TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3459, 13 April 1920, Page 5

TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting of the Council‘ was held 011 Friday night. "Present: . His Worship the Mayor (A. J. Joblin,“ Esq.-, and Crs. Reid, Timbs, Cunning-| hame, Eteveneaux, Davies, Fookes} and Turnbull. ' ! The Mayor explained that the meet-i ing had been called in -pursuance of an requisition handed by him to thei Town Clerk for the purpose of considering matters, in connection with Messrs Jones and McAllister’s contract, and a letter from Mr E. ‘A. Williams, the Council’s consulting engineer, in respect 10-f alterations to the present -proposals in respect of the "footpaths on the west side of Main Street, and the formation of the roadway in Tui Street. The Town Clerk read the following letter from Mr E. A. Williams, the consulting engineer:—“As requested, I have gone into the question of footpath levels on the west side of Main Street, and see no reason why you should not alter these if you wish. My idea was to’ construct a street to obtain as level a roadway as possible. which shwo-ul_d be one, if not the chief consideration. A uniform grade means more even wear. The roadway as now proposed will have an eccentric crown, which is avoided on all occasions if at all possible, but where other difficulties are met with it is advisable to choose the lesser evil, so suggest you should adopt the roadway as shown. In carrying out this work it will be necessary to cut down the footpath in some cases and build up in others, and I cannot understand anyone lovbjecting to this, as ‘better footpaths and roads rather enhance , than lessen the values of properties, and where this has been done in Napier the shopkeepers have in several cases-Tiaid the Council for altering the doorways to meet the new levels. You will realise the diificulty a Council meets in ‘making improve--ments of this nature, and no regard has been taken as to What might eventually be the permanent levels of the footpaths, etc. This is very evident when one finds one shop with a floor-level Ift. 10in. above the existing rough earth footpath and the shop adjoining with the flo-or level quite level with the footpath In almost ‘every case you will see that no attempt has been made at uniformity, and in many cases it is evident that loads of spoil have been banked on the footpath in an attempt to overcome this ‘difficulty!’

“The Town Clerk read a letter, dated April‘ 9, 1920, from Messi-s Jones -and McAllister in respect of their contract for construction of kerbs, channels, and footpaths, stating that from private reasons the partnership existing between them had been dissolved, and asking to be released from their contract.‘ They submitted alternative proposals for either of the partners to continue the work if the Council declined to give the release asked for.

The Mayor moved and Cl-. Cunninghame seconded:——That the contractors be released from their contract under the conditions mentioned therein, final payment to be made in terms of the general conditions of contract.\”

Cr. Fookes moved -as: an amendment, and Cr. Reid seconded:—-“That the contractors «be released from the contract upon the conditions mentionq ed in their letter of the 9th :in’st., ex-‘ cepting that the construction of the’ paths from the south end of White’s building in Main Street (Wong Nam’s shop) to the south side of Mr Williams-’ property (Mr Swedlund’s shop) which be not proceeded with ‘until such time as an arrangement in’ regard to probable claims he arrived at. 1’

On the motion" of Cr. Reid, seconded by Cr. Timbs, it Was decided to deal with clauses 1 and 2 of the ‘Works C‘omlnittee’s report. The clauses in question were as- follows: (I)That the permanent levels be’ fixed in Main Street from Huia Street to Matai (Street. (2) That another Civil Engineer be engaged to report on the original scheme of footpath construction on the west side of Main Street, also on the proposed amendments thereto, and to make such recommendations in respect of the carrying out of the work as he thinks advisable. After some discussion the above clauses were adopted, and eventually’ ‘Cr. Reid imoved and Cr. Timbs seconded: “That Messrs Wall and Bogle be asked to state their terms for carrying out the Works enumerated in clauses 1 and 2 above referred to, and if satisfactory to the Mayor and Cr. Reid, that they be employed ‘to ‘any out the work forthwith.” .. The motion was carried.

Cr. Eookes moved that an address of welcome be presented to €ll9 Prince of Wales at Wanganuj, and ‘that the invitation of the Mayor of that town to visit that centre be accepted by the Council, Seconded by the Mayor and carried.

‘T'};_e/Marton Borough Council wrote, 38111113 the @Council to co-operate with ltll&t"bo¢3Y in its reception to the

Prince of Wales at Marton. . The local Council regretted that it could not accede to the request owing to other arrangements having been made with Wanganui. '

It was decided that the usual monthly meeting of the Council be held on Friday, 23rd inst., and the Council then adjougned. .