .the‘advertising.;.equally, but some instruction is desirable. . Councillor Milroy r If the papers would meet us, we could afford to advertise in both. Agreed, on the motion of Councillor Milroy, that ’tlie : advertising be divided between the two papers, as far as possible. Auditors. Agreed, on the motion of Councillor Taplin, that 3 guineas per annum, be paid to each auditor of borough accounts. The Council adjourned.