FORMATION OF GLADSTONE ROAD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 300, 3 December 1884, Page 2

FORMATION OF GLADSTONE ROAD.

REMOVAL OF GRAVEL. The Borough Engineer made the following proposition in his report to the Council last •vening :—“ I propose to remove all sleepers from Gladstone Road, and to make Rood the crown, using for this purpose 500 cubic yards of gravel, the remaining 500 yards to bo used in metalling Stanley Road from Gladstone Road to Aberdeen Road, a distance of 20 chains. The formation and carting gravel from Gladstone road would cost £55. The roadway only would be metalled with 25 cubic yards per chain. Cr. Lewis said he thought it was decided at the last meeting that all sleepers should remain down with the exception of those which might prove an obstruction. They should adhere to that, he would be opposed to the removal of all the sleepers as it would entail much further expense than they had already gone to. The Chairman said that the sleepers if left as they then were would be sure to rot, and therefore tbe proposition of the Engineer appeared to be about the best course they could adopt. It would be just as advisable to have the crown of the road made good now, if not, it would be breaking away bye and bye. Cr. Wilson agreed with the Engineer’s suggestion.

Cr. Joyce whilst approving of the recom mendation of the Engineer thought by carrying it out they would be intruding on the contract just entered into with Mr. Malone.The Engineer said his idea was not to interfere with Mr. Malnno in any way. Let him finish his present contract and they themselves could take up the rails. Cr. Smith proposed that the report be confirmed. He saw no difficulty about the matter. If the sleepers were left down in two or three years they would have no crown to the road, and to then make it would entail enormous expense.

Cr. Wilson seconded. Cr. Lewis moved as an amendment that the report be not adopted, and that the question be allowed to stand over to be considered at some future time. By carrying out the recommendation they would be causing a considerable waste, and they could find much better places to put the 500 yards of gravel on than the place at present proposed. They were told that the sleepers would rot. He would ask if the gravel would stand forever? They would have to be continually making it up by fresh loads, therefore the Bleepers would answer just as well as the gravel. Cr. Brown agreed with the Engineer’s report, and thought the gravel should have been spread there before, but they had already entered into one contract with regard to it, and they could not now very well alter it, and as the gravel could be made more useful in other streets he would second the amendment. The Engineer stated it could be done by day labor, but they could not tell what the probable cost would be.

The Chairman asked what the cost would be of removing the balance of the sleepers afier the contract was completed ? The Engineer replied not more than £2O. Cr. Joyce considered it would be more judicious to let the matter stand only until Mr. Malone’s contract was completed. The Chairman said that there a difficulty was introduced, as from what he could make out the sleepers were to be taken out as the contract went on, and for that reason he would vote for the removal of all sleepers and because it was important that the roadway should be made good. Why they did not do this before was owing to their attempting to avoid expense, but now that such a reasonable offer for the work had been made to them they should take advantage of it. The amendment was then put, three voting for and five against. Three voted against the proposition and the rest for it. On the proposition of Cr. Smith seconded by Cr. Kenny, it was decided to carry out the Engineer’s suggestion made in his report as to the disposal of the remaining 500 cuKo yds. of gravel to be placed on that portion of Stanley Road between Gladstone and Aberdeen Roads. The Engineer was instructed to call for tenders for the carting of the gravel.