TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3446, 27 March 1920, Page 4

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

RA']‘EPA.YERS MEET BOROUGH

COUNCIL.

A largely-aiteuded meetirig nf thésg ratdpayers aflfea-ted by the town improvement scheme now in process. of being carried out, was held in the Municipal Chambers yesterday afternoon. The meeting was by invitation of the Council, and the object was -to. discuss footpaths, levels, and other‘ matters in which some difliculty and; friction had arisen.

Previous to the public meeting, theCouncil held a special meeting, at‘ which the question of the sewerage connections of those. property-owners» not at the present time connected to« the Borough sewerage system would; aifect the footpaths ‘now being laid down was brought up. There were present: His ‘Worship the Mayor (A. J. Joblin, Esq.), and Crs. Fookes, Davies, Timbs, Eteven.-

eaux, Cunninghame, and Reid. After some discussion, Cr. Cunninghame proposed and Cr. Fookes seconded: “That all property-owners not connected up with the sewerage sys~ tem, be requested to do the necessary work of connection from the boundary of their properties to the sewers. Failing complience with this request within fourteen days, the Council will do the work at the expense of the own-

ors. ’ ’—-—Carried. " The Council then went into committee to consider certain confidential matters in connection with the work now in progress, and on resuming had no report to make. The ratepayers then met the Council. ’

The Mayor, in opening the meeting, said the Council was very pleased to meet them. Their presence had -been requested to discuss in a friendly way theflllestion of levels. The Council was doing its best under very trying circumstances. It was carrying out a. scheme initiated by a previous Council. They had ‘been greatly ‘handicapped in getting a consulting engineer. and in saying that he cast no reflection on Mr Williams. The present Council was not having the advice. it was entitled to. He invited discussion and the expression of opinion. They probably knew the troubles the Council were up against. In the ease of Mr l\leC_ornlick’s property they were serious. With regard to Mr Wrightson’s properties they did not know What to do. One was threequarters of an inch below, and another some inches above the level. He had, said, perhaps hastily, at a previous meeting, that they -could not construct footpaths and defend lawsuits at the, same time. From the very nature of things there could not help being complaints, and it was one of the, objects of this meeting to obviate these as far.-as possible. The Mayor then asked the Town Clerk to give an explan\ation of the effect of_the proposed levels.

The Town Clerk said at Abraham and Williams the paths finished, and would be eighteen inches above the-pre-' sent level. Crossing the road from the Gretna Hotel there was practically no» tliiference—quurter}inch [up and oneeighth down. Coming to the Bank of Australasia the level would be one and n—haltf inch ahigher. At She.nley’s -the footpath would be lowered five and a-half inches, while at Bennett’s corner it would come up by one and" &-half inches. Crossing the street to Sherwin’s corner, the level goes down. four inches. At.” Collinson and Gifford ’s the level would be eight inches: down, and at Nath-an’s it would be eleven inches do'Wn. At the Triangle corner of Huia Street, the proposed level was about fourteen inches above the present one; at Devan’s. shop the level was up fifteen inches Going down to Strong's, McCornliek"s premises would be four and :1-half inches below the proposed level on one side of the doorway, and two inches on the other side of the doorway. At the end of Dalget-y’s buildings the new channel level will be twenty and a-half inches below the present kerb.,A chain; from the Gretna up the street there was almost dead level, but it would be nine inches up at the Gretna bar-room door.

The Mayor repeated his request for discussion and opinions.

Mr Virightson: I have aready give}! my views pretty freely. What is going to be done with the road?

Mr J. Williams warned to know if the ratepayers had been called on to

listen to suggestions from the Council, or did they leave it to the owners.

The Mayor said they would like to hear what the property-owners had got to say. He called on Mr Nathan: for suggestions.

' Mr Natfiin said it was a little too late in the day to ask for opinions. They should have done so before the engineer was allowed ‘to interfere with the present levels. To take 11§in of the path was too ‘mucltv to allow the water to run off freelyf Our little town had been naturally laid out fl by God Amighty, and it was monstrous to lower the levels"‘:l‘nd waste the ratefigayers’ money. £17,000 had been raised to do the work. but frov present appearances this sum would have to be supplemented by another £17,000

before they were through with it. They had left the work to Mr Williams,-' who"':‘V2ad evidently made some mistake. To‘ alter the footpaths and streets to the proposed levels would make them nearly flat, and ‘the Couueil would have to provide water to wash the streets, and he reminded them that water, like groceries and ‘bread, cost

money. Mr Masters said it struck him that the levels the Council was going up-an could have been arranged with some regard to the present levels, and there appeared no necessity to make the Water run in opposite directions-. Mr Strong thought the proposed levels should have been laid out with some regard to the existing levels. Mr McCormick said the bone of contention appeared to be the levels. Would it not be possible to alter and adapt "the levels without altering the whole scheme‘?

