KING STREET.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 104, 24 June 1913, Page 1

KING STREET.

How Can It Be Improved ?

Works Committee To Report.

"Any more business?" The Mayor had asked this same question perhaps a dozen times before, and on every occasion some Councillor had something to bring forward. This time there was a britf pause, and the officials and press were congratulating themselves on the fact that at last the meeting was about to conclude. But, alas! their congratulations were premature. "Yes, there's one little matter I would like to mention," said Cr Abbott—and ths weary newspaper man groaned, reached out for his pad and settled down t3 work again. "I think something should be done to King street," said Cr Abbott. "Day after dav you see men on the road scraping and snovelling up the mud. No sooner have they finished than it rains and the stieet becomes a sea over your boot-tops. I needn't tell you what it is like; you all know. I am going to move, That the Works Committee be asked to report as to the best scheme of putting it in order." Cr Hamilton: What about the brush? The Mayor: That will do no good. Cr Abbott: What's the good of a sweeper when you've got no road? Go in for a proper scheme and use tarred macadam. Cr Patterson said as long as they had the present quagmires as approaches it would be impossible to keep King street clean. The carts brought in the mud on their wheels and left it on King street. The Mayor pointed out that before long it would be necessary to metal King street and it would be well to get estimates of the cost of tarred macadam. Cr Patterson seconded the resolution. Cr Pollock considered it was no good talking about doing King street out nf the rates; they would have to borrow money. When they compared King Btreet with the outside streets which had to be used the residents had little to complain about. He thought King street compared favourably with som9 of the Auckland streets. Cr Abbott: Name them. Cr Pollock: Well, there's the street on the waterfront for one. Cr Abbott: Nonsense. Cr Patterson urged that the approaches must be done. Any expenditure must be. out of loan money. Cr Beatty considered it would r.ot be necessary to metal the full width. The trouble was that the crown of the road had been worn flat, and if a thick coating of metal was placed on this there would be an improvement. Cr Hamilton: It would take a £50,000 loan to do the streets in Pukekohe. Cr Patterson: And then they would not ba very much better than they are now. The Mayor: We had better get one of Allen's millions. Cr Hamilton: What are we going to do with the sweeper?

J Tha Mayor: What's b'com® of I that? Does anyboiy know? Cr Hurley: Would it be any -jsg? The Foreman said it would be no use in the wet weather. Jt was for sweeping oif the dust, not mud. Cr Pollock: How would a Ecoop do? A Councillor: YuU wculd want half a-dozen. Cr Hamilton: I am going to move that we rescind the order for the Bweepar. The Mayor: Wait a minute, let's deal with resolution before the meetirg. The motion was then put£and carried. The Mayor: Now, Cr Hamilton, ycur motion is in order. Cr Comtie seconded the resolution. He contended th 3 Council were going the wrong way to work in making their street!. He had spoken before on this, but he could not per--j suade the Council to alter their ways. The brush was no good with their present methods. He instanced Manukau road as an example of I faulty construction Before putting on the metal the road should have been paved with coarse scoria. He had spoken of this at the time, but when it came to the paving medium scoria had been used. He proposed going into this question at the next meeting of the Council. He strongly criticised Cr Patterson's contention that the mud was carried on to King street from the side streets. If such was the case, then judging from the amount of mud on King street, the level of the approaches must have sunk very low. The whole caine of the trouble was insufficient paving allowing the mud to work up. The resolution was then put and carried, Cr Hurley: Has ary money been expended on the purchase of road machinery. The Mayor: Practically none.