TARRED PAVEMENTS AND ASPHALT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue XXXXII, 9 January 1900, Page 2

TARRED PAVEMENTS AND ASPHALT.

An interesting, and at times an amusing, discussion on the relative merits and cost of tar and asphalt for footpaths occupied some time at the Borough Council meeting on Monday. Or. Bellringer contended that it was simply throwing money away to tar and sand the footpaths. If, he said, twenty coats of tar were laid on the frost would break it up. He would like to see proper asphalting of, say, 4 feet wide. The cost of tarring last year and this would equal the expense of asphalting. He agreed that something must be done to repair the present bad places, but hoped before long to see the town paved with asphalting an inch thick, properly mixed in a machine. It could be done for 27s a cubic yard. He also pointed out that at the expiration of the present permit he should not be surprised if the Harbour Board refused to permit stone and shingle to be taken from the beach, and then the Borough would be hard up for material. If good permanent footways were wanted, asphalt must be resorted to. The Mayor expressed the opinion that it was the quality of the present work that was at fault, and mentioned the cases of Auckland, Napier, and Obristchurcb, and he oontended that three coats cf tar could be put on for 6d a yard, and it ought to be done for that price here. Or. Bellringer denied this, and pointed out tnat in the places mentioned the soil was different, being a stiff brick or pipe clay. Moreover, he questioned whether the towns mentioned had to pay iivepence per gallon for their tar, and stated that the Auckland Gaa Company refused to supply tar except through the local Gas Company. it was, he said, time that this monopoly was broken dowu, and he hoped to live to see the day when all I monopolies would be bought out. After some further remarks the subject droppoc,