V The Mayor instanced the case of the levels of Mr Wrightson’s buildings, which was a real difiiculty. He was sorry the engineer was not present to go into the matter with them. Mr Aldridge was not interested in the Main Street, and did not know what would be doingnp Tui Street. The representative of the Public Trustee wanted to know how the estates administered by his office would be affected.

Mr Ivory (representing Dwan Bros.) said as far as Messrs Dwan Bros.’ props!’-tiies were concerned, they would be about ten and a-half inches below \the footpaths, They would have to‘ra.ise the buildings up, or rebuild. In any case, it would make no diiference.

The representative of Abraham and Williams wanted to k'now how the buildings owned by his firm would be affected. Their interests lay on both sides of the street,

It was explained that below the Gretna Hotel tlie footpath practically finished at their fiiesent. offices. On the other side of the road the stables would be up fifteen and a-half inches.

Mr W. White was concerned chiefly about shifting the verandah posts in Tui Street. His firm had shifted one lot in Main. Street, and now they had to shift fifteen posts in Tui Street. The verandah was of the hooked-nosed variety, and looked ugly enough withoutshifting. ‘ v The Mayor said if it was only 3 question of shifting the posts it wmld not be a very serious matter. " Mr White: ‘Why not do in Tui Street what was proposed to be done on the western side of Main Stre3t-—c-on-stnict the footpath to suit the posts? The Mayor explained that to .10 this wol_ll_d necessitate making the whole length of the footpath in Tui Street» five inches wider. A A

Mr Lawson said the levels had been prepared by the engineer, and the best thing they could do was to stand to them. They should either change some of the buildings or go without footpaths. Mr Arrowsmith said the statement that the present. Council lied taken over the present scheme from the previous Council was not correct. 3 The previous Council never had _ before them any scheme, -but only proposals with suificient data to enable them "to take a poll. He desired to appeal to those present to take a broad view, not to think only of their personal interests in the matter, but what their town was going to be in the future.They should strive to have the Main Street at credit to the town. To meet the objections of everyone was utterly impossible, if they did the footpaths would be like the sea—up and down. Some would find the levels inconveniently high and others inconveniently low. They should get the best level foruthe town a whole. and stand the racket. Personally, he did not care if it affected his property, and he was quite prepared to suifer any inconvenience to make the town a better place to live in. He was going out of the town shortly, and people would say he did not care. ‘He had, and always would have, an interest in the town, and Wanted to see_it progress.

Mr Nathan: I would like to ask .\[r Arrowsmith if it would make the town any better for generations to come if the present grade was maintained. The proposal now was to level what was never intended to ‘be level. The town should be taken block by block, and graded. What was intended to be done was to give an impossible level to the footpath on one side of "the street in order to conform to an arbitrary rule to have both footpaths the same height. __

Mr Arrowsmith could not see why each block should be graded evenly, which appeared a sensible thing to do. All concerned should try and meet the Council in overcoming the difficulties for the benefit of the town. Mr J. Ryan had nothing to say beyond remarking they had too many engineers.‘ Mr A. ‘James said he was not an engineer, but as a layman he had got an opinion. He hoped ‘to see the question raised by Mr Nathan answered. Grading from corner to corner of each block seemed feasible If Mr Nathan’s suggestion can be giveneeffect to now seemed. the .oppor-

tune time. He would like to know if there was an engineering point of view against Mr Nathan ‘s suggestion. The Mayor said’ the engineer tried to balance the street. At present one side was up and the other down. Mr James remarked that in a chain and a-half it would not. be 3, great disability if both sides were not actually the same height, The MBYOI’, replying to Mr James, read a letter from Mr E. A. Williams, whieh,.intel‘ alia, had a bearing on this question: “. . . If the filJing,under the slab formation is as described by you, viz., clay" or similar filling, rammed, rolled, and well Watered, you have absolutely nothing to fear so far as settlement is concerned, and as this paving work is being carried out in slab formation, no cracking ,('xcept. in exceptional cases, will occur. With regard to sections where footpaths are raised, is it reasonable that the improvements to a town should be held in check or nullified for the sake of a _few old Wooden buildings, particularly as these will be in your brick area? So far as the reforming of Main Street is concerned, the levels can be re-a.rl'anged in a matter of a day or two, but this will give the road a big side camber, which I was anxious to avoid, as one likes to look forward and prepare for what one may live to see in perhaps ten or twenty years time, when you possibly may have proposals for electric trams along your Main Street.”

The Town Clerk, in answer to a question about the steps, stated without the step Ml‘ Nathan’s property would be 14*’;-in. higher than at present. The Mayor: Mr \Vrightson's case is apparently hopeless. Mr Wrightson: Others are worse off, which you will find out. He traversed at length the question of kerbs and levels. VVith'regard to taking the metal off Main Street to adapt it to the new levels, he said fifteen inches of metal would have to be ripped out, and it would be three years before it could be macaldamisedh properly. It was an absolute waste of money."

Cr. Reid said the steps would have a considerable amount of metal being taken ofi' the road, and serve shopkeepers on the other side. The Mayor said the metal r.onlo\3ed would be shifted ané placed in position.

Mr Vtfrightson said putting in the steps would make the matter worse. Cr. Cunninghaine contended that the levels given by the engineer were the best ohtaina"bTe. With regard to Mr Nathan ’s property. no matter what levels were attempted complete satisfaction could not be given. He described the effect of the proposal, covering the ground tru\'ersed by the Town Clerk. He defended putting in steps; without them Mr N:xthan’s property would be up another 43 inches. The -eouneil desired to meet property owners as much as possible. He might mention that from the Bank of New Zealand to the _l?ost Ofiiee none of the buildings would be materially affected by the proposed levels. From these two corners the variation had been as much as 11in. at both ends. ‘.\[r Neagle inquired if the engineer. in setting out the proposed levels had been asked to conform. to the eontour of the Borough. The Mayor stated the engineer had done the best he could for the town as a, whole.

Cr Cunninghame mentioned that Mr Williams’ property levels were 4;}in., sin., and 2{in., and others were built anyhow at any level. ' The Mayor read 1!, minute of a committee’ meeting of the Borough Couneil,: held on April 11, 19.18, The committee present were Messrs Arrowsmith, W’rightson, and Healey, who reported: “The Committee has carefully considered the report submitted to the committee as to the requirements necessary to bring Tuihupc into line with other modern centres, and the provision of conveniences and comforts to which inhabitants are ontitled, and :accordingly reicomme-'nds: That the engincer’s proposals for storm water drainage and kerbing be agreed to.” Why were Cr. Wrightson’s views not placed on record then?

Mr Wrightson said thflc report. was correct. The proposals were quite right, but the method. of carrying ihem out was wrong. '

Mr’ Arrowsmith said the proposals referred to by the Mayor were hot detailed" proposals, but only indicative of what was to be done. If ‘fhe Mayor desired to convey that the committee dealt with de'fail proposals, it was contrary to fact. It was only for poll purposes.

Mr McLcnnan: We have not come here to find fault, but to see what can be done to the advantage of the town. That line of acfion should be dropped.

The Mayor: What is the" present Couneil’s position in the matter? Mr Wrightson: After the levels were procured the Council should call the property-owners together Alto confer; they have to foot the Bill. If this had been done in the first instance the present trouble would not have arisen. Cr. Timbs: It is obvious they could not put down a footpath to meet everyone.

The discussion at this stage became

rather incoherent, and the -air was as thick with remarks as it was with tobacco smoke. ‘ Cr. Davies said the old Council appointed an engineer whom they thought best qualified. This engineer had for-mulated a scheme which they should either accept or get another engineer to show the way. It would be impossible to get levels to suit everyone. He thought they should find out from the engineer a little more about the details. There was certainly a. great future before Taihape, and now they should have levels to suit the town generally. Most of the buildings affected were wooden ones, and new ones would eventually be put up in brick. Mr Wrightson said Collinson and Gilford’s buildings were the worst affected by the proposed levels; it would cost £3OO to adjust the present building. Mr Nathan said the 11in fall at his place affected the Wffole tsltrcet. Mr McCormick suggested appointing a subcommittee to confer with the engineer and the Council to see if the levels could not be arranged to suit property-owners. He further suggested that Messrs Wrightson and Nathan be appointed to this committee, but these two gentlemen demurred. Mr Lawson said‘ if this meant crooked streets, they may just as well leave the streets as they are. Mr Wrightson would like to ask Mr Lawson if there was :1 street in any town ‘in New Zealand that had an even grade. This information was supplied by several of those present. Mr Fookes thought Mr McCorxnick’s suggestion a good one. The ‘engineer would be here at Easter, and the position, in‘ the light of suggestion smade at the meeting as to a straight street, put up to him. Mr McCormick moved in the direction suggested by him of appointing :1. sub—committee. This was duly second--ed by Cr. Fookes, but the Mayor would not accept the seconder,-which should come from the ratepayers.

Mr Nathznxz This motion was practically one of want of confidence in the Council.

The Mayor did ‘riot’. think so. They would overlook that aspect of the‘ matter.

Mr Nathan rema.l'ked that the Council should 1.1-ave had some information from the Engineer to lay before the meeting. A sub-eominittee might possibly be antagonistic to the Council. C‘-r. Cunninghame saifi the object of the meeting had been to get an opinion from the. réitepziyers. Now they had got that. The‘ Mayor hoped some good would come from the meeting. The Council was doing its best under very trying circuxnstanees.

A vofc of thanks fo the Mayor and Cmmcil was carried and the meeting dispol'sod. The Borough Council then resuiiled, and after an informzfl discussion decided that 9. list of questions should be drawn up in detail. and comprehensive answers iwquosfod from the Engineer